The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) - Volume II — Page 533
XII First Era of Life in Madīnah Comes to an End and the Islāmic System of Government The Dawn of a New Era Along with the Ghazwah of Banū Quraiẓah, the first era of the life of the Holy Prophet sa in Madīnah and the second volume of our book comes to a close. What were the circumstances in which this era came to pass? What tribulations was the Holy Prophet sa forced to confront in order to defend Islām? What vulnerable times were the Muslims subjected to? What horrific forms did internal and external threats take on? The answers to these questions have been dealt with in somewhat of a detailed manner above. It would not be out of place to state that the first era of the life of the Holy Prophet sa in Madīnah was like an earthquake which continued to dangerously shake the land of Madīnah for a long period of five years but this felt even longer due to constant hardship. Certain jolts of this earthquake were so destructive in nature that if the special succor of God had not been present, these shocks definitely would have overturned the plains of Madīnah and put the Muslims to rest in the dust forever. As we have already seen one branch of the source of this fiery quake was reaching the base of the four walls of Madīnah through the fortresses of the Jews. The greatest shock of this earthquake took place at the Ghazwah of the Ditch, when the land of Madīnah literally began to tremble as it were, with the martial slogans of the bloodthirsty confederates and thunderous roar of the hooves of their Arabian horses; and when the hearts of the Muslims began