Islam as Religion
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as the Prophet of God. The newly founded community was threatened by the Meccans, who attacked it on several occasions in battles of crucial significance for Islamic history. These battles—Badr, Khandaq, Khaybar, and others—were all won by the Muslims despite their being greatly outnumbered (the exception was the battle of U hud, in which the . Meccans left the field thinking that the Muslims had been completely defeated). Thereafter, the survival of the new community was assured. Meanwhile, tribes gradually came from all over Arabia to pay allegiance to the Prophet and accept the new religion, until finally the Meccans themselves could no longer resist. The Prophet marched into Mecca triumphantly in the year 8/630, forgiving all his enemies with great nobility and magnanimity. This episode marked, in a sense, the highlight of his earthly life—even his most ardent enemies embraced Islam. The Quran refers to this occasion in chapter 60: In the Name of Allah, the Infinitely Good, the All-Merciful When Allah’s succour, and triumph cometh and thou seest mankind entering the religion of Allah in troops, Then hymn the praise of thy Lord, and seek forgiveness of Him. Lo! He is ever ready to show mercy. The Prophet returned to Medina, from which he completed the Islamization of Arabia to the north. In the tenth year of the migration, he returned to Mecca to make the greater pilgrimage (al-h. ajj), instituting the rites of h. ajj that continue to