The Prophet in Makkah

THE PROPHET IN MAKKAH Throughout his entire public mission, the Prophet was cautious not to take any initiative until he was sure he possessed the necessary resources. ‘Aisha, wife of the Prophet and daughter of Abu Bakr, tells how, when the Prophet had gathered 38 followers around him, Abu Bakr urged him to publicize his mission. Abu Bakr thought the prophet and his companions should go out into the open and publicly preach Islam. But the Prophet told him: “No, Abu Bakr, we are too few.” The same thing happened in the sixth year of the Prophet’s mission, when ‘Umar accepted Islam. He protested to the Prophet: “Why should we keep our Islam a secret when we are right? And why should others be allowed to publicize their faith when they are in the wrong?” The Prophet gave ‘Umar the same reply that he had given Abu Bakr several years earlier: “We are too few, ‘Umar.” He continued this cautious posture as long as the Prophet remained in Makkah. After the emigration, with the consolidation of Muslim ranks, when the armed Quraysh advanced on Madinah to extirpate Islam and Muslims, permission was given to Muslims to counter the Quraysh. The first battle fought between the Muslims and their antagonists were the Battle of Badr. “Whoever is successful on this day,” the Prophet said as the battle began, “will be successful in times to come.” The meaning of the Prophet’s remark was that the time for Muslims to take positive initiatives was only when they could fashion a new