Chapter 3
Some of the early converts to Islam who embraced the religion immediately after the start of the revelation. They were all people close to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), whom he trusted.
For the first three years, the Prophet (peace be upon him) only invited people he believed would adopt Islam. He spent his time educating these early Muslims about Islam and the Qur'anic passages and chapters revealed to him by the Angel Gabriel.
New converts today can take a crucial lesson from this great prophetic example: if you want to inform your family and friends about your conversion to Islam but are afraid they will be hostile, don't tell them all at once.
Instead, begin by selecting relatives and friends who you believe will respect your decision.
New reverters today can take a crucial lesson from this great prophetic example: if you want to inform your family and friends about your conversion to Islam but are afraid they will be hostile, don't tell them all at once.
Instead, begin by selecting relatives and friends who you believe will respect your decision.
Islam: A Religion of Wisdom and Brotherhood
The world's finest teacher was Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). He was concerned about his following and made certain that no pupil was left behind. There was no distinction between converts in his eyes; they were all equal: rich or poor, free or slave, white or black.
The way by which Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) communicated the message of Islam to his followers had a long-lasting ripple effect, making Islam the world's fastest growing religion today. In Islam, seeking divine knowledge is exceedingly vital.
Scholars are the inheritors of the prophets.
That is why, throughout the first three years of his life, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) focused on teaching new Muslims all of the divine truth revealed to him. He made certain that they developed in faith and knowledge, since they would be the pioneers who would spread the faith across Arabia and beyond, inviting the entire world to Islam. As their religion strengthened, so did their brotherly relationship.
This was also an important period of private da'wah (call to Islam), as it resulted in no confrontation between Muslims and Makkans.
There will be no persecution, mockery, or torture. It was not public knowledge whether someone converted to Islam; it was their personal affair. And the Prophet (peace be upon him) did not begin the phase of public da'wah until Allah (SWT) told him to.
Another thing to remember is that, with the exception of a few rich early converts like Abu Bakr, Uthman, and Abdel Rahman ibn Auf, the majority of the early converts were from Makkah's destitute and weak. Bilal, Khabab, and Sumayyah lacked status and had no powerful families to defend and support them.
So it was a blessing that for three years these early believers received intensive training from Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), which made their faith very strong. When the phase of private da’wah ended, most of them experienced a great deal of suffering, and some of them, including Bilal, were cruelly tortured by the chiefs of Makkah.
Ablution and Prayer
During this first stage after the revelation began, prayer was optional. The Angel Gabriel taught the prophet (peace be upon him) how to perform ablution (wudu) and how to pray.
In turn, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) first taught Lady Khadijah how to pray, then taught the other new converts. Prayer was finally made compulsory several years later, on the night journey, when the five prayers became obligatory for Muslims.
At this early stage, prayers were only two units (raka'at); two in the evening and two in the morning, as Allah said in the Qur'an:
So be patient, [O Muhammad]. Indeed, the promise of Allah is truth. And ask forgiveness for your sin and exalt [Allah] with praise of your Lord in the evening and the morning.
The Call to Islam is Made Public
The divine order for public da'wah came three years after the first verse (Read) was revealed, when the Angel Gabriel revealed the following verse to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him):
Then declare what you are commanded and turn away from the polytheists.
This passage was immediately followed by a more clear verse:
And warn, [O Muhammad], your closest kindred
When the second verse was revealed, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) hosted a supper for his family and the Banu Hashim clan. There were around 40 people there, including his uncles Abu Lahab and Abu Talib.
His cousin, Ali ibn Abi Talib, cooked the supper. Just before Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was ready to reveal his prophethood to the company, Abu Lahab realised that he (peace be upon him) was about to do so openly.
To avoid giving him the opportunity, he left before they had finished eating. Others abandoned him, but the Prophet (peace be upon him) did not.
Oh my fellow tribesmen, I do not know of any Arab before me who went to his people with a message that was better than what I am coming to you with. I am coming as a messenger from Allah that if you leave idols, Allah will give you all the good of this world and the Jannah in the next…
When his uncle, Abu Lahab, heard these statements, he became enraged. In a severe tone, he said:
“This appears to be a deserving message. We follow in the footsteps of our forebears. Who does this young man believe he is to challenge our ways?”
Ali stepped up and declared his support for the Prophet (peace be upon him), but his other direct relatives did not accept or reject him at this time.
A few days later, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) made Islam known to the whole city of Makkah.
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