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Joukowsky Institute for Archaeology & the Ancient World
Brown University
Box 1837 / 60 George Street
Providence, RI 02912
Telephone: (401) 863-3188
Fax: (401) 863-9423
[email protected]
Present-day Medina, this settlement was the site of considerable tension between tribes, particularly the Aws and Khazraj. In pre-Islamic times, Yathrib was also home to a large population of Jewish tribes. Because of these tensions, tribal leaders invited the Prophet Muhammad to come to Yathrib and lead the community, which he did in the hijra of 622.
Posted at Feb 19/2009 11:07AM:
ian: yathrib is only developed into a haram after the arrival of the Prophet Muhammad. there may be some confusion here with Mecca. It was in many ways a rather dispersed tribal settlement that had significant tensions among the groups (esp Aws and Khazraj).