The Message of Islam — Page 30
30 defence. No section would enter into any separate treaty relations with any outside tribe, nor would any section be compelled to join in any fighting that might take place outside Madinah. The final determination of disputes would be referred to the Prophet saw and his decision would be accepted and carried out. Thus, the already heavy responsibilities of the Prophet saw were augmented by the problems related to the administration of the affair of Madinah. Abdullah bin Ubayy, Chief of Khazraj, was deeply chagrined at the loss of a crown, which, before the arrival of the Prophet saw, he had thought was assured for him. He became the leader of the disaffected party in Madinah who became known as the hypocrites. The Jews on their part were not well disposed towards the Prophet saw. They were, it is true, awaiting the advent of a Prophet saw foretold in their scriptures (see Deut. 18:18), but they felt that to accept an Arab as fulfilment of that Prophecy would raise the prestige of the Arabs above that of the Jews in the religious and spiritual spheres and this, as Jehovah’s chosen people, they were not prepared to tolerate. While not dar- ing to oppose the Prophet saw openly, they let no opportunity pass of intriguing and conspiring against him and the Muslims, both inside Madinah and outside. To the internal problems of Madinah and the dangers and hazards confronting the Muslims, and most of all the Prophet saw himself, a formidable threat was soon added from Makkah. When the Meccans learned that the Prophet saw had arrived safely at Madinah, they resolved to adopt coercive measures to secure his expulsion from Madinah. They addressed a letter to Abdullah bin Ubayy, warning him and the people of Madinah