The Beginning of Success
During the days of Hajj, people came to Makkah from far and wide to perform Hajj. However, this Hajj was not performed according to the Islamic method. Various practices involving disbelief and polytheism had been incorporated into it. Fairs were also held in Makkah during those days.
The Noble Prophet ﷺ would also go to these fairs to invite people towards Islam. When he reached there, he would say to the people:
«“Is there anyone who can offer me the support of his tribe? The people of Quraysh are preventing me from conveying the message of my Lord.”»
The Noble Prophet ﷺ would go to the plain of Mina and visit the places where people were staying. He would say to them:
«“O people! Allah Almighty commands you to worship Him alone and not to associate anyone with Him.”»
Abu Lahab would also follow the Noble Prophet ﷺ and reach these gatherings. He would loudly say to the people:
«“O people! This man wants you to abandon the religion of your forefathers.”»
The Noble Prophet ﷺ would also go to the fair of Dhu al-Hijaz and say to the people:
«“O people! Say, ‘La ilaha illallah,’ and attain success.”»
Abu Lahab would come there as well. He would throw stones at the Prophet ﷺ and say:
«“O people! Do not listen to this man at all. He is a liar.”»
The Noble Prophet ﷺ went to some families from the tribes of Kindah and Kalb. These people were known as Banu ‘Abdullah.
The Prophet ﷺ said to them:
«“O people! Recite ‘La ilaha illallah’… and you will attain success.”»
They too refused to accept the invitation to Islam.
The Prophet ﷺ also went to the people of Banu Hanifah and Banu ‘Amir.
After hearing the Prophet’s ﷺ message, one of them said:
«“If we accept what you say, support you, and agree to follow you, and then Allah Almighty grants you victory over your opponents, will leadership and authority come into our hands after you?”»
In other words, they made the condition that they would have the authority after him.
The Prophet ﷺ replied:
«“Leadership and authority belong to Allah. He grants them to whomever He wills.”»
After this, the man said:
«“Should we fight the Arabs in your support, expose our chests to the spears of the Arabs, and then, when you become victorious, leadership and authority be given to others? No, we have no need for such leadership and authority from you.”»
Thus, these people also clearly refused.
The people of Banu ‘Amir then returned to their homeland. There was a very old man among them. Because of his advanced age, he had become so weak that he could not travel with them to perform Hajj.
When he asked them about Hajj and the fairs, they also told him about the invitation of the Noble Prophet ﷺ and informed him of the answer they had given.
As soon as the old man heard this, he sat down holding his head and said sorrowfully:
«“O Banu ‘Amir! You have made a very great mistake. Is there any way to remedy this mistake of yours? By the One in Whose Hand is my life, the person from the nation of Isma‘il عليه السلام who is claiming prophethood cannot be a liar. He is absolutely truthful. It is another matter that his truthfulness may not be within the grasp of your understanding.”»
Likewise, the Noble Prophet ﷺ met with many other tribes, including Banu ‘Abs, Banu Sulaym, Banu Ghassan, Banu Muharib, Banu Fazarah, Banu Nadr, Banu Murrah, and Banu ‘Udhrah.
All of them gave the Prophet ﷺ even harsher replies. They would say:
«“Your household and your family love you more than anyone else. That is why they themselves have not followed you.”»
Among the Arab tribes, the greatest trouble came from Banu Hanifah of Yamamah. Musaylimah al-Kadhdhab, who falsely claimed prophethood, also belonged to this unfortunate tribe.
Likewise, the tribe of Banu Thaqif also gave the Prophet ﷺ a very harsh response.
After all these failures, Allah Almighty finally willed to spread His religion, honor His Prophet ﷺ, and fulfill His promise.
The Prophet ﷺ went out from his home during the days of Hajj. It was the month of Rajab.
Before Hajj, the Arabs used to come to Makkah to participate in various customs and fairs. Thus, that year too, the Prophet ﷺ went out to meet different tribes.
The Prophet ﷺ reached the place of ‘Aqabah.
‘Aqabah is the name of a valley—the place where stones are thrown at the devils. This valley is at the place called Adi. When traveling from Makkah towards Mina, this place is on the left-hand side. There is now a mosque at this location.
There, the Prophet ﷺ met a group of people from the Khazraj tribe of Madinah.
Aws and Khazraj were two famous tribes of Madinah. Before Islam, they had been bitter enemies of one another.
Like other Arabs, they too used to perform Hajj.
There were six of them in total. According to one narration, their number was eight.
When the Prophet ﷺ saw them, he went near them and said:
«“I would like to say something to you.”»
They replied:
«“Certainly, please say it.”»
The Prophet ﷺ said:
«“It would be better if we sat down.”»
So the Prophet ﷺ sat with them.
When these people looked at the Prophet’s ﷺ face, they saw nothing but truthfulness and goodness.
At that moment, the Prophet ﷺ said:
«“I invite you towards Allah. I am the Messenger of Allah.”»
As soon as they heard this, they said:
«“By Allah, we know about you. The Jews have continually been telling us about a Prophet and warning us about him—that is, they have been saying that a Prophet is about to appear. You must certainly be that very Prophet. Do not let it happen that they follow you before us.”»
The actual situation was that whenever there was a dispute or battle between the Jews and the people of Madinah, the Jews would say to them:
«“Very soon, a Prophet is going to appear. His time has drawn near. We will follow that Prophet, and under his banner we will destroy you just as the people of ‘Ad and the people of Iram were destroyed.”»
What they meant was that they would completely destroy them.
On this basis, the people of Madinah already knew about the coming of the Prophet ﷺ.
It was also on this basis that they immediately accepted what the Prophet ﷺ said, affirmed his truthfulness, and became Muslims.
After one failure after another, this was a tremendous success.
And historically, this success proved to be extremely significant as well.
This pledge changed the course of history. It was as though Allah Almighty had intended an immense good through these people.
As soon as they accepted Islam, they said:
«“We have left our people, Aws and Khazraj, in a state where a fierce war is taking place between them. Therefore, if Allah Almighty unites all of them through you, it will be a very wonderful thing.”»
Aws and Khazraj were descendants of two brothers. Later, enmity arose between them.
Their wars continued for such a long period that they fought one another generation after generation for 120 years, with one killing following another.
At that time, they were referring to this enmity. Therefore, they said:
«“We will also invite Aws and the other people of our tribe towards Islam. Perhaps Allah Almighty will unite them in your name. If they become united because of you and their word becomes one, then who could be more honorable and beloved than you?”»
The Noble Prophet ﷺ liked what they said.
After Hajj, these people returned to Madinah.