The Prophet in Makkah

utmost significance. When a person becomes Muslim, all his resources are automatically put at the disposal of the Islamic cause. First, Khadijah, the Prophet’s wife, provided the Islamic movement financial assistance. Then Abu Bakr, who had accumulated 40,000 dirhams from his trading, put all his capital into the service of Islam. When he and the Prophet emigrated from Makkah to Madinah, he took 6000 dirhams with him—enough to finance the entire expenses of the journey. ‘Uthman donated 10,000 dinars towards the expedition to Tabuk in A.H. 9. On one occasion alone, ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn ‘Awf gave 500 horses, to be used in the service of the Islamic cause. So it was with others who accepted Islam. Just as they entered the Islamic fold, their properties became part of the Islamic treasury. Belief in one God is the only creed which does not allow for any social distinction or racial prejudice. For this reason, the masses flock to join any movement which rises based on this creed. They realize that under the banner of monotheism, all people become equal in the real sense. As humble servants of one great God, they all become actual human beings with a right to human dignity. By finding their proper place in the world, they achieve the most significant position that man can aspire to. When Mughirah ibn Shu’bah entered the court of the Iranian warrior Rustam, he made a speech to the courtiers gathered there. As Ibn Jarir explains, his words had a devastating effect on all who heard them: