The Vision of Islam

Seerah as a Movement conversation between Dhu’l Jaushan Al-Dhubbai and the Prophet shows the simplicity of the Arabs’ thinking: ‘“Why don’t you accept Islam,’ the Prophet said to Dhu’l Jaushan, ‘so that you may be counted among the first to have done so?’ Dhu’l Jaushan said that he would not. The Prophet asked why. ‘I have heard that your people are after your blood,’ Dhu’l Jaushan said. ‘Have you not heard about their defeat at Badr?’ asked the Prophet. Dhu’l Jaushan said that he had. ‘We are only showing you the path of guidance,’ said the Prophet. Dhu’l Jaushan said that he would not accept Islam, until the Prophet had conquered Makkah, and won control of the Kabah. ‘If you live, you will see this happen,’ said the Prophet. Dhu’l Jaushan says that later he was with his family in Ghaur when a rider came up. Dhu’l Jaushan asked him what was afoot. ‘Muhammad has conquered Makkah and taken control of the Sacred Territory,’ he said. ‘Woe betide me,’ said Dhu’l Jaushan. ‘If only I had accepted Islam on that day: if I had asked Muhammad for an emerald, he would have given it to me.” (Tabarani) Reaction to the message of Islam When the Prophet of Islam commenced his preaching mission, he met with exactly the reaction one would expect from a society hearing a new message. People were at a loss to grasp the meaning of his teachings. Once the Quraysh nobility sent ‘Utba ibn Rabi’ya as their representative to the Prophet. He embarked on a long denunciation of the Prophet and his teachings. When he had had his say, the Prophet asked him: “Have you finished?” ‘Utba said that he had. ‘In the Name of God, the Beneficent, the Merciful,’ the Prophet began, and then went on to recite the first thirteen verses of chapter forty-one of the Quran entitled ‘Ha Mim As-Sajdah.’ ‘Don’t you have anything else to say?’ ‘Utba asked indignantly. The Prophet said that he did not. When he returned to the Quraysh, they asked him what had happened, ‘I said whatever