Open Propagation of Islam
In the initial years of Muhammed’s ﷺ mission, the focus was on delivering the message of Islam privately to individuals. A select few among the Quraysh and other tribes accepted Islam, but their numbers remained small. Then Allah commanded Muhammed ﷺ to warn his closest relatives against idolatry. He was instructed to maintain ties with the believers and distance himself from those who rejected his message.
Following this command, Muhammed ﷺ gathered his closest kin – the tribe of Banu Hashim, along with some members of Banu Muttalib. After praising and glorifying Allah and bearing witness to His Oneness, Muhammed ﷺ said:
“I am the Messenger of Allah, sent to you in particular and to all mankind in general. By Allah, you will die just as you sleep at night, and you will be resurrected just as you rise from sleep in the morning. After that, you will be held accountable for your deeds, and your good will be rewarded with good, and your bad with bad.”
The audience listened to Muhammed ﷺ silently. His uncle Abu Lahab was the only one to speak out, warning, “Stop him before all of Arabia unites against him. If you hand him over, you will be disgraced. If you try to protect him, you will be killed.”
However, his other uncle, Abu Talib, firmly said, “By Allah, we will protect him as long as we live.” Turning to Muhammed ﷺ, he added, “Carry out what you have been commanded to do. By Allah, I will always defend you, though I prefer not to abandon the religion of Abdul Muttalib.”
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The Warning on Mount Safa
Around this time, Allah revealed the command: “Proclaim openly what you have been ordered, and turn away from the idolaters.”
Obeying this command, Muhammed ﷺ climbed Mount Safa – a small rocky hill near the Ka‘bah – and called out from its peak, crying: “Ya Sabahah!” (a cry used to alert people of a great calamity or imminent attack).
After capturing everyone’s attention, Muhammed ﷺ called out to each tribe by name:
“O sons of Fihr! O sons of Adiy! O sons of Abdu Munaf! O sons of Abdul Muttalib!…”
Those who heard their names rushed to Mount Safa. Those who could not come sent someone on their behalf. Once they had all gathered, Muhammed ﷺ said:
“If I told you that enemy horsemen were advancing from the valley to attack you, would you believe me?”
They replied, “Yes, we have always found you truthful.”
Muhammed ﷺ then said, “I am here to warn you of a severe punishment before it comes to you. I see the danger approaching, and I wish to protect you before it strikes. Save yourselves by declaring that Allah is One and that I am His Messenger – La ilaha illallah, Muhammedur Rasoolullah. This testimony is your only salvation in this world and the Hereafter.”
He warned them that holding onto idolatry would lead to Allah’s punishment and that even his status as Allah’s Messenger could not save them.
Muhammed ﷺ continued:
“O people of Quraysh, save yourselves from the Fire of Hell, for I have no power over your fate before Allah. O Banu Ka‘b bin Lu‘ayy, O Banu Qusayy, O Banu Abdu Munaf, O Banu Hashim, O Banu Abdul Muttalib – save yourselves from Hellfire, for I cannot protect you from Allah’s decree.
O Abbas bin Abdul Muttalib! O my aunt Safiyyah bint Abdul Muttalib! O Fatimah, daughter of Muhammed ﷺ – ask me whatever you wish of my wealth, but I cannot save you from Allah. You must save yourselves.”
After hearing this warning, the crowd dispersed. There was no record of immediate support or rejection. However, Abu Lahab angrily exclaimed, “May you be ruined! Is this why you gathered us here?”
The Quraysh were astonished at Muhammed’s ﷺ message, but when they returned home, their pride and arrogance took over, and they rejected his warning. They began mocking him, saying:
“Is this the one Allah has chosen as His Messenger? Is this the son of Abu Kabshah who claims to be spoken to from the heavens?”
(Abu Kabshah was an ancestor of Muhammed ﷺ who had rejected Quraysh paganism and accepted Christianity. The Quraysh used this connection to belittle Muhammed ﷺ.)
Despite their mockery and growing hostility, Muhammed ﷺ remained steadfast in his mission. He continued to call people to Islam, reciting the verses revealed to him and reminding them of the message of previous prophets:
“O my people! Worship Allah alone without partners, for none is worthy of worship except Him.”
He also began praying publicly, performing Salah in the courtyard of the Ka‘bah. Slowly, more people accepted Islam. However, this also caused divisions within households, as some family members became Muslim while others remained staunch disbelievers. The Quraysh found it intolerable that Islam was now being preferred over their ancestral religion and traditions, which only deepened their hostility.