And such it was, for the Quraish in treating him as an equal acknowledged his political status. Ibn Ishaq well remarks that 'when war had ceased and people met in security, then they entered into conversation and every intelligent person with whom the merits of Islam were discussed embraced it.' The increase was certainly rapid now. Referring to the women who came Margoliouth says, 'These welcome visitors easily found new ties at Madina, though some sort of examination had to be undergone to test the genuineness of their faith.'¹ The people who would not come are, in this same Sura, bitterly reproved and reminded that the ' flame of hell is prepared for the Infidels,'² whilst those who had taken the oath of fealty under the tree are promised 'a spirit of secure repose, a speedy victory and a rich booty.' ³ To meet the disappointment caused by the absence of booty the Muslims are told that there is

Other booty, over which ye have not yet had power, but now hath God compassed them for you. Sura Al-Fath (xlviii) 21.

Baidawi says this may refer to the spoils after the defeat of the Huwazin Arabs in the battle of Hunain.⁴ The Muslims had referred to Muhammad's

dream and wondered why it had not come to pass. He pointed out that the particular year of its fulfilment was not shown in it, and to pacify them brought another revelation to assure them of its certain fulfilment:—

Now hath God in truth made good to His Apostle the dream in which he said, 'Ye shall surely enter the sacred mosque, if God will, in full security having your head shaved and your haircut; ye shall not fear, for He knoweth what ye know not, and He hath ordained you, besides this, a speedy victory.¹
It is He who hath sent His Apostle with the guidance, and the religion of truth, that He may exalt it above every religion. And enough for thee is this testimony on the part of God. Sura Al-Fath (xlviii) 27-8.²