Changes

The faith caught on slowly, winning only a few converts in Mecca (the first being his wife).  Under increased pressure and ostracism from elders in Mecca, Mohammed began the [[hijra]], an organized exodus of his followers from Mecca to the city of [[Medina]].  [[Muslims]] date the formation of their religion to the ''hijra'' itself, even beginning their dating system at this point.

The faith caught on slowly, winning only a few converts in Mecca (the first being his wife).  Under increased pressure and ostracism from elders in Mecca, Mohammed began the [[hijra]], an organized exodus of his followers from Mecca to the city of [[Medina]].  [[Muslims]] date the formation of their religion to the ''hijra'' itself, even beginning their dating system at this point.

At Medina, the new Muslims immediately adopted an aggressive stance, seeking to coexist with the [[Jews]] living in Medina on ''his'' terms. The encounter ended badly, though, with Mohammed dividing and conquering the Jewish groups in Medina, ordering the massacre of the [[Qurayza]] [[Jewish]] tribe, as they refused changing their [[religion]] to his submission, after (possibly) fabricating a cause to break what is called by modern historians the [[Compact of Medina]].<ref>Berkey, ''The Formation of Islam''</ref>

 

</blockquote>"With the arrival of the Messenger in Madina, the struggle between Islam and unbelief entered a new phase. In Makka the Prophet had devoted himself almost exclusively to expounding Islam's basic principles and to his Companions' moral and spiritual training. After the Emigration (622), however, new Muslims belonging to different tribes and regions began to gather in Madina. Although the Muslims held only a tiny piece of land, the Quraysh allied itself with as many tribes as possible to exterminate them.

In addition to threats from Makka and its allies, the young community had to contend with Madina's three Jewish tribes, which controlled its economic life. Although they had been waiting for a Prophet, they opposed the Messenger because he was not Jewish. One of the first things the Messenger did in Madina was to sign a pact with the Jews. Despite this, the Jews continued to harbor considerable ill-will toward to Messenger and plot against him and Islam. For example, the skilled Jewish poet Ka'b ibn Ashraf composed poems satirizing the Messenger and instigating his enemies" (Gulen,2000, pp. 38-39)[[Link title]]Gulen, F (2000). Prophet Muhammed: ''Aspects of His Life''.The Fountain: Turkey

== After Mohammed's Death ==

== After Mohammed's Death ==