THE MODEL OF EXCELLENCE
When the Prophet of Islam began his mission in ancient Makkah, the people—particularly the leaders—became his staunch opponents. They inflicted severe hardships on him and his followers. Yet, he was instructed not to retaliate in any way but to unilaterally ignore their aggressions. (Quran, 33:48)
Thus, for thirteen years, the Prophet exercised immense patience. Eventually, the situation escalated to the point that they planned to kill him. Armed men surrounded his house. Even then, he did not confront them but quietly left Makkah and migrated to Madinah, following God’s command.
Still, the people of Makkah did not relent. They threatened to attack Madinah and wipe out Islam and its followers. In response, during the early days of the migration, the Prophet sent small groups of emigrants toward the routes of Makkah to gather intelligence and stay informed of any aggressive plans by the Quraysh.
In Ramadan of the 2nd year of Hijrah, the incident involving Abu Sufyan’s trade caravan took place. To protect this caravan, nearly all the chiefs of Quraysh set out with a powerful army. Their real intent was to first rescue the caravan and then attack Madinah. At that time, the Prophet of Islam, under direct instruction from God, marched out from Madinah. God provided special help to the believers through angels. In the ensuing battle at Badr, the people of Makkah suffered a major defeat.
Even after this, the people of Makkah did not remain passive. They repeatedly engaged in acts of aggression, yet the Prophet of Islam consistently avoided confrontation. However, at the battles of Uhud and Hunayn, the Quraysh launched unilateral attacks against the Muslims, which led to open conflict.
The Prophet’s objective was not to eliminate his opponents, but to transform hearts and win over minds. This is why, at the time of Hudaybiyyah, he agreed to a non-aggression pact with the Quraysh—on one-sided terms—establishing a ten-year truce. His aim was to create a stable and balanced environment in which truth-seekers could freely explore and embrace what is right, without the pressure of warfare or hostility.
The Treaty of Hudaybiyyah proved to be a turning point. It opened the door for sincere individuals to examine the message of Islam without fear. As a result, within just two years, history witnessed an unprecedented number of people embraced the faith. Without further warfare, and solely through the moral and numerical strength of the growing Muslim community, the Prophet of Islam ultimately prevailed over the Arabian Peninsula.
