After Prophethood

Intimations of Prophethood

The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) was forty when the first glimpses of light and of his future happiness appeared. The time of his mission approached. It had always been the Divine practice that whenever the darkness had become too intense and the wickedness widespread, a Messenger appeared. 

The Messenger of Allah's distaste for what he saw reached a peak. It was as if he was being guided towards a certain spiritual destination. He loved going into retreat. He was always content when he could be on his own. He used to walk away from Makkah until he was well out of sight of the houses. He got to know all the paths, the flat areas, and the valleys outside Makkah. From every rock or tree he passed, he heard, 'Peace be upon you, Messenger of Allah.'

But when he looked around, to his right, to his left, and behind him, he could see nothing but trees and rocks. The first intimations of the future came in the form of dreams, so vivid that they were as clear as the break of day.

The Cave of Hira'

The Messenger of Allah usually went to the Cave of Hira. He would remain there for several nights in a row, having taken along with him enough food to last for that time. He used to worship and pray in the manner of his ancestor, Ibrahim, the hanifiyyah, and followed the pure human need to turn to Allah. 

The mission begins 

The Messenger of Allah was alone in the Cave of Hira' on the day destined for the start of his prophetic mission. He was forty-one years old, and it was the seventeenth day of Ramadan, the sixth of August 610 C.E. 

Suddenly, an angel appeared and said to him, 

'Read!'

'I cannot read,' he replied.

Later, the Messenger of Allah, when recounting what had happened, said, 'He seized me and squeezed me as hard as I could bear and then let me go and said, 

"Read!"

'I said, "I cannot read."

'Then he squeezed me as hard as I could bear a second time and let me go. Again, he said, 

"Read." I cannot read.'

'Then he squeezed me a third time and let me go and said:

"Read in the name of your Lord Who created, created man of a blood-clot. Read, and your Lord is the Most Generous, Who taught by the Pen, taught man what he did not know." (96: 1-5)

This was the first day of his prophethood, and these were the first verses of the Qur'an to be revealed.

Khadijah's reaction

Naturally, the Messenger of Allah was alarmed by the experience. He had not known what was happening, and he had not heard of anything like this ever happening before. It had been a long time since there had been a Prophet. In any case, the Arabs had only a remote connection with prophethood. He was very frightened and returned to his house trembling. 

myself!'

'Wrap me up! Wrap me up!' he said. 'I fear for When Khadijah asked why, he told her what had happened. She was an intelligent lady and had heard of prophethood, Prophets, and angels. She used to visit her cousin, Waraqah ibn Nawíal, who had become a Christian. 

He had read many books and had learned much from the people of the Torah and the Evangel. 

Khadijah knew the character of the Messenger of Allah better than anyone because she was his wife and close to his thoughts. She was well aware of his noble character and enviable qualities. She realized that he had always been given success and support by Allah; he was a man chosen from among His creation, whose life and conduct He was pleased with.

No one with a character like his needs ever be in fear of Satan or of being affected by the jinn. That would be incompatible with what Khadijah knew of the wisdom and compassion of Allah and His way of dealing with His  creation. She declared with trust and belief, strongly and forcefully,  'No! Allah would never disgrace you! You maintain close ties with your relations, you bear others' burdens and give people what they need. You are hospitable to your guests and help those with a just claim to get what is due to them.'

Waraqah ibn Nawfal

Khadijah thought it would be a good idea to consult her cousin, the scholar Waraqah ibn Nawfal, and she took the Messenger of Allah to see him. When Waraqah heard what he had seen, he said, 'By the One who holds my soul in His hand, you are the Prophet of this people. The same Great Spirit has come to you that came to Musa. Your people will reject you, abuse you, and drive you out and fight you.'

The Messenger of Allah was astonished at what Waraqah said, especially about the Quraysh driving him out because he knew his position among them. They had always addressed him as the 'truthful' one and the 'trustworthy' one.

In amazement, he asked, 'Will the people drive me out?' 

'Yes,' Waraqah said, 'No man has ever brought anything like what you have brought without his people opposing him and fighting him. If! If I were alive on that day, and I had already lived a long time, I would give you strong support.'

After this first revelation, there was a long gap before the revelations began again. Then the Qur'an started to come down at regular intervals over the following twenty-three years.

Khadijah's Islam and her character

Khadijah hated the behavior of the people of Makkah, as anyone of sound mind would have detested the atrocities committed by them. She was the first to believe in Allah and His Messenger. She was always at her husband's side, helping him through difficult times. She used to lighten his burden and offer him comfort while assuring him of her confidence in his Message.

'Ali ibn Abi Talib and Zayd ibn Harithah accept Islam 

After Khadijah, 'Ali ibn Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him) accepted Islam. He was ten years old at the time and living in the house of the Messenger of Allah. 

When Abu Talib went through a period of hardship during a famine, the Messenger of Allah had taken his son, Ali, into his own home and brought him up. 

Zayd ibn Harithah, the freed slave of the Messenger of Allah, whom he had adopted, also became a Muslim. 

The Islam of these people reflected the beliefs of those who knew the Messenger of Allah best. They had witnessed his truthfulness, sincerity, and good behavior. The people who live in a house always know best what is in it. 

Abu Bakr ibn Abi Quhafah accepts Islam

Abu Bakr ibn Abi Quhafah also accepted Islam. He had a high position among the Quraysh because of his intellect, strength, and sense of justice. He made his Islam known. He was a simple, likable man who knew the full history of the Quraysh. He was a merchant known for his good character and fair dealing. He began to call others to Allah, and those of his friends whom he trusted would come and sit with him to discuss the new ideas. 

Quraysh noblemen accept Islam

Through Abu Bakr's work, some of the powerful Quraysh noblemen became Muslims. 'Uthman ibn 'Affan, Zubayr ibn al-'Awwam, 'Abdu'r-Rahman ibn 'Awf, Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas, and Talhah ibn 'Ubaydullah were among those he brought to the Messenger of Allah. 

They were followed by other influential men of the Quraysh, including Abu 'Ubaydah ibn al-Jarrah, al-Arqam ibn Abi'l-Arqam, 'Uthman ibn Maz'un, 'Ubaydah ibn al-Harith ibn al-Muttalib, Sa'id ibn Zayd, Khabbab ibn al-Aratt, 'Abdullah ibn Mas'ud, 'Ammar ibn Yasir, and Suhayb (may Allah be pleased with them all).

Men and women flowed into Islam until everyone in Makkah was talking about the new faith.

The call to Islam on Mount Safa

The Messenger of Allah kept his mission secret for three years. Then Allah commanded him to display His religion openly, saying, 'Loudly proclaim what you are commanded and turn away from the idol-worshippers.'(15: 94) 

He also said, 'Warn your clan, your nearest kin, and lower your wing to those of the believers who follow you' (26: 214-15) 

and 'Say: I am the clear warner.' (15: 89)

The Prophet climbed up onto the mountain of Safa and called out as loudly as he could, 

'Ya Sabahah!' 

This was a well-known cry used to assemble the community in an emergency. When there was any danger of an enemy attacking a city or a tribe, the call, 'Ya Sabahah!' would ring out. The Quraysh were always quick to respond. They gathered round the Messenger of Allah, who said, 'O Banu 'Abdu'l-Muttalib! O Banu Fihr! O Banu Ka'b! If I told you that there were horses on the other side of this mountain about to attack you, would you believe me?'

The Arabs were practical and realistic. They saw in front of them a man noted for his truthfulness, trustworthiness, and sincerity standing on a mountain. He was able to see both what was in front of him and behind him, while they could only see what was in front of them. Their intelligence and sense of justice allowed them to confirm this statement.

'Yes,' they replied.

Then the Messenger of Allah said, 'I warn you of a terrible punishment.'

The people were silent, except Abu Lahab, who said, 'May you perish for this! Did you only summon us here for this?'

Enmity of the Quraysh and Abu Talib's concern. When the Messenger of Allah openly proclaimed the call to Islam and called out the truth as he had been commanded to do by Allah, his people did not distance themselves from him nor reject him. However, when he criticized their gods, they regarded him as a menace and united in opposition against him.

His uncle, Abu Talib, concerned about the Messenger of Allah, protected him and stood up for him. The Prophet continued in his mission, loudly proclaiming the truth. Nothing deterred him, and Abu Talib continued to care for him and defend him. 

Eventually, a group of men of the Quraysh went to Abu Talib, threatening, 'Abu Talib! Your nephew has cursed our gods, criticized our religion, ridiculed our customs, and called our fathers misguided. Either leave him to us, or there will be a split between us and you. You have the same religion and creed as we do.' 

Abu Talib spoke reassuringly to them, and they left satisfied. However, the Quraysh constantly discussed the Messenger of Allah and goaded each other on. They went to Abu Talib a second time, saying, 'Abu Talib! You have age, honor, and position among us. We had hoped that you would stop your nephew, but you have not done so. By Allah, we cannot endure any longer this cursing of our fathers and ridiculing of our customs and criticism of our idols. Let us have him, or we will put him and you in such a position that one or other of us will be  destroyed.'

The division and enmity of his people were a terrible burden for Abu Talib, but he did not want to surrender the Messenger of Allah to them. He said, 'Nephew, your people have come to me with threats. Spare me and yourself and do not burden me with more than I can bear.'

'If the sun had been placed in my right hand and the moon in my left...'

The Messenger of Allah saw that Abu Talib was very upset by what had happened and was finding it hard to carry on helping him. He said, 'Uncle, by Allah, if they were to place the sun in my right hand and the moon in my left hand on condition that I abandon this business, I would still not leave it until Allah makes it victorious or I die doing it.'

The Messenger of Allah wept, then rose and turned away. Abu Talib called out to him, 'Turn round, nephew!'

The Messenger of Allah returned. Abu Talib told him, 'Nephew, go and say whatever you like. By Allah, I will never surrender you to anyone.'

The Quraysh torture the Muslims

The Messenger of Allah continued to call people to Allah, and the Quraysh despaired of both him and Abu Talib. Their anger descended on those of their fellow tribesmen who had become Muslims and were defenseless.

Every clan targeted those who had become Muslims. They began to imprison them and torture them with beatings, hunger, and thirst, even leaving them exposed on the sun-baked ground of Makkah when the heat was most intense.

Bilal, an Abyssinian who had become a Muslim, was taken out onto the plain of Makkah by his master, Umayyah ibn Khalaf, and left flat on his back in the midday heat. His master ordered that a huge stone be placed on his chest and declared, 'By Allah, this stone will not be removed until you die or reject Muhammad and worship al-Lat and al-'Uzza.'

While he was suffering, Bilal would only say, 'God is One! God is One!' 

Abu Bakr as-Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him) passed by when he was lying there. He gave Umayyah a black slave who was stronger and sturdier in exchange for Bilal, and he set Bilal free. 

The Banu Makhzum took out 'Ammar ibn Yasir and his mother and father, who were all Muslims, into the midday heat. They tortured them by leaving them exposed to the midday sun of Makkah. The Messenger of Allah passed by them and said reassuringly, 'Fortitude, family of Yasir! You have the promise of Paradise.'

They endured their persecution until 'Ammar's mother was killed because she refused to reject Islam. 

Mus'ab ibn 'Umayr was a handsome young man of Makkah whose mother was very wealthy and dressed him well. He heard that the Messenger of Allah was preaching in the house of Arqam ibn Abi'l-Arqam. After hearing about Islam, he became a Muslim. He concealed his religious beliefs because he feared the reaction of his mother and his family and he kept secret his visits to the Messenger of Allah.

However, 'Uthman ibn Talhah saw him praying and reported it to Mus'ab's family. He was seized and imprisoned. He was denied freedom until he was able to leave for Abyssinia in the first hijrah. When he returned with the other Muslim refugees, he was a changed man. His mother refrained from censuring him once she saw his piety and destitution.

Some of the Muslims were under the protection of the Quraysh noblemen who were idol worshippers. 

'Uthman ibn Maz'un was protected by al-Walid ibn al-Mughirah until he felt ashamed of what he was accepting. He dismissed al-Walid's offer of patronage, saying that he wanted the protection of none but Allah. 

A heated conversation between him and one of the idol worshippers ended with 'Uthman getting a black eye. Al-Walid ibn al-Mughirah, who was nearby, saw what had happened. He exclaimed, 'By Allah, nephew, your eye would not have suffered like that if you had been well-protected.' 

'No, by Allah,' 'Uthman said, 'my good eye needs to suffer the same as happened to its fellow for the sake of Allah. I am under a protection which is stronger and more powerful than any you could give me, O Abu 'Abd Shams!'

The Quraysh attacked the Messenger of Allah 

The Quraysh were unable to divert these young Muslims from their religion, and the Messenger of Allah remained defiant. The Quraysh became so irritated by their helplessness that the more foolish among them started to attack the Messenger of Allah. They even accused him of sorcery, divining, and madness. They left no stone unturned in their efforts to harm him.

One day, when the Quraysh nobles had met in the Hijr, the Messenger of Allah appeared and passed by them doing tawaf of the Ka'bah. They called out disparagingly to him three times. He stopped and spoke to them, 'Company of Quraysh, are you listening? By the One who has my soul in His hand, I have brought you slaughter.' 

Shocked by these words, the people fell silent. Realizing that they had been rude, they began to speak to him more pleasantly.

The next day, the Messenger of Allah appeared again, but quickly they surrounded him and attacked him all together. One of them took hold of his cloak. Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) stood up weeping and cried, 'Would you kill a man just for saying: My Lord is Allah?" When Abu Bakr returned later that day, however, they attacked him and tore out some of his hair and dragged him along by his beard. On another occasion, when the Messenger of Allah went out, everyone he met, both free men and slaves, ignored him or tried to hurt him. He returned home and wrapped himself up warmly because he was so distressed by what had happened to him. 

Allah revealed to him, 'O you enshrouded, rise up and warn!' (74: 1)

The Quraysh attack Abu Bakr 

One day, Abu Bakr boldly invited the idol worshippers to turn towards Allah and His Messenger. Furious, they fell upon him, beating him and trampling on him. 'Utbah ibn Rabi'ah beat him on the face with a pair of sandals until his face was so swollen that his cheeks could not be distinguished from his nose.

The Banu Taym carried the unconscious Abu Bakr home. They were certain that he was going to die. In the late afternoon, he woke up and asked, 'How is the Messenger of Allah?'

His relations rebuked him as he had shown concern for the man on whose account he had been beaten up. They left him alone with his mother, Umm Khayr, who had not yet become a Muslim. Then Umm Jamil, who had become a Muslim, approached him, and he asked her about the Messenger of Allah. She reported, 'He is well and safe.'

'By Allah,' he said, 'I will not taste food or drink until I see the Messenger of Allah!'

When it was dark and everything had calmed down, Umm Jamil and Umm Khayr took him to the Messenger of Allah, who showed great tenderness towards him. He made supplication for Abu Bakr's mother and called her to Allah. She became a Muslim too.

The Quraysh are confused

The Quraysh were confused about the Messenger of Allah. They did not know how to cope with the problem of visitors from afar listening to him in Makkah. They asked the advice of al-Walid ibn al-Mughirah, an old man of some experience. It was at the time of the pilgrimage. Al-Walid said, 'Men of the Quraysh! It is the time of the festival, and the delegations of the Arabs will be coming to you. They have already heard about this companion of yours. 

Therefore, agree on one opinion about him and do not disagree so that you contradict and refute each other.'

They had a long discussion with much give and take, but Al-Walid was not pleased with their conclusion and criticized it. They came back to him to ask, 'What then do you say, Abu 'Abd Shams?'

'The nearest thing to the truth is your saying that he is a magician who has brought a kind of magic that separates a man from his father, a man from his brother, a man from his wife, and a man from his tribe.' The gathering then broke up, and the Quraysh began to sit by the paths used by the people coming to the festival.

They warned everyone who passed to keep clear of the Messenger of Allah and gave their reasons.

The Quraysh step up their hostilities

The Quraysh treated the Messenger of Allah harshly, ignoring the fact that he was a relative and deserved their respect.

One day, while the Prophet was prostrating in the mosque surrounded by some of the Quraysh, 'Uqbah ibn Abi Mu'ayt threw the innards of a slaughtered animal onto the Prophet's back, but he did not even lift his head. His daughter Fatimah came and removed them, cursing those who had committed the evil deed, and the Prophet cursed them as well.

Another time, while the Prophet was praying in the Hijr of the Ka'bah, 'Uqbah ibn Abi Mu'ayt tried to throttle him with his own clothes. Abu Bakr grabbed 'Uqbah's shoulder and pulled him from the Prophet, saying, 'Would you kill a man just for saying, "My Lord is Allah"?'

Hamzah ibn 'Abdu'l-Muttalib accepts Islam

One day, Abu Jahl passed by the Messenger of Allah at Safa, hurling insults and cursing him, but when the  Messenger of Allah ignored him, he left him alone. Soon afterward, Hamzah ibn 'Abdu'l-Muttalib arrived on the scene, returning from the hunt, carrying his bow. He was the strongest of the Quraysh and the most courageous. A slavewoman of 'Abdullah ibn Jud'an told him what had happened to the Messenger of Allah.

Hamzah was filled with rage. He entered the mosque and saw Abu Jahl sitting with his friends. He went towards him until he was standing over him, raised his bow, and hit him with it, giving him a nasty head wound. Then he said, 'Do you insult him when I follow his religion? I say what he says.' 

Abu Jahl was silent, and Hamzah became a Muslim. That was a great blow to the Quraysh because Hamzah was widely respected and his courage was legendary.

'Utbah and the Messenger of Allah

When the Quraysh saw that the Companions of the Messenger of Allah were increasing in number, 'Utbah ibn Rabi'ah suggested that he go to the Messenger of Allah and try to patch up their differences. If the Quraysh made some concessions, he might agree to leave off his  mission. 'Utbah was given permission to negotiate on their behalf. He went to the Messenger of Allah and sat down beside him. 

'Nephew,' he said, 'you know your standing among us, but you have brought a matter of grave concern to your people. 

You have divided their community, made fun of their customs, criticized their gods and their religion, and declared some of their ancestors to be unbelievers. Now, listen to me. I will make some proposals for you to examine, and perhaps you will accept some of them.'

The Messenger of Allah said, 'Speak, Abu'l-Walid. I am listening. ''Nephew, ''Utbah continued, 'If you want money from this business, we will collect some of our property and make you the wealthiest among us. If you want honor, we will make you our chief so that every decision is yours. If you want a kingdom, we will make you our king. If you are possessed by a ghost of a jinn that you cannot drive away from yourself, we will find skillful doctors to help you. We will spend our wealth on it till you are cured.'

When 'Utbah had finished, the Messenger of Allah asked, 'Have you finished, Abu'l-Walid?' 

'Yes.'

'Then listen to me.'

'I wili,' said 'Utbah.

Then the Messenger of Allah recited some verses from Surah Fussilat, 'Utbah listened intently, putting his hands behind his back and leaning on them. When the Messenger of Allah reached the place mentioning prostration, he prostrated and then said, 'You have heard what you have heard, Abu'l-Walid. It is now up to you.

'Utbah returned to his companions, who commented, Abu'l-Walid has come back with a different expression on his face than the one he went  with.'

When he sat down beside them, they asked him what had happened. 

'By Allah!' he said, 'I have heard words the like of which I have never heard before. By Allah, it is neither poetry nor magic nor soothsaying. O men of Quraysh!

Obey me! Leave this man alone with what he has. Be considerate towards him and don't interfere.'

'By Allah,' they said, 'He has bewitched you with his tongue, Abu'l-Walid!'

'This is my opinion about him,' he replied. 'You do as you see fit.'

The Muslims' hijrah to Abyssinia 

When the Messenger of Allah saw the persecution to which his Companions were subjected and from which he could not protect them, he suggested to them, 'If you were to go to Abyssinia, you would find a king there who does not wrong anyone. It is a friendly land and you could stay there until Allah grants us relief.' 

A group of Muslims left for Abyssinia, and it was the first hijrah in Islam. Ten men, over whom 'Uthman ibn Maz'un was in charge (may Allah be pleased with him), went first. Then Ja'far ibn Abi Talib departed, and other Muslims followed them. Some took their families, and some went alone. In all, eighty-three made the hijrah to Abyssinia.

The Quraysh pursue the Muslims

The Quraysh were even more annoyed when they saw that the Muslims were safe and secure in Abyssinia. They sent 'Abdullah ibn Abi Rabi'ah and 'Amr ibn al-'As ibn Wa'il there bearing gifts collected for the Negus and his generals. The choicest goods of Makkah were used to try to influence the Abyssinians in their favor. The delegation won over the generals, who were pleased with their gifts, and they were able to speak to the king. They told him, 'Some of our foolish fellows have taken refuge in your majesty's dominions. They have abandoned the religion of their people, but have not entered your religion. They have brought an invented religion which neither you nor I know. The nobles of our people - their fathers, uncles, and clans - have sent us to ask you to return them to us. They are closest to them and know them best.' 

The generals added, 'They are speaking the truth, O King. Hand them over to them.' 

However, the Negus became angry and refused to accept what they said. He would not surrender anyone who had taken refuge with him in his realm. He swore by Allah and summoned the Muslims. He also summoned his bishops. He said to the Muslims, 'What is it that you have abandoned the religion of your people for, yet not entered into my religion nor any other religion?'

Ja'far ibn Abi Talib defines Islam

Ja'far ibn Abi Talib, the cousin of the Messenger of Allah, rose to explain:

O King! We were a people of ignorance who worshipped idols, ate dead animals, committed abominations, broke off ties of kinship, treated our neighbors badly, and the strong among us abused the weak. We were like that until Allah sent a Messenger to us. We knew his noble birth, his honesty, trustworthiness, and decency. He called us to proclaim the oneness of Allah, to worship Him, and to renounce the stones and idols which we and our fathers were worshipping. He commanded us to speak the truth, to be faithful, to maintain ties of kinship, to be good to neighbors, and to refrain from crimes and bloodshed. He has forbidden us abominations, lies, taking property from orphans, and slandering chaste women. He has commanded us to worship Allah alone and not to associate anything with Him, and to pray, give zakat, and fast. 

He enumerated the other commands of Islam. Then he continued: 

So we have affirmed him and believed in him and have followed him in whatever he brought from Allah. We worship Allah alone and do not associate anything with Him. We consider unlawful what he has told us is unlawful, and lawful what he has told us is lawful. For this reason alone, our people have attacked us, tortured us, and forced us from our religion. They intend to make us revert to the worship of idols instead of praising Allah Almighty.

They want us to consider lawful the evil actions that we used to consider unlawful.

When they tortured us and hemmed us in, and came between us and our religion, we left for your kingdom, choosing you because we needed your protection. We hoped that we would be treated fairly while we were with you, 

O King!  The Negus listened to all of this patiently. Then he asked, 'Do you have with you anything your companion brought from Allah?' 

'Yes,' said Ja'far.

'Then recite it to me.'

Ja'far recited the beginning of Surah Maryam. The Negus wept until his beard was wet and the bishops wept until their books were damp with their tears.

The Qurayshi mission fails

Then the Negus said, 'This and what Isa brought have come from the same source.'

He turned to the deputation of Quraysh, saying, 'Go! By Allah, I will never hand them over to you.' 

The next morning, Amr ibn al-'As went to the Negus with a shrewd plan. 'O King, they say terrible things about 'Isa son of Maryam!'

The King turned to the Muslims and said, 'What do you say about 'Isa ibn Maryam?"

'We say about him what our Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) brought,' Ja'far ibn Abi Talib replied. 'That he was the servant of Allah, His Messenger, His Spirit and His word which He cast to the blessed Virgin Maryam.'

The Negus took a stick from the ground and said, 'By Allah, 'Isa ibn Maryarn did not add to what you have said by so much as the length of this stick!'

He treated the Muslims with honor and gave them security. 

The two Qurayshi messengers had to leave in disgrace.

'Umar ibn al-Khattab accepts Islam

Allah then supported the Muslims by the Islam of 'Umar ibn al-Khattab al-'Adawi al-Qurashi. He was an imposing man, broad-shouldered, tall, and brave. The Messenger of Allah wanted him to become a Muslim and prayed for him to be guided that way.

His sister, Fatimah bint al-Khattab, had become a Muslim together with her husband, Sa'id ibn Zayd. They were concealing their Islam from 'Umar because of his violent nature. They knew he was against Islam and the Muslims. Khabbab ibn al-Aratt used to come to Fatimah to read the Qur'an to her.

One day, Umar went out angrily, swinging his sword to find the Messenger of Allah, who was with his Companions. He had heard that they were in a house at Safa. On his way, he met Nu'aym ibn 'Abdullah, who belonged to 'Umar's people, the Banu 'Adi, and who was already a Muslim. 'Where are you going, 'Umar?' he asked.

'I am going to find Muhammad,' he replied, 'He has divided the Quraysh, mocked their traditions, criticized their religion, and abused their gods. I am going to kill him.'

'You deceive yourself, 'Umar,' Nu'aym retorted.

'Shouldn't you go back to your own family and put their affairs in order first?'

'What do you mean, my family?'

'By Allah, your brother-in-law and cousin Sa'id ibn Zayd and your sister Fatimah bint al-Khattab have become Muslims and are following Muhammad in his religion. You had better deal with them first.' 

'Umar returned to his sister and brother-in-law.

Khabbab ibn al-Aratt was with them, holding a page from Surah Ta Ha which he was reading to them. When they heard 'Umar's footsteps, Khabbab hid in a small room in the house while Fatimah took the page and concealed it beneath her clothing. While he was approaching the house, 'Umar had heard Khabbab reciting, so he demanded,

'What is this gibberish?'

'Nothing,' they answered. 'What did you hear?' 'By Allah!' 'he shouted angrily, 'I have heard that you are following Muhammad in his religion!'

'Umar then started to attack his brother-in-law, Sa'id ibn Zayd. His sister Fatimah rose to hold him back from her husband, but he hit her and wounded her. When he did that, his sister and brother-in-law told him, 'Yes, we have become Muslims and we believe in Allah and His Messenger, so do what you think best.' 

When 'Umar saw blood on his sister, he regretted what he had done. He even admired her courage. 'Show me that page I heard Khabbab reading,' he said. 'Let me see what Muhammad has brought.' 'Umar was one among a few Quraysh who could read and write, but when she heard what he wanted, his sister answered, 'We are afraid to give it to you.' 

'Do not be afraid,' he said, and he promised not to destroy it. 

When she heard that, she longed for 'Umar to become a Muslim. She said to him, 'Brother, you are unclean from your idol worship and only the purified may touch it.'

'Umar got up, washed, and then she gave him the page bearing the passage from Surah Ta Ha. After reading only a few lines, he exclaimed, 'How noble and sublime are these words!'

When Khabbab heard that, he came out from hiding to say, ''Umar! By Allah, I hope that Allah has singled you out by the prayer of His Prophet. I heard him say last night, 

"O Allah, strengthen Islam with Abu'l-Hakam ibn Hisham (Abu Jahl) or 'Umar ibn al-Khattab!" Come to God! Come to God, O 'Umar!'

At that, Umar said, 'Khabbab, guide me to Muhammad so that I can go to him and become a Muslim.'

'He is in a house at Safa, Khabbab said, 'with some of his Companions.'

'Umar put on his sword and went to find the Messenger of Allah. He knocked on the door. When they heard his voice, one of the Companions of the Messenger of Allah got up and looked through a crack in the door. He saw 'Umar wearing his sword. In alarm, he returned to report, 'Messenger of Allah, it is 'Umar ibn al-Khattab with his sword on!'

Hamzah ibn 'Abdu'l-Muttalib said, 'Let him in. If his intentions are peaceful, we will treat him well. If not, we will kill him with his own sword.' 

The Messenger of Allah said, 'Let him in,' and rose to meet 'Umar as he reached the middle of the room. He seized his cloak and dragged him along violently, saying, 'What has brought you here, Ibn al-Khattab? By Allah, I do not think that you will stop until Allah sends down a calamity upon you.' 

'Messenger of Allah,' 'Umar replied, 'I have come to you to tell you that I believe in Allah and His Messenger and what has come from Allah.'

The Messenger of Allah said, 'Allahu Akbar' so loudly that the Companions in the house knew that 'Umar had become a Muslim.

The Muslims' confidence increased when 'Umar became a Muslim, as it had when Hamzah, before him, had become a Muslim. 

News that 'Umar was a Muslim quickly spread among the Quraysh. They were very annoyed. They took up their swords against him, but 'Umar fought back. The Quraysh valued their lives too much to pick quarrels with him, so they decided to leave him alone. 

The Quraysh boycott the Banu Hashim

Islam began to spread among the tribes. The Quraysh were so concerned that they decided to write a document containing a ban on the Banu Hashim and Banu al-Muttalib. They declared that they would not marry the women of these clans or give any in marriage to them, or sell them any goods or buy anything from them. The Quraysh displayed the parchment announcing the ban inside the Ka'bah in order to give it authority.

In the She'b Abi Talib

When the Quraysh did that, the Banu Hashim and Banu al-Muttalib gathered round Abu Talib and joined him in his quarters in a narrow valley of Makkah. It was the seventh year of prophethood. However, Abu Lahab ibn 'Abdu'l-Muttalib left the Banu Hashim and aligned himself with the Quraysh. 

For many months, the Banu Hashim lived in misery. The boycott was so rigorously applied and food was so scarce that they had to eat the leaves of trees. Their hungry children's cries could be heard all over the valley. The Quraysh told the merchants not to sell any goods to them. Prices were increased to prevent them from buying even essentials.

They remained in that state for three years. Apart from some kind Qurayshi people who secretly sent food to them, they were totally abandoned. The Messenger of Allah was in the same predicament, but he continued to call his people to Allah night and day, secretly and openly, and the Banu Hashim remained patient. 

The boycott ends

A group of fair-minded Quraysh, led by Hisham ibn 'Amr ibn Rabi'ah, hated this unfair boycott. Hisham was highly respected among his people. He contacted some men of the Quraysh whom he knew to be kind-hearted and considerate. He told them it was shameful to allow such tyranny to continue. He asked them to abandon the unjust contract. When he had persuaded five men to agree, they met together to work towards this end. When the Quraysh were assembled the next day, Zuhayr ibn Abi Umayyah, whose mother was 'Atikah bint 'Abdu'l-Muttalib, faced the people and demanded, 'People of Makkah! Do we eat and clothe ourselves while the Banu Hashim are perishing, unable to buy or sell? By Allah, I will not sit down until this unjust document is torn up!'

Abu Jahl entered the discussion to disagree, but no one supported him. Al-Mut'im ibn 'Adi went to the Ka'bah to tear the document down. He found that insects had eaten it all except for the words, 'In Your name, O Allah.' The Prophet had already told Abu Talib that Allah had given white ants power over the document. Now it was declared invalid.

The deaths of Abu Talib and Khadijah

Soon after the end of the boycott, in the tenth year of prophethood, Abu Talib and Khadijah died. They had been good companions noted for their loyalty, support, and devotion. Abu Talib, however, never became a Muslim. At this time, troubles fell on the Messenger of Allah one after another.

Islam spreads

At-Tufayl ibn 'Amr ad-Dawsi came to Makkah. He was a noble man, a poet, and intelligent. The Quraysh warned him against the Messenger of Allah. As a result, he was afraid to go near him to listen to him. 

'By Allah,' At-Tufayl said, 'they kept at me until I decided not to listen to him at all nor to speak with him, to the extent that I stuffed my ears with cotton. I went to the mosque, and the Messenger of Allah was standing there praying at the Ka'bah. I stood near him, and Allah had decided that I should hear some of his words. I heard some good words and said to myself, "By Allah, I am an intelligent man, a poet. The difference between good and evil is not concealed from me. Why should I not listen to what this man says? If what he brings is good, I will accept it. 

If it is evil, I will leave it."'

At-Tufayl met the Messenger of Allah in his house and told him what had happened. The Messenger of Allah offered him Islam and recited the Qur'an to him. At-Tufayl became a Muslim and returned to his people to call them to Islam. He refused to live with his family until they all became Muslims. Eventually, the whole tribe of Daws turned to Islam.

The journey to Ta'if

 After Abu Talib's death, the Messenger of Allah suffered more than ever before. The Quraysh had been restrained during the lifetime of Abu  Talib, but now they stepped up their victimization campaign. One even accosted him and showered dust on his head. 

When the insults from the Quraysh became unbearable and they refused to have anything to do with Islam, the Messenger of Allah went to Ta'if to ask for help from the Thaqif people and to call them to Islam. He hoped they would be sympathetic to his call. 

On arriving in Ta'if, he went to the leaders and nobles of Thaqif, talked with them, and called them to Allah. They, however, were rude to him and ridiculed him. They incited the town's riff-raff to shout insults at him and stone him. He retired, distressed, to the shade of a palm tree where he sat down. Nowhere had he encountered worse treatment than that which he received at the hands of the idol-worshippers in Ta'if.

The townspeople formed a line on either side of his path. When he passed, they stoned him until he was bleeding. His feet were streaming with blood. He was so dejected that he complained to Allah of his helplessness and pitiable state. He sought refuge with Allah, pleading:

O Allah, I complain to you of my weakness, lack of resources, and humiliation before men. You are the Most Merciful, You are the Lord of the oppressed, and You are my Lord. To whom will You entrust me? 

To someone far away who will frown on me or to an enemy to whom You have given power over me? If you are not angry with me, I do not care, but your favor is better for me. I seek refuge with the light of Your face, which illuminates the darkness, and by which the affairs of this world and the Next are put in order, from having Your anger descend on me or Your wrath fall upon me. I repent to You, seeking Your forgiveness and Your favor until You are well-pleased. There is no power or strength except by Allah.

Allah sent the angel of the mountains to ask if he wanted him to bring together the two mountains between which Ta'if lay. The Messenger of Allah replied, 'No, for I hope that Allah will bring forth from them those who will worship Allah alone and not associate anything with Him.'

When 'Utbah ibn Rabi'ah and Shaybah ibn Rabi'ah saw his distress, they were moved with compassion. They called a Christian slave of theirs named 'Addas and told him to take a bunch of grapes to him. As Addas carried out his orders, he noticed the kindness of the Messenger of Allah. 

He was so impressed that he became a Muslim. The Messenger of Allah returned from Ta'if to Makkah, where his people were even more opposed to him than they had been previously.

The ascent to the heavens

At this time, the Messenger of Allah traveled by night from the Masjid al-Haram to the Masjid al-Aqsa. From there, he was transported into the proximity to Allah that He wished him to experience. He traveled through the heavens, witnessed the signs of Allah, and met the earlier Prophets.

'His eye swerved not nor swept aside. He saw one of the greatest signs of his Lord.' (53: 17-18) 

He received generous hospitality from Allah and solace and compensation for the distress he had endured in Ta'if.

The next morning, he told the Quraysh what had happened to him. They rejected it, thinking him mad, calling him a liar, and mocking him. Abu Bakr said, 'By Allah, if he said it, he has spoken the truth. What makes you wonder at it? By Allah, he tells me that news comes to him from heaven to the earth in any hour of the night or day, and I believe him, and that is more unlikely than what you are astounded by.'

During the Ascent, Allah made fifty prayers each day obligatory for His Ummah. The Messenger continued to ask Allah to reduce the number of prayers until He reduced them to five prayers each day. Allah decreed that all who perform their prayers with sincerity and in expectation of a reward will receive the reward of fifty prayers. 

The Messenger of Allah offers himself to the tribes 

The Messenger of Allah contacted members of various Arab tribes when they came to Makkah during their festivals. He explained the beliefs of Islam to them and asked them to protect him from his enemies, saying, 

'O people! I am your Messenger of Allah. He commands you to worship Him and not associate anything with Him and to abandon the worship of those you consider equal to Him. He commands you to believe in Him and confirm Him and to protect me so that I may make clear what Allah has sent to me.' 

When the Messenger of Allah finished speaking, Abu Lahab usually got up to say, 'O people! This man calls on you to abandon al-Lat and al-'Uzza and your allies among the jinn for this innovation and misguidance he has brought! Do not obey him and do not listen to him!'

The Ansar accept Islam 

While the Messenger of Allah was at 'Aqabah during the festival, he met a group of the Khazraj of Yathrib and called them to Allah, the Mighty and Exalted. He offered them Islam and recited the Qur'an to them. 

They were neighbors of the Jews in Madinah and had heard mention of a Prophet who was about to come. They said to each other, 'People! By Allah, you know that he must be the Prophet whom the Jews have promised you. Don't let them get to him before us.' 

They accepted his teachings and became Muslims, saying, 'We have left our people and no people are more rent by enmity and evil as they are! Perhaps Allah will join us together by means of you. We will go to them and call them to this religion which we have accepted from you. If

Allah gathers them to you, then no man will be mightier  than you.'

They went back to their land, having confirmed their faith. When they came to Madinah, they mentioned the Messenger of Allah to their brothers and called them to Islam. News soon spread among them until there was no house of the Ansar in which the Messenger of Allah was not discussed.

The First Pledge of 'Aqabah

The following year, twelve Ansar attended the festival in Makkah. They met the Messenger of Allah and gave him their pledge, the First  Pledge of 'Aqabah, that they would believe in one God, abstain from theft, fornication, and killing children, and obey him in what was right and proper.

When they left, the Messenger of Allah sent Mus'ab ibn 'Umayr with them. He commanded him to read the Qur'an to them, to preach Islam, and to instruct them in the religion. He also led them in prayers. He was called 'The Reader' in Madinah, where he stayed with As'ad ibn Zurarah.

Islam spreads throughout Madinah

Islam began among the people of the Aws and the Khazraj in Madinah. Sa'd ibn Mu'adh and Usayd ibn Hudayr became Muslims. They were the leaders of their people, the Banu 'Abdu'l-Ashhal of Aws. They were convinced of the truth because of the wisdom and kindness of those who had become Muslims before them, particularly by the excellent presentation of Islam by Mus'ab ibn 'Umayr. All the people of the Banu 'Abdu'l-Ashhal became  Muslims, and not a household of the Ansar remained in which some men and women had not accepted the faith.

The Second Pledge of 'Aqabah

Mus'ab ibn 'Umayr returned to Makkah the following year, and a number of the Muslim Ansar accompanied those of their people making hajj who were still idol worshippers. The Muslims arranged to meet the Messenger of Allah at 'Aqabah. When they had finished the hajj, they met in the valley near 'Aqabah late at night. There were seventy-three men and two women. The Messenger of Allah came with his uncle, al-'Abbas ibn 'Abdu'l-Muttalib, who was still an idol-worshipper at that time. 

The Messenger of Allah talked to them, recited the Qur'an, and prayed to Allah and encouraged people to become Muslims. Then he said, 'I ask for your allegiance on the basis that you protect me as you would protect your wives and children.'

They pledged their allegiance to him. They asked him to promise that he would not leave them and return to his people. The Messenger of Allah gave his promise, 'I am from you and you are from me. I will fight those you fight and will be at peace with those with whom you are at peace.' 

He chose twelve leaders from among them: nine from the Khazraj and three from the Aws. 

The Hijrah to Madinah begins

Once the Messenger of Allah had taken this pledge, the Muslims had more security, and some from Makkah took refuge with the Ansar. The Messenger of Allah ordered his  Companions and those Muslims who were with him in Makkah to leave for Madinah, and to join their brothers among the Ansar. He said, 'Allah has given you brothers and an abode where you will be safe.' They soon began to leave Makkah.

The Messenger of Allah, however, remained in Makkah waiting for Allah's permission to emigrate to Madinah.

The emigration of the Muslims from Makkah was not easy. The Quraysh put many obstacles in their way and subjected the emigrants to considerable stress. However, the emigrants were determined to go. They did not want to remain in Makkah. Some, including Abu Salamah, were forced to leave their wives and children behind and to travel alone. Some had to relinquish all they had earned in their lifetime. Suhayb was among those who lost all their wealth.

'Umar ibn al-Khattab, Talhah, Hamzah, Zayd ibn Harithah, 'Abdu'r-Rahman ibn 'Awf, Zubayr ibn al- 'Awwam, Abu Hudhayfah, 'Uthman ibn 'Affan, and others emigrated (may Allah be pleased with them), and the emigration continued apace. None were left in Makkah with the Messenger of Allah except for those who were imprisoned or awaiting trial, apart from 'Ali ibn Abi Talib and Abu Bakr ibn Abi Quhafah.

The Quraysh's final plot fails

When the Quraysh saw that the Messenger of Allah had Companions and helpers in Madinah over whom they had no power, they were alarmed about his departure. They knew that if that happened, they would have no means to stop him. So they assembled in the Dar an-Nadwah, the house of Qusayy ibn Kilab, which the Quraysh used for decision-making. The Quraysh nobles consulted one another on what to do about the Messenger of Allah.  

They finally agreed that each tribe would provide a young warrior, and together they would attack the Messenger of Allah, each man striking a blow. That way, responsibility for his death would be divided among the tribes, and the Banu 'Abd Manaf would not be able to fight them all.

Allah informed His Messenger of this plot, so he could tell 'Ali ibn Abi Talib to sleep in his bed wrapped up in his cloak, adding, 'Nothing  unpleasant will happen to you.'

When the murderous gang gathered at the door intending to attack, the Messenger of Allah came out and took up a handful of dust. Allah then instantly removed their sight, and the Messenger of Allah scattered the dust over their heads while reciting verses from Surah Yasin, 'We have covered them so that they do not see.' (36: 9) 

Someone came to them and said, 'What are you waiting here for?'

'Muhammad,' they replied.

'May Allah disappoint you!' he said. 'By Allah, he came out earlier and went about his business.' 

When they looked and saw someone sleeping on the bed, they did not doubt that it was the Messenger of  Allah. But in the morning, when 'Ali got up from the bed, they were so embarrassed that they slunk away quietly. 

The Hijrah of the Messenger of Allah

The Messenger of Allah went to Abu Bakr to tell him, 'Allah has given me permission to emigrate.' Abu Bakr exclaimed, 'In company,  Messenger of Allah?'

'In company,' replied the Messenger of Allah, and Abu Bakr wept for joy.

Abu Bakr brought two camels which he had in readiness for the journey and hired 'Abdullah ibn Urayqit to act as their guide. Over the years, the Messenger of Allah had developed such a reputation for honesty that the unbelieving Quraysh would deposit their valuables with him, certain that they would be safe. This day, he charged 'Ali with the responsibility for returning all the property to its rightful owners.

The Cave of Thawr

The Messenger of Allah and Abu Bakr left Makkah secretly. Abu Bakr asked his son, Abdullah ibn Abi Bakr, to find out what people were saying about them in Makkah, and he asked 'Amir ibn Fuhayrah, his freed slave, to graze his milking sheep in the daytime but to bring them to them each night. Asma' bint Abi Bakr would bring them food. 

They went to the Cave of Thawr. Abu Bakr went in first to clean it up and to make sure that it was safe so that nothing could harm the Messenger of Allah. Once he was satisfied, he called him in. 

When they were inside, Allah sent a spider to spin a web from a bush across the entrance to the cave. It concealed the fact that the Messenger of Allah and Abu Bakr had only just gone in. Allah also commanded two wild doves to fly down between the spider and the tree. They made a nest there and laid eggs. 

'To Allah belong the armies of the heavens and the earth.' (48: 4)

The idol worshippers followed the tracks of the Messenger of Allah's party, but when they reached the mountain, they became confused. They climbed up the hillside, passing close to the cave. However, when they saw the spider's web, they said, 'If anyone had entered here, there would not be a spider's web across the opening.' 

Then, they rode on. Abu Bakr saw the idol worshippers coming. In alarm, he said, 'Messenger of Allah, if one of them steps forward, he will see us.' The Messenger of Allah replied, 'Why worry about two when Allah is the third?' 

Allah says in the Qur'an, '... the second of the two; when the two were in the Cave, when he said to his companion, "Grieve not. Allah is with us." ' (9:40)

Suraqah's experience

When the Quraysh realized that the Messenger of Allah had escaped, they offered a hundred camels to anyone who handed him over, dead or alive. The Messenger of Allah remained in the cave for three days and then left with 'Amir ibn Fuhayrah, who guided him along the coastal route.

Suraqah ibn Malik ibn Ju'sham was eager to get the reward offered for the Messenger of Allah. He was tracking his footsteps when his horse stumbled and he was thrown off. He refused to give up, so he mounted again and rode on. 

His horse stumbled a second time, and he fell again. Determined to capture his quarry, he rode on once more. Just as he caught sight of the Messenger of Allah, his horse stumbled a third time. Its feet sank into the sand, and Suraqah fell. Then he watched as dust rose from the ground like a sandstorm in front of him. 

When Suraqah saw that happen, he knew that the Messenger of Allah was under the protection of Allah. He realized that the Messenger of Allah would certainly have the upper hand over his enemies. He called out, 'I am Suraqah ibn Ju'sham. Wait for me so that I can speak to you. 

By Allah, I will not harm you.'  The Messenger of Allah said to Abu Bakr, 'Ask him what he wants from us.'

'Write a document for me which will be a warrant of security.'

The Messenger of Allah asked 'Amir ibn Fuhayrah to write it, and Suraqah kept the piece of leather (or bone) on which it was written for many years. The Messenger of Allah, looking ahead to the day when the Persian empire would crumble, said to Suraqah, 'How will you feel when you are wearing the bracelets of Chosroes?'

And indeed that event took place. When Persia was conquered, the bracelets, belt, and crown of Chosroes were brought to 'Umar. He summoned Suraqah ibn Malik and put the royal insignia on him. 

Although Suraqah offered the Messenger of Allah provisions for his journey to Madinah, they were not accepted. He only asked, 'Conceal our presence.' 

A blessed man

During their journey, the Messenger of Allah's party passed the tent of Umm Ma'bad al-Khuza'iyyah, who had a goat that was giving no milk during the drought. The Messenger of Allah stroked its udder, invoked the name of Allah, and prayed for a blessing. Milk flowed. He gave  Umm Ma'bad and his Companions milk to drink until they were satisfied. Then he drank last of all. The ewe was milked a second time, and her milk filled a vessel. When Abu Ma'bad returned home, his wife told him what had happened, exclaiming, 'By Allah, it could only have been a blessed man who passed by us.' When she described the angelic stranger, he said, 'By Allah, I think it is the man whom the Quraysh are seeking.'