In the early days of his prophethood, Muhammad and his followers endured fierce oppression by the enemies of the new religion. In one instance they threw stones , at him and as he sat desolate tending to his bleeding wounds, Angel Gabriel visited him with greetings from the Lord and an offer — if Muhammad so wished to cause the mountains to crumble over his enemies’ heads, to which the Prophet answered: "Leave me alone, Gabriel! May it please You Lord to forgive my people: for they do not know."

The following years saw more persecution and killing of Muslims and a plot over the life of Prophet Muhammad, making it necessary to migrate from Makka to Medina where Islam was fulfilled as a Muslim community and a state. After a lengthy conflict it was then the turn of the Muslims to enter Makka with an overwhelming army to purify the Mosque of Abraham from the idols. As his staunch ‘enemies of yesterday stood in surrender awaiting his verdict over them, Muhammad declared general amnesty and addressed them saying: "You may go. You are a free people!" It was this behavior of forgiveness that won all that community to Islam, a feat that could have never been achieved by pressure or coercion, which in anyway would have conflicted with the Quranic injunction: "There is no compulsion in religion..." (Quran 2: 256). The Quran incessantly reminds Muslims of the importance of forgiveness. "Those who avoid the greater sins and indecencies; and when they are angry even then forgive," (Quran 42: 37) is one description of the truly faithful. "Kind words and forgiving of faults are better than charity followed by insult." (Quran 2:263)