By the year **613 CE**, Muhammad (pbuh) began speaking publicly and frequenting the Ka‘bah to pray and meditate, meeting privately with small groups to discuss his teachings. The Makkan establishment, led by the Quraysh, initially reacted coolly, dismissing Muhammad (pbuh) as merely being struck with a passing fancy.

The Beginning of Public Conflict

The resolve of the new faith was soon tested. When one of Muhammad’s (pbuh) followers, **Abu Bakr**, openly delivered a speech near the Ka‘bah outlining the tenets of Islam, he was brutally attacked and beaten by idol-worshipers. Although Muhammad (pbuh) himself was initially protected by his influential tribal clan, as he continued speaking out for **monotheism** and attracting more followers, the Makkan leaders took an increasingly harsher tone.

The leaders demanded he cease his activities, arguing that monotheism would destroy the Makkan economy, which was built on idol veneration and pilgrimage. They approached his uncle and protector, **Abu Talib**, asking him to silence his nephew or convince him to take a handsome cash payment to keep quiet. When questioned, Muhammad (pbuh) famously replied:

“If they were to put the sun in my right hand and the moon in my left, I would not refrain from my mission. I won’t give it up until either God proves my cause or I die trying.”

Abu Talib, deeply moved by his nephew’s unwavering commitment, gave his protective reply: **“Do whatever you like, for by the Lord of the Ka‘bah, I will not give you up.”**

Violence and Resilience

As all attempts to silence Muhammad (pbuh) failed, the Makkans became more violent. The Prophet (pbuh) endured insults—being accused of being a sorcerer, possessed, or a mere poet. Worse still, gangs would attack his less-connected followers, particularly converted slaves who were savagely beaten by their pagan masters. Even Muhammad (pbuh) was subjected to insults, having garbage thrown at his door and being assaulted with rocks.

To protect his most vulnerable followers, Muhammad (pbuh) sent two separate groups across the Red Sea to seek refuge in Christian **Abyssinia** (modern Ethiopia). He himself continued to preach, focusing his efforts on members of incoming caravans, hoping to find receptive hearts outside the city. The Makkans, however, tirelessly countered him, warning all visitors that Muhammad (pbuh) was mad or possessed, struggling to offer any other explanation for the power and eloquence of the Qur’an’s recitation.

The Breaking Point and the Hijrah

The situation escalated to murder as the Makkans cruelly killed a man and woman who professed belief in Islam. Muhammad’s entire clan and all his followers were eventually subjected to a severe three-year **economic and social boycott** outside the city, which was only lifted after visiting Arabs shamed the Quraysh into capitulating. The year following the end of the boycott was marked by overwhelming sorrow, as Muhammad (pbuh) lost both his beloved wife, **Khadijah**, and his steadfast protector, **Abu Talib**. His vulnerability was absolute.

After seeking refuge in the nearby city of Ta’if and being brutally rebuffed with thrown stones, Muhammad (pbuh) continued to persevere, sustained by Qur’anic verses that commanded him to ignore the insults and resist depression.

His patience finally paid off when he preached to pilgrims from the northern oasis town of **Yathrib** (later Madinah). Several individuals converted and returned home to spread the faith. The following year, a larger group met Muhammad (pbuh) secretly outside Makkah, pledged their allegiance, and invited him and his followers to join them in their city. A new, safe haven had revealed itself.

Muhammad (pbuh) began organizing the **secret departure** of his followers in small groups to Yathrib. When only a few remained, the Prophet (pbuh) asked his cousin, the teenage boy **‘Ali**, to stay behind to return the funds that neighbors had entrusted to *Al-Amīn* (The Trustworthy). Then, accompanied by his trusty friend, **Abu Bakr**, Muhammad (pbuh) escaped in the night. This timing was critical, as the Makkan leaders had gathered to plot his assassination while he slept.

When the assassins discovered ‘Ali in the Prophet’s bed, the hunt was on. A massive reward of 100 camels was offered for the capture or death of Muhammad (pbuh). The fugitives initially headed south to confuse their foes, taking refuge in a cave for three days, where they were nearly discovered. After cleverly evading their pursuers, Muhammad (pbuh) eventually entered Yathrib to the cheers of hundreds of new followers.

This event, the **Hijrah** (migration), took place in the year **622 CE**. After thirteen years of preaching in Makkah, Muhammad (pbuh) now called Yathrib his home. Due to his prominence, the city’s name would eventually change to *Madīnat an-Nabī* (City of the Prophet), or simply **Madinah** (City).