CHAPTER III Dawn Of Islam

CHAPTER III

DAWN OF ISLAM (1)

            The prophet Muhammad had been spreading the religion of Islam quietly for three years when Allah commanded him to declare it to the people publicly. Allah also instructed him to start with his own household – those within his own family. Those among the idolators could be ignored if they would nor respond to his call.

Muhammad understood his orders and went into retirement in his house for a few days. He thought very hard about what he had to do, trying to draw up a plan for the best way to approach his people and call upon them to accept the religion of Islam.

            The news of Muhammad’s retirement reached some of his aunts or relatives. They become worried that he might not be well. They decided to go and pay him a visit. When they got to his house they asked him about his health and told him how worried they had been about him.

            Muhammad answered, “There is nothing the matter with me. Allah has ordered me to introduce Islam to my family and household. So, I have to sit down and think about the best way to do this. I had to collect my thoughts and ideas before I could speak to any of you.”

            Muhammad then went and invited all the members of his family to dinner in his house. He invited all his uncles and his aunts, all his cousins and nieces and all their children. All of Muhammad’s relatives were invited, including even his stubborn and difficult uncle, ‘Abdul ‘Uzzaa.

            Then Muhammad began to deliver his message to his family. He explained the new ideas he had received from god and warned them about what would happen to those who chose not to follow him.

DAWN OF ISLAM (2)

 
       In beginning of Islam, Muhammad, the messenger, delivered his message to his family as well as to the Quraisyh people. With much struggle and unmatched patience Muhammad managed to collect a few followers. Muhammad talked to people and advised them not to worship the idols which were made of stone and which could neither do them any good nor bring them any harm. He called them instead to follow the religion of Abraham: to believe in one God, Allah, and worship only Him.
       But non-believers went on believing in the idols and refused to accept Islam. They were afraid that Islam would bring them lots of enemies and make the rest of the Arabs hate them and boycott their trade. If that happened, they would be in great trouble. Therefore, they decided to do something to Muhammad and his followers. They agreed to send a delegation to Abu Talib and asked him to settle this matter once and for all.
       The spokesman said: “Look Abu Talib, you are one of our leaders, we greatly honor you. Will you judge between us and your nephew? Tell him to stop insulting our gods, the idols, mocking our religions, criticizing our beliefs and slandering our fathers who taught us these beliefs. Either you stop him or let us deal with him”.
       Abu Talib gave them no answer, but instead sent someone to look for the prophet and tell him to go to his uncle’s house. When the prophet arrived he saw all the important Qurasyh men gathered in his uncle’s house. As soon as he got there, his uncle, Abu Talib, said to him, “My dear nephew, these are the heads of your people and the rich Qurasyh men wishing to make a deal with you. They want you stop attacking their gods, idols and they will let you worship your God”.
       The prophet replied, “Can I call upon them to worship somebody else who is better than these idols?” “Who is that, son?” asked Abu Talib. “I would call upon them to say one little phrase. If they say it the rest of the Arabs will submit to them and they will rule the people of the world. All I want them to say is “There is no god but Allah”.

DAWN OF ISLAM (3)

       The non-believers were angry with the increasing number of people who declared their acceptance of the religion of Islam. They were full of arrogance and conceit, so they got together and decided to launch a campaign of harassment and provocation against the muslims. They accused the prophet of being a liar, a sorcerer and madman. They made every effort to stop the spread of Islam. But Islam slowly and surely continued spreading among them.

       One day the leader of the non-believers decided to invite the prophet to a meeting to talk about his lies and stop him from spreading the new religion. In the meeting the non-believers said, “if you want wealth, then we are prepared to raise enough money for you to make you the richest among us. If it is honor and prestige you want, we will make your our king. If you are suffering from some kind of illness or possessed by some evil spirit, then we will send for the best doctor or the best healer to come and treat you or drive these evil sports away. But you have to stop calling people to Islam”. The prophet said that he did not want anything and didn’t suffer from any disease; all he wanted was to give them good tidings of Allah’s rewards and to warn them of His Wrath.

       After no further efforts could be made to stop the spread of Islam they made up their minds to get rid of the prophet even by killing him if necessary. The only thing that stopped them doing that straight away was their fear of the prophet’s uncle Abu Talib. So they asked him to stop his nephew from spreading Islam, slandering their gods and mocking their beliefs, or they would fight him, his nephew and those who sided with him. Abu Talib wan in difficult position; he found himself in a real dilemma, torn between two difficult choice. Should he protect his nephew or let him be killed. He thought it might be a good idea if he could talk to Muhammad and try to persuade him in a nice way to give up Islam and end this rift between him and his people. So he called his nephew and told him what had happened with he quraysh people and their offer to him, he said, “So please save me and save yourself from trouble.” There was a pause. The prophet was just about to take a very important decision. The whole world was waiting his answer: would he continue declaring Islam or would he go with his uncle and give it all up.

       He made up his mind and he chose what Allah had chosen for him. He said to his uncle, “By the name Allah, uncle. If your people were to bring the sun and place it in my right hand, and bring the moon and put it in my left hand to persuade me to give up Islam, I would not do so. I shall carry out this duty until Allah makes it triumphant or I die.” Abu Talib was full of surprise and admiration for his nephew. He was impressed by his courage, honesty and determination in his struggle to continue spreading the light of Islam.