The Prophet Muhammad A simple Guide to his Life
The Life of the Prophet
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according to their traditions, laws and customs.
Unlike Makkah, Madinah proved to be very
favourable to the Prophet’s propagation of
monotheism. Even prior to his coming to the town,
Islam had already entered Madinah. After his
arrival, the
dawah
process was intensified and the
majority of the Madinan people accepted Islam,
becoming his supporters.
This situation was not to the liking of the Makkans.
They found it intolerable that someone they had
expelled from Makkah should have found a
stronghold in Madinah, for now the Prophet posed
a far greater threat to their idolatrous religion. On
the basis of this thinking, they decided to take
military action against him. The religion they had
failed to extirpate by simple opposition, they now
resolved to wipe from the face of the earth by the
sword.
After the emigration, therefore, the Makkan leaders
opened hostilities. One of the skirmishes came to be
known as “Badr the first.” However, the first big-
armed confrontation, initiated by the Makkan
leaders, took place, eighty-five miles south-west of
