The First Islamic Center
Hazrat Suhaib and Hazrat ‘Ammar رضي الله عنهما both came into the presence of the Prophet ﷺ.
The Prophet ﷺ seated both of them beside him. When they had sat down, he presented Islam to them and recited to them the verses of the Holy Qur’an that had been revealed to him up to that time.
Both of them accepted Islam immediately.
They both remained with the Noble Prophet ﷺ until evening that same day.
In the evening, they quietly left. Hazrat ‘Ammar رضي الله عنه went straight home. His parents asked him where he had been all day.
He immediately told them that he had become a Muslim.
He also presented Islam to them and recited before them the portion of the Holy Qur’an that he had memorized that day.
They liked these words very much.
Both of them immediately accepted Islam at the hands of their son.
For this reason, the Noble Prophet ﷺ used to call Hazrat ‘Ammar bin Yasir رضي الله عنه Al-Tayyib al-Mutayyib, meaning “the pure and the purifier.”
Similarly, Hazrat ‘Imran رضي الله عنه accepted Islam, and some time later his father, Hazrat Husayn رضي الله عنه, also became a Muslim.
The details of his acceptance of Islam are as follows:
Once, some people from Quraysh came to meet the Noble Prophet ﷺ. Hazrat Husayn رضي الله عنه was also among them.
The people of Quraysh remained outside, while Hazrat Husayn رضي الله عنه went inside.
When the Noble Prophet ﷺ saw him, he said:
“Make room for this elder.”
When he had sat down, Hazrat Husayn رضي الله عنه said:
“What are these things that we are hearing about you? Do you speak ill of our gods?”
The Noble Prophet ﷺ said:
“O Husayn, how many gods do you worship?”
Hazrat Husayn رضي الله عنه replied:
“We worship seven gods. Six of them are on earth, and one is in the heavens.”
The Prophet ﷺ then asked:
“And when some harm befalls you, from whom do you seek help?”
Hazrat Husayn رضي الله عنه replied:
“In that situation, we pray to the One who is in the heavens.”
Hearing this answer, the Prophet ﷺ said:
“He alone hears your prayers and fulfills them, yet you associate others with Him.
O Husayn, are you pleased with this association of partners with Allah?
Accept Islam. Allah Almighty will grant you safety.”
As soon as Hazrat Husayn رضي الله عنه heard this, he accepted Islam.
At that very moment, his son, Hazrat ‘Imran رضي الله عنه, stood up, went toward his father, and embraced him.
After this, when Hazrat Husayn رضي الله عنه intended to return, the Prophet ﷺ said to his Companions رضي الله عنهم:
“Take him to his home.”
When Hazrat Husayn رضي الله عنه came out through the door, the people of Quraysh were there.
As soon as they saw him, they said:
“Look! He too has become a disbeliever.”
After this, all those people returned to their homes, and the Companions رضي الله عنهم escorted Hazrat Husayn رضي الله عنه to his home.
In the same way, for three years the Noble Prophet ﷺ continued to preach secretly.
During this period, whenever anyone accepted Islam, he would offer prayers secretly in the valleys of Makkah.
Then one day, Hazrat Sa‘d bin Abi Waqqas رضي الله عنه was in one of the valleys of Makkah with some other Companions when suddenly a group of Quraysh arrived there.
At that time, the Companions were offering prayer.
The polytheists became very angry when they saw them. They rushed upon them and began insulting them as well.
In this situation, Hazrat Sa‘d bin Abi Waqqas رضي الله عنه seized one of them and struck him once.
His skin was torn and blood began to flow.
This was the first blood that was shed in the name of Islam.
The Quraysh now became openly hostile.
Because of this, the Noble Prophet ﷺ came to the house of Hazrat al-Arqam رضي الله عنه so that he and the Muslims could remain protected from their enemies.
Thus, the house of Hazrat al-Arqam رضي الله عنه became the first center of Islam.
This house is known as Dar al-Arqam.
Before the Noble Prophet ﷺ came to Dar al-Arqam, a group of people had already accepted Islam.
Now prayer began to be offered at Dar al-Arqam.
The Noble Prophet ﷺ would lead the Companions رضي الله عنهم in prayer there, sit there in worship, and teach the Muslims about their religion.
In this way, three years passed.
Then Allah Almighty commanded the Prophet ﷺ to preach openly.
The beginning of the open preaching also took place from Dar al-Arqam. Previously, he had been inviting people secretly there until Allah Almighty commanded him in Surah al-Shu‘ara:
“And warn your nearest relatives.”
As soon as he received this command, he ﷺ became quite concerned.
His paternal aunts even thought that he might be ill.
Therefore, they came to visit him and inquire about his health.
The Prophet ﷺ said to them:
“I am not ill. Rather, Allah Almighty has commanded me to warn my close relatives about the punishment of the Hereafter.
Therefore, I wish to gather all the descendants of Banu ‘Abd al-Muttalib and invite them toward Allah.”
Hearing this, his paternal aunts said:
“Certainly, gather them, but do not invite Abu Lahab, because he will never accept what you say.”
The other name of Abu Lahab was ‘Abd al-‘Uzza.
He was the Prophet’s ﷺ paternal uncle. He was very handsome, but he was extremely hard-hearted and arrogant.
The next day, the Noble Prophet ﷺ sent an invitation to Banu ‘Abd al-Muttalib.
Accordingly, they all gathered at his ﷺ house.
Abu Lahab was also among them.
He said:
“These are your uncles and their children gathered here. Say whatever you wish to say.
And abandon this rejection of religion.
You should also understand that there is not enough strength among your people—that is, among us—to take on the entire Arab nation for your sake.
Therefore, if you remain determined to continue with your matter, then your own family will have the greatest responsibility to seize you and imprison you.
For if all the families and tribes of Quraysh attack you, it would be better for us to imprison you ourselves.
And, my nephew, the truth is that no one has ever presented anything worse to his relatives than the thing you have presented to them today.”
The Prophet ﷺ paid no attention to what he said and conveyed the message of Allah to those who were present.
He said:
“O Quraysh! Say: There is no deity except Allah, and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.”
He ﷺ also said to them:
“O Quraysh! Save yourselves from the Fire of Hell.”
It was not only his relatives who were gathered there; other tribes of Quraysh were also present.
Therefore, he ﷺ addressed them by mentioning the names of their tribes.
He said:
“O Banu Hashim! Save yourselves from the punishment of Hell.
O Banu ‘Abd Shams! Save yourselves from the Fire of Hell.
O Banu ‘Abd Manaf!
O Banu Zuhrah!
O Ka‘b bin Lu’ayy!
O Banu Marrah bin Ka‘b!
Save yourselves from the Fire of Hell.
O Safiyyah, aunt of Muhammad! Save yourself from the Fire of Hell.”
According to one narration, he ﷺ also said:
“I cannot benefit you in this world, nor do I have the authority to benefit you in the Hereafter, except if you say, ‘There is no deity except Allah.’
Since you are related to me, do not remain lost in the darkness of disbelief and associating partners with Allah, relying merely upon this relationship.”
Upon this, Abu Lahab became extremely enraged.
He angrily exclaimed:
“May you perish! Is this why you gathered us?”
Then everyone left.