§Preaching openly
It is important to
remember the first few Muslims were mostly young and poor men and women. Many of them were also slaves.
The Prophet (sw) wasn’t concerned if he
had lots of followers, instead he was more worried about their hearts and
souls. ~QUALITY OVER QUANTITY~
That’s why he spent
time teaching them about Tawheed, caring for each other and being generous and fair.
After the meeting
with his tribe the Prophet (sw) decided to try to openly give ‘Daw’ah’.
The Prophet (sw) climbed onto Mount Safa which is a mountain near the Kaba. He (sw) called all the leaders of
the tribes one by one.
Everyone rushed
towards Him as they thought it was something urgent.
The Prophet (sw) asked the people;
“If I warned you that behind me in this valley an army with
horsemen was coming close to attack you would you believe me?”
They answered:
“Certainly you are honest and we have never heard you tell lies!”
The Prophet (sw) then went on to say:
“Well I am here to warn you about violent punishments! God has
ordered me to warn my nearest kinsmen (family/friends). I have no power to
protect you from anything in this life, nor promise you blessings in the next
life unless you believe in Tawheed- Oneness of God.
”
Abu Lahab again interrupted the
Prophet (sw) and shouted:
“Woe (curse) to you! Is this why you have gathered us?” He asked
sarcastically and angrily. Abu Lahab walked away and took the people with him. He went the against the
Prophet (sw) from this moment onwards.
Many other elders
also went against Him (sw), they did not want to accept Tawheed as they loved their idols.
The Prophet (sw) did not give up, but
invited his family to two more meals. Some members secretly accepted the message, but most
rejected Him (sw
).
Their power as
leaders and their many Gods would be challenged if they accepted Islam. They
did not want to give up their worldly positions, money or power.
He would teach them
beautiful things like equality between everyone, and how money will not help
them but worshipping God will.
‘Say: If you love
God, follow me: God will love you and forgive you your sins.’ (30:2-5)
The Prophet (sw) was also taught how to pray and
purify himself very early on by the Angel Jibrael (as).
The Makkan society was starting to
split as new Muslims were growing and the others did not want to accept One God.
The Makkan leaders began to worry
Muslims would spread and Islam would take over.
So the leaders of Makkah started to persecute the
Muslims. They decided they would punish and torture anyone who believed in
Tawheed.
