3. Commencement of the Mission
At theage of forty,whilebusyin worshipin the caveof Hira,hewas
proclaimed as the Messenger of God.
Forthreeyears,theProphetofIslamreceivednocommandtocallthe
peopleopenlytoIslam,andduringthattimeonlyafewpeoplehadac-
cepted the message of God brought by Muhammad (s.a.w.). Among
men,thefirstpersonwholovedandfollowedhimwasImam‘Ali(a.s.),
and among women, Khadijah[4].
Then after three years, he received the command to invite people
openlyto Islam. First heinvited his relativesas guests; about forty of
themassembledtogether.ThefoodwhichtheProphethadpreparedwas
no more than enough to satisfy the appetite of one man, but by the
powerofGodthatlittlefoodfilledeveryone,andthiswasthecauseof
much amazement. Abu Lahab, without thinking what he was saying,
criedout:“Muhammadisamagician!”Thatdaytherelativesdispersed
beforethe Prophet could speak. Sohecalled themagainthe next day.
Aftertheyhadpartakenofthefoodandhospitality,hespoke:“OSonsof
`AbdulMuttalib!NoyouthhasbroughttohispeoplebetterthanwhatI
bringtoyou.Ihavebroughttoyouthebestofthisworldandofthehere-
after.IhavebeencommandedbyGodtocallyoutoHim.Whichofyou
will extend his help to me and become my brother and successor?” Apart
from‘Ali(a.s.),nooneanswered.TheProphetplacedhishandon‘Ali's
shoulderandsaid,“Thisismybrother,theexecutorofmywillandmy
successor among you. Listen to what he says and obey him.”[5].
OnedaytheProphetwentupontoMountSafaandcalledthepeople
aroundhim.Hesaid,“If Itoldyouthatanenemywasgoing tofallon
you this morning or this evening, would you trust me?” All together
theyreplied,“Yes!”Hesaid,“Iwarnyouofaseveretormentthatissoon
tofallonyou.”OutoffearthatthespeechofMuhammad(s.a.w.)would
take effectin the heartsof those present,AbuLahab broke the silence
and said to him, “Did we assemble here just to listen to this nonsense?”
TheProphetofIslamstartedhiscallwith thesloganoftawhīdandthe
worshipof oneGod, andestablishedtawhīdasthebasisofall otherbe-
liefs. He made known to men Allāh, who is nearer to man than man