The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) - Volume I — Page 299
IX Exile Yathrib and the People of Yathrib To the north of Makkah at a distance of approximately 250 miles there is a city called Madīnah. Today, the entire world is aware of it because our master, the Holy Prophet sa spent the last ten years of his life there. The Holy Prophet sa passed away here and it is here that his blessed tomb is situated. In the beginning, it also remained the centre of the Islāmic Caliphate. However, prior to Islām, this city was unheard of and its name was Yathrib. After the migration, since it became the home of the Messenger of Allāh, it became renowned as Madīnatur-Rasūl , 1 which gradually was reduced to Madīnah. Prior to Islām the population of Yathrib was religiously divided into two parts: Judaism and Idolatry. The Jews were then further divided into three tribes: the Banū Qainuqā‘, Banū Naḍīr and the Banū Quraiḍah. The Idolaters also had two branches named the Aus and the Khazraj. It was this very Aus and Khazraj, who after accepting Islām and giving protection to the Holy Prophet sa were honoured with the appellation of ‘Anṣār’. Prior to Islām, the Aus and the Khazraj would generally remain at war. Therefore, even in the era that we are discussing now, preparations for a dangerous war were under way, known as the Battle of Bu‘āth. Many great chieftains of the Aus and Khazraj were killed in this war. Since the Jewish people possessed superiority over these Idolaters in terms of knowledge and religion, and were generally ahead in wealth 1 City of the Messenger (Publishers)