The open challenge to the kufr system that was initiated by the Prophet (saw) was waged for nearly 10 years until an Islamic State was established in Madinah. The location of the State wasn’t known to the Prophet (saw), nor was the time of it’s establishment, there was only a complete submission towards this goal and a clear cut method which was followed to achieve the victory that Allah (swt) had promised.

The famous du‘a that the Messenger of Allah (saw) made when returning from Ta‘if summarised his attitude and commitment to the call: “O Allah! To you I proclaim 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 me? To one afar who will misuse me? If You are not angry with me I care not. Your favour is wider 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 light upon me. It is for You to be satisfied until You are well pleased. There is no power and no might save in You.”.

The Prophet (saw) had travelled alone to Ta‘if to invite them to Islam and to ask for support in establishing the Islamic State; he was rejected outright and even children were sent to stone him until the blood ran to his feet. He (saw) did not mind, his sole concern was to adhere to the methodology set out for him and his group (companions) to establish Islam. “If you are not angry with me I care not” - meaning no matter what the kuffar felt or how they responded, the Prophet (saw) was solely concerned with following the Islamic way as he was guided to by Allah (swt). And yet some Muslims today at the slightest problem retreat to their homes and refuse to follow the Sunnah of the Prophet (saw) in going to the people on mass to invite them to the deen and to establish Allah’s law.

The open stage was characterised by certain key points:

1. The Muslims worked hard to propagate the call of Islam publicly - the address to the tribes of Quraysh at Mount Safa was one example, and the demonstration of the Prophet’s group in encircling the Ka‘aba which came after Allah’s command to “go and proclaim openly” was another. Quraysh were shocked; Ibn Abbas (ra) narrated that they had never before seen such a demonstration.

2. The call was controversial and challenging. The nature of change in society requires that opposing thoughts must be broken down and thoroughly refuted in order that the way be cleared for the Islamic thought and way of life to come forward. The nature of the Qur’anic ayat that were revealed during the Makkan period pointed the way and challenged the shallow unthinking minds of Quraysh to wake up and consider what it was they worshipped, who they followed as leaders, how they bought, or how they married. In short the whole way of life was pointedly attacked, and furthermore the Muslims of today are mistaken if they think that change will come without there being a rigorous intellectual attack upon Capitalism, Communism, or any other false ideology.

Not only was their belief in idols attacked, but the Prophet (saw) launched an intellectual onslaught on every aspect of their way of life:

Their political system and leaders were attacked:

“May the hands of Abu Lahab perish: Doomed he is. His wealth and his gains shall not avail him. He shall be plunged in a flaming fire...” [TMQ 111:1-3].

Their economic system was attacked:

“Woe to the defrauders, who take in full what they buy, and who reduce the weight when they sell.” [TMQ 83:1-2]. Even their social customs were attacked:

“You shall not kill your children for fear of want. We will provide for them and for you.” [TMQ 17:31].

Always the challenge linked the people back to the ‘aqeedah, imploring them to adopt Islam and reject the corruption around them. These ayat and the vigorous passing of the Islamic call created great controversy, hardship and ultimately raised the profile of the Muslims in the whole of the Arab peninsula. The false gods, systems and creeds of today must also be exposed and the message of Islam must be prominently brought forward, especially so in the Muslim world, where the work to re-establish the Khilafah is occurring.

The Muslims didn’t lose any opportunity to pass culture to the people and invite them to Islam. This open call forms the main approach for the Islamic movement today, and indeed must be carried out in the Muslim countries, to undermine completely the false ideas and concepts which have polluted the minds of the sincere Islamic Ummah.