Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be to him), after his appointment as a Messsenger by Allah, stayed for about thirteen years in Makkah and ten years in Madinah. Broadly the history of the mission of the Prophet in these two cities may be described under different stages. 

MAKKAH PERIOD

The history of the mission of the Holy Prophet at Makkah can be divided into four stages.

The First Stage: It began with his appointment as a Messenger and ended with the proclamation of Prophethood three years later. During this period the Message was given secretly to some selected persons only, but the common people of Makkah were not aware of it.

The Second Stage: It lasted for two years after the proclamation of his Prophethood. It began with opposition by individuals: then by and by, it took the shape of antagonism, ridicule, derision,, accusation, abuse, and false propaganda then gangs were formed to persecute those Muslims who were comparatively poor, weak' and helpless.

The Third Stage: It lasted for about six years from the beginning of the persecution to the death of Abu Talib and Hadrat Khadijah in the tenth year of Prophethood. During this period, the persecution of the Muslims became' so savage and brutal that many of them were forced to migrate to Habash. Social and economic boycott was applied against the Holy Prophet and the members of his family, and those Muslims who continued to stay in Makkah were forced to take refuge in Shi'b-i-A'bi Talib which was besieged.

The Fourth Stage: It lasted for about three years from the tenth to the thirteenth year of Prophethood. This was a period of hard trials and grievous sufferings for the Holy Prophet and his followers. Life had become unendurable at Makkah and there appeared to be no place of refuge even outside it. So much so that when the Holy Prophet went to Ta'if, it offered no shelter or protection. Besides this, on the occasion of Haj, he would appeal to each and every Arab clan to accept his invitation to Islam but met with blank refusal from every quarter. At the same time, the people of Makkah were holding counsels' to get rid of him by killing or imprisoning or banishing him

MADINAH PERIOD

The history of the mission of the Holy Prophet at Madinah can be divided into four stages.

The First Stage: Beginning with the arrival of Prophet in Madinah, after migration from Makkah, this period continued for less than two full calendar years till the battle of Badr. This was a period of consolidation wherein a new society was formed. The Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah was constructed, brotherhood between the migrants from Makkah (Muhajir) and local Muslims (Ansar) was established, a written treaty between all the stakeholders of Madinah, including the Jewish tribes, was signed, economic activity was re-organized and Madinah-Market was established for the purpose and, no-war truces with the tribes in the vicinity, particularly those residing between Makkah and Madinah were entered into. 

The Second Stage: It was a period of four years till the Hudaibiya Truce in 6 AH (After Hijrah, the Islamic Calendar). War with aggressors from Makkan army in Badr and Uhud and a combined attack from a host of tribes along with the Makkan army on Madinah itself, known as the Ahzab-war, were the highlights of this period. Consolidation of the Muslim society continued, despite a number of problems created by the enemy within and outside Madinah. 

The Third Stage: Beginning with the truce with pagan leaders culminated into the conquest of Makkah in 8 AH. The Prophet sent letters in the meanwhile addressed to rulers within and outside Arabia, inviting them to accept Islam.

The Fourth Stage: People came to embrace Islam in hordes. Tribes and other folks arrived in Madinah to pay homage to Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be to him) and embrace Islam. This period continued till the death of the Prophet. Islam became the dominant, almost sole, religion of the Arabian Peninsula and the spread of its message to the world outside, which had started after Hudaibiya-Truce, continued thereafter.