The Secret Invitation (First Three Years)
- Hazrat Muhammad Rasool-Allah Khatam-an-Nabigeen started conveying Allah’s message to the people of Makkah.
- At first, he preached to those who were closest to him, such as his family and friends.
- After his wife, Hazrat Khadijah, Hazrat Abu Bakr, his young cousin Hazrat Ali, and Zaid bin Haris were among the first people to accept Islam.
- Islam spread slowly and quietly for three years in Makkah.
- People started accepting the message of Allah, but they were very few in number.
- They were afraid to practice Islam openly.
- They offered their namaz secretly, often hiding their faith, even from their own family members.
The Open Invitation Begins
- After three years, Allah ordered Hazrat Muhammad Rasool-Allah Khatam-an-Nabijeen to preach Islam openly.
- He obeyed and invited the people of Makkah to Islam.
- At first, he called upon the people of the tribe of the Quraish.
The Call from Mount Safa
- Early in the morning, Hazrat Muhammad Rasool-Allah Khatam-an-Nabijeen climbed on top of Mount Safa.
- He called the tribes of Quraish by their names.
- When all of them came out and gathered in front of him, he asked them, ‘Would you believe me if I told you there was an army on the other side of this mountain?’
- They said, ‘Yes, we will.’
- They said this because he was known all over Makkah as Al-Sadiq, the truthful.
- Then he said, ‘I call upon you to give up your worship of idols, and to worship only One Allah.’
- He also said, ‘Allah’s punishment will come to those who do not pay heed.’
The Reaction of the Quraish
- The people of Quraish were annoyed.
- They said, ‘Did you call us out of our houses to tell us this?’
- They were also very angry because he was asking them to leave their gods.
- His uncle, Abu Lahab, insulted him for waking him up so early in the morning.
- All of them left angrily, insulting him, and making fun of him.
The Invitation to His Family & Hazrat Ali’s Support
- Hazrat Muhammad Rasool-Allah Khatam-an-Nabijeen continued preaching and spreading Allah’s message.
- One day he invited his whole family for dinner.
- Here he gave Allah’s message to them.
- He invited them to accept Islam and to give up the worship of stone idols.
- He said that there was a reward waiting for them in paradise.
- He asked, ‘Who will help me in this work?’
- No one answered except Hazrat Ali, who was a young boy then.
- He stood up and said, ‘Though I am still very young, my eyes are sore and my legs are weak but I will help you.’
- Everyone laughed at him and made fun of both of them.
- But Hazrat Ali was good and accepted Islam.
Questions & Answers
a. The names of four people who first accepted Islam were:
The first four people to accept Islam were:
- Hazrat Khadijah (his wife)
- Hazrat Abu Bakr
- Hazrat Ali (his young cousin)
- Zaid bin Haris
b. How did Hazrat Muhammad Rasool-Allah Khatam-an-Nabigeen first invite people to Islam?
At first, he preached secretly to the people closest to him, like his family and friends. After three years, he was ordered to preach openly. He then climbed Mount Safa, called all the Quraish leaders, and openly told them to give up idol worship and believe in only One Allah.
c. Did they listen to him? What did they say?
No, they did not listen to him. They were annoyed and angry. They said, “Did you call us out of our houses to tell us this?” His uncle Abu Lahab insulted him. They all laughed at him, made fun of him, and left angrily.
d. How did he invite his family to Islam?
He invited his whole family for a dinner. After the meal, he gave them Allah’s message. He asked them to accept Islam, stop worshipping idols, and told them about the reward of Paradise. He then asked, “Who will help me in this work?”