The Quran—The Word of God

No one among the elders was ready to help the Prophet. Only Ali, who was a child of 10-12 years, stood up and said: “I take your responsibility, O Messenger of God!” On hearing Ali’s response, the Prophet smiled and said, “You O Ali, you O Ali!” The First Public Call to Islam According to Arab custom, people used to ascend a hill when they had to announce some important news. So the Prophet, with his all-important tidings, climbed up on a hillock called Safa, situated near the Kabah. He then called out to the people, who all gathered around him. Then he addressed them thus: “If I tell you that a big army is hiding behind that mountain and is ready to attack you, will you believe me?” They all chorused, “Of course, we will, for we trust you. We know you always tell the truth.” Then the Prophet said: “God has commanded me to warn you, my kinsmen, that you should worship none but the one and only God. If you fail to do so, you will invite God’s wrath. And I will not be able to do anything to help you, even though you are my kinsmen.” Abu Lahab, the Prophet’s uncle, became very angry and said: “Woe to you on this day! Did you assemble us for this?” Some remarked that he had gone mad. Soon they all dispersed without caring to give any thought to the words of the Prophet. Opposition and Hardships There was one main reason for the Quraysh to reject the Prophet. Makkah was a centre of pilgrimage because of the Kabah, which housed 360 idols of the neighbouring tribes and nations. Since Islam believed in only one God, the Quraysh feared that once the concept of one God became popular, the tribes would stop visiting the Kabah to pay homage to the idols. This would deprive them of the respect they commanded as guardians of the Kabah. People in great numbers from the neighbouring tribes used to visit Makkah all the year round to make offerings to the idols. This brought prosperity to Makkah, for trade flourished side by side with the pilgrimage. Makkah being a desert, no agriculture or economic resources existed there. The Kabah was their only asset. But, not all of the Makkans were hostile. There were people who gave serious thought to the message of the Quran and gradually began to accept Islam. In that period, about 200 people from Makkah as well as the neighbouring settlements entered the fold of Islam. The Quraysh, who enjoyed the Makkan leadership, considered the teachings of the new religion an insult to the religion of their forefathers. In Islam they saw a danger to their own leadership. Such leaders as Abu Jahl, Abu Lahab were the most hostile to the Prophet. The chiefs of different clans gathered to discuss this matter. They all felt that if Abu Talib did not come in their way, they would have no difficulty in finding a solution to this problem. So they all came to Abu Talib to tell him to stop Muhammad from spreading his message. They warned him, “Tell Muhammad to stop spreading his message, or you will abandon him. If you fail to do so, you should be ready to suffer for the deeds of your nephew.” Abu Talib, an old man, felt that he would not be able to resist their wrath. So he told Muhammad what the Quraysh chiefs had said to him and then added, “My dearest nephew, look to your own safety, and to the safety of your uncle, and do not cause me to carry a burden I cannot bear.”