Chapter 6
The First Muslim.
“And the
foremost is the foremost: these are they who are drawn nigh in Allah”
(Al Quran 56:10-11)
In the chapter entitled “The Divine Call” I have mentioned how the word of Allah SWT was first revealed to Rasulullah ﷺ. After the revelation, in the cave of Hira, he was sure of his mission but he did not yet preach it openly. Rasulullah ﷺ taught first among the intimate circle of family and friends. The one who embraced first was his wife, Saidatuna Khadijah (رضي الله عنه). She was the first woman to embrace Islam and there is some controversy as to who was the first man to do so. Imam Abu Hanifa writes:
“Among men Sayidina Abu Bakr (رضي الله عنه), among children ‘Ali and among women is Saidatuna Khadijah(رضي الله عنه) was the first to embrace Islam. This is not a satisfactory statement for it differentiates between men, women, and children. The question is who the first man was to embraced Islam. The author of Seerah Halabi writes: “There were three in the history of all religions who do not believe in any other god, but the real God, the first was Hizqiel, who accepted the faith and religion of Moses; the second “Habib Najjar”, an inhabitant of Antakya, was the first to embrace the religion of Jesus. When he went to preach. The third person was Ali, who was at the age of ten.” Imam Termizi writes, “Muhammad was made Prophet on Monday, and on Tuesday Ali said his prayers with him” Some of the prejudiced, who was unwilling that Ali should have this distinction of being the first to embrace Islam, object that as he was a mere child his conversion could hardly be considered complete and valid. This argument is very weak for the validity of an action does not require the maturity of the person acting, as the Quran says, “So they (Moses and his companion) went on until they met a boy; the companion slew him and Moses said;
“Have you slain an innocent person otherwise than for
manslaughter? Certainly, you have done an evil thing”
(Quran: 18:74)
Jesus Christ was made Prophet in his early childhood in his
early childhood and said; “Surely I am a servant of Allah SWT; He Has given me
the Book and made me a Prophet; and dutiful to my mother, and He has made me
blessed wherever I may be and He has made me blessed wherever I may be, and He
has enjoined on me prayer and poor-rate so long and poor-rate so long as I live
(The Quran: 19, 30-32)
Here we are that people who are placed with people of rank and
dignity, even if they are mere children. This is clearly evident in the case of
Jesus Christ, and it must be accepted that “Ali was the first Muslim, in spite
of his having embraced Islam when in his early teens. Mr. Dermenghem in his life
of Mahomet (London 1930), shows the
unflinching nature of the belief of his wife Khadijah.
“Muhammad had given up men’s companionship more and more. In the
solitudes of Mount Hira, he found greater and greater satisfaction. Spending a whole week at a time there with a few scanty provisions, his spirit gloried in
fasting, in vigils, and in search for a defined idea. He hardly knew whether it
was day or night, whether he dreamed or watched. For hours at a time, he remained to kneel in the darkness or lying in
the sun, or he strode with long steps on the stony tracks. When he walked, it
seemed as if voices came out of the rocks; when he struck a stone, it answered
him. And the stones everywhere under that fiery sun seemed to greet him as
‘God’s Apostle’.
“On his return the good
Khadijah was troubled to see him so silently elated. Sometimes he appeared to
lose all consciousness of what was going on around him and lay inert on the
ground, his breathing hardly perceptible. Then he would sleep, his breast
rising and falling regularly with peaceful slumber. But his respiration would
grow more rapid; he would pant; dream; enormous human being as huge as the
heaven over the earth and covering the horizon would then approach, rush
towards him with extended arms ready to seize him…. Muhammad would wake with a
start, his body covered with sweat; Khadijah would wipe his forehead and
question him gently but anxiously in a voice she tried to calm. He would remain
silent or evade her questions, or he would answer in words she did not
understand.
“At the end of six months Muhammad’s body suffered; he grew
thin, his step became jerky, his hair and beard unkempt, his eye strange. He
felt hopeless. Had he become one of those madmen such as he had often met – a
pathetic demoniac, a hideous plaything of the power of darkness? Was he one of
those poets inspired by jinn?- for measured phrases often burst unconsciously
from his tongue? He felt hopeless; for he had a horror of poets, playthings of
every wind, who said what they did not do.
“ I am afraid of becoming mad,” he decided to say one day to the
gentle Khadijah when he could no longer bear the weight. “I see all the signs
of madness in myself. Who would have believed that I would become a poet, or
possessed by a jinn? I by no chance speak of it to anyone.”
“Khadijah wished for his confidence. She hoped and she doubted;
but when she was so worried herself, how could she reassure him? But she was a woman made to give consolation
and comfort; she possessed the tender firmness of a virtuous wife and a devoted
mother and gave this man, younger than herself, the fullest love. In her
devotion she was almost subconsciously pleased to find this strong man, she
admired her husband, weak and ill. How could she help to reassure him?
“O Abul Qassim. Are you not the ‘Al Amin – for so you are called
–the sincere, the trustworthy, the truthful man? How can Allah allow you to be
deceived when you do not deceive? Are you not a pious, sober, charitable,
hospitable man? Have you not respected your parents, fed the hungry, clothed
the naked, helped the traveler, and protected the weak? It is not possible that
you are the plaything of lying demons and malicious jinns?
“What, then, is this being who seeks me out again and again?
What is this being who has not told me his name and from whom I cannot escape?
Muhammad was again seized with anguish. He trembled, his face grew red and then
pale; his ears hummed, his eyes dilated. A strange presence had intruded
itself.
“There he is!! It is he!! He is coming.
“And yet he was awake and neither asleep nor dreaming and the
strange being was approaching.
He was there;
“Khadijah had an inspiration;
“Come to me,” she said to her husband. \Get under my cloak.
Muhammad did so. He was like a child on his mother’s breast, hunting protection
from all the world’s dangers. Khadijah covered him with her veal, let down her
hair; she seated him on her knees, embraced him closely, and hid him against her
flesh under her dark hair.
“Well? She asked. ‘Is he still there?
“I did see nor feel him anymore. He is gone.”
“Then he is not a lewd jinn, nor yet a demon; for he respects
women’s chastity. It can only be an angel of God.”
“Ramadan came. Muhammad increased his solitary watches in the
passes of Mount Hira. Days passed; the crescent moon grew round, resplendent,
then Muhammad was as sleep in a cave. Suddenly the mysterious being that had visited
him before appeared, holding a piece of silk in his hand covered with writing.
“Iqra’, he said to Muhammad: “Read”
“I do not know how to read”
“The being again threw himself upon Muhammad to stifle him.
“Read” he repeated for the third time.
“What shall I read?”
“Read, said the being, letting him go.
“Read, in the name of thy Lord,, Who hath created all things:
Who hath created man of congealed blood?
Read, by thy most beneficent Lord Who taught the use of the
pen;
Who teacheth man that which he knoweth not?’
(The Quran
96:1-5)
Waraqah, a cousin of
Khadijah was the next to believe in the Holy Prophet. He was a very old man,
bedridden and blind. Khadijah had often heard him speak of the “Promised
Prophet” of whose advent Jesus Christ had spoken. When Waraqah heard of
Khadijah of the revelation received by Muhammad in the cave of Hira, he at once
proclaimed him the “Promised Prophet”. Unfortunately, he died shortly
afterward, during the Cessation period, without having had the opportunity of
formally declaring his faith.
Sayidina Zaid bin Harithah ra, a liberated slave of the Holy Prophet, was
the next. He was deeply attached to the holy Prophet, and when he was the first
given his freedom, and had been told Muhammad to go back with his father to his
own home, and he refuses to do so.
Thus we see that the Holy Prophet’s wife Khadijah, his friend
Abu Bakr, his cousin ‘Ali
And his liberated slave Zaid bin Harithah. These four who knew
his life most intimately were the earliest believers and the first to embrace
Islam. Abu Bakr, whose faith in the Prophet was as true and sincere as
Khadijah was so profoundly convinced that Muhammad was the promised Prophet
that immediately on embracing Islam he started preaching the faith to others.
Soon prominent men like Sayidina Usman ibn Affan ra, Sayidina Zubair bin Awam ra, Sayidina Abdul Rahman Auf ra, Saad ibn Waqqas ra, and Sayidina Talha ibn Ubaidah ra, became
Muslim also Yasir, his wife Saidatuna Summayyah binti Khayat ra, Sayidina Bilal ibn Rabbah ra, Sayidina Abdullah bin Mas’ud ra, Sayidina Ammar bin Yasir ra, and Sayidina Khabab bin Arat ra, who were of humbler position, and Arqam, who later gave his
house to the holy Prophet for the purpose of his mission. One by one people
began to follow him and within three years are some forty converts in all.
These steady signs of progress of Islam angered and alarm the Makkan and they did
their best to oppose it; but the Muslims, in spite of all opposition, grew
rapidly in numbers. As the faith spread, men of position from among the Quraish
became converts too, Hamzah, an uncle of the Prophet, among them. He was a man
of great importance and proved a pillar of strength to Islam. He has always been
fond of Muhammad and the story of his conversion is a remarkable one. It is
said that one day Abu Jahl, an uncle of the Prophet, who was bitterly opposed
to the teachings of Muhammad, had met him and was ill-treating the Prophet most
cruelly. A maid belonging to the house of Hamzah, happening to pass by, was
shocked to see this and at once reported the matter to her master. When Hamzah
heard this, deeply attached as he was, he was both grieved and indignant and
made up his mind there and then himself to join the new fate, and aid and
defend the brave little army of Muslims to the utmost of his powers.
Another remarkable conversion of a great man of position was
that of ‘Saiyidina Omar Ibni Al Khattab RA. He was a man of position, greatly
esteemed among the Quraish, but also well-known and feared for his
uncontrollable temper. From the very beginning, he was bitterly against Islam,
and as he heard daily that more and more were embracing the new faith, he was
so enraged that one day he decided to kill Rasulullah ﷺ, who, he said was the
cause of all trouble. So taking his sword he made straight for the house of Rasulullah
ﷺ. At this time he was unaware that his own sister Fatimah Binti Al Khattab and
her husband had become Muslims.
On his way to Rasulullah ﷺ’s house he met a man (Naim Ibn
Abdullah RA) who had recently embraced Islam. Seeing the sword in ‘Omar’s hand
this man asked him where he was going. Omar replied; “To kill Muhammad.” Naim
ibn Abdullah RA thereupon informed him that his own sister and brother-in-law
had embraced Islam. On hearing this, ‘Omar’s anger knew no bounds, and he
decided to deal with his own relations first before putting an end to Rasulullah
ﷺ. On reaching the house he heard one of them reciting the Al Quran, and this
to him was the last straw. He entered her house with rage .and seizing his
brother in law thrashed him unmercifully
While his sister in her efforts to interpose was her-self
injured. ‘Omar, then snatching the chapters of the Quran, began reading the
verses, and soon the truth and beauty of their set him thinking. Seeing him thus
pensive Naim Ibn Abdullah RA took the opportunity of reasoning with him and
soon the proud ‘Omar Al Khattab joined the fold of Islam. He proceeded to the
house of Al Arqam where Rasulullah ﷺ and his companions were taking shelter. Rasulullah
ﷺ met him at the door and ‘Omar Ibn Al Khattab proclaimed his faith to Rasulullah
ﷺ in these words; “O! Apostle of Allah, I declare faith in Allah and His
Rasul”.
The House of Al Arqam (Darul Arqam)
All this time the Muslims were compelled to carry out their
religious activities in secret in the House of Arqam; for they were as yet too
few in number to face their numerous opponents. But after the conversion of two
such important persons as “Sayidina Omar ibn Al Khattab ra, and Sayidina Hamzah ibn Abi Talib ra, they were able with their help to
carry on their work publicly and say their prayers in the sacred house of Kaabah.
Most of the early converts were from the poor class, except for the few men of
wealth and positions whom we have just mentioned. These poor people were forced
to undergo many hardships; for they had nobody to protect them and no money.
The slaves who turned into Muslims were put to the most awful tortures. Abu Bakar was
one of the rich ones who was a great help to Islam at that time, he spent much
of his wealth in buying slaves from their cruel masters and setting them free.
The hatred of the Quraish against the holy Prophet (Rasulullah ﷺ) and his followers leaped up to its highest point when it was learned that Saiyidina Hamzah Ibn Abdul Mutalib and Saiyidina Umar Ibn Al Khattab had embraced Islam, for Saiyidina Umar was the chief of the Bani ‘Adi tribe. Soon afterward, a wealthy merchant belonging to the important family of Taim ibn Murra embraced Islam. He was a man of clear judgment as well as energetic, honest, and amenable, and a great favorite among the people. After his conversion, five others belonging to important families followed in their footsteps. Rasulullah ﷺ and his followers would preach to strangers coming to the city on pilgrimage and on business. But even this Quraish sought to prevent. When people began to arrive in the city they would post themselves at strategic points, and tell the strangers to have nothing to do with Muhammad (Rasulullah ﷺ) as he was a magician and not to be trusted. This, in a way, helped the Rasulullah ﷺ for the strangers returning to their homes spread the tales that were told about him, and many came to see and hear the man who risked his life in telling the whole of Arabia to give up the worship of their forefathers and follow the new religion that he preached.
The Story of Darul Al Arqam during early Islam in Makkah.
This area, at the foot of Mount Safa is the approximate area where Daarul Arqam (The house of Arqam (رضي الله عنه)) was located. It was here in the initial period of Islam that the Prophet (ﷺ) secretly preached Islam.
Arqam (رضي الله عنه)
- The house belonged to a Sahabi named Arqam bin Abil Arqam (رضي الله عنه). He had several houses on his property, and he donated this one as a secret center for propagation. It was situated at the northern base of Mount Safa, with at least one door hidden from the view of its neighbors.
- Arqam (رضي الله عنه) was only 12-16 years old when he embraced Islam which he kept secret. The house was an inheritance from his father. He was from Bani Makhzum, the same tribe headed by Abu Jahal
The first ‘Madressa’ in Islam
- For some time after the Prophet (ﷺ) proclaimed his Prophethood, the Muslims gathered here to perform salah and to learn about Islam without fear of torture or persecution. As it was a short walk away from the Kaaba and its bustling crowds, the pagans who lived nearby did not take notice of the many people who used to gather here. It effectively became the first Madressa (Islamic school) in Islam.
Quran revelations
- Many verses of the Quran were revealed here and it was also here that many verses of the Quran were first taught by the Prophet (ﷺ).
- It was here that the following verse from Surah al-Anfal was revealed:
- “O Prophet, Allah is sufficient for you, and for those who follow you among the believers.” [8:64]
The conversion of Umar bin Khattab (رضي الله عنه)
- Many people embraced Islam at Daarul Arqam including Ammar bin Yasir and Suhayb bin Sinan (رضي الله عنهم) who embraced Islam together. Hamza (رضي الله عنه) also embraced Islam here, followed a few days later by Umar (رضي الله عنه).
- When Umar (رضي الله عنه) wanted to take his Shahadah (declaration of the faith of Islam) he asked Khabbab (رضي الله عنه) where he would find the Prophet (ﷺ). Upon hearing of his desire to accept Islam, Khabbab (رضي الله عنه) exclaimed: “Umar, I have hope that Allah hath chosen thee through the prayers of His Prophet, whom yesterday I heard pray: ‘O Allah, strengthen Islam with Abu Hakam (Abu Jahal) the son of Hisham or with Umar the son of Khattab!”. “O Khabbab,” said Umar, “where will Muhammad now be, that I may go to him and enter Islam?”
- Khabbab (رضي الله عنه) told him that he was at the house of Arqam near the Safa Gate with many of his companions.
- Umar went to Safa, knocked at the door of the house, and said who he was. The Sahabah had been warned that he was coming but they were struck by the subdued tone of his voice. One of the companions went to the door and looked through a chink and came back in some dismay.
- “O Messenger of Allah,” he said, “it is indeed Umar and he is girt with his sword”. “Let him come in,” said Hamza (رضي الله عنه). “if he has come with good intent, we will give him a wealth of good; and if his intent be evil, we will slay him with his own sword.”
- The Prophet (ﷺ) agreed that he should be admitted and, advancing to meet him, he seized him by the belt and pulled him into the middle of the room saying,
- “What has brought thee here, O son of Khattab? I cannot see thee desisting until Allah sent down some calamities upon thee”. “O Messenger of Allah,” said Umar, “I have come to thee that I may declare my faith in Allah, and in His Messenger and in what he has brought from Allah”. “Allahu-Akbar!,” said the Prophet,
- In such a way that every man and woman in the house knew that Umar had entered Islam, and they all rejoiced.
- Because the valor and courage of Umar (رضي الله عنه) were acknowledged by all, it was after his conversion to Islam that the Muslims started performing salah in the open and Islam was propagated in public.
