Prophet Mphammad (PUH) Time in Makkah

The Prophet (peace be upon him) stayed in Makkah for 13 years calling to monotheism: worshiping Allah alone without any partner. He started to call people to the religion in secret with a small group of people.

This group of people were very close to him which included relatives from within Quraysh, the clan the Prophet’s family is from. He later started to call large groups of people to embrace Islam, believe in one God, and believe in him as a Prophet.

Only a small number of Muslims believed in his message in the early years of Prophethood and those who believed were prosecuted by the people of Makkah. Some were tortured and others were killed. Many of the people who were plotting to harm the Muslims included members from within the Quraysh.

To help keep the Muslims away from further prosecution Muhammad (peace be upon him) later commanded some of the Muslims to migrate to Abyssinia (modern day Eritrea and the northern half of Ethiopia). The King of Abyssinia allowed the migrant Muslims to stay within his lands where they were safe from being harmed.

In the year 619 the Prophet’s uncle Abu Talib passed away. This was a significant loss for Muhammad (peace be upon him) because this man had raised him after the death of his parents. He was also a widely respected community leader who defended the Prophet from the persecution of the Quraysh. Now that his protector Abu Talib was no longer around the persecution in Makkah increased and intensified.

That same year his beloved wife Khadija passed away as well. This year in the Prophet’s life became known as the Year of Sorrow because of the losses of two beloved people.

Despite the hatred shown from some of the people of Makkah during those 13 years, the number of Muslims increased and Islam was growing. Allah continued to send Jibreel to reveal more verses of the Quran to Muhammad (peace be upon him). The Prophet would then teach these verses to the early Muslims.

At the end of those 13 years it was time for Muhammad (peace be upon him) to leave Makkah and find a new home for the Muslims.

The Companions of Muhammad (peace be upon him), the early Muslims, were commanded to migrate to the city of Madinah. Some were prevented and were not able to migrate and others migrated in groups. All that was left of the Muslims in Makkah was the Prophet himself and two of his companions: his close friend Abu Bakr and his cousin Ali.

The Quraysh plotted to kill Muhammad (peace be upon him) after realizing his Companions had migrated to Madinah. The Quraysh feared he would migrate as well and the religion of Islam would spread to other parts of the world. Muhammad (peace be upon him) was informed by angel Jibreel about the murder plot. With this critical piece of information he made a plan with his two companions to leave the city of Makkah safely.

The night before leaving Makkah to migrate to Madinah, the Prophet (peace be upon him) slept at Abu Bakr’s house instead of his own home. He also told his cousin Ali to sleep in his bed that same night and trick the Quraysh into thinking that he was unaware of the murder plot.

When nightfall arrived a few members from the Quraysh lied in wait outside the house of the Prophet (peace be upon him), waiting for him to come out so they could kill him. Their plot was foiled when they realized that Muhammad was already gone. They were caught off-guard and the person they wished to kill had escaped.

Allah had saved Muhammad from the wicked plot of these people and revealed these verses:

Soon afterwards the Prophet (peace be upon him) and Abu Bakr used this opportunity to leave Makkah and make their way to Madinah. Ali would follow suit and make his way to the new city shortly thereafter. This major event in Islamic history became known as the Hijrah and also marks the beginning of the Islamic calendar.