Se e ra h a s a Mo ve me nt
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possessions with them. And they did all this, fully conscious of the
fact that their action involved much more than economic sacrifice.
They knew full well that what they were doing would arouse the
hostility of the most powerful factions in both Arabia and Persia.
There are no words more fitting than those ofAli to describe them:
“They were true to their word, steadfast in adversity.”
When the Emigrants forsook their own country for Madinah,
every one of the Ansar was eager to extend hospitality to them.
They drew lots among themselves for the privilege of being able
to entertain such noble guests, and even went to the extent of
handing over the better part of their properties to them. And all
this despite the fact that, in the oath of allegiance they took, it
was specifically laid down that others would be given priority over
them. Though they had made the most extreme sacrifices in the
path of Islam, they did not show the slightest disapproval of this
clause.
(Seerat ibn Hisham,
Vol. I, p. 111)
Despite all the assistance that was afforded him, the Prophet’s
life in Madinah was not an easy one. Apprehensions that the
whole of Arabia would unite against the Muslims proved only too
true. This is how Ubayy ibn Kaab, a companion of the Prophet,
describes the situation:
“When the Prophet and his companions arrived inMadinah and
the Ansar gave them asylum, the Arabs united against them. The
Muslims used to remain in their armour, night and day.”
(Kanzul
Ummal,
Vol. I, p. 259)
The Quraysh declared economic sanctions against the people
of Madinah. All Arab tribes, following the Quraysh’s lead, severed
links with the city. Internal resources ran far short of providing
for the considerably increased population of Madinah, and the
expense of defending the city pushed the economy to its very limit.
Umar says that the Prophet was restless with hunger all day
in Madinah. There were not even enough rejected dates for him
to eat his fill. In later years someone asked Aishah if they had a
lantern. “If we had had oil to burn in a lantern,” she said, “we would
have drunk it.” The Muslims used to go out on expeditions they
