The Prophetic Migration (Hijrah) was not aimed at establishing a state, nor was it part of a plot to seek revenge against the Meccans—who had subjected Muslims to the worst forms of torture, execution, and persecution—by lying in wait for them and attacking their caravans. Rather, it was the behavior and aggression of the polytheists that led to this outcome. Had the polytheists not confronted the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) with force, he would not have defended himself with force; he would have remained a citizen of Mecca as long as he and his companions could practice their religion freely.

The Migration was simply a journey in search of security and peace—akin to seeking political or religious asylum—so that the Prophet (pbuh) and the Muslims could practice their faith in freedom. It was driven by the fear that Muslims, being oppressed and weak, might wrong themselves by remaining under subjugation, thereby falling into sins or abandoning their faith, which would lead them to Hell and a wretched destination, as God Almighty says:

“Verily, as for those whom the angels take in death while they are wronging their souls, they say, ‘In what state were you?’ They say, ‘We were treated as utterly weak in the land.’ They say, ‘Was not Allah’s earth spacious enough that you could emigrate therein?’ As for such, their abode is Hell, and an evil destination it is.” (An-Nisa 4:98)*

Upon the arrival of the Prophet (pbuh) and the emigrants before him, and with the conversion of the majority of the people of Medina to Islam, a society emerged that required governance, leadership, and organization. Consequently, the world witnessed its first civil constitution that equalized citizens regardless of their varying religions and backgrounds, granting everyone their due rights. This was the Covenant of Medina (Mithaq al-Madinah), which deemed everyone—Muslims and non-Muslims alike—as “one nation (Ummah) to the exclusion of all others,” meaning a single political entity. It regulated relations with the Jews and polytheists in Medina, guaranteeing the Jews the right to maintain their tribal structures, laws, and religious jurisprudence, provided they participated in defense and that no faction in Medina launched a war independently. Thus, the peace of Islam manifested in drafting a constitution that preserved security and peace, and granted freedom—particularly religious freedom—to all.

However, the oppressors pursued them. They threatened the people of Medina for harboring the Prophet (pbuh) and his companions, barred them from visiting the Sacred House (the Kaaba), and corresponded with Abdullah bin Ubayy bin Salul. Furthermore, they dispatched raiding parties to commit acts of terrorism, both before and after, by attacking the outskirts of Medina—such as the raid of Kurz al-Fihri on the Muslims’ livestock, which was termed the First Battle of Badr. They also attempted to kill any Muslims they found and burned palm trees, as seen in the “Expedition of Sawiq” after the Great Battle of Badr.

The Great Battle of Badr only occurred because the polytheists arrogantly marched around the outskirts of Medina to provoke the Muslims and attack whenever the opportunity arose. It was then that God Almighty permitted the Prophet (pbuh) and his companions to fight—after it had been forbidden to them when they were citizens of another entity (Mecca), since a citizen has no right to bear arms against the entity they live in; rather, under Islamic teachings, they can only emigrate. Rebellion and mutiny against states, governments, and entities are forbidden in Islam, even if due to religious persecution. Permission to fight was granted because they were wronged and expelled from their homes unjustly, and this was to guarantee religious freedom for themselves and others, securing places of worship like monasteries, churches, and synagogues even before securing their own mosques:

“Permission to fight is given to those against whom war is made, because they have been wronged — and Allah indeed has power to help them — Those who have been driven out from their homes unjustly only because they said, ‘Our Lord is Allah’ — And if Allah did not repel some men by means of others, there would surely have been pulled down cloisters and churches and synagogues and mosques wherein the name of Allah is oft commemorated. And Allah will surely help one who helps Him. Allah is indeed Powerful, Mighty.” (Al-Hajj 22:40-41)*

Their caravans were also armed because they carried the entire wealth of Quraysh. When matters reached a tipping point, and a caravan alongside an army was hovering near Medina, God Almighty brought the Prophet (pbuh) out of his home and commanded him to move. He set out with a detachment of three hundred and thirteen men, so that the polytheists would know that the Prophet (pbuh) and his companions did not fear them. After he set out, God Almighty informed the Prophet (pbuh) that they would clash with the polytheists—either the caravan or the army—and that they would be victorious. The Muslims wished to encounter the caravan, but God Almighty destined it to be against the army, to bring about a sign of victory for the Muslims over the arrogant, criminal polytheists:

“Even as thy Lord brought thee forth from thy house with truth, while a party of the believers were averse, Disputing with thee concerning the truth after it had become manifest, as if they were being driven to death while they actually saw it. And remember the time when Allah promised you one of the two parties that it should be yours, and you wished that the one without thorns should be yours, but Allah desired to establish the truth by His words and to cut off the root of the disbelievers; That He might establish the truth and bring to naught falsehood, even though the guilty might dislike it.” (Al-Anfal 8:6-9)*

Thus, the Holy Qur’an bears witness that the Prophet did not set out to commit highway robbery or seize the caravan—as the matter has been erroneously misinterpreted—nor did the Meccan army set out only after learning of this. Rather, it is clear that both the army and the caravan had set out to lie in wait for the Muslims.

The polytheists persisted in their attempts to uproot and eliminate the Muslims. They had their turn at the Battle of Uhud, during which the Muslims learned the lesson of obedience and realized that they triumph through the power and grace of God, not by their own strength or bravery. Later, the polytheists gathered in the Battle of the Trench (Al-Ahzab) intending to annihilate and wipe out the Muslims. This battle witnessed the treachery of Banu Qurayzah, but God sent His victory, and the leaders of the traitors were punished. They had allowed the polytheists to infiltrate through their quarters to attack the Muslims and enter Medina from the very side they were supposed to defend. Banu Qurayzah refused the judgment of the Prophet (pbuh)—who never gained power over an enemy except that he forgave him—and instead accepted the judgment of Sa’d bin Mu’adh, who judged them according to their own Torah, decreeing the execution of their leaders and combatants. Even then, the Prophet (pbuh) offered amnesty to anyone among them who sought it, and accepted the intercession of anyone who wished to intercede for any of them. However, a small faction refused to ask the Prophet (pbuh) for pardon out of pride and arrogance, so they met their punishment.

Later, the Prophet (pbuh) set out intending to perform the lesser pilgrimage (Umrah), because Quraysh had no right to bar anyone from it. This led to the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah, which God Almighty deemed a manifest victory (Fathan Mubina). This is because Islam spreads during times of peace and reconciliation, not during times of war and insecurity. Delegations began pouring in to the Prophet (pbuh) to accept Islam, until the faith spread across all corners of the Arabian Peninsula. Yet, Quraysh clung to their malice and treachery; they incited Banu Bakr, who were in alliance with them, to attack Banu Khuza’ah, who were in alliance with the Prophet (pbuh), thereby breaching the treaty. This culminated in the Conquest of Mecca, which was achieved peacefully without bloodshed, after the polytheists realized that the Muslims’ power and influence had grown immensely during the time of peace. This was a magnificent sign that God Almighty was with the Prophet (pbuh) and that their idols could neither harm nor benefit them, so they too embraced Islam. They then received a general amnesty from the Prophet (pbuh)—an outcome they never doubted they would receive:

“O people of Quraysh, what do you think I am about to do with you?” They said, “Good. You are a noble brother, and the son of a noble brother.” He said, “Go, for you are free.” (Seerah Ibn Hisham)

Then when they became a formidable force, the Battle of Hunayn took place. In this battle, the Muslims were vainly impressed by their large numbers, saying, “We will not be defeated today for lack of numbers.” Consequently, God scattered the massive Muslim army, and the Prophet (pbuh) remained with only a few dozen companions, though they ultimately emerged victorious. This was to teach them a lesson: it was God Almighty who granted them victory, and He was committed to aiding them if they fought for the sake of religion, provided there was complete obedience and commitment, and that their own strength would avail them nothing if they forgot or ignored this truth.

When the tyrants of the world from the Persian and Byzantine empires thought to eliminate this nascent state—the establishment and strengthening of which was initially triggered by the oppression and aggression of the polytheists—God shattered these empires and made them an inheritance for the Muslims. Once stability was established for the Muslims and Islam began to spread among the people, empires and states rose and fell, yet Islam continued its ascent. Whenever the Muslims grew weak and the enemies of Islam, such as the Crusaders, attacked, it ultimately led to the demise of the invaders and the spread of Islam among Arab Christians due to the stark contrast between what they witnessed from those they had thought were their brothers in faith, and the noble conduct of their Muslim fellow citizens.

It is true that Islam does not aim to establish a state, and had things proceeded peacefully, the Muslim state of Medina would not have emerged in the first place. However, it was also within the decree of God Almighty that the Prophet (pbuh) and the Rightly Guided Caliphs after him provide a model of a righteous ruler, just as he had provided a model of a righteous, persecuted citizen while in Mecca. This was to complete the application of Islamic law (Sharia) so that humanity could find practical examples to follow.

In any case, had the polytheists not opposed the Prophet (pbuh)—which is impossible according to the historical sunnah (way) of the Prophets—God Almighty would have ordained that he govern them by their own free will. This is not because he desired power, but because God Almighty willed to manifest this model to perfect the religion, allowing Muslims to follow the practice (Sunnah) of the Prophet whether they are the governed or the governors. However, it is an error to believe that Islam demands Muslims to rule in order to live Islam and apply its Sharia; rather, it states that if you do attain governance, your duty is justice:

“Surely, Allah commands you to make over trusts to those entitled to them, and that, when you judge between men, you judge with justice.” (An-Nisa 4:59)*

Thus, whenever there was peace, Islam spread. Whenever Muslims triumphed over hackers or aggressors, they established justice, security, and peace, and they refrained from fighting others simply because they were disbelievers, as long as those others offered them peace. They did not move for worldly gains or ambitions, unlike other nations before them who fought for conquest and spoils; rather, God Almighty warned them against this:

“O ye who believe! when you go forth to fight in the cause of Allah, make thorough investigation, and say not to anyone who greets you with the greeting of peace, ‘Thou art not a believer,’ seeking the goods of this life. With Allah are plenteous spoils. Even thus were you before this, but Allah conferred His special favour on you; so make thorough investigation. Surely, Allah is well aware of what you do.” (An-Nisa 4:95)*

Thus, God Almighty has proven that He is dominant over His affairs, even if most people do not know, and that this religion which He established will reach wherever the night and day reach, entering every household with the glory of the honorable or the disgrace of the abased.

In this era of weakness, God has raised for this Ummah the Imam Mahdi and Promised Messiah (peace be upon him), who came at a time of Muslim vulnerability to manifest a new Meccan sign. In it, Muslims triumph despite their weakness, achieving a victory akin to Badr across the centuries (the thirteenth, fourteenth, and fifteenth centuries AH) when they are humiliated, just as He helped them before:

“And Allah had already helped you at Badr when you were weak. Fear Allah then, that you may be thankful.” (Ali ‘Imran 3:124)*

Furthermore, God Almighty will establish the Rightly Guided Caliphate once more after him, fulfilling His promise just as He fulfilled it the first time:

“Allah has promised to those among you who believe and do good works that He will surely make them Successors in the earth, as He made Successors from among those who were before them; and that He will surely establish for them their religion which He has chosen for them; and that He will surely give them in exchange security and peace after their fear: They will worship Me, and they will not associate anything with Me.” (An-Nur 24:56)*

This will continue until the world bears witness to the truth of Islam, and liars and fabricators will no longer be able to accuse it of spreading by force, or being a political project to establish states and empires, or aiming to eliminate disbelievers and punish them for their disbelief. Regrettably, some criminals among Muslims share this distorted view, and ignorant Muslims follow them in it, which has brought a bad reputation to Islam. However, all of this will fade away, the face of Islam will remain bright, radiant, and pure, the clouds of lies and fabrication will scatter, and Islam will witness a new golden age soon, by the permission of God Almighty.

*Note: The verse numbering follows the standard Ahmadiyya system, where Bismillah is counted as verse 1, making the numbers shift by exactly one integer higher relative to standard non-Ahmadiyya prints (e.g., An-Nisa 98 vs 97, Al-Hajj 40-41 vs 39-40, etc.).