The First MuslimsKHADIJAH
Khadijah, the Prophet's wife, was the first believer in the new faith. She had the opportu-
nity of being his companion and helper, his consort and supporter. She always stood behind
him, consoling and giving him support against all those who denied and scorned him. She
tried to relieve his apprehensions and encouraged him by reinforcing her trust in him.
‘ALI IBN ABU TALIB AND ZAYD IBN HARITH
‘Ali Ibn Abi Talib was the next to enter in the fold of Islam. He was then a youth of ten
years, and had been brought up under the guardianship of the Prophet (r) since his early
childhood. The Prophet (r) had taken the charge of ‘Ali from his uncle Abu Talib, and kept
him as a member of his family since the time a grievous famine befell Quraysh. The third
person to accept Islam was Zayd Ibn Haritha who was a freeman of the Prophet (r) and
whom he had adopted as his son).
ABU BAKR
Acceptance of the Prophet's faith by Abu Bakr Ibn Abi Quhafa, after Zayd, was of no minor
significance. This merchant of sociable nature was known for his moderation and prudence,
good character and kindliness, and enjoyed a still greater reputation for his wide knowledge
of the genealogy of the Quraysh and expertise in commerce. He began to preach the truth
that he had affirmed himself to all those that he had relied upon including those who are
associated with him or those who came to seek his company. (Ibn Hisham, Vol. I, pp. 249-
59)
The persuasive businessman began to win over the elite of the Quraysh to place their trust
in the mission of the Prophet (r). Those who accepted Islam at invitation of Abu Bakr in-
cluded ‘Uthman Ibn Affan, Zubayr Ibn Al ‘Awwam, 'Abdul Rahman Ibn Auf, S’ad Ibn Abi
Waqqa and Talha Ibn ‘Ubaydullah. Abu Bakr brought all of them to the Prophet (r) upon
whose hands they embraced Islam. (Ibn Hisham, pp. 150-51)
Slowly, the mission of the Prophet (r) was made known to other respectable citizens of
Makkah and some of them who followed after the first eight were:
Abu ‘Ubayda Ibn al-Jarrah, Al-Arqam, ‘Uthman Ibn Maz’un, ‘Ubaydah Ibn al-Harith Ibn Ab-
dul Muttalib, Sa’id Ibn Zayd, Kahbbab Ibn Al-Aratt, ‘Abdullah Ibn Mas’us, ‘Ammar Ibn Yasir,
Suhayb Ibn Sinan and others.