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Islaam being introduced to
Arabian Tribes and Individuals
In Dhul Qa‘dah, the tenth
year of Prophethood, i.e. July 619, the Prophet ,
returned to Makkah to resume his activities. The time for pilgrimage to Makkah
was approaching so he hastened to introduce people both tribes and individuals
to Islam and call upon them to embrace it, just as it was his practice since the
fourth year of his Prophethood.
On the authority of Az-Zuhri,
of the tribes that Islam was introduced to, we could speak of Banu ‘Amir bin
Sa‘sa‘ah, Muharib bin Khasfa, Fazarah, Ghassan, Murrah, Haneefah, Saleem,
‘Abs, Banu Nasr, Banu Al-Buka’, Kindah, Kalb, Al-Harith bin Ka‘b, Udhrah
and people of Hadrmout. Islam was not introduced to them in one single year but
rather repeatedly from the fourth year till the last pre-migration season of
pilgrimage. They however, remained obdurate and none of them responded
positively.
The following is a resume of
aspects relating to the Prophet’s appeals as regards the new faith he was
preaching:
-
He visited a sept of Banu
Kalb known as Banu ‘Abdullah. He called them to Allâh’s Message and
entreated them to accept it for the sake of Allâh Who had chosen a
beautiful name for their father, but without avail.
-
He called on Bani Haneefah
in their habitation, but received very repugnant treatment.
-
He addressed Bani ‘Amir
bin Sa‘sa‘ah in their encampment, calling them to abandon idolatry and
join him. One of them called Buhairah bin Firras, answered him back:
"Should we give you allegiance and Allâh give you power over your
opponents, will you give us right to inheritance and succeed you in
power?" The Prophet replied: "The whole affair lies in Allâh’s
Hands. He gives the power to whomever He desires." The man commented:
"Do you expect us to incur the wrath and vengeance of the Arabs without
the least hope of leadership? We can in fact readily dispense with your
offers."
When Banu ‘Amir returned to
their habitations, they narrated the story to an elderly man who had lingered
behind because he was too old. They told him, "A young man of Quraish of
Bani ‘Abdul Muttalib, claiming that he is a Prophet, contacted us, asked for
support and invited us to embrace his religion." The old sheikh was struck
by the news, and wondered if there was no way of making amends for the loss of
that opportunity and swore, "He is really Ishmaelite (he descends from
Ishmael). He is the Truth (he is a real Prophet). How did it happen that you
misjudged his words?"
The Prophet
was not dismayed at all. He persisted in his mission for the
fulfillment of which he had been commissioned to strive despite all odds. He did
not confine his efforts to the tribes but also conducted contacts with
individuals from some of whom he was able to receive a favourable response.
Moreover, later in the same season, some of them did believe in his Prophethood
and entered the fold of Islam. The following list included some of those early
converts:
-
Swaid bin Samit .
He was an intelligent discreet poet from Yathrib (Madinah). During his stay
in Makkah for pilgrimage (or lesser pilgrimage), he encountered the Prophet
Őáě Çááĺ Úáíĺ ćÓáă who invited him to embrace Islam. At this
invitation, Swaid imparted to the Prophet some sound words from Luqman’s
wisdom. The Prophet approved of that wisdom but told the man that he had
something far better. He recited some verses from the Qur’ân, the man
listened meditatively and the words appealed to his originally pure nature
and accepted Islam as his faith at once. He was killed in the battle of
Bu‘ath. That was in the eleventh year of the Prophethood.
-
Eyas bin Mu‘adh.
He was still a youth from Aws tribe. He came
as a member of delegation seeking alliance with Quraish against another
rival tribe dwelling in Madinah, Al-Khazraj. The Prophet
met them and advised them to follow a better course than
that they had in mind. He introduced himself and Islam to them, apprised
them of his mission and narrated some verses from the Noble Qur’ân.
Eyas’s heart immediately absorbed the Divine Message and agreed with the
Prophet . Abul Haisar Anas bin Rafi‘, a
member of the delegation disapproved of the boy’s behaviour and silenced
him by hurling some dust into his face. The people then left Madinah after
having failed in establishing alliance with Quraish. Shortly after arrival
in Madinah, the boy breathed his last acclaiming Allâh’s Name and
celebrating His Glory.
-
Abu Dhar Al-Ghifari.
He used to live in the suburbs of Yathrib.
News of the Islamization of Swaid bin Samit and Eyas bin Mu‘adh reached
him and constituted a turning point in his life per se. He sent his brother
to Makkah for more details about the Prophet’s intentions. The man came
back and reported to Abu Dhar that the ‘said man’ enjoined good and
forbade evil. Abu Dhar was not satisfied and decided that he himself should
go out and probe the real situation. After some attempts to identify the
person of the Prophet , he managed to meet
him though not without some difficulties due to the antagonistic atmosphere
within which the proponents of the new faith were trying to work their way.
No sooner than Abu Dhar was exposed to the real nature of Islam, he embraced
it. Despite the Prophet’s earnest plea not to divulge his new move, Abu
Dhar went directly to the Holy Sanctuary where he publicly declared that he
had testified to the Oneness of Allâh and Prophethood of Muhammad. The
heathens all around hurried and began beating him. He almost died when
Al-‘Abbas intervened warning against killing someone whose tribe was in
full command of the strategic commercial caravan routes leading to Makkah.
The event recurred in the following morning with the same man to come to the
scene and rescue him.
-
Tufail bin ‘Amr Ad-Dausi.
He was an honest poet and chief of Ad-Daus
tribe inhabiting an area close to Yemen in South Arabia. He arrived in
Makkah in the eleventh year of Prophethood. Great reception ceremonies were
accorded to him on his advent. The Makkans soon started to inculcate in his
ears all sorts of antipathy against the Prophet . They even alleged that he had caused the most horrible societal
schism, dividing all sorts of social life even the family ties were subject
to his schemes and plans of dissension. They even warned him against
speaking or even listening to him. The man overpowered by these pleas,
complied by their requests. He even stuffed his ears with a piece of cotton
in order not to hear any word of his. However, when this tribesman entered
the mosque, he saw Muhammad
observing his
prayer and out of curiosity, he approached him for it was a Divine Will to
hear the Prophet’s sound and appealing words. The temptation to hear more
was irresistible so he followed the Prophet
into his house, briefed him on his advent and all the story of the
people of Quraish. The Messenger of Allâh
recited some verses of the Noble Qur’ân and the man managed to taste
something exceptionally beautiful and discern the truth latent within. He
embraced Islam and testified that there was no god but Allâh and that
Muhammad was His Messenger. He then said that he was an influential man
among his people and that he would call them to profess Islam, yet he wanted
the Prophet
to equip him with a supportive
sign that would ease his future task. It was in fact a Divinely bestowed
light in his whip. He called his father and wife to embrace Islam and they
did respond. His people lagged a little but he exhorted them fervently and
was fully successful. He and seventy or eighty of his followers emigrated to
Madinah after the Trench Battle. He was a perfect fighter in the cause of
Allâh and was martyred in Al-Yamama events.
-
Dhumad Al-Azdi. He
came from Azd Shanu’a in Yemen, specialist in incantation. He arrived in
Makkah to hear the fools there say that Muhammad
was out of his mind. He decided to practice his craft on the
Prophet , who on seeing him said:
"Praise is to Allâh, we entertain His praise and seek His help.
Whomsoever Allâh guides, none will lead astray, and whomsoever Allâh leads
astray, none will guide. I testify there is no god but Allâh and Muhammad
is His servant and Messenger." Dhumad heard the words and requested the
Prophet
to echo them again, and he was
granted his wish thrice. Here he said: "I have heard the soothsayers,
sorcerers and poets, but never have I experienced the sweetness of your
words." He then gave a pledge of a sincere convert.
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