Islamiyat · May / June 2020 · Paper 12 · Question 3

Give an account of the main events of the Prophet’s preaching up until the public declaration on Mount Safa.

After the Prophet (pbuh) received his first revelation, he told his wife Khadija, and later her cousin Waraqa bin Nawfal, about the event. Khadija was the first to accept the message. After verses from sura Mudaththir were revealed to him, the revelation came frequently and regularly.

The main message at this point was to reject idols and believe in one God. For three years the Prophet (pbuh) taught and practised in secret. The first converts were those who were close to him in his household, such as Khadija, Zayd bin Harith and ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib. After this Abu Bakr, the Prophet’s close friend, converted and many prominent companions became Muslim through him.

The Prophet (pbuh) would meet and teach these new converts in secret, from the revelations he was continuing to receive. The Muslims prayed twice a day and would retreat to the mountains to do so.

After there were more than 40 or so converts it could not be kept a secret anymore. He called his own clan to dinner; Abu Lahab rejected the message while Abu Talib promised protection.

Then sura 26:214 was revealed to preach the message openly so the Prophet (pbuh) called the people of Makka to the mount of Safa and told them about the new faith and believing in one God. His message was rejected. After this, persecutions started on the early converts but Makkans continued to convert to Islam.

Answers should focus on the Prophet’s deliverance of the message, and not the events of the revelation itself or the persecution of the Prophet (pbuh) and his followers, though some brief mention in the right context is fine.

What do the Prophet’s struggles in these early years teach Muslims about dealing with their own difficulties?

The Prophet (pbuh) was not able to preach his message openly, and even when he did, he was rejected and treated badly.

Some lessons could be that Muslims should realise that they should stick to what they believe in even if they are finding it hard to do so - especially if they believe what they are doing is good and is what God asks of them. For example, colleagues may not want a Muslim to pray openly or wear hijab, but they should try their best to stick to it and keep their belief strong. They could also learn that there are times when they do not have to tell people what they are doing, especially if they fear they will come to harm, and so it is acceptable for them to do their good actions in secret. An example could be when moving to new a country a person can keep their faith hidden to avoid persecution.

Other relevant answers should be credited.