السابقون الأولون

The first to believe. The first people to accept Islam were close to the Prophet ﷺ: his wife Khadija, his young cousin 'Ali ibn Abi Talib, his friend Abu Bakr, and Zayd ibn Haritha, who lived in his household. Abu Bakr in turn invited several people who became great companions.

A quiet call, then a public one. According to most historians, the Prophet ﷺ first called to Islam quietly, for about three years. Then Allah revealed: وَأَنذِرْ عَشِيرَتَكَ الْأَقْرَبِينَ "And warn your nearest relatives" (meaning of verse 26:214). He then climbed Mount Safa and called the clans of Quraysh. He asked them: "If I told you that an army was coming from behind this hill, would you believe me?" They replied: "We have never heard you lie." He then said: "I am warning you of a severe punishment." (Bukhari 4770). His uncle Abu Lahab rejected him harshly, and Surah Al-Masad (111) was revealed about him.

The message. He called people to worship Allah alone, without idols, to believe in the Last Day, to be just, to honour their parents, not to bury baby girls alive as some did, and to feed the poor and the orphan.

The persecution. The leaders of Quraysh feared for their power and their trade. They mocked, then threatened, then beat, above all those who had no clan to protect them. • Bilal, a slave, was tortured under the burning sun with a rock on his chest; he kept repeating: "Aḥad, Aḥad" (One, One), meaning Allah is One. Abu Bakr bought him and set him free. (Account from the books of Sira; see also Ibn Majah 150 [À VÉRIFIER]) • The family of Yasir was tortured. Sumayya, the mother, died under the blows: she is known as the first martyr of Islam. The Prophet ﷺ himself was insulted and mistreated, but he stayed patient and did not answer with revenge.

And you? The first Muslims held firm with no networks, no numbers and no protection. What helps you stay true to what you believe when it is not easy around you?

Understanding the lesson

Explanation The first to believe were those who knew the Prophet ﷺ best: his wife, his young cousin, his closest friend, the man who lived in his house. Those who saw him every day, in his private life, were the first to trust him. That is a powerful testimony to his sincerity.

The call came in stages: first discreetly, then in public. This was not fear but wisdom: building a small, solid core before facing the whole city.

The message did not only speak about belief. It also touched social life: justice, respect for parents, the lives of baby girls, feeding the poor and the orphan. That is partly why the leaders of Quraysh were afraid: such a message challenged their power and privileges.

The weakest suffered most: slaves, people with no clan. Abu Bakr used his wealth to free several of them. And Bilal, the tortured slave, would later become the Prophet's ﷺ muezzin: the one who had been humiliated was given the honour of calling people to prayer.

Lessons to draw from it • Those who see us up close (our family, our friends) are the real witnesses of our character. • Staying true to what we believe takes patience, especially when we are few. • What we have (money, voice, time, talents) can be used to protect those who are weak. • Faith gives a dignity no one can take away, whatever one's place in society.

Key points to remember • The first Muslims: Khadijah, 'Ali, Abu Bakr and Zayd ibn Harithah. • About three years of discreet calling, then the public call from Mount Safa (26:214). • Bilal and the family of Yasir were persecuted; Sumayyah is known as the first martyr of Islam.

The main message The first Muslims believed because they knew the Prophet's ﷺ sincerity, and they held firm through patience and mutual help.