Life-of-Muhammad

44Life of Muhammad sasettled in his own house and made his ownarrangements he was entertained by the people ofMedina in turn. A widow had an only son named Anas ra ,aged about eight or nine. She brought the boy to theProphet sa and offered him for the Prophet's sa personalservice. This Anas ra became immortalized in the annalsof Islam. He became a very learned man, and also rich.He attained to over one hundred years of age and in thedays of the Khalifahs was held in great esteem byeverybody. Anas ra is reported to have said that althoughhe went into the service of the Prophet sa as a boy andremained with him until the Prophet sa died, never didthe Prophet sa speak unkindly to him, nor did he everadmonish him, nor did he ever set him a duty harderthan he could perform. During his stay in Medina, theProphet sa had only Anas ra with him. The testimony ofAnas ra , therefore, reveals the Prophet's sa character as itdeveloped in the days of his growing power andprosperity at Medina.Later, the Prophet sa sent his freedman Zaid ra toMecca to fetch his family and relations. The Meccanshad been stupefied by the sudden and well-planneddeparture of the Prophet sa and his followers. For sometime, therefore, they did nothing to vex him. When theProphet's sa family and the family of Abu Bakr ra leftMecca they raised no difficulty. The two families reachedMedina unmolested. In the meantime the Prophet sa laidthe foundations of a mosque on the site he had boughtfor the purpose. After this, he built houses for himselfand for his Companions. About seven months werespent on their completion.LIFE UNSAFE AT MEDINAWithin a few days of the Prophet's sa arrival inMedina, the pagan tribes there became interested inIslam and a majority of them joined. Many, notpersuaded at heart, also joined. In this way a party