Muslim Weakness after al Isra'

quraysh did not understand the meanings behind al isrd'. neither did many of the muslims who themselves apostatized in consequence, as we saw earlier. encouraged by this relapse, quraysh intensified its attacks against muhammad and his followers until they could cope with it no more. muhammad's hope of enlisting the tribes into his ranks was dissipated after his rejection by thaqif at al ta‘if, as well as by the tribes of kindah, kalb, banu `amir and banu hanifah at their annual pilgrimage in makkah, after all these experiences, muhammad nearly gave up hope of converting any more men from quraysh. realizing the isolation imposed upon muhammad and the irreconcilable opposition of quraysh to his cause, the other tribes of the peninsula, especially those surrounding or having business relations with makkah, became all the more reluctant to receive his calls. despite his reliance upon hamzah and `umar, and his confidence that quraysh could not harm him any more than they had already done on account of the tribal loyalties and alliances involved, muhammad realized that the spread of god's call, limited as it were to a small number of weak people, exposed to the danger of apostasy or extermination, had come to a halt unless some victory from god was forthcoming. days passed while muhammad's increasing isolation kept pace with quraysh's ever-growing enmity.

did this isolation of muhammad weaken his determination or impair his morale? no! rather, it strengthened his faith in the truth which had come to him from his lord. such travails would have discouraged any person of ordinary spirit; but the noble, the truly gifted, they can only be stimulated to higher levels of conviction, of resolution, and self exertion. rather than being shaken, muhammad and his companions continued to have the strongest faith that god would raise his religion above all religions and bring victory to them in the process. the storms of hatred raging around them did not shake the faith. muhammad spent his year in makkah unconcerned that his and khadijah's wealth was being rapidly exhausted to the point that poverty and want were imminent. only the victory which he was absolutely certain god soon would grant him occupied his thought. when the season of pilgrimage came again and men from all over the arabian peninsula gathered in makkah, he renewed his call to the revealed truth, undaunted by any violent rejection with which these tribes might meet his call. the plebeians of makkah renewed their attacks against his person whenever he preached in public, but their injuries did not reduce muhammad's self assurance. he knew that it was almighty god who sent him a messenger of the truth, that there could be no doubt but that god would confirm his truth and give it victory. he knew that god had asked him always to present his revelations to men with arguments yet more sound and gentle, counseling "and then, your enemy will become your very warm friend."[qur'an, 41:34] he knew too well that god has asked him to be gentle to men that they might remember and fear. it was in this certainty, therefore, that muhammad received the attacks of the quraysh and bore patiently ,their injuries and harm. all along, he knew that god is always with the patient.