A Spider Web Saved Prophet Muhammad’s Life! - O Messenger | Ep. 5

A Spider Web Saved Prophet Muhammad’s Life! - O Messenger | Ep. 5

Armed men chosen from every tribe of Mecca were moving quietly through the darkness of the night, heading straight to the house of Rasulullah (peace be upon him). The reason they had gathered was to kill him. They had set up a careful plan and were waiting for the perfect moment. But did they succeed? To understand how things got to this point, let’s first take a step back. It was the 13th year of Prophethood. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said to his companions, “In a dream, I was shown the place of your migration. It’s a land of date palm trees lying between two stony tracts.” After two years of tireless preparation, Islam had taken root in Yathrib, and the gates of Medina were open to the Muslims. The second pledge of Aqaba was made, and Allah has now chosen the place of migration for His Messenger and his companions. And so, the days of Hijra (migration) had begun. The days that would be full of hardships, but also full of miracles. This video series is based on hundreds of references from reliable Islamic sources. All AI visuals were prepared in consultation with qualified Muslim scholars and are in line with Islamic guidelines. After these words of the Prophet (peace be upon him), the companions set out for Medina in groups. Amir ibn Rabia and his wife Layla were among the first to migrate. They had previously migrated to Abyssinia too, and now, for the sake of their faith, they were leaving their homeland for the second time. To avoid drawing the attention of the Meccans, the other companions set out in small groups as well. It may sound easy, but in reality, these journeys were far more difficult than we describe. Each caravan had to face many hardships before finally reaching Yathrib. Whenever the Meccans noticed people migrating, they would try to stop them. And if they managed to catch them, they would drag them back to Mecca and torture them. Another pain for the companions was leaving behind their beloved homeland. Their homes they had lived for years, their memories. This was a great sacrifice that not everyone could make. They were living their lives only for the cause of Islam. They were not attached to this world at all. If Allah and His Messenger willed it, this was enough. They would migrate no matter the cost. But among the companions, there was someone different. While everyone else was migrating in secret, he strapped on his sword, took his bow, his arrows and his spear, and went straight to the Kaaba. Before everyone’s eyes, he performed Tawaf (circumambulation) around the Kaaba and cried out to the people: “Here I am migrating! For the sake of Allah! To protect my faith! Whoever wants to make his wife a widow, his mother cry, and his children orphans, let him face me in this valley!” Far from following him, they could not even respond. The whole crowd fell silent. That man was no other than Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him). And then he took with him nearly twenty poor and weak Muslims and set out for Yathrib. Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) later said, “I do not know of anyone who did not migrate in secret except Umar ibn al-Khattab.” The Muslims who migrated from Mecca were called Muhajirun (Emigrants), and the Muslims of Medina who welcomed them and helped them were called Ansar (Helpers). The Ansar received the Muhajirun (Emigrants) with great kindness, hosted them in their homes and took care of them. And the Muhajirun (Emigrants) who were single stayed at the house of another unmarried companion, Saad ibn Khaythama (may Allah be pleased with him). The only ones left behind were Ali, Abu Bakr, the Prophet (peace be upon him), their families, and the companions who had been held back by the Mushrikun (polytheists) of Mecca. Also, a number of Muslims were still in Abyssinia. Later, some of them would go to Yathrib after the Prophet’s migration, while others would stay in Abyssinia to continue spreading Islam there. So, what was the Prophet waiting for to migrate (peace be upon him)? He could have secured his own safety and left right away. But as a true leader, he always put others before himself. His first concern was making sure that his companions reach Yathrib safely. And more importantly, he had not yet received permission from Allah to migrate, so he waited. But besides all this, there was another reason. One that once again exposed everyone’s true character. It showed who was sincere and who was not. Rasulullah (peace be upon him) still had belongings that the idolaters had entrusted to him. And he knew very well the responsibility of an amanah (trust) in the sight of Allah. Even in such a hard time, he was planning to return them to their owners. It’s really hard to understand the Mushrikun (polytheists) of Mecca. On the one hand, they saw the Prophet (peace be upon him) as their enemy; they tried to kill him, insulted him as a liar and a magician. Yet, on the other hand, they continued to entrust their valuables to him and never asked for them back. They would still rely on his word and see him as the most trustworthy person, knowing that he had never been involved in any kind of dishonesty or cheating. But what he called them to went against their own interests. Abu Bakr and Ali (may Allah be pleased with both of them) were to take on perhaps the most difficult tasks in this migration. Abu Bakr would constantly come to the Prophet (peace be upon him) and ask for permission to migrate. But Rasulullah (peace be upon him) would not allow him yet. Instead, he would give him a hint saying, “Do not rush. Perhaps Allah will grant you a righteous companion for the journey.” As more and more Muslims migrated, the Quraysh grew increasingly worried. They feared that if Rasulullah also left and became their leader, the Muslims would become an unstoppable force. And to make things worse, since the trade route to Syria passed through Yathrib, their access to it could be cut off. They could never allow that to happen. So, they gathered in Dar Al-Nadwa (Assembly House) to find a solution. Everyone gave their opinion about the Prophet (peace be upon him). Some said, “Let’s lock him up.” “Let’s send him into exile.” And some even said, “Let’s kill him.” But none of these ideas were accepted, especially the idea of killing him. It was far too dangerous, because if they did, it would start a blood feud with the Banu Hashim clan. They were afraid of revenge. Finally, Abu Jahl came up with an evil plan. “There’s no other option but to kill him. To do this, we’ll choose one strong young man from each tribe and give each of them a sharp sword. Then they will all strike him together and kill him. And so we will be rid of him. That way, no one will know who actually did it, and Banu Hashim will not dare to face all the tribes at once, and they will have to accept blood money. We will pay it, and the matter will be settled.” So, everyone agreed to his plan. But there was one truth the Mushrikun (polytheists) had not considered. The target of all these plots was the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). Our Lord spoke about this specific event in Surah Al-Anfal: “And remember, O Muhammad, when those who disbelieved plotted against you to hold you as a captive or to kill you or expel you from Mecca. But they planned, and Allah also plans. And Allah is the best of planners.” While the Mushrikun (polytheists) were busy making their own plans, Allah had a much greater plan. Through Jibril (Gabriel) (peace be upon him), He let the Prophet (peace be upon him) know about their plot and gave him the command to migrate. The blessed journey that would be told for centuries was about to begin. For twelve long years, he had struggled to spread Islam in Mecca. He worked so hard, felt such deep sorrow that Allah addressed him in a verse saying, “You are going to grieve yourself to death because they do not believe.” But despite all his efforts, the idolaters never gave up their stubbornness. And now, the Prophet’s mission would continue in Yathrib. In the heat of midday, Rasulullah (peace be upon him) went to Abu Bakr’s house. When he saw the Prophet ﷺ coming at such an unusual hour, he was very surprised. He thought to himself, “By Allah, he never comes at this time. There must be something important.” He welcomed the Prophet (peace be upon him) inside and seated him on his cushion. “May my mother and father be sacrificed for you, O Messenger of Allah. What news do you bring?” Then the Prophet (peace be upon him) gave him the good news: “Allah Azza wa Jal (Mighty and Majestic) has granted me permission to leave Mecca and migrate to Yathrib.” There was something Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) had eagerly been waiting for. He wished for it deeply. Yet, he had never asked the Prophet (peace be upon him) directly. But Rasulullah had been giving him hints from time to time. Finally, he found the courage to ask the question that was burning in his heart: “Will I be honored with your companionship on this journey, O Messenger of Allah?” When the Prophet said, “Yes,” Abu Bakr was so overjoyed that tears flowed from his eyes. Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) would later say about her father, “I had never seen anyone cry from happiness the way my father did on that day.” The time for the migration Abu Bakr had been waiting for had finally come. And with the best of companions by his side. But how would they leave Mecca despite all the plots of the Mushrikun (polytheists) to stop them? The Messenger of Allah had already thought everything through, and his plan was ready. First, they would make an agreement with a trustworthy guide, Abdullah ibn Urayqit, and give him two camels in advance. Then, they would head towards Mount Thawr and stay there for three days and three nights. The reason was that Mount Thawr lay in the opposite direction of the road to Medina. It was a way to mislead their enemies. For three days, they would stay in the cave of Thawr waiting for things to calm down. And during that time, Abu Bakr’s daughter, our mother Asma (may Allah be pleased with her), would carry food up to the mountain. This was no small sacrifice, because she was seven months pregnant. Even in that state, she would climb up and down the steep rocky mountain about 750 meters high. Abu Bakr’s son, Abdullah, was only ten years old. His job was to go around the marketplace, listen carefully to what the idolaters were saying, and bring the news back to them. Another companion, Amir ibn Fuhayra, would drive his animals along the same path they would be taking so that their footprints would be covered. Every step of the process had been carefully planned. In all of this, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) was teaching his Ummah (community) reliance on Allah in the most beautiful way. He first asked Allah for help, then made his plan, took the necessary precautions, did everything he could, and then left the result to Allah. Abu Bakr offered the two camels he had prepared earlier for this journey. But the Messenger of Allah said, “I can only take it by paying its price.” Even though Abu Bakr said, “May my mother and father be sacrificed for you,” the Prophet (peace be upon him) insisted. Having no other option, Abu Bakr had to agree, and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ took the camel as a debt. He would repay it at the first opportunity. This camel was Qaswa, the Prophet’s famous camel. It was a special camel, and is mentioned several times in the Seerah (biography). And once they arrived in Yathrib, it would play an important role in a significant matter. Since the idolaters could make a move at any moment, they needed to leave as quickly as possible. But what about the belongings entrusted to him? Rasulullah (peace be upon him) went to Ali. Told him that he was going to migrate and said, “Sleep in my bed tonight, and cover yourself with this green cloak of mine. Don’t be afraid. No harm will come to you.” If the Meccans saw his bed empty, they would realize that the Prophet ﷺ had left and would immediately set out to chase him. That’s why this move would buy them some time. Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) would then return the trusts to their owners and follow them later. Isn’t this a task that required great loyalty, sacrifice, and courage? Because lying down in that bed meant being ready to face death. But when the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) gave his word and said, “Do not be afraid, no harm will come to you,” it was enough for Ali. Because he had already made a promise when he was only 13 years old. Remember when the Prophet (peace be upon him) once asked, “Who will respond to my call and become my helper?” He raised his hand and said, “O Messenger of Allah, I will help you, even though I am the youngest among them.” And now, he was truly fulfilling those words. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) placed Ali in his own bed, and they bid farewell. But just as he was about to leave, the house was surrounded. From every tribe, skilled swordsmen had come and encircled it. So, what would happen now? Would they break in right away? Even though they were people of Jahiliyyah (Time of Ignorance), they still had a sense of honor. To them, killing someone inside his own home was a disgraceful act of cowardice. That’s why they would wait for the Prophet (peace be upon him) to come out. And Rasulullah, in complete reliance on Allah, did not feel even the slightest fear. He took a handful of soil, threw it at the idolaters, and reciting the first nine verses of Surah Yasin, he passed right through them. In the ninth verse, Allah says: “And We have placed a barrier in front of them and a barrier behind them, and covered them, so they do not see.” Eyes can only see if the true Owner of Sight, Allah, allows them to see. That night, Allah placed a veil over the eyes of the Mushrikun and kept His Messenger hidden from them. Completely unaware of what had happened, they were still waiting at the door for the Prophet (peace be upon him) to come out. Finally, a man passing by asked them, “What are you waiting for here?” “We are waiting for Muhammad.” “Muhammad threw dust on you and left some time ago. Take a look at yourselves.” When they looked down at themselves, they saw pieces of soil on their clothes. They were shocked and couldn’t understand what was going on. Then they looked inside and saw that someone was still lying in the bed. “There he is. Muhammad is lying there.” And continued to wait. By that time, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) had already arrived at Abu Bakr’s house. As they had agreed, they first handed the two camels over to Urayqit. They planned to meet at the foot of Mount Thawr three days later, and then set off. Meanwhile, the idolaters kept waiting at the door for the Messenger of Allah ﷺ until the break of dawn. And when morning came, Ali Radiyallahu Anhu got up from the bed. When the idolaters saw him, they were stunned and asked, “Where is Muhammad?” “I don’t know. You forced him into this. And so he left.” The Mushrikun (polytheists) were furious. They shouted at Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) and pushed him around. They even took him to the Kaaba and kept him there for some time before letting him go. Then, they began searching the streets of Mecca for the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, checking everywhere he might have gone. Abu Jahl decided to go to Abu Bakr’s house. “Open this door now!” His daughter Asma opened the door. When Abu Jahl asked, “Where is your father?” Asma said, “I don’t know.” Then, without caring that she was pregnant, Abu Jahl slapped her so hard that her earring fell off. They looked everywhere, but still couldn’t find the Prophet ﷺ or Abu Bakr. Eventually, they realized that they had already left. This time they put a reward: 100 camels to whoever brings us Muhammad or Abu Bakr, dead or alive. This was the perfect opportunity for every thief, killer, and desperate man in the city. They rushed to try to claim the reward. While all of this was happening in Mecca, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and Abu Bakr had reached the cave of Thawr on Friday night. First, Abu Bakr went in, cleaned the cave and prepared it. Because there were holes inside, he was afraid that a snake or an insect might crawl in and harm the Prophet (peace be upon him). So, he tore his clothes into pieces and stuffed them into the holes. When his clothes were not enough, he blocked the last hole with his foot. Then, he invited the Prophet (peace be upon him) to come inside. Rasulullah ﷺ entered, rested his head on Abu Bakr’s lap and fell asleep. After a while, Abu Bakr felt a terrible burning pain. A snake had bitten the foot he was pressing against the hole. Yet, he did not pull his foot back. Afraid that the Messenger of Allah might wake up, he did not even move. But the pain was so intense that tears began to flow from his eyes. Then a few drops fell onto the face of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and woke him up. Rasulullah asked, “What happened, O Abu Bakr?” He replied, “O Messenger of Allah, something bit my foot. But it’s nothing. May my mother and father be sacrificed for you.” Allah made the blessed saliva of His Prophet a means of healing. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ touched the wound with his saliva, and at once, Abu Bakr’s pain disappeared. Years later, Umar would remind the companions of that night and say, “By the One in whose hand is my soul, the night of Abu Bakr is better than the whole family of Umar.” With those words, he would value that night more than his entire life. By Allah’s command, a spider quickly made a large web across the entrance of the cave. So anyone who saw this would not suspect that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) was inside. But it was also a sign that danger was near. The idolaters were going to come all the way to the mouth of the cave. During the days the Prophet (peace be upon him) and Abu Bakr were in the cave, Asma would bring them food. She had prepared two bundles of provisions, but she could not find a rope to tie them. The only thing she had was her waist belt. In that culture, for a woman to be without her waist belt was seen as a great disgrace, a sign of indecency. Yet, she accepted that shame, took it off, and used it to tie the bundles. When the Prophet (peace be upon him) saw this, he said, “Asma will have two waist belts in Paradise.” In the meantime, the ruthless idolaters were searching for them everywhere. The skilled trackers among them were examining every trace very carefully. Finally, they came across some footprints and began to follow them. But the tracks were leading to Mount Thawr. That seemed strange to them, because the mountain was in the opposite direction from the road to Medina. But there was nothing they would not try. So they kept going until they reached the mountain. Abu Bakr Radiyallahu Anhu became very anxious, because they were now very close. He was afraid, but not for himself. What if the Prophet (peace be upon him), the one he loved more than his own life, was killed? Would his mission end like that? The Mushrikun (polytheists) were approaching the cave. Abu Bakr whispered, “O Messenger of Allah, it wouldn’t matter if they killed me. After all, I’m just one man. But if, Ma’zallah (God forbid), they harm you, it would destroy the entire Ummah.” With complete trust in Allah, the Prophet (peace be upon him) replied, “La tahzan, innAllaha ma’ana. Do not be sad. Allah is surely with us.” The idolaters said, “Let’s search this cave as well.” And one of them came right up to the entrance. They were so close that Rasulullah ﷺ and Abu Bakr could be spotted at any moment. Abu Bakr said, “O Messenger of Allah ﷺ, if they just look down at their feet, they will definitely see us.” With a calm voice, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “O Abu Bakr, why do you worry about two people when Allah is the third with them?” One of the leaders of the Quraysh, Umayyah ibn Khalaf, shouted angrily, “Why are you still standing around this cave? Don’t you see the spider’s web at the entrance? By Allah, I believe this web was there even before Muhammad was born.” So, without finding what they were looking for, they left the cave. With the delicate web of a single spider, Allah had ruined the plans of those who thought they were smart and powerful. Finally, the Prophet (peace be upon him) and Abu Bakr came out of the cave. It was now time to continue their journey. They would meet with Abdullah ibn Urayqit, who would bring the camels, and together they would set out for Yathrib. An interesting detail was that Abdullah ibn Urayqit was a polytheist. Just think about it. What would happen to him if his people found out what he was doing? And besides, if he had betrayed the Prophet (peace be upon him) and handed him over, he could have earned a reward of 100 camels. Yet, for serving the Prophet (peace be upon him), he would only receive two. But Urayqit was a trustworthy person, a man of his word. Without anyone noticing, he brought the camels and then guided them on their way. Despite being a non-believer, he did not break his promise. “Thank you for your good service.” As they passed through an area called Hazwarah, the Prophet (peace be upon him) stopped his camel and looked back at Mecca one last time. With a deep sadness in his heart, he said these parting words: “You are the best of Allah’s lands and the most beloved to me. If the people here had not forced me out, I would never have left you.” But he had already received the good news that he would return. Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala (Glorified and Exalted be He) revealed this comforting Ayah (verse) to him: “Indeed, the One who has mandated the Quran upon you will bring you back to a place of return.” Meaning, his home, Mecca. Remember what Waraqa said when the first revelation came to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him)? “Your people will drive you out of your land.” At that moment, the meaning of those words became clearer than ever. The Meccans remained blind to the sun rising right before their eyes. And now, this treasure, a mercy for all the worlds, was slipping away from their hands. They had traveled a long distance when they came across a tent along the way. They needed some rest. The tent belonged to Abu Ma’bad and his wife Umm Ma’bad. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said Salam (peace) to them. He wanted to buy some food. So he asked them, “Do you have any dates or anything else to eat?” Umm Ma’bad felt embarrassed to turn away a guest. She said that she had no food to offer. Then Rasulullah ﷺ noticed a thin, weak goat and asked, “Does this one have no milk?” Umm Ma’bad replied, “It doesn’t even have blood in its body. How could it give milk?” Then Rasulullah ﷺ asked to milk the goat, and Umm Ma’bad gave him permission. The Prophet (peace be upon him) placed his hand on the goat and wiped over its udder. He said, “Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim and made Dua (supplication). He then asked them to bring a bucket and started milking the goat. To their amazement, that weak goat gave so much milk that the whole bucket was filled. Everyone there drank until they were full. The Prophet milked it three times and left the third bucket for Umm Ma’bad. And then they continued on their way. Later, Umm Ma’bad said that the goat gave milk for years. Even during the years of famine when everything else had run out, they still milked it every morning and evening. The journey of hardship was not over yet. At every step, they continued on their way under the constant threat of death. In Mecca, word had spread about the reward of 100 camels, and many people rushed to claim it. One of them was Suraqa. He was told that a group of three people was heading in a certain direction. He understood who they were, but the reward was too great, and he wanted to win it all for himself. So he replied as if it was nothing important and said, “No, the people you saw were just so and so. They passed by a little while ago. We saw them too.” But then, he got on his horse and set off. Suraqa was a skilled tracker, very good at following trails. And soon, he caught up with Rasulullah ﷺ, Abu Bakr, and Abdullah ibn Urayqit. As he was getting closer, suddenly his horse stumbled and threw him to the ground. He tried to get back on it, but once again, fell to the ground. And then a little later, it happened once more. This time, the horse’s two front legs sank deep into the sand. No matter what he did, he couldn’t get it out. Then he began to realize something. This was no ordinary incident. They were being protected by Allah. He cried out, “O Muhammad! Pray that I may be saved! I will never harm you, and I will never mention you to anyone coming after you!” And when the Prophet (peace be upon him) made Dua (supplication), Suraqa got free. He was deeply moved by what happened. He called out to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and they began to speak. At that moment, he did not embrace Islam. But the seeds of faith started to grow in his heart. And later, he would become a Muslim as well. After speaking with the Prophet (peace be upon him), he said, “O Messenger of Allah, command me and I will do whatever you wish.” Rasulullah asked him to prevent others from following them. So Suraqa immediately turned back, and when he came across the trackers sent by Quraysh, he said, “I have searched this whole area and found no one. Let’s look somewhere else.” And with that, he turned them back. At the beginning of that day, he was on his horse riding through the desert to capture the Prophet ﷺ. But by the end of the day, he had become his guardian. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) would later say to him, “Suraqa, how joyful you will be when you wear the bracelets of Kisra!” At that moment, Suraqa could not understand. But years later, after the victory of Qadisiyyah, the treasures of Kisra were brought on camels. Then the Caliph of that time, Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), called for Suraqa. When we reflect on this story of the Hijra, a powerful reality becomes clear. Suraqa came, but could not kill him. A reward of 100 camels was placed on his head, dozens of men seeking the reward chased him, but they could not get to him. They surrounded his house to take his life, yet they could not even see him. They came very close to him in the cave, but still, they could not kill him. And they would never be able to. Because Allah would protect him from death until he fulfilled his mission. After the revelation of the Quran was completed, he would pass away peacefully in his bed. And in fact, this had already been revealed as a miracle in the Quran. In Surah Al-Ma’idah, at the beginning of verse 67, Allah says: “O Messenger, convey all that has been sent down to you from your Lord. If you do not, then you have not delivered His message. And Allah will protect you from the people.” Just think about it. Their plan was so simple: Kill one man, and everything is over. Yet, although he had lived among them in Mecca for 12 years and seemed completely defenseless, they still failed. And throughout his life, there were countless attempts to kill him. While he was praying, they tried to crush his head with a stone. At another time, they tried to strangle him from behind. As he lay under a tree, they pulled out their swords to kill him. He was served food with deadly poison. While he was sitting against a wall, they tried to drop a rock on him from above. Remember Umar (may Allah be pleased with him)? He had once set out with the intention of killing the Prophet (peace be upon him). He fought in battles, became the main target, and went through extremely hard moments. Yet, he survived them all. Isn’t it extraordinary that a man with such a life and mission could not be killed for 23 years, and then passed away peacefully in his bed? And what makes it even more incredible is that the Quran had already foretold it. Our Lord had promised to protect His Messenger from all people, and He did protect him until the end. Rasulullah ﷺ and Abu Bakr had been on the road for nearly ten days. The Hijra, which would mark the beginning of a new era for the Muslims, was now coming to an end. This blessed journey was full of unforgettable scenes: Brotherhood, sacrifices, trust in Allah, longing, seeds of Hidayah (guidance) being planted, moments of danger, narrow escapes from death, and miracles. From the outside, it lasted only about 10 days. But it felt as though it went on much longer. Every moment carried a different feeling and a different lesson. He was about to embrace Medina. The city that would soon become the center of Islam. As they set out to turn Yathrib into Medina, let us take a look at what kind of place Yathrib was. Along with the Jews, two major Arab tribes lived in Yathrib: the Aws and the Khazraj. The Jews had settled in Yathrib before these two Arab tribes, because from their scriptures, they knew that the final Prophet would one day migrate to Yathrib. That was the reason they had chosen to live there. They were divided into three tribes: Banu Qaynuqa, Banu Qurayza, and Banu Nadir. When the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) arrived in Medina, the population of the city was around 10,000, and about 40% of them were Jews. Even though they were a minority, they were more powerful than the Arabs, especially in trade and politics, as well as in many other areas. For years, the Aws and Khazraj tribes had been fighting each other. In their last clash, despite being fewer in number, the Aws defeated the Khazraj. And after this, they decided to make an agreement. One of them would be chosen as king. And the man they agreed upon, whose name will come up again and again, was Abdullah ibn Ubayy ibn Salul. He had even had a crown made for himself. But with the migration of the Muslims to Yathrib, all of his dreams were shattered before the new system could even begin. This disappointment ignited a fire of hatred in his heart against Islam that would burn for the rest of his life. He would never openly admit it, but for years, he would secretly work against the Muslims, making hidden plans. He would constantly try to poison the minds of those around him. And for this reason, throughout history, he would be remembered as the chief of the hypocrites. So, what was the belief system like in Yathrib? It was very different from the polytheism of Mecca. They had an idol called Manat. Just like in Mecca, only a small number of them rejected idol worship and lived as Hanifs (monotheists), just like the parents of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). This was the city that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) would completely change from the ground up, and establish the Islamic state with its constitution, education system, military system, intelligence, trade system, and much more. So let’s now return to the Prophet’s ﷺ arrival in Yathrib and witness how it was transformed into Medina. Before arriving in Medina, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) spent his last three days in Quba, a village about an hour away from the city. Here, he laid a strong foundation and built the very first Masjid, Masjid Quba. It was also here that he was reunited with Ali (may Allah be pleased with him). Remember, as the Prophet (peace be upon him) had instructed, Ali had remained in Mecca to return the trusts to their owners. When the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) saw him, his face showed both joy and sorrow. Ali had been on the road for nearly a week. He was exhausted. The soles of his feet were cracked and bleeding. When the Prophet (peace be upon him) wiped over Ali’s feet with his blessed hand, Ali was healed, as if he had never been wounded. At last, on a Friday night, the journey to Medina began. The Muslims there were waiting for his arrival with great excitement. Women, children, and men—everyone’s eyes were fixed on the desert for hours. They had been waiting since the Fajr prayer. And until the scorching heat of the noon, they would keep looking towards the horizon. In every heart, there was the same concern: Will the Messenger of Allah ﷺ arrive safely from Mecca? Day one, day two, day three. The waiting continued. On one of those days, once again, they expected the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. But no one could be seen, and no sound could be heard. As the noon heat grew stronger, people began to return to their homes one by one. At that very moment, a voice called out: “O Arabs! Your king has arrived!” The person who announced this long-awaited news was a Jewish man. From the top of a tree, he had seen the Messenger of Allah ﷺ with his companions. In an instant, the silent streets were filled with joy and celebration. All the hardships, all the dangers of death were now over. The Hijra had finally come to an end. This was Medina. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) was making his way further into Yathrib. The cries of joy and takbirs of the Muslims echoed throughout the streets. And it was here that the famous poem Tala’al Badru ‘Alayna was chanted. With one voice, everyone—children, young and old—welcomed the light that had risen upon them with these words: “Just imagine being there in that moment. The full moon rose over us from the valley of Wada. We must give thanks for your call to Allah. O you who were raised amongst us, coming with a word to be obeyed. You have brought to this city nobleness. Welcome, best caller to Allah’s way.” The last and greatest of the Prophets is coming, bringing a revelation, the Quran, that will speak to all times and all of humanity. He’s coming with the greatest glad tidings, the good news of an eternal Hereafter, and the promise of everlasting happiness. Just imagine, he will now be living in your city. You will see him leading the Muslims in prayer, sit with him in his gatherings. Maybe he will ask you how you are. You will tell him about a hardship you never shared with anyone else. Allah’s Messenger on this Earth will hug you and comfort you. Maybe something he tells you will be passed down for centuries as a Hadith. You will witness the revelation of the Ayat (verses). There are many things you may dream of and wish for. But do you know what your greatest wish would be? I think it will be to have him stay in your home as a guest. Just as every companion wished for at that time. Everyone was wondering, “Where will he stay?” Because he didn’t have a house in Medina yet. Holding the reins of his camel, they were inviting him saying, “O Messenger of Allah ﷺ, please come to our house.” But Rasulullah ﷺ said, “Let the camel be, for she has been commanded where to stop.” So, where would that place be? Everyone was wondering where the camel Qaswa would stop. As if searching for a place, she kept walking. Turning her head from side to side until finally she stopped and sat down on a piece of land. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, “This is where we will stay,” and asked who owned that land. It belonged to two orphans. Rasulullah (peace be upon him) called them and wanted to pay for it. But the two young orphans replied, “O Rasulullah ﷺ, we expect its compensation only from Allah.” The Prophet (peace be upon him) was very pleased to hear this, but he would never take the right of orphans without payment. So he did not accept their offer. Instead, Abu Bakr bought the land for its full price: 10 misqals of gold. And on that very land, the Masjid that we now know as Masjid an-Nabawi would be built. Just think about the greatness of Abu Bakr’s charity. Millions of people have been praying in that Masjid, and all of those rewards continued to be written in his record too. While the Masjid was being built, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ wanted to stay in a place nearby. He asked, “Which of our relatives has a house nearby?” Khalid ibn Zayd, also known as Abu Ayyub al-Ansari, excitedly called out: “Ya Nabiyullah (O Prophet of Allah)! My house is the closest! This is my house, and here is the door!” Then, with the Prophet’s ﷺ approval, he brought the Prophet’s belongings into his home and prepared a place for him. Rasulullah (peace be upon him) would stay in this house for seven months. The first thing he did was to start building a Masjid on the land that had been purchased. With his blessed hands, Rasulullah ﷺ himself laid the first stone of its foundation. He also took part in the construction of the Masjid. When the Muslims saw him working as well, they worked with even greater enthusiasm. One day, while the Prophet (peace be upon him) was carrying bricks, one of the companions said, “O Messenger of Allah ﷺ, give it to me, let me carry it.” But Rasulullah replied, “Go and take another one to carry. You are not in greater need of Allah’s reward than I am.” Just as Medina became the center of Islam, this Masjid would become the center of Medina. Medina could no longer be a city barely surviving in the desert and torn apart by constant fighting. And it could no longer remain a place led by chiefs who drew their swords at the slightest quarrel over traditions. The days when one man would ally with another to attack his neighbor had to end. In short, the city had to stop being a place where life, property, and honor were not secure. It had to represent Islam. And to achieve this, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) had to fight three enemies: Ignorance, poverty, and conflict— meaning disagreements, divisions, and fights. To prevent conflict, he did something that had never been done before in history. One day, he ordered Anas ibn Malik to call the Muhajirun, the immigrant Muslims from Mecca, and the Ansar, their helpers, the Muslims of Medina. About 45 Muhajirun and 45 Ansar gathered before the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). The companions had no idea why they had been called. What was about to happen? Mus’ab ibn Umair with Abu Ayyub al-Ansari. Salman al-Farisi with Abu Darda. The Messenger of Allah paired each man from the Ansar with one from the Muhajirun. This was his brilliant solution to prevent conflicts: The bond of Brotherhood between the Ansar and the Muhajirun. In other words, he paired every companion who had migrated with a Sahaba from Medina and declared them brothers. Because he knew very well that the only way to prevent disagreements among them was through a true understanding of brotherhood. And while doing this, he wasn’t pairing them randomly. He matched companions whose personalities suited one another, those who could easily get along. In this way, he made all of them brothers to each other, except for one: Ali Radiyallahu Anhu (may Allah be pleased with him). When everyone’s name had been called except his, Ali came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ with his head lowered and said, “O Messenger of Allah, you paired all the companions as brothers with one another, but you did not make me a brother to anyone.” The Messenger of Allah ﷺ smiled and said, “O Ali, you are my brother in this world and the Hereafter.” He had made Ali his own brother. Of course, this brotherhood was not just saying “I declare you brothers” and leaving it at that. The Muhajir had left behind his home, the city where he was born and raised, his wealth, his property, and his relatives. The Ansari brother did not say to him, “Take care of yourself alone.” He did not say, “I can hardly manage on my own.” In fact, he would give half of his wealth to his brother. From then on, they would begin to live together in the same house. Of course, the Muhajirun were also doing their best not to be a burden on anyone. For the first time in history, the world was witnessing such brotherhood. Because they were sincerely putting their brothers before themselves. These selfless acts were even praised by Allah in the Quran with a verse: “A’udhu billah (I seek refuge in Allah)… wa yu’thiruna ‘ala anfusihim… “They give them preference over themselves.” And for centuries, this quality would be taught as Isar (selflessness). With this unique system, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) prevented possible conflicts. Next came another of the three problems we mentioned: Ignorance, lack of education. To address this, when the Prophet (peace be upon him) first arrived in Medina, he ordered that a school called Suffa be built next to Masjid an-Nabawi. In fact, this was, in a sense, the continuation of Dar Al-Arqam in Mecca. At Suffa, there were about 70 companions, and most of them did not have homes. They devoted themselves only to the Quran, studying its meanings more deeply and learning directly from the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). The people of Suffa were poor in terms of wealth, but they were very rich in piety and knowledge. They spent their nights in worship and in learning. Their needs were taken care of by the Prophet (peace be upon him). And they would follow his way by spreading what they had learned to others and serving as teachers to the people. And not only through the Suffa; through the Friday Khutbahs (sermons), the reminders after daily prayers, the answers he gave to people’s questions, his behavior, and the attitudes he showed in different circumstances, he was always teaching his companions. And do you know what’s truly amazing? In the history of mankind, no other person has given lessons in every aspect of life as the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) did. Normally, when someone becomes prominent in history, it’s usually in just one field, like economics. But in other fields, they don’t have remarkable insights. They don’t have much to offer. Or someone may stand out in law, but they cannot transform society in other areas. Even if he’s a genius, he can usually speak with authority in only two or three disciplines. But the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) gave clear, precise guidance in every aspect of life through his Hadith. Today, when we look at the Quran and the Ahadith (sayings), we see that they give lessons in so many areas. For example, in law, comprehensive enough to govern a state. In trade and economics, also at the level of running a nation. Family life: how to keep harmony between spouses, maintain peace at home, and raise children well. Even just these two fields are completely different fields of expertise. Then there are also teachings on relationships with relatives and neighbors, on cleanliness and hygiene, and in this area especially, the Prophet (peace be upon him) gave guidance that humanity still has not reached even today. Morality, manners, spiritual growth, and discipline of the nafs (soul); even love for animals is included in these areas. There’s even an entire book dedicated only to his teachings on medicine called Tibb an-Nabawi (Prophetic Medicine), which compiles hundreds of Hadith recorded on health. And if you look into the books of Hadith, you will find far more topics than these. And these were not just random sayings. There are hundreds of Hadith whose wisdom is still precise and relevant even today. Throughout history, influential people could only partially change their societies, and in only one field. And they could specialize in just one or two fields. But there was a man who lived in the Seventh Century, and even though he was born and raised in a Bedouin tribe, he had deep knowledge in all these areas and transformed people completely in every aspect of life. This was truly a miracle. It was clear that he had been taught by Allah, the One whose knowledge encompasses everything. So in this way, the Prophet (peace be upon him) was able to overcome the problem of ignorance. Next came the problem of poverty. But this was not as easy to solve as the other two. Because for years, the people of Medina had been economically dependent on the Jewish tribes. The city’s marketplace was in their hands. And so, they were shaping it according to their own benefit. In the economy of Medina, the ones who held the power, and thus had the final say, were the Jews. With the help of the merchant companions, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) first observed the marketplace of Medina. And from what he saw, he realized that in a market dominated by the Jews, the Muslims would not be able to compete. So, what could be done? Once again, with a unique strategy, the Prophet (peace be upon him) decided to establish a new marketplace. One that would belong only to the Muslims. So right away, he told his companions to set up a large tent. And that tent became their market. But was it only about putting up a tent? Of course not. What really made the difference was the bond of brotherhood the Prophet (peace be upon him) had built from the very beginning. Because the Muhajirun (Emigrants) did not know much about farming, but they were very skilled in trade. The Ansar, on the other hand, were not experienced in trade, but they were experts in farming. And when these two groups who were made brothers by the Prophet ﷺ came together in the marketplace, impressive results soon began to appear. Everything was going very well until one morning, when they came to the market and saw a scene that they had never imagined. It was devastating. The place where they had traded just the day before was now gone. But who could do such a thing? It was those who were not pleased with this success: the Jews. They could not stand that the Muslims’ market was attracting attention. So one night, a Jew named Ka’b ibn Ashraf, both a poet and a gang leader, gathered his men and destroyed the whole place. The companions immediately informed the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). When the Prophet came to the market, all the companions were very sad. Then Rasulullah said, “From now on, we will move our market to a place that will anger them even more.” And with even greater enthusiasm, they began to move the market. In fact, the Prophet (peace be upon him) was teaching us a profound lesson here: to look at things in a positive way. By learning to see things positively, he teaches us how to smile even in moments that seem like the end of everything. For the new marketplace, a piece of land known as Baqi al-Zubair was purchased. From then on, it became the permanent market of the Muslims, and no taxes were taken from it. With the establishment of this marketplace, the Muslims made great progress in trade. So in this way, poverty was overcome. Only one thing was missing: An environment where people could live together in peace. For this, the Prophet (peace be upon him) prepared the historic Constitution of Medina. This treaty consisted of 47 main articles and 5 additional clauses. Through it, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ aimed to bring equality and justice among the tribes. Interestingly, even though the Jews did not accept him as a Prophet, they still approved this treaty. Because among the Jewish tribes too, the weak were oppressed and the strong were always considered right. With all that was happening in Medina, what did the Jews think about the Prophet (peace be upon him)? As we mentioned earlier, they knew that the final Prophet would appear in these lands. In fact, that was the very reason they had settled in Medina. The Prophet’s migration to the city had a big impact on them. They began to wonder: could he really be that Prophet or not? Indeed, there were many verses in the Torah and the Gospel that pointed to Rasulullah (peace be upon him). His coming had been foretold. Even today, although not as many as back then, some clear signs can still be found. So why was it necessary for these books to mention the coming of Rasulullah (peace be upon him)? Because these books warned people for their good and foretold important events. Just think about it. A Prophet appears, and throughout history, he influences the entire world in one way or another. 1400 years have passed, and today a quarter of the world believes in him. This is one of the greatest matters in the history of mankind. Of course, the coming of this Prophet had to be foretold. But how? Would he be mentioned as a good man? Or as a bad one? In other words, the scriptures had to say, “Such a man will come in the future.” If he were bad, then these books would have warned, “Be careful, he will harm your religion.” But if he were truly a Prophet, they would have said, “He is the Prophet who explains the true faith that Jesus and Moses taught. Follow him so that you do not fall into false beliefs.” Were there any negative signs about him in these books? Not a single one. So it is very clear that he was mentioned in a positive way. And for this reason, many Jewish and Christian scholars of that time became Muslim. One of them was Abdullah ibn Salam. A respected scholar among the Jews. Later, when he had the chance to visit the Prophet, he asked him three questions and was amazed by the answers he received. He said that only a Prophet could know such things. And most striking of all, when he looked at the Prophet’s ﷺ face, he said, “This is not the face of a liar.” And then, he embraced Islam. Besides him, there were many other Jewish scholars who became Muslim: Ibn Yamin, Mukhayriq, and Ka’b al-Ahbar. Each of them had their own story. And the Christian scholars who embraced Islam were: the Byzantine Patriarch Daghatir, the King of Abyssinia Najashi, the Abyssinian priests, and also the people of Najran, and many others. Of course, there were also those who did not accept Rasulullah (peace be upon him). They knew that a Prophet was going to come, but they did not like the fact that Muhammad (peace be upon him) was not from the Children of Israel. In other words, once again, racism showed itself in history. Then a verse from Surah Al-Baqarah was revealed and described their inner state very clearly: “Those whom We have given the Book recognize him as they recognize their own sons. But indeed, a group of them hides the truth knowingly.” Throughout the Prophet’s life (peace be upon him), you will see many examples of how these three Jewish tribes in Medina caused trouble in their hostility towards him. And we will witness how they refused the peace he offered. Yathrib was transformed into Medina. And a magnificent system was established there. But this was not the end. Of course, Mecca was not going to leave the Muslims alone. At the first opportunity they get, they would try to destroy all of them. There was still much more to unfold between these two sides. And in the next episode, we will witness it together. We will talk about the most critical event in the history of Islam. An event that would either bring the Muslims the greatest defeat they had ever faced, or give them a strength unlike anything they had ever known. Get ready for the next episode, as we will witness one of the greatest turning points in history: The Battle of Badr.