History

History (48)

The present generation does not recall the Islamic State that implemented Islam, and those who lived during the last years of the Islamic State (‘Uthmani Khilafah) against which the West had directed its onslaught, had in fact witnessed the vestiges of a state implementing remnants of Islamic rule. It is extremely difficult therefore for many Muslims to percieve the structure of the Islamic government. The minds of the Muslims have been consumed by the present day situation, and can only conceptualize the system of government through the depraved democratic regimes foisted upon Muslim countries.

This is not the only unfortunate aspect of a sad situation. An even more difficult task is transforming these minds seduced by Western culture. Western culture was the dagger drawn by the West in the face of the Islamic State, and by which it fatally stabbed her. Then, taking the weapon, dripping with blood, to her sons proudly said to them: I have killed your ailing mother, who deserved to be killed because of her poor guardianship and mismanagement and I have reserved for you the kind of life in which you will relish happiness and prosperity. They then offered to shake the hand of the murderer whose dagger was still stained with the blood of their mother. This, it is claimed, is just what the hyena does to its prey. The prey stands still, stunned and astonished, and does not come back to its senses until it is dealt a hard blow that makes it bleed, or is taken down to the valley to be eaten.

So how could such seduced minds come to realize that the poisonous dagger which killed their mother is the same one that is always threatening their own lives and very existence, unless they remove it from themselves. The concepts which the Muslims carry, such as nationalism, separating the religion from the State and the anti-Islamic notions are the very poison that this Western culture has injected in their veins. The chapter explaining the missionary invasion in this book contains facts and figures clearly showing in detail the true intentions of the killer and the true motives behind the crime, listing the means and methods used to carry it out. The only reason was to eradicate Islam, and the most effective weapon was this Western culture which the missionaries brandished and incipiently cut into their willing victims.

The Muslims were caught unaware of the potential dangers of such a culture, they began resisting and fighting the physical occupation of their lands while embracing the Western culture, which was the real reason behind the occupation taking root in their lands. The sad irony is that Muslims, while allegedly turning their backs on the foreigner and fighting the occupation, welcomed the West with open arms and drank from its cup of poison until they collapsed, weary, apathetic, and lifeless. One would think of them as casualties of war, while in reality, they were victims of ignorance and misguidance.

What do they actually seek? A state based on other than Islam? Or several states on Muslim land? The West, since becoming the effective ruling authority, has already given them several states; completing therefore its scheme of keeping Islam out of government, dividing the Muslim land and giving the Muslims a trivial facade of Islamic rule. From time to time, the West creates a new state for the Muslims, and it is more than willing to give them even more as long as they hold on to Western principles and concepts.

The point at hand is not establishing several states, but one single state over the entire Muslim world. And not establishing just any state, nor a state that calls itself Islamic while ruling by other than what Allah I has decreed, nor a state calling itself Islamic and implementing Islamic Laws without carrying Islam via an intellectually based leadership. The crucial point at hand is not the establishment of such pseudo-Islamic states, but of a single state which would resume the Islamic way of life based upon the Islamic ‘Aqeedah, implement Islam within society after this was deeply rooted in the peoples’ hearts and minds, and which would carry the Message of Islam to the whole world.

The Islamic State is not a dream, nor is it a figment of the imagination, for it had dominated and influenced history for more than thirteen hundred years. It is a reality, it has always been and always will be. The vital elements of its existence are far greater than can be ignored or fought against by anything or anyone. The enlightened people have adopted it and it is the wish of the Ummah which is eager for the return of the glory of Islam. The Islamic State is not a desire that one aims to satisfy, but an obligation that Allah I has decreed for the Muslims and commanded them to fulfill. He I warned of the punishment awaiting those who neglect this duty and promised reward to those who pursue this duty.

How are they to please their Lord if the ‘Izzah in their countries does not belong to Allah (swt), nor to His Messenger (pbuh), nor to the believers? How are they to be safe from His punishment if they do not establish a state that would prepare its military might, defend its territory, implement Allah’s rules and rule by what Allah I has revealed? Therefore, the Muslims must establish the Islamic State, for Islam would not have an influential existence without it, and their land would not become Dar al-Islam unless it is ruled by that which Allah I has revealed.

The Islamic State is by no means an easy endeavor. The pursuit of it should not fuel false hopes to opportunists (with the purpose of acquiring a position in it). The road is embedded with thorns, full of perils, obstacles and hardships, not to mention the non-Islamic culture, shallow thinking and pro- Western regimes which form a formidable obstacle. Those who truly tread the path of the Islamic call to restore the Islamic State, would be aiming to assume the authority in order to resume the Islamic way of life in the Muslim lands, and to convey the Message of Islam to the whole world. That is why they would reject sharing authority with anyone, no matter how great the temptation. They would also reject absolute rule unless they were capable of implementing Islam comprehensively, radically and instantaneously.

 

Finally, this book about the Islamic State is not meant to narrate its history but to explain how the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) established the Islamic State, and to show how the disbelieving colonialists destroyed it. It demonstrates how Muslims should re-establish their State so that the light that guided the world in the darkest of ages returns to enlighten humanity once again. 

The present generation does not recall the Islamic State that implemented Islam, and those who lived during the last years of the Islamic State (‘Uthmani Khilafah) against which the West had directed its onslaught, had in fact witnessed the vestiges of a state implementing remnants of Islamic rule. It is extremely difficult therefore for many Muslims to percieve the structure of the Islamic government. The minds of the Muslims have been consumed by the present day situation, and can only conceptualize the system of government through the depraved democratic regimes foisted upon Muslim countries.

This is not the only unfortunate aspect of a sad situation. An even more difficult task is transforming these minds seduced by Western culture. Western culture was the dagger drawn by the West in the face of the Islamic State, and by which it fatally stabbed her. Then, taking the weapon, dripping with blood, to her sons proudly said to them: I have killed your ailing mother, who deserved to be killed because of her poor guardianship and mismanagement and I have reserved for you the kind of life in which you will relish happiness and prosperity. They then offered to shake the hand of the murderer whose dagger was still stained with the blood of their mother. This, it is claimed, is just what the hyena does to its prey. The prey stands still, stunned and astonished, and does not come back to its senses until it is dealt a hard blow that makes it bleed, or is taken down to the valley to be eaten.

So how could such seduced minds come to realize that the poisonous dagger which killed their mother is the same one that is always threatening their own lives and very existence, unless they remove it from themselves. The concepts which the Muslims carry, such as nationalism, separating the religion from the State and the anti-Islamic notions are the very poison that this Western culture has injected in their veins. The chapter explaining the missionary invasion in this book contains facts and figures clearly showing in detail the true intentions of the killer and the true motives behind the crime, listing the means and methods used to carry it out. The only reason was to eradicate Islam, and the most effective weapon was this Western culture which the missionaries brandished and incipiently cut into their willing victims.

The Muslims were caught unaware of the potential dangers of such a culture, they began resisting and fighting the physical occupation of their lands while embracing the Western culture, which was the real reason behind the occupation taking root in their lands. The sad irony is that Muslims, while allegedly turning their backs on the foreigner and fighting the occupation, welcomed the West with open arms and drank from its cup of poison until they collapsed, weary, apathetic, and lifeless. One would think of them as casualties of war, while in reality, they were victims of ignorance and misguidance.

What do they actually seek? A state based on other than Islam? Or several states on Muslim land? The West, since becoming the effective ruling authority, has already given them several states; completing therefore its scheme of keeping Islam out of government, dividing the Muslim land and giving the Muslims a trivial facade of Islamic rule. From time to time, the West creates a new state for the Muslims, and it is more than willing to give them even more as long as they hold on to Western principles and concepts.

The point at hand is not establishing several states, but one single state over the entire Muslim world. And not establishing just any state, nor a state that calls itself Islamic while ruling by other than what Allah (swt) has decreed, nor a state calling itself Islamic and implementing Islamic Laws without carrying Islam via an intellectually based leadership. The crucial point at hand is not the establishment of such pseudo-Islamic states, but of a single state which would resume the Islamic way of life based upon the Islamic ‘Aqeedah, implement Islam within society after this was deeply rooted in the peoples’ hearts and minds, and which would carry the Message of Islam to the whole world.

The Islamic State is not a dream, nor is it a figment of the imagination, for it had dominated and influenced history for more than thirteen hundred years. It is a reality, it has always been and always will be. The vital elements of its existence are far greater than can be ignored or fought against by anything or anyone. The enlightened people have adopted it and it is the wish of the Ummah which is eager for the return of the glory of Islam. The Islamic State is not a desire that one aims to satisfy, but an obligation that Allah (swt) has decreed for the Muslims and commanded them to fulfill. He I warned of the punishment awaiting those who neglect this duty and promised reward to those who pursue this duty.

How are they to please their Lord if the ‘Izzah in their countries does not belong to Allah (swt), nor to His Messenger (pbuh), nor to the believers? How are they to be safe from His punishment if they do not establish a state that would prepare its military might, defend its territory, implement Allah’s rules and rule by what Allah (swt) has revealed? Therefore, the Muslims must establish the Islamic State, for Islam would not have an influential existence without it, and their land would not become Dar al-Islam unless it is ruled by that which Allah (swt) has revealed.

The Islamic State is by no means an easy endeavor. The pursuit of it should not fuel false hopes to opportunists (with the purpose of acquiring a position in it). The road is embedded with thorns, full of perils, obstacles and hardships, not to mention the non-Islamic culture, shallow thinking and pro- Western regimes which form a formidable obstacle. Those who truly tread the path of the Islamic call to restore the Islamic State, would be aiming to assume the authority in order to resume the Islamic way of life in the Muslim lands, and to convey the Message of Islam to the whole world. That is why they would reject sharing authority with anyone, no matter how great the temptation. They would also reject absolute rule unless they were capable of implementing Islam comprehensively, radically and instantaneously.

Finally, this book about the Islamic State is not meant to narrate its history but to explain how the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) established the Islamic State, and to show how the disbelieving colonialists destroyed it. It demonstrates how Muslims should re-establish their State so that the light that guided the world in the darkest of ages returns to enlighten humanity once again.

When the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) was sent, he first invited his wife Khadijah and she believed in him. He (pbuh) then invited his cousin ‘Ali and he believed in him. He then invited his servant Zayd, and he believed in him. And then he invited his friend Abu Bakr, who also believed in him. He continued to invite people to Islam, some believed and others rejected.

When Abu Bakr embraced Islam, he in turn carried his belief to the people whom he trusted and called towards Allah (swt) and His Messenger (pbuh). Abu Bakr was held in high esteem among his people, they enjoyed his company and always consulted him on many issues. He used his influence to persuade ‘Uthman ibn ‘Affan, together with Zubayr ibn al-’Awwam, ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn ‘Auf, Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas and Talhah ibn ‘Ubaydullah to embrace Islam. He brought them to the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) where they all confirmed their belief and offered prayer. Then, ‘Amir ibn al-Jarrah (known as Abu Ubaydah) embraced Islam, and so did ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abd al-Asad (known as Abu Salamah) as well as al-Arqam ibn Abi al-Arqam, ‘Uthman ibn Maz’un and others. Scores of people subsequently embraced Islam, until it became the topic of discussion amongst the people of Quraysh.

In the beginning, the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) would visit people in their homes, telling them that they had been commanded by Allah (swt) to worship Him and to associate none with Him. He (pbuh) openly invited people to Islam in Makkah, thus abiding by Allah’s command,

“O you enveloped (in garments)! Arise and warn!” [Al-Muddaththir, 74:1-2]

After this, the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) would contact people secretly to teach them Islam and gather them on the basis of the Deen.

The Sahabah (Companions) used to offer prayers in the hills on the outskirts of Makkah away from the Quraysh. Everytime someone embraced Islam, Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) would send him or her someone from those who had embraced Islam earlier to teach them the Qur’an. He (pbuh) sent Khabbab ibn al- Arrat to teach the Qur’an to Fatimah bint al-Khattab and her husband Sa’id. ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab once surprised them while they held their circle, and he embraced Islam then and there. The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) however realized that this was not enough, so he set up the house of al-Arqam ibn Abi al-Arqam as the centre of his call, a place from which he taught Muslims the Qur’an and perfected their knowledge of Islam, encouraging them to recite the Qur’an and understand it. Whenever someone embraced Islam, Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) would meet him in the house of al-Arqam. He (pbuh) pursued this task for three years, teaching this group of Muslims, leading them in prayers, and performing Tahajjud at night, motivating their souls, strengthening their belief through prayer and recitation, helping them to improve their way of thinking and to reflect on the verses of the Qur’an and the creation of Allah (swt). He (pbuh) taught them how to endure all hardships by submitting to Allah (swt).

The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) remained together with his party of Muslims in the house of al-Arqam until Allah (swt) revealed his saying,

“Therefore, proclaim openly, that which you are commanded, and turn away from “Al-Mushrikun” [Al-Hijr, 15: 94]

At the beginning of his call, the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) invited to Islam people whom he felt had the readiness to accept it, regardless of their age, position, race, or origin. He (pbuh) never selected people, but rather invited people indiscriminately and then sensed their readiness to accept Islam. Scores of people believed and embraced Islam.

He (pbuh) was anxious to educate these new Muslims and perfect their knowledge of the Deen, as well as teach them the Qur’an. He (pbuh) formed a group from the companions and they carried the Da’wah in turn. Their number grew to over forty men and women, who came from all walks of life, though they were mostly young men. There were among them the poor and the rich, the weak and the strong.

This group of Muslims who believed in Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) and pursued the Da’wah were:

1. ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib (8 years old)

2. Zubayr ibn al-’Awwam (8 years old)

3. Talhah ibn ‘Ubaydullah (11 years old)

4. Al-Arqam ibn Abi al-Arqam (12 years old)

5. ‘Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (14 years old)

6. Sa’id ibn Zayd (under twenty)

7. Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas (17 years old)

8. Sa’ud ibn Rabi’ah (17 years old)

9. Ja’far ibn Abi Talib (18 years old)

10. Suhayb al-Rumi (under twenty)

11. Zayd ibn Harithah (about twenty)

12. ‘Uthman ibn ‘Affan (about twenty)

13. Tulayb ibn ‘Umayr (about twenty)

14. Khabbab ibn al-Arrat (about twenty)

15. ‘Amir ibn Fuhayrah (23 years old)

16. Mus’ab ibn ‘Umayr (24 years old)

17. Al-Miqdad ibn al-Aswad (24 years old)

18. ‘Abdullah ibn Jahsh (25 years old)

19. ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab (26 years old)

20. Abu Ubaydah ibn al-Jarrah (27 years old)

21. ‘Utbah ibn Ghazwan (27 years old)

22. Abu Hudhayfah ibn ‘Utbah (30 years old)

23. Bilal ibn Rabah (about 30 years old)

24. ‘Ayyash ibn Rabi’ah (about 30 years old)

25. ‘Amir ibn Rabi’ah (about 30) 26. Na’im ibn ‘Abdullah (about 30)

27. ‘Uthman (30 years old), and

28. ‘Abdullah (17 years old), and

29. Qudamah (19 years old), and

30. Al-Saib (about 20, all four being sons of Maz’un ibn Habib)

31. Abu Salamah ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abd al-Asad al-Makhzumi (about 30) 32. ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn ‘Auf (about 30)

33. ‘Ammar ibn Yasir (between 30 and 40)

34. Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (37 years old)

35. Hamzah ibn ‘Abd al-Muttalib (42 years old)

36. ‘Ubaydah ibn al-Harith (50 years old)

A number of women also embraced Islam.

After three years, the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) was relieved and reassured when these Sahabah matured and when their hearts and minds became filled with nothing but Islamic concepts grounded in the Islamic culture. He (pbuh) then became certain that they had acquired a deep understanding of Islam and that their personalities had reached great heights in terms of belief in Allah (swt). Only then were his worries appeased, for this group of Muslims became strong and capable enough to face society, so he (pbuh) came out leading his group to confront Quraysh when Allah (swt) ordered him to do so.

The Islamic call was known from the first day the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) recieved the message. People in Makkah had known all along that Muhammad (pbuh) was calling for a new Deen, and that scores of people had embraced Islam. They also knew that Muhammad (pbuh) was gathering his companions and looking after them, and that the Muslims concealed themselves from the rest of the Quraysh while they grouped together and learned about their new Deen.

People in Makkah were aware of this new call and of those who believed in it, but they never knew where they met nor who they were. That is why when the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) proclaimed his new belief, it did not come as a surprise. What surprised Makkah was the emergence of this new group of Muslims. The Muslims had gained a great deal of strength when Hamzah ibn ‘Abd al-Muttalib embraced Islam, followed by ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab three days later. Then came the revelation of Allah (swt),

“Therefore, proclaim openly (Allah’s Message), that which you are commanded, and turn away from “Al-Mushrikun”: Truly! We will suffice you against the scoffers. Who set up along with Allah another god, they will come to know” [Al-Hijr, 15: 94-96]

Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) duly obeyed Allah’s command and presented his group to all of Makkah. He (pbuh) went out with his Sahabah in two lines, one led by ‘Umar and the other by Hamzah. The Sahabah walked in a manner that the Quraysh had never witnessed before. He (pbuh) then circumambulated the Ka’bah with them.

This is the stage when Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) moved with his Sahabah from the secret phase to the open one, from calling and addressing and inviting those whom he felt were ready to answer his call, to addressing all people. The Da’wah then took a new turn, the clash between Iman and Kufr in society began, the interaction between the right concepts and the rotten ones began, setting off therefore the second phase of the Da’wah, i.e. the phase of interaction and struggle.

The disbelievers began resisting and fighting the Da’wah, inflicting in the process all kinds of harm and injury on the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) and his Sahabah. This phase was one of the most severest. The house of Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) was stoned and Umm Jamil, wife of Abu Lahab, used to throw impurities outside his home. He (pbuh) just ignored or removed them. Abu Jahl once threw a goat’s uterus, slaughtered as a sacrifice to the idols, at Allah’s Messenger (pbuh). He (pbuh) bore it all, and would go to his daughter Fatimah’s house so that she could clean him up. This only strengthened Allah’s Messenger’s (pbuh) resolve and made him more eager towards the Islamic call.

The Muslims were threatened and hurt, every tribe took it upon itself to torture and persecute its Muslim tribesmen. In one incident, one person left his slave Bilal on the burning sand and placed a heavy rock upon his chest simply because he insisted on Islam. Bilal defiantly uttered the words ‘Ahad! ‘Ahad! (the One, the One) and endured all this suffering for the sake of his Lord. One woman died after being subjected to torture, simply because she would not renounce her new belief and return to the faith of her forefathers.

The Muslims endured the suffering, torture, humiliation and deprivation with only one aim in mind, seeking to please Allah (swt).

When the Messenger (pbuh) was sent by Allah, people belittled him and his Message. The Quraysh ignored him at first thinking that his call would be no more than the talk of monks and sages and that people would eventually return to the faith of their fathers and ancestors.

This is why they did not bother with him. Whenever he passed by them they would say, “Here is the son of ‘Abd al-Muttalib who is spoken to from the heavens.” After a while however, they realized the threat of his campaign and decided to fight him. At first they simply resorted to degrading and ridiculing his claims of prophecy. They followed this by challenging him to perform miracles as a proof of his Message. They would say: Why does Muhammad not transform al-Safa and al-Marwa into gold? Why does the book revealed to him not descend from the sky already written? Why does Jibreel, whom Muhammad keeps talking about, not appear to them? Why does he not bring life to the dead? Why does he not remove the mountains which surround Makkah? Why does he not dig a source more fresher than Zamzam, knowing that his people badly need water? Why does his Allah not forecast the future prices of goods so that they can bid for them?

The smear campaign against Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) went on for some time. The Quraysh lashed out insults, abuse and sarcasm, but he (pbuh) never waned nor deviated from his path and went on inviting people to Islam, ridiculing their idols and demonstrating the idiocy and shallow minds of the people who worshipped them and built their hopes on them.

This became far too much for the Quraysh to bear, and thus they resorted to any means necessary to pressure him (pbuh) into renouncing his Message, to no avail. Three of the major methods which the Quraysh used to fight the Da’wah were:

1. Torture

2. Internal and external propaganda

3. Boycott.

Torture befell the Messenger of Allah (pbuh), despite his family’s protection, and his followers. The Quraysh resorted to all types of torture and they became experts at this malignant craft. The family of Al-Yasir were all subjected to horrific types of torture in order to make them abandon their Deen, but this only made them more determined and steadfast. Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) passed by them while they were being tortured and said to them, “Hold on Al-Yasir! Your reward is Jannah. Your destiny is with Allah.” Upon this Sumayyah, wife of Yasir said, “I can see it, O Messenger of Allah.”

The torture of Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) and his Sahabah went on unabated for some time until the Quraysh realized that it was all in vain, so they resorted to another method in order to fight the Da’wah, which consisted of libel and propaganda against Islam and the Muslims within Makkah as well as abroad, such as in Abyssinia. This method was used in all its types and forms, ranging from arguments, debates, mockery and a smear campaign. Libel was used against the Islamic ‘Aqeedah itself, and directly against the Messenger of Allah (pbuh). The Quraysh lied about him (pbuh) and accused him falsely. They planned and schemed many ways to discredit him.

The Quraysh carefully prepared how best they could discredit Islam especially in the Hajj season. They went so far as to confer with al-Walid ibn al- Mughirah in order to formulate ways to libel the Messenger of Allah (pbuh). They focused on what they should tell the Arabs coming to Makkah for Hajj. Some suggested that they should announce that he was a Kahin (fortune-teller). Al- Walid rejected this by pointing out that Muhammad (pbuh) was devoid of the unintelligent murmuring and rhymed speech of the Kahin. Some claimed that he was a poet, yet they knew poetry in all its forms and metres and so rejected this claim too. Others suggested that he was possessed. Al-Walid also rejected this for Muhammad’s behavior was not that of a possessed man. Still others started accusing him of sorcery, al-Walid rejected this idea saying that Muhammad (pbuh) did not practice the secret arts performed by sorcerers, such as the well known ritual of blowing on knots.

After a lengthy debate, the Quraysh agreed to accuse him of being a sorcerer possessing the Sihr al-Bayan (magic of words). Afterwards, they dispersed among the congregations of pilgrims warning the Arabs against listening to Muhammad (pbuh) and depicting him as a magician of speech. They said that his Message separated a man from his brother, or from his father, or from his wife, or from his family. However, this propaganda did not work, and the Message of Islam continued to grip the minds of the people. The Quraysh then approached al-Nadr ibn al-Harith and assigned to him the task of campaigning against the Messenger of Allah (pbuh). Whenever he (pbuh) held a meeting to which people were invited, reminding them of Allah and His admonishment of bygone generations, al-Nadr ibn al-Harith arose and narrated stories about the kings of Persia and their religion. He proclaimed, “In what respect is Muhammad a better story-teller than I? Does he not expound tales of the past the same as I do?” Quraysh spread such stories and gossip widely. They told people that what Muhammad (pbuh) was saying was not from Allah but was instead taught to him by a Christian youth named Jabr. This rumor spread among the people until Allah (swt) replied by revealing the following verse,

“And indeed We know that they say: “It is only a human being who teaches him (Muhammad)”. The tongue of the man they refer to is foreign, while this is a clear Arabic tongue.” [An-Nahl, 16:103]

The libel against Islam and the persecution of the Muslims continued in the Arabian Peninsula. When the Quraysh heard that some Muslims, being afraid of forced apostasy, had emigrated to Abyssinia they sent two determined envoys after them to discredit the Muslims in the hope that the Negus would expel them from his kingdom and have them sent back. The two envoys were ‘Amr ibn al-’As ibn Wa’il and ‘Abdullah ibn Rabi’ah. They reached Abyssinia and offered presents to the generals of the Negus to help them convince the Negus to extradite the Muslim refugees. They said to them, “Some foolish fellows from our people have taken refuge in the King’s country, they have forsaken our Deen and not accepted yours, but have brought into being an invented Deen which neither we nor you know anything about. Our nobles have sent us to you to return them. So surrender them to us, for their own people have the keenest insight and know most about their faults.” They also stipulated that the King should not speak to the Muslims, fearing what they might say to him. The generals met with the Negus and recommended that he surrender the Muslims to their own people.

The Negus summoned the Muslims and demanded to hear what they had to say for themselves. When they came he asked them, “What is this Deen for which you have forsaken your people without entering into my Deen or any other?” Ja’far ibn Abi Talib answered him by explaining their ignorance before Islam and comparing it to their new position under its guidance. He said, “Thereupon our people attacked us. So when they got the better of us, they treated us unjustly and came between us and our Deen, we came to your country, having chosen you above all others, but we hope that we shall not be treated unjustly while we are with you.” The Negus said to Ja’far, “Do you have with you anything from what your Messenger brought from Allah to read to me?” Ja’far said, “Yes,” and recited Surah Maryam from the beginning until where Allah (swt) says,

“Then she pointed to him. They said: “How can we talk to one who is a child in the cradle? He (Jesus) said: Verily! I am a slave of Allah, He has given me the Scripture and made me a prophet; And He has made me blessed wheresoever I be, and has enjoined on me prayer, and Zakat, as long as I live. Andmade dutiful to mother, and made me not arrogant, unblest. And “Salam” (peace) be upon me the day I was born, and the day I die, and the day I shall be raised alive!” [Maryam, 19:29-33]

When the patriarchs heard this they said, “This and what our Lord ‘Isa (Jesus) the Messiah brought are from the same source.” The Negus said, “Of a truth, this and what Musa brought, come from the same niche. You two may go, for by Allah, I will never give them up and they shall not be betrayed.” The two envoys left the Royal Palace and began to think of another way to fulfill their task. The next day ‘Amr ibn al-’As went back to the Negus and said to him, “The Muslims say dreadful things about ‘Isa, son of Maryam, send for them and ask them about it.” He did so and Ja’far replied, “We say about him that which our Prophet brought, saying, he is the slave of Allah and His Messenger, and His spirit, and His word, which He cast into Maryam the blessed virgin.” The Negus took a stick from the ground, drew a line in the soil with it and said to Ja’far, “There is nothing more than this line between your Deen and ours”, and he discharged the two envoys empty-handed.

Ultimately, all the ways and means of propaganda pronounced against the Islamic Da’wah failed. The sheer force of truth reflected in what the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) was calling for, defeated all rumors, lies and propaganda, and the light of Islam dissipated all attempts at discrediting it. Therefore, Quraysh resorted to a third method, which was the boycott. They agreed to completely isolate the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) and his family and they drew up a document in which they decided not to deal with Banu Hashim and Banu ‘Abd al-Muttalib, neither to marry their women nor give their own women to them in marriage, neither buy anything from them nor sell anything to them. When they had agreed on these conditions they wrote them in a deed and hung it inside the Ka’bah to remind them of their covenant. They anticipated that this policy of sanctions would bring the desired effect and that it would be more efficient than either propaganda or torture.

The boycott continued for two to three years, all the while the Quraysh were hoping that Banu Hashim and Banu ‘Abd al-Muttalib would abandon Muhammad (pbuh), that the Muslims would renounce their faith, and that eventually Muhammad (pbuh) would be left all alone at their mercy. They hoped the sanctions would either lead to Muhammad (pbuh) abandoning his call for Islam, or to the threat that his call posed to the Quraysh and their Deen disappearing. However, this technique only strengthened the Messenger of Allah’s resolve and made his Sahabah more diligent in pursuing the Da’wah. The boycott failed to put a halt to the spread of the Message of Islam inside and outside Makkah. News of the boycott reached the Arabs outside Makkah and the call spread among many tribes. Islam was a subject of discussion all over the Arabian Peninsula.

However, the boycott and starvation went on relentlessly and the document which the Quraysh drew up remained enforced. The Messenger’s family and the Sahabah suffered hunger and deprivation and subsisted on meager provisions which they obtained from sympathizers. Their only respite was during the sacred months, when the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) used to go to the Ka’bah and invite people to the Deen of Allah, telling them of His rewards and warning them about His punishment, then afterwards he had to return to the mountain valley. This earned Allah’s Messenger (pbuh), his Family and his Sahabah the sympathy of the Arabs, some of whom responded to the call and embraced Islam, while others sent food and drink to them secretly. Hisham ibn ‘Amr was known to have brought camels laden with food at night and on reaching the mouth of the valley he would release the animal, give it a slap on its side, and send it into the valley to where the Muslims were. They would take the food, slaughter the camel and eat it.

The Muslims were to endure the boycott for about three years, during which life became extremely harsh, until Allah (swt) sent His relief and finally broke the siege. Five young men from Quraysh, Zuhayr ibn Abi Umayyah, Hisham ibn ‘Amr, al-Mut’im ibn ‘Adi, Abu al-Bakhtari ibn Hisham and Zama’ah ibn al-Aswad gathered together. They talked about the document and its sanctions and they, like many of the Quraysh at that time, expressed their resentment towards it. At length they agreed to resolve the whole issue of the unjust boycott by securing its annulment.

The next day, they went to the Ka’bah and Zuhayr went around it seven times. Addressing the crowd who were present, he said, “O people of Makkah, are we to eat and clothe ourselves while Banu Hashim perish, unable to buy or sell? By Allah (swt) will not rest until this damn boycotting document is torn up.” Abu Jahl, who was nearby, exclaimed, “You lie, by Allah it shall not be torn up.” At this point the other four Zama’ah, Abu al-Bakhtari, al-Mut’im and Hisham, who had dispersed among the crowd, shouted back in support of Zuhayr. Abu Jahl realized that it was a matter which had been arranged beforehand, so he feared the worst and backed off. When al-Mut’im went to tear up the document he discovered that white ants had already eaten it except for the words ‘In your name, O Allah’.

The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) and his Sahabah then proceeded to return to Makkah and the embargo was finally lifted. Thereafter, Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) continued to pursue his call and the number of Muslims continued to grow steadily, marking the failure of all the methods the Quraysh employed in their attempt to suppress the Message of Islam. The Kuffar continued in their attempts to come between the Muslims and their Deen and to make Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) renounce his Da’wah which, with Allah’s help, became widespread despite all obstacles and hardships.

 

The impact that the Islamic call had on Quraysh was only natural, for the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) took up the struggle and presented his group to the Quraysh in a conspicuous and challenging manner. It left them with no room to doubt its implications upon them. In addition, the call itself included the struggle against Quraysh and the Makkan society, for it was calling to the Oneness of Allah, to worship Him alone, to abandon the worship of idols and to renounce the decadent system they were living by. Therefore the call was at loggerheads with the Quraysh, and this was inevitable since the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) was to discredit their thinking, ridicule their gods, mock their way of life, and deplore their tyrannical practices.

Whenever a verse was revealed to him (pbuh), he would attack the Quraysh with it openly. He would recite Allah’s words,

“Certainly! You (disbelievers) and that which you are worshipping now besides Allah, are (but) fuel for Hell!” [Al-Anbiya, 21:98]

He (pbuh) strongly attacked the relationship in the society such as Riba,

“And that which you give in usury (to others), in order that it may increase, has no increase with Allah” [Ar-Rum, 30:39]

and attacking cheating in the scales,

“Woe to those that deal in fraud those who, when they have to receive by measure, from men, exact full measure. But when they have to measure a weight to men, give less than due.” [Al-Mutaffiffin 83: 1-3]

Quraysh, therefore, confronted him and began fighting him and his Sahabah, This they endeavoured to do by means of torture, sanctions and propaganda against him personally and against his Deen. In return he (pbuh) carried the offensive to them, pursuing his struggle against their erroneous notions and demolishing their corrupt beliefs in order to spread the Message of Islam according to the way decreed by Allah (swt). He (pbuh) invited people to Islam openly, without compromising and bargaining, despite all the various types of persecution of Quraysh upon him, and despite being a defenseless figure with no real help, no ally, no material means and no weapons. He (pbuh) came conspicuously and challengingly, inviting to the Deen of Allah with great resolve and faith, ignoring all the hardships, not allowing weakness to get the better of him, ready to endure the colossal burdens for the sake of the Message. This enabled him to surmount all the obstacles that Quraysh put in his way, which were designed to come between him and the people.

The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) succeeded in reaching the people and in conveying the Message to them; in turn they embraced Islam because the truth and the force of reason defeated the falsehood. The light of Islam began shining amongst the Arabs, many idol worshippers embraced Islam, so did many Christians, even the leaders of Quraysh began listening to the Qur’an with yearning hearts.

Al-Tufayl ibn ‘Amr al-Dausi came to Makkah when Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) was there. He was an important nobleman, very intelligent and a poet of some understanding. Quraysh approached him immediately and warned him that this fellow Muhammad (pbuh) had done them much harm, that he was a sorcerer and that his talk separated men from their families. They exclaimed that they feared he might have the same effect on him and advised him not to speak to Muhammad (pbuh) or listen to a word he said. Al-Tufayl went one day to the Ka’bah and it happened that Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) was there, he listened to some of his speech and found it beautiful, so he said to himself, “By Allah! Here I am, an intelligent man, a poet, knowing perfectly well the difference between good and evil, so what is to prevent me from listening to what this man is saying? If it is good I shall accept it and if it is bad I shall reject it.” He followed the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) to his house and told him about himself and what was on his mind. So Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) invited him to Islam and recited to him the Qur’an. He became a Muslim and declared that it was the truth. Then he went back to his people and proceeded to call them to Islam.

While the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) was in Makkah, some twenty Christians traveled to meet him after receiving news about him. They sat and listened to him and accepted and believed in him and declared his truth. This enraged the Quraysh and they later intercepted them as they were leaving Makkah and hurled insults at them saying, “May Allah bring you ruin! What a wretched band you are. Your people at home sent you to bring them information about this man, and as soon as you sat with him, you renounced your religion and believed in what he said.” This, however, did not affect them, nor did it affect their belief in Islam, rather it strengthened all the more their belief in Allah (swt). The impact of the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) increased, as did people’s yearning to listen to the Qur’an. It reached a point whereby his harshest opponents from the Quraysh began wondering whether what he (pbuh) was calling for was really true. This led them to listen to the Qur’an in secret.

Abu Sufyan ibn Harb, Abu Jahl ‘Amr ibn Hisham and al-Akhnas ibn Shurayq, were each unaware that the other was going to listen to the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) as he was praying in his house. Each one was disguised and each chose a place to sit where he could listen. None knew where the other was. Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) regularly stayed up most of the night reciting the Qur’an. They passed this particular night listening attentively to him, their minds were captured and their hearts affected, until dawn arose when they all quickly dispersed. On the way home they met accidentally, reproaching one another, each one saying to the other, “Don’t do it again, for if one of the lightminded fools sees you, it would compromise and weaken your standing, and it would tip the scales in Muhammad’s favor.” On the second night, each of them felt his legs taking him to the same spot where he had spent the previous night. The three listened once again to Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) reciting the Book of Allah and, as before, they met at dawn and reproached each other, yet this did not prevent them from attending for a third night. When they realized their weakness towards Muhammad’s Message, they took a solemn oath never to return. Nevertheless this incident resulted in an exchange of views concerning what they had heard over the three nights; they were agitated because their actions manifested signs of weakness which none of them, as leader of his tribe, could afford. This, they acknowledged, could be construed as playing into the hands of Muhammad (pbuh) and it might encourage the people to accept his Message.

Despite all the obstacles that the Quraysh laid down, the call succeeded in penetrating Makkah, and the Quraysh became panic stricken fearing the worst, i.e. the spreading of Islam among the Arab tribes. Quraysh, therefore, intensified their hostile campaign against Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) and his Sahabah. The situation eventually became almost unbearable and Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) went to the city of Ta’if seeking the Nussrah (support) and protection of Banu Thaqif in the hope that they might embrace Islam. He approached them on his own, but they spoke to him harshly and treated him very badly. They stirred up their louts and slaves who hurled insults and stones at him until the whole of his body including his feet bled. He (pbuh) managed to take refuge in an orchard belonging to Shabeeb and Shayba, sons of Rabi’ah. There he sat thinking about his situation and about the call. He knew that he could not enter Makkah without one of the leaders’ protection, neither could he go back to Ta’if after the way he had been treated there, and he could not stay in the orchard for it belonged to two disbelievers. He (pbuh) felt very distressed and lifted his arms to the sky lamenting and supplicating to Allah (swt). Painfully and with immense confidence in Allah (swt), he said, “O Allah! To You I complain of my weakness, little resource, and lowliness before man. O Most Merciful! You are the Lord of the weak, and You are my Lord. To whom would You confide in me? To one afar who will misuse me or to an enemy to whom You have given dominance over me? If You are not angry with me, I do not care about anything else. Your favor of well-being on me is sufficient for me. I take refuge in the light of Your countenance by which the darkness is illuminated, and the things of this world and the next are rightly ordered, lest Your anger descend upon me or Your wrath not light upon me but come down on me. It is for You to be satisfied until You are well pleased. There is no power and no might except in You.”

Whereupon he returned to Makkah under the protection of al-Mut’im ibn ‘Adiy. The Quraysh soon learned of what had happened to the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) in Ta’if, and this only made them increase their ill treatment of the Messenger (pbuh) and they prohibited people from listening to him. The Makkans deserted him and refrained from listening to his preaching. However, he (pbuh) was never disheartened, and went on calling people to the Deen of Allah by offering himself to the tribes during the festive seasons, inviting them to Islam, telling them that he was a Prophet sent by Allah (swt) and asking them to believe in him. But Abu Lahab, his hateful uncle, never left his sight. He followed him everywhere telling people not to listen to him, so the people ignored him and paid him no attention.

The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) then resorted to visiting the tribes in their dwellings, offering himself to them. He visited the tribes of Kinda, Kalb, Banu Hanifah and Banu ‘Aamir ibn Sa’sah. None of them actually responded to his call and they all bitterly opposed him, especially Banu Hanifah. As for Banu ‘Aamir, they wanted authority after him in return for giving him allegiance. He (pbuh) replied, “Authority is a matter which Allah places where He pleases.” Upon hearing this Banu ‘Aamir also declined to help.

Therefore, Makkah rejected Islam, as did the people of Ta’if, and the tribes too rejected the Messenger of Allah’s call. Those tribes who came to Makkah to conduct business learned of the situation of the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) and his isolation, and this only drove them further away from him, thus worsening his isolation. The call for Islam became much more difficult while the hardened Makkan society showed signs of total rejection, disbelief and stubbornness. Expectations for the Da’wah in Makkah became very low.

The Da’wah of the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) in Makkah was divided into two stages. The first stage was the stage of teaching, culturing and intellectual and spiritual building. The second stage was the spreading of the Message and the struggle. The first stage was to ensure the correct understanding of new concepts and to incorporate them into personalities and to structure them around these concepts. The second stage was to transfer these concepts into a mobilizing force in the society that drives it to implement them in the different walks of life. Concepts are nothing but a mass of lifeless information unless they are implemented in a society. In order for these concepts to be energized and implemented, they first have to go through the process of being transformed from mere thoughts to becoming a driving force within the society, with people adopting them, realizing, carrying them and struggling to implement them. Eventually, the implementation of these concepts would become inevitable.

This is how the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) went about his call in Makkah. In the first stage, he called people to Islam, cultured them with its concepts and taught them its rules. He gathered whoever he could on the basis of the Islamic belief. This was the stage of secretly grouping individuals and orienting them for the Da’wah. Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) relentlessly pursued the call, eager to acculturate all those who embraced Islam. He gathered them in the house of al- Arqam, or sent someone to culture them in circles in their own homes or in the mountain valleys. They did so in secret and gathered in a group. Their belief became stronger, and relations between them closer, and their awareness of the task that they faced daily until they were ready to sacrifice anything in the way of the Da’wah. The Message took deep root in their hearts and in their minds, Islam became like the blood in their veins - they became walking examples of Islam. Therefore, the Message could never remain confined within themselves, despite their attempts to keep themselves and the Da’wah away from the eyes of Quraysh.

They began talking to people they trusted, and to those in whom they felt a readiness to accept Islam. People, therefore, found out about their Message and felt their presence. At this stage, the call was positioned at the starting point and needed to be launched. This marked the end of the first stage, i.e. the collectivization and acculturation, and the call inevitably moved to the second stage, that of interaction and struggle. It involved expounding Islam and its concepts to the people. Some people responded and accepted, and others rejected and fought it. However, before disbelief and falsehood could be defeated and before Iman and righteousness could gain the upper hand, such a clash was inevitable. Yet, no matter how stubborn peoples’ minds are, they can never permanently block the path of the right concepts, although they try to avoid them so as to remain unaffected.

Therefore, the stage of interaction commenced, incorporating as it did the struggle between the two disparate streams of thoughts, that of Islam and Kufr. It proceeded from the time that the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) emerged with his group of Sahabah, in a manner never before witnessed by the Arabs, and together they circumumbulated the Ka’bah declaring the Message. From that time on, the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) publicly invited people to Islam in Makkah, challenging their existing lifestyles.

Qur’anic verses proclaiming the Oneness of Allah (swt) were revealed to the Messenger of Allah (pbuh), as were the verses deploring disbelief and idol-worship, and the verses attacking the way people blindly followed their forefathers. These verses were revealed to abhor the corrupt dealings within society, they attacked interest (Riba) and corruption and cheating in the scales (Tatfeef). In order to address the people, the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) talked to them about Islam in groups. He started by gathering together his clan, inviting them for meals. Then he invited them to Islam and asked them to support him, but they rejected him. He gathered the Makkans at al-Safa and talked to them, but this enraged the leaders of the Quraysh, especially Abu Lahab, thus the rift deepened between Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) and the Quraysh and between him and the other Arabs. Thus, the interaction with the public was coupled with the concentrated education being delivered in houses, specifically in the house of al-Arqam and in the valleys.

The call moved from inviting individuals who displayed good potential to inviting all people. The public call and acculturation had a visible effect on the Quraysh, for it unleashed from their quarters a great deal of hatred which mounted, as the threat of the call increased/became more prevalent. The Quraysh began taking serious measures to counter and resist the Da’wah after realizing that it could no longer ignore Muhammad (pbuh) and his Message. Thus, the hostilities intensified against Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) and his Sahabah.

The public approach of the group, however, had a massive effect. It created the public opinion necessary for the growth of the Da’wah and this asssisted in its rapid expansion throughout Makkah. Every day that passed saw a growth in the number of Muslims, the poor, the deprived and the oppressed embraced Islam so did the nobles and leaders, and the rich traders whose trading did not distract them from reflecting on what the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) was calling for. Those who embraced Islam were the ones whose minds and hearts understood purity, wisdom and truth, and those who raised themselves above stubbornness and haughtiness. They embraced Islam the moment they realized its righteousness and the truthfulness of the one who conveyed the Message. Islam spread in Makkah therein, and men and women embraced it. The collective Da’wah played a major role in taking the Message to a wider audience despite the trials and suffering that the Muslims had to endure in the process. The success of the Da’wah enraged the leaders of the Quraysh still further, and was like a fire burning through their hearts. The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) waged an unrelenting, ideological campaign against injustice, harshness and oppression that dominated Makkah, and he mocked, attacked and exposed their ill-fated concepts and practices.

This marked the beginning of one of the most severest of stages between the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) and his Sahabah on one side and the disbelievers of the Quraysh on the other. Although the intermediate phase between the stage of acculturation and the stage of interaction is considered to be the most delicate and sensitive, because it requires a great deal of wisdom, patience and precision, the phase of interaction is actually the most difficult because it requires frankness and defiance without giving any account to results or conditions of the situation at hand. This is so due to the fact that the Muslims would be tested in their Deen and Iman.

The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) and his Companions passed through that phase enduring the kind of oppression, torture, persecution and aggression that would weigh down the highest mountain.

Some of them emigrated to Abyssinia, some of them perished under torture and some of them survived the most atrocious types of aggression. They pursued their relentless struggle until they were able to affect the Makkan society with the light of Islam and to begin to dissipate the darkness that disbelief had engendered, and that Makkah had been plunged into. Despite the fact that the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) spent three years in the House of al- Arqam, having completed the first stage of the Da’wah, he had to struggle against disbelief, even though he had clearly demonstrated his Prophethood through many miracles, for another eight years. All of this transpired without the Quraysh once giving any respite from torturing the Muslims, nor showing any signs of appeasing their harsh stance against Islam. As a result of the interaction between the Muslims and the Quraysh, the impact of the Da’wah spread throughout the Peninsula and became a subject on everyone’s lips; the pilgrims helped in spreading the news of the call amongst the Arab tribes. However, those Arabs remained mainly spectators and never moved one step towards Iman, as their main concern was not to upset the Quraysh. They avoided the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) in order not to clash with the Quraysh. This dangerous situation of the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) and the Sahabah made it evident that moving the Da’wah to the third phase in which Islam will be implemented is a must.

However, the signs in Makkah were not indicative towards it being a viable option. Additionally, the increase in hostilities against the Muslims prevented them from fully devoting their time to the call and the people’s rejection compounded the situation and made it worse.

The hostility of the Quraysh towards the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) and his Sahabah reached a saturation point after the Thaqif tribe in Ta’if maliciously chased him away, and when the tribes of Kinda, Kalb, Banu ‘Aamir and Banu Hanifah rejected his call to them during the Hajj season. The Quraysh managed to increase his (pbuh) isolation further, after these setbacks, separating him and his party from any outside support. He (pbuh) and his Sahabah, however, remained steadfast in their belief in Allah (swt) and never doubted Allah’s I promise of victory to them and to Islam.

The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) continued inviting people to Islam whenever possible and he approached the tribes and offered himself to them, not worrying in the slightest about the consequences. Some of the louts from the Quraysh attempted to provoke him and hurt him, but he (pbuh) never let this affect him nor his hope of a brighter future. Allah (swt) sent him with the Message of Islam and he never doubted that Allah (swt) would help and protect him and secure the establishment of the Deen. He (pbuh) waited for Allah’s relief, while being very troubled about the state of the Da’wah.

Fortunately, the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) did not have long to wait, for the signs of victory soon came from Yathrib (Madinah) in the shape of a group from al-Khazraj who had come to Makkah during the Hajj season where the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) met them for the first time and invited them to Islam.

They looked to each other and said, “By Allah this is the very Prophet of whom the Jews warned us about. Do not let them get to him before us.” Thereupon they accepted his teaching and embraced Islam. They said to him, “We have left our people (al-Aws and al-Khazraj), for no tribes are so divided by hatred and rancor as they. Perhaps Allah will unite them through you, if so, then no man will be mightier then you.”

When they returned to Yathrib (Madinah), they told their people about the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) and invited them to accept Islam. They managed to open people’s hearts and minds to the new Deen. Every household among the Aws and Khazraj began to talk about Muhammad (pbuh).

In the following year, twelve people from Madinah attended the Hajj and met with the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) at al-‘Aqabah where they gave him the first pledge of al-‘Aqabah. They pledged to associate none with Allah, that they should not steal, neither commit fornication nor adultery, nor kill their offspring, and that they should not slander their neighbor, nor disobey the Messenger of Allah (pbuh). If they fulfilled this, Jannah would be theirs, but if they committed any of those sins, it was for Allah (swt) to punish or forgive as He I pleased. Once they had delivered their pledge and the Hajj season was over they returned to Madinah.

 

 

When the people of the first pledge of al-‘Aqabah returned to Madinah and Islam spread to every single household among the Ansar, they sent a man to the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) with a letter asking him to send them someone who would teach them the Deen and the Qur’an. The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) never used to leave those who embraced Islam without teaching them the rules and nurturing them with the sound Islamic culture which would enable them to understand Islam and realize its essence. For the Islamic culture is vital to every Muslim, and is a means of strengthening the ‘Aqeedah and of understanding the Message of Islam, and thereby guarantees the consistent application of Islam. Those who embraced Islam had sensed this, therefore, they asked for someone to teach them, and the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) sent Mus’ab ibn ‘Umayr to them.

 

On arrival, Mus’ab lodged with As’ad ibn Zurarah, he then began visiting people in their homes and camps, calling them to Islam and reciting the Qur’an and consequently a man or two would embrace Islam, until Islam manifested itself and spread to every household of the Ansar, except the households of Khatmah, Wa’il and Waqif who were from (the clan of) Aws-Allah. Mus’ab ibn ‘Umayr was teaching them the deen and recitation of the Qur’an. Then he wrote to the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) asking his permission to gather them. Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) granted him permission and wrote back, “Wait until the Jews declare their Sabbath, and in the afternoon, approach Allah with two Rak’at and then deliver your Khutbah.” Mus’ab ibn ‘Umayr gathered them in the house of Sa’d ibn Khaythamah, they were twelve men and he slaughtered for them one goat. Mus’ab was the first in the history of Islam to hold Jum’uah prayer.

 

Mus’ab continued to go around Madinah calling people to Islam and teaching them the Deen.

 

One day As’ad ibn Zurarah went out with Mus’ab ibn ‘Umayr to the areas of Banu al-Ashhal and of Banu Zafar (Sa’d ibn Mu’adh was incidentally As’ad ibn Zurarah’s maternal cousin.) They entered one of the gardens of Banu Zafar by a well called Maraq and sat in it, where some of the men who had accepted Islam had gathered together. Sa’d ibn Mu’adh and Usayd ibn Hudayr were at the time leaders of their clan, the Banu ‘Abd al-Ashhal, and both followed the polytheism of their tribe. When they had heard about Mus’ab, Sa’d said to Usayd, “Go to these fellows who have entered our quarters to make fools of our comrades, drive them out and forbid them to enter our quarters.

 

If it were not that As’ad ibn Zurarah is related to me as you know I would save you the trouble. He is my aunt’s son and I can do nothing to him.” So Usayd took his lance and went to them; and when As’ad saw him he said to Mus’ab, “This is the chief of his tribe who is coming to you, so be true to Allah with him.” Mus’ab said, “If he will sit down, I will talk to him.” He stood over them looking furious and asking what they meant by coming to deceive their weaker comrades. “Leave us if you value your lives.” Mus’ab said, “Won’t you sit down and listen. If you like what you hear you can accept it, and if you don’t like it you can leave it alone.” He agreed that was fair, stuck his lance in the ground, and sat down. Mus’ab explained Islam to him and read the Qur’an. Afterwards they said, according to what has been reported by them, “By Allah, before he spoke we recognized Islam in his face by its peaceful glow.” He said, “What a wonderful and beautiful discourse this is! What does one do if he wants to enter this Deen?” They told him that he must wash and purify himself and his garments, then bear witness to the Truth and pray two Rak’at. He immediately did so and said, “There is a man behind me who if he follows you every one of his people will follow suit. I will send him to you at once. It is Sa’d ibn Mu’adh.”

 

Taking his lance, he went off to Sa’d and his people sitting in a meeting place. When Sa’d saw him coming, he said, “By Allah, Usayd is coming with a different expression from that which he had when he left you.” And when he came up he asked what had happened, he said, “I have spoken to the two men and I find no harm in them. I forbade them to go on and they said to me: We will do what you like; and I was told that Banu Harithah had gone out against As’ad to kill him because they knew that he was the son of your aunt so as to make you appear a treacherous protector of your guests.”

 

Sa’d was enraged and got up at once, alarmed at what had been said about the Banu Harithah. He took the lance from his hand saying, “By Allah (swt) see that you have been utterly ineffective.” He went out to them and when he saw them sitting comfortably he knew that Usayd had intended that he should listen to them. He stood over them, looking furious. He said to As’ad, “O Abu Umamah, were it not for the relationship between us you would not have treated me thus. Would you behave in our homelands in a way we detest?” As’ad already had said to Mus’ab, “O Mus’ab, by Allah the leader who is followed by his people has come to you. If he follows you, no two of them will remain behind.” So Mus’ab said to him, “Won’t you sit down and listen. If you like what you hear you can accept it, and if you don’t like it you can leave it alone.” He agreed that was fair, stuck his lance in the ground, and sat down. He explained Islam to him and read for him the Qur’an.

 

Afterwards they said, according to what has been reported of them, “By Allah, before he spoke we recognized Islam in his face by its peaceful glow.” He said, “What a wonderful and beautiful discourse this is! What does one do if he wants to enter this Deen?” They told him that he must wash and purify himself and his garments, then bear witness to the truth and pray. He immediately did so. Then he took his lance and went back to his people’s meeting place accompanied by Usayd ibn Hudayr. When they saw him coming they said, “We swear by Allah, Sa’d has returned with a different expression from that which he had when he left you.” And when he stopped by them he said, “O Banu ‘Abd al-Ashhal, how do you rate my authority amongst you?” They replied, “You are our chief, the most active in our interests, the best in judgment and the most fortunate in leadership.” He said, “I will not speak to a man or woman among you until you believe in Allah and his Messenger.” As a result, every man and woman among the Banu ‘Abd al-Ashhal embraced Islam. Mus’ab then returned to the house of As’ad ibn Zurarah and he stayed with him as a guest, and he continued to call the people to Islam until almost every household of the Ansar had Muslim men and women among them. Mus’ab ibn ‘Umayr remained in Madinah for one year among the ‘Aus and the Khazraj teaching them their Deen and witnessing, with great delight, the growing number of the helpers of Allah’s authority and of the word of truth.

 

He, may Allah be pleased with him, used to knock on people’s doors hoping to contact them and convey the Message of Allah. He used to walk to the fields and contact the farmers to call them to Islam. He also used to confront the leaders and call them to the Deen of Allah. He would also perform some deliberate tactics like the one he used with As’ad ibn Zurarah in order to gain access to people and get them to receive the voice of Truth until he managed in one single year to turn the thoughts in Madinah from corrupted idolatry and incorrect emotions to Tawheed and Iman and Islamic emotions that abhorred Shirk and turned away from evil acts such as cheating and fraud and other vices. As a result of Mus’ab’s activities and the activities of those who embraced Islam, Madinah had been transformed in one single year from a people who committed Shirk to a people who turned to Islam.

 

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