Life of Muhammad — Page 44
sa 44 settled in his own house and made his own arrangements he was entertained by the people of Medina in turn. A widow had an only son named Anas ra , aged about eight or nine. She brought the boy to the Prophet sa and offered him for the Prophet's sa personal service. This Anas ra became immortalized in the annals of Islam. He became a very learned man, and also rich. He attained to over one hundred years of age and in the days of the Khalifahs was held in great esteem by everybody. Anas ra is reported to have said that although he went into the service of the Prophet sa as a boy and remained with him until the Prophet sa died, never did the Prophet sa speak unkindly to him, nor did he ever admonish him, nor did he ever set him a duty harder than he could perform. During his stay in Medina, the Prophet sa had only Anas ra with him. The testimony of Anas ra , therefore, reveals the Prophet's sa character as it developed in the days of his growing power and prosperity at Medina. Later, the Prophet sa sent his freedman Zaid ra to Mecca to fetch his family and relations. The Meccans had been stupefied by the sudden and well-planned departure of the Prophet sa and his followers. For some time, therefore, they did nothing to vex him. When the Prophet's sa family and the family of Ab u Bakr ra left Mecca they raised no difficulty. The two families reached Medina unmolested. In the meantime the Prophet sa laid the foundations of a mosque on the site he had bought for the purpose. After this, he built houses for himself and for his Companions. About seven months were spent on their completion. LIFE UNSAFE AT MEDINA Within a few days of the Prophet's sa arrival in Medina, the pagan tribes there became interested in Islam and a majority of them joined. Many, not persuaded at heart, also joined. In this way a party