The Beginning of the Call to Islam (Da‘wah)

Dad is reading Sūrat al-Muddathir in an audible and beautiful voice, while Ahmad is listening to him. Ahmad: Masha Allah, Dad. Your voice is really beautiful! Today, the Islamic Education teacher explained this sūrah to us. He said that after the Prophet ﷺ had received this sūrah, he began to call his family, relatives and friends to worship Allah alone, associating no partners with Him, and to give up the worship of idols which their fathers and forefathers used to worship. Dad: Indeed, my son! The first to respond to him was his wife, Khadījah bint Khuwaylid (رضي الله عنها), his friend Abu Bakr (رضي الله عنه), and his cousin ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib (رضي الله عنه). Then Abu Bakr called ‘Uthman ibn ‘Affan (رضي الله عنه), ‘Abdurrahman ibn ‘Awf (رضي الله عنه), Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas (رضي الله عنه), Zubayr ibn al-‘Awwam (رضي الله عنه), and Talhah ibn ‘Ubaydillah (رضي الله عنه). They embraced Islam and were among the ten companions who were promised Paradise. May Allah be pleased with all of them. Ahmad: When did the Prophet ﷺ begin to call his nearest of kin and his people to Islam, Dad? Father: After the revelation of the verse: وَأَنذِرْ عَشِيرَتَكَ الْأَقْرَبِينَ (wa-'andhir ‘ashirataka l-’aqrabīn) "And warn your nearest of kin," (Sūrat ash-Shu‘arā’, Verse 214) The Prophet ﷺ climbed the Mountain of as-Safā and called out: "O People of Quraysh!" They came to him and gathered around him and said: "What's the matter, Muhammad?" He said: "What would you think if I told you that there are horsemen at the foot of this mountain going to raid you, are you going to believe me?" They answered: "We have never known you to tell a lie ever." He then said: "I am the Messenger of Allah sent to you," and called them to worship Allah alone and to stop worshipping the idols. He awakened in them a desire for the Garden of Paradise and warned them against the Fire of Hell. Then, his uncle Abu Lahab, said to him: "Fie on you and may you perish! Is this what you have gathered us here for?" So Allah ﷻ revealed: تَبَّتْ يَدَا أَبِي لَهَبٍ وَتَبَّ (tabbat yadā ʾabī lahabin wa-tabba) "Perish the hands of Abu Lahab (the Father of the Flame) and perish he!" (Sūrat al-Masad) (Narrated by al-Bukhārī and Muslim) Salem: What was his people's attitude towards him, Mom? Mother: The disbelievers of Quraysh used every means at their disposal to prevent the Prophet ﷺ from conveying and propagating his Lord's message to the people. They tried to entice him by offering him power and wealth in return for giving up his mission. They even requested his uncle Abu Talib to try to convince him to accept their attractive offer. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to him: "O Uncle, by Allah, even if they place the sun in my right hand, and the moon in my left hand, in return for giving up this matter (Propagating the Message of Allah), I will never stop – until either Allah makes it (His Message) triumph or I die defending it." (Narrated by Abu Ya‘la and al-Tabarānī through a good chain of transmitters) His uncle Abu Talib was very touched by what he had said and promised to protect him, saying: "Go, my nephew, and say whatever you like; I will never surrender you to anyone." His uncle Hamzah رضي الله عنه had meanwhile embraced Islam. When he heard that Abu Jahl had insulted and hurt his nephew, he went to Abu Jahl and struck him on the head, saying: "How dare you hurt my nephew, Muhammad, while I myself follow his religion?" After some days, ‘Umar ibn al-Khattāb رضي الله عنه embraced Islam. Since then, both Hamzah, nicknamed 'The Lion of Allah,' and ‘Umar were strong men who were respected and feared by all of Quraysh. Salem: How did the Messenger ﷺ and his companions defeat and overpower the methods of Quraysh, Dad? Dad: Our beloved Messenger ﷺ endured harm and persecution at the hands of the disbelievers of Quraysh but kept preaching and inviting to Islam, in conformity with the statement of Allah ﷻ: ٱدْعُ إِلَىٰ سَبِيلِ رَبِّكَ بِٱلْحِكْمَةِ وَٱلْمَوْعِظَةِ ٱلْحَسَنَةِ (ud‘u ’ilā sabīli rabbika bi-l-ḥikmati wa-l-maw‘izati l-ḥasanati) (Sūrat an-Naḥl, Verse 125) “125. Call unto the way of your Lord with wisdom and good advice.” (Sūrat an-Naḥl) He invited his people to Islam through dialogue, persuasion, gentleness, steadfastness, and being patient with people. He did this while displaying the most noble of character traits, believing firmly in Allah's promise and help, and propagating his message with relentless determination and unwavering resolve until mercy and compassion spread to all the worlds. The noble Companions tasted the sweetness of faith, and their hearts were filled with love of Allah and His Messenger. Therefore, they faced the methods of Quraysh with patience, steadfastness, and determination, holding fast to obedience of Allah and His Messenger, until Allah's command prevailed. Children: Al-ḥamdu lillāh (Praise be to Allah), who protected and safeguarded for us the Messenger of Allah ﷺ in order that he bring us out from darkness to light.