It is obligatory upon Muslims to protect their soul, the honor of their womenfolk, and wealth, but also to show mercy. No matter how good the philosophy of turning the other cheek may be for an individual in insignificant day-to-day affairs, it spells suicide for a community when it is implemented as an absolute value. One might have supposed that the Prophet's circumstances in Medina were easier than in Mecca, and in may respects that was indeed the case.

However, in Mecca it had been easy to determine who had given themselves to Islam and who had not. In Medina the situation was somewhat different. Many of its citizens had embraced Islam, however, several had done so not out of conviction but because they feared the loss of their status within their tribe as more fellow tribesmen started to embrace Islam. These people posed an undetectable source of treachery which was a factor the Prophet (sa) had not had to contend with in Mecca.

Until this time, Medina had little or no influence on the affairs of Arabia, it had just been a place on the trade route where caravans would stop, replenish their supplies, sell their wares then go on their way. As such it had been impervious to outside affairs, however, now that the Prophet (sa) had settled there, the Koraysh viewed Medina in a different light. It was not long after his arrival that the Prophet (sa) met with neighboring tribes outside Medina and as his reputation had preceded him they gladly contracted alliances that closed the access of the northern trade routes to the Koraysh who used to pass through Medina. This meant that from now on the Koraysh caravans would have to use the coastal road on their journeys and their paths would not cross.

However, shortly after the Prophet's arrival in Medina, the Koraysh sent a letter to Abdullah, Ubbay's son, who was a newly elected chieftain. The letter read: "You have sheltered one of our men. We tell you either to kill him or throw him out of Medina. If you do not, we swear by Allah we will attack, destroy you and seize your women." When the Prophet (sa) learned of the Koraysh letter, he went to Abdullah and asked if he intended to fight against his own kinsmen for many of them had embraced Islam and were now his supporters. Abdullah weighed the implications and decided to ignore the letter.

The Koraysh had not only persecuted Muslims for their belief, robbed them of most of their possessions before and after their migration, but now the threat of war loomed large on the horizon. It was obvious they had no intention of letting Islam and its followers live in peace; their intent was annihilation.

The First Attack on Medina

The first physical act of aggression by the Koraysh on the Muslims of Medina was perpetrated by Kerz, Jabir's son. Kerz, together with a marauding part set off from Mecca with the intent of looting whatever property belonging to Muslims they could lay their hands on. Just outside Medina they came across and seized Sa'ad, Wakkas's son and Utba, Ghazwan's son and took them back to Mecca as prisoners together with a flock of sheep and a herd of camels. This was the first attack which was soon followed by several similar incidents.

Permission to Fight for Defense Or Revenge

Under the patient guidance of the Prophet (sa) the Muslims had never taken a physical aggressive stand against their adversaries, for permission to do so had not been received from Allah. Even when they had been subjected to outrageous provocation they had restrained themselves by reciting the Words of Allah to state their case. One must not suppose them to have been faint hearted in such matters, rather they controlled themselves, and obeyed their Prophet (sa). It was about this time that Allah sent down the following verse:

"Permission is given to those who fight because they were wronged. Allah has power to grant them victory: those who have been unjustly driven from their homes, just because they said: 'Our Lord is Allah ....'" (Koran 22:39-40)

But Allah also warned:

“Fight in the way of Allah those who fight against you, but do not aggress. Allah does not love the aggressors.” (Koran 2:190)

This last verse is a clear warning to all Muslims that they must not be the first to aggress. It was not the Prophet (sa) who instigated the state of war, persecuted or pillaged, on the contrary, it was the Koraysh who were the open aggressors. Now, permission had come to the Muslims to assert themselves, stand up for their rights, and take back that which had been stolen from them.

With the possible threat of war on the horizon, and the command to fight because of the wrongs afforded them, the Prophet (sa) sent observation parties of migrants to monitor caravans. From time to time they received news from their allies of caravan movements, however, more likely than not, by the time the news reached them, the Koraysh caravans were no where to be found. However, the time was not wasted as successful treaties were negotiated with several Bedouin tribes along the coast of the Red Sea.

Eleven Months After the Migration

Eleven months had passed since the Prophet's migration when, in the autumn, news of a richly laden caravan escorted by a hundred armed men led by Ummaya, the chief of Jummah, was reported. Ummaya was one of Islam's greatest opponents and so the Prophet (sa) called upon the help of the Ansars to assist the Muhajirs rid themselves of their adversary and seize the spoils of war as restitution. However, Ummaya and his caravan eluded them and there was no encounter.

The Second Year

Two months into the second year after the migration news of another caravan on its way to Syria led by Abu Sufyan, from the tribe of Shams came. The Prophet (sa) and his companions set off in search of the caravan, but the news they had received was old and when they reached Ushayrah, which lies in the valley of Yanbu, near the Red Sea, their adversaries had long gone. The cooler winter months were upon them and the number of caravans to the north dwindled. Since the time of their ancestor Hashim, caravans had taken advantaged of these cooler months to cross the inhospitable, desolate, southern part of the desert to Yemen.

The month was now Rajab, one of the four sacred months in which fighting is not permissible, when news reached Medina that a caravan making its way from Yemen was nearing Mecca. The Prophet (sa) decided to send his cousin Abdullah, Jahsh' son with eight of the Muhajir on a reconnaissance assignment. Before leaving, Abdullah was given written instructions and told not to read them until they reached a certain place. When they reached the given place, Abdullah read the instructions that told him to journey on to Nakhlah, observe the Koraysh and return with the news. There were no orders to attack the caravan.

Upon reaching the valley of Nakhlah, they concealed themselves not far from the main route and sat in wait. This time the information was correct and the Koraysh caravan stopped for a while not far from where the Muhajirs had positioned themselves. From their vantage point they observed that among the caravaners were those from the very hostile tribe of Makhzum who had been responsible for great harm to the Muslims. Abdullah was in a quandary not knowing what to do, he was unsure if the pre-Islamic rules not to fight during the Sacred Months still applied or not, and pondered deeply upon the verse:

"Permission is given to those who fight because they were wronged." (Koran 22:39)

The Sacred Month was nearing its end, and the moon of Shaban was expected that same night, however, Abdullah knew that if he waited until the sighting of the new moon was visible, the caravan would be miles away and no doubt have entered the sacred precincts of Mecca in which no fighting at any time is permissible. Abdullah reflected upon the numerous occasions they had been so unjustly persecuted, provoked and plundered for no other reason than their belief in One God, Allah, and so it wasn't until after a great deal of deliberation he gave the order to attack. As they fired their arrows, the arrow of Wakid, Abdullah Tamini's son struck and killed Amr Hadrami, and ally of the tribe of Shams.

The caravaners realized they were outnumbered and their chances of survival were small indeed, so Othman Hadrami, from the tribe of Makhzum and a freed man named Hakam surrendered. However, Nawfal, the brother of Othman managed to escape and returned to Mecca but now there was a blood feud with which to contend. Abdullah and the Muhajirs returned to Medina with their prisoners, camels and spoils.

When they reached Medina they divided the spoils among themselves, leaving one-fifth for the Prophet (sa) to distribute as charity. When Abdullah and his companions took the spoils to the Prophet (sa) and presented them to him, he declined to accept it reminding them, "I did not order you to fight in the Sacred Months." Abdullah and his companions were greatly distressed by the Prophet's refusal, and were rebuked by their fellow Muslims for their violation of the Sacred Month. The unbelievers of Medina took it upon themselves to say that this was indeed a bad omen for the Prophet (sa) and made great issue of the matter.

As for the Koraysh, they falsely accused the Prophet (sa) for being responsible for the violation of the Sacred Month of Rajab. Abdullah and his companions were devastated, it had not been their intention to disobey the Prophet (sa) and had acted only after a great deal of heart-searching, but the fact remained, they had not been given permission to fight. After a while relief came to them when Angel Gabriel brought down the verse from Allah that said:

"They ask you about the Sacred Month and fighting in it. Say: 'To fight in this month is a grave (offense); but to bar others from the Path of Allah, and disbelief in Him, and the Holy Mosque, and to expel its inhabitants from it is great with Allah. Dissension is great than killing. They will not cease to fight against you until they force you to renounce your religion, if they are able. But whosoever of you recants from his religion and dies an unbeliever, their works shall be annulled in this world and in the Everlasting Life, and those shall be the companions of Hell, and there they shall live forever." (Koran 2:217)

Now that this verse had been revealed, the Prophet (sa) knew that Abdullah and his men had been absolved and accepted a fifth of the spoils which were then distributed as charity. Abdullah and his companions asked the Prophet (sa), "May we hope that this will count as a raid for which we shall receive a reward as combatants?" For they were more anxious to receive the reward of Allah than the worldly spoils they had repossessed. The Prophet (sa) in his customary manner did not reply straight away and waited until the following verse was sent down from Allah:

"But those who believe and those who migrate and struggle in the Way of Allah, those, have hope of the Mercy of Allah, Allah is Forgiving, Merciful." (Koran 2:218)

The Ransom

Meanwhile, the tribe of Makhzum sent ransom money to Medina for Othman and Hakam. However, Sa'ad and Utba who had been taken prisoners by Kerz remained in Mecca and the Prophet (sa), who was always concerned for the welfare of his companions, did not wish to place them in life threatening situation so he sent a message saying, "We will not accept your ransom until our two companions are returned. If you kill them, we will kill your two."

After Sa'ad and Utba had been released and arrived safely in Medina, the Prophet (sa), who was not one to break his word, released Othman and Hakam, however, Hakam expressed his wish to embrace Islam and remained in Medina whilst Othman returned to Mecca where he died an unbeliever. Hakam, on the other hand, was later to become a martyr at the encounter of Bi'r Ma'una.