On a new page, miss the top two lines and… List as many examples as you can of times when violence has been the right thing to do.

The Hijrah, the capture of Makkah What was the Hijrah and why was it important? How did Makkah and Madina become Muslim cities? To consider whether Muhammad should have used force to achieve his goal.

Hijrah After the Night of Power Muhammad started to teach people what the angel had shown him. The people in Makkah did not like his message and Islam became very unpopular. After a while, Muhammad’s life was in danger. In 622 Muhammad fled from Makkah to Medina. This was known as the Hijrah, which means migration.

Medina Muhammad continued to spread his teaching in Medina and it was well received. More and more people joined Muhammad, from medina and from Makkah and Islam became a strong force in the area. The Hijrah is so important that it marks the start of the new year in the Muslim calendar. What does Hijrah mean? Why did Muhammad leave Makkah? Why do you think they called it a migration and not a retreat or evacuation? Sometimes Muslims go on a Hijrah nowadays. What do you think this would be?

The Wars Between 624 and 627 there were a few battles between the people of Makkah and the Muslims of Medina. There were heavy losses on both sides. When the people of Makkah attacked Medina, Muhammad’s uncle was killed by a spear and Muhammad himself was injured. Even so, the people of Makkah were unable to get past the trenches built by the Muslims and eventually they gave up and went home. Once the people of Makkah realised how strong the Muslims were, they signed a truce which meant that neither side could fight each other for ten years. In the years that followed the Muslims grew stronger as they converted more and more people who were impressed by Muhammad’s teaching about devotion and submission to God.

The return to Makkah In 630 Muhammad broke the truce and gathered a large army to march on Makkah. The army was so huge that the people of Makkah refused to fight and all hid in their houses because they were scared the Muslims would kill them. The Muslims announced that any who surrendered would be unharmed and so the people of Makkah surrendered and the battle was won.

The Ka’bah The Ka’bah was a holy building in Makkah which contained all the idols that the people worshipped.

The return to Makkah Immediately the Muslims travelled to the Ka’bah and destroyed all the idols inside. Muhammad had won and even the ruler of Makkah, Abu Sufyan, converted to Islam. Why do you think the people of Makkah thought that Muhammad was going to kill them? Why do you think that people converted to Islam? What did Muhammad do at the Ka’bah? Why do you think Muhammad smashed the idols? “Muhammad should not have taken Makkah by force, he should have given the people the option to convert” Do you agree? (3) Why would some disagree with you? (3)