The Hijrah of the Prophet peace be and blessings upon him and his companions from Makkah to Madinah was, in no wise, an emigration from a town to any hinterland known by the name of Yathrib but from one city to another. The new home of the émigrés was, at the same time different in many respects from the town they had left. For one, it was comparatively smaller than Makkah, but the society was more complex in comparison to the social life of Makkah. The Prophet peace be and blessings upon him was therefore, expected to come across problems of a different scope and nature owing to the subscription of its

populace to different religions offering various social codes and customs, not to forget its divergent cultural patterns. The Herculean task ahead of him was one of meeting the challenges of such a prevailing situation. By and large, only a Prophet could achieve such a feat. One who is commissioned and blest by God with wisdom, foresight, conviction and firmness of purpose and capacity to smother and blend the conflicting ideas and ideals into a new concept, one which could usher the dying humanity into a new brave and commendable world. And, above all, such arbiter or savior had to have a loveable personality. How very aptly has God set forth the services rendered by that benefactor of the human race?

“And (as for the believers) hath attuned their hearts. If You had spent all that is in the earth You couldst not have attuned their hearts, but Allah hath attuned them. Lo! He is Mighty, Wise.” [Qur'an Qur’an 8:63].

Prophet in Madinah

News of the Prophetʹs departure from Makkah spread fast. Eagerly expecting his arrival, the Ansaars used to go out after morning prayers to the outskirts of the city and await his arrival until there was no more shade and the Sun became unbearable. Then, as it was the hot season, they returned to their homes, sad and disappointed. At last, the Prophet peace be and blessings upon him arrived. The Ansaar had already returned to their houses but a Jew who happened to see him, cried aloud announcing his arrival. Everybody rushed out to greet the Prophet peace be and blessings upon him whom they found sitting beneath a tree with Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) who was of like age. Many of them had never seen the Prophet peace be and blessings upon him and did not know which of the two was he. They crowded round both, but now, Abu Bakr realized their difficulty. He rose

up, stood behind the Prophet peace be and blessings upon him shielding him with a piece of cloth from the sun, and thus the doubts of the people dissipated. (Ibn Hisham, Vol. I, p. 492)

More or less five hundred Ansaars rushed to pay their respects to the Prophet of Allah peace be and blessings upon him; they requested him to enter the city, saying, “Ride on! You two are safe and we shall obey you!”.

The Prophet peace be and blessings upon him went on, accompanied by his companions and the welcoming crowd. The inhabitants of Madinah stood in front of their doors, the women lined up on the roofs inquiring one another about the Prophet peace be and blessings upon him.

Anas said that he never came across a happier day in his life. The people thronged in the way at their doors and windows and on the roofs of the houses. The slaves and lads cried excitedly, “Allahu‐Akbar, the Prophet peace be and blessings upon him of Allah is come!

Bara ibn Azib, who was then in his youth, had said: “I never saw the people of Madinah display warmth so great as the happiness they expressed on the arrival of the Prophet peace be and blessings upon him of Allah where even the slave‐girls were shouting that the Prophet peace be and blessings upon him of Allah hath arrived!”

The faithful greeted the arrival of the Prophet peace be and blessings upon him with the joyful cries of Allahu Akbar. No other welcome wore that festive glance to gladden their hearts. Madinah appeared to be jubilant and beaming into a smile. The young maidens of Aus and Khazraj felt elated and sang in chorus:

On the hillside whence caravans are given a sendoff, The full moon comes up this day. All the while Allah is praised, We had better return our thanks The Holy One, O You sent us, Yours has brought binding commands.

Anas ibn Malik had not come of age when the Prophet peace be and blessings upon him came to Madina. He was present on the occasion and he says, “I never saw a day more graceful and radiant than the day when the Prophet peace be and blessings upon him came to us.” (Darimi, On the authority of Anas).

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