92The danger was real, and it was to become permanent. Some of those
people stirred up ancient quarrels between the Aws and the Khazrnj, and
one of those attempts """Quid almost have succeeded if onc member had
not, just in time, reminded them of the superior nature of their brother-
hood in Islam. One member of the Khazraj clan, Abdullah ibn Ubayy,
had converted to Islam but appeared to many believers as a troublemak-
er, the typical figure of the h}'pocritc as described in Revelation. Abu
Amir, of the Aws clan, was perceived in the same way, so much did he
spread the venom o f strife. No particular measure had bee n taken against
them, but people were wary of them and took care not to faU into the
snares that could cause division in l\'luslim ranks.The Pac t of Brotherhood
I n o rder to tighten the bonds between Muslims, and in particular bet\",een
those Muslims who were from Medina (the Ansar) and those who had
emigrated from .Mecca (th e Muhajirun), the Prophet decided to set up a
fo rmal pact of brotherhood (al-nlJlakhab) between the Muslims. T his
meant that each f\'tuhajir was bound by a pact to an Ansar, who was to
help him se ttle down, share his belongings with him, and enable him co
live in l\'icdina in the best possible circumstances. On a broader level, thelT
relationships were based on brotherhood, sharing, and mutual spiritual
assistance (the M uslim exiles from Mecca would teach their sisters and
brothers in Medina what they knew). T his pact was to provide the new
J\ (uslim community sertled in Medina with particular Strength and unity;
Extremely deep relationships were created beN.'eeo believers who were
later to attest to the intensity of their m utual!ove in God. I n a hadith qudsi,
the Prophet had presented this love a s the pinnacle of brotherhood in
faith, and his Companions strove to achieve it in their daily actions and
commitments: "On the Day of Resurrection, God will say: '\'(fhere ate
those who loved one another for the sake of My grace [.My glory]? Today,
I shall shade them with My shade, on a day when there is no shade but
M.ine.',,28
The way the Muslims d ealt with the many painful, d ifficult, and dan-
gerous situations they encountered show that they had achieved a degree
of b ro therhood and trust that no ad versity could ever manage to destroy.