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en a ee ey re ed For the first three years of his mission, Mohammed was considered @ fanatic by the people of Mecca* (Makka), and because of this he relegated his teachings to his family and intimate friends. Like most prophets, he was not without honor save in his own country. At the end of the third year, he received the command to "arise and warn" and thereafter preached in public. From 620 A. D., Mohammed's affairs at Mecca were inacrisis. By public standards, his mission was considered & failure until he met 2 group of men from Yathrib (ater called Medina), @ city more than two hundred miles away, who, recognizing him as the awaited Prophet, returned to their city and told what they had seen and heard. This was the only place which proved receptive to his teachings and it was in Yathrib that the future of Islam lay. § In the Summer of 622 A.D., to avoid being murdered, Mohammed fled from Mecca during the night and made his Way to Yathrib. This is the famous hegira (hajj) from Mecca to Yathrib,from which the Mosiem** counts the years. It was in Yyathrib that Mohammed puilt a theocratic state, and from Yathrib that he ruled a rapidly growing empire. The lonely prophet was now the armed conqueror ! *The capital of Arabia fourteen centuries 2g0. **The more familiar form of the word Muslim. -2-