towards the pagans or the Jews of Madina, it is clear that it must have been
said during this earlier part of his residence in that city. It could not have
been delivered after the battle of Badr when its spirit was so completely set
aside.
The state of affairs in Madina now is thus described by the historian Ibn
Ishaq, 'When Muhammad had found a safe abode in Mecca [Madina], when his
friends, the Immigrants, had united round him, and when the concerns of the
Ansar had been arranged, Islam became firmly established. Public prayers were
performed, fasts and poor-rates were established, penal laws were executed,
things lawful and unlawful were determined, and Islam gained strength amongst
the tribe of the Ansar.1 It had, in fact, become the chief power now
in Madina, ruling over the Muslims in all matters, and powerfully influencing
those who as yet held aloof from it.
But all its professors were not equally hearty and sincere. The ancient feuds
were professedly forgotten, but it was not so in practice, and many a nominal
believer was still influenced by the memory of former strife. Still, there was
no actual