The Excellent Exemplar - Muhammad — Page 36
THE EXCELLENT EXEMPLAR — MUHAMMAD 36 in Jesus, their uttering against Mary a grievous calumny, their claim that they had put Jesus to death on the cross, their taking interest though they had been forbidden it, their devouring people’s wealth wrongfully, their transgression in respect of the observance of the Sabbath, etc. It also holds out a promise of redemption: “But those among them who are firmly grounded in knowledge. . . believe in what has been sent down to thee and what was sent down before thee, and those who observe Prayer and tho se who pay the Zakat and those who believe in God and the Last Day: Upon those will We surely bestow a great reward (4:156 - 163). While not daring to oppose the Prophet openly, they let no opportunity pass of conspiring and intriguing against him and the Muslims both inside Medina and outside it. The Meccan Muslims had found a place of refuge in Medina, and they could now openly perform their daily worship of God, together with their brethren of Medina, without hindrance. They appreciated this as a great boon, but in Medina also the Muslims were ex posed to many hazards and had to keep constantly on the alert. The Prophet himself, who was responsible for the security not only of the Muslims but of the whole of Medina, and had many more cares added to the discharge of his mission as a Prophet, found l ittle time for sleep or rest. When this became known, the Muslims arranged to mount guard by turns outside his quarters at night so that he could have a few hours of sleep. Besides the internal problems of Medina and the dangers and hazards confronting the Muslims, and most of all the Prophet himself, a formidable threat was soon added from Mecca. When the Meccans learned that the Prophet had arrived