The three years of the secret call

The first stage of the stages of the da'wa in The Sealed Nectar's division: three years of secret, individual preaching. Mecca was the centre of the religion of the Arabs and home to the custodians of the Kaaba, so it was wise that its people not be startled by what would provoke them ^{1 2}. In this stage the foremost early Muslims embraced Islam, the first prayer was enjoined, and news of it reached Quraysh, but they did not pay it attention ³.

The Prophet presented Islam first to those closest to him, his household and his friends. He called on everyone he saw as good among those he knew and who knew him, and a group known as the foremost believers answered him ^{2 4}. At their head were his wife Khadija bint Khuwaylid, his freedman Zayd ibn Haritha ibn Sharahil al-Kalbi, his cousin Ali ibn Abi Talib, who was a child in his care, and his close friend Abu Bakr al-Siddiq. These embraced Islam on the first day of the call ^{2 4}.

Then Abu Bakr became active in preaching. He was a sociable, beloved and easy-going man of good character and kindness, and men of his people came to him for his knowledge, his trade and his good company. He began to call on those he trusted, and through his call Uthman ibn Affan, al-Zubayr ibn al-Awwam, Abd al-Rahman ibn Awf, Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas and Talha ibn Ubayd Allah embraced Islam. These eight were the first circle and the vanguard of Islam ^{5 6}.

Then came Bilal ibn Rabah the Abyssinian; then Abu Ubayda Amir ibn al-Jarrah, the trustee of this community; Abu Salama ibn Abd al-Asad and al-Arqam ibn Abi al-Arqam, both of the Makhzum; Uthman ibn Maz'un and his two brothers, Qudama and Abdullah; Ubayda ibn al-Harith ibn al-Muttalib; Sa'id ibn Zayd al-'Adawi and his wife Fatima bint al-Khattab, sister of 'Umar; Khabbab ibn al-Aratt; Abdullah ibn Mas'ud of the Hudhayl; and many others ^{5 6 7}. They came from all the branches of Quraysh. Ibn Hisham counted them as more than forty men, and the author notes that there is some reservation about including some of them among the foremost believers ^{5 6}. Then people entered Islam in groups, men and women, until the mention of Islam spread through Mecca ^{5 8}.

These embraced Islam in secret. The Prophet would meet them and guide them to the religion in hiding, because the preaching was individual and secret ⁵. The revelation had followed on after the opening verses of al-Muddaththir. The verses revealed in this period were short, with fine endings and calm cadences; they encouraged the purification of souls and made their defilement repugnant, and they described Paradise and Hell as if seen with the eye ⁵.

Among the first things revealed was the command to pray two rak'as at dawn and two in the evening, along with Gabriel's teaching of ablution. The Muslims would go off into the ravines and pray in secret. Its details are in Prayer before the Night Journey ^{5 9 10 11}.

It appears to the author that news of the call reached Quraysh during this stage, but they paid it no attention ⁹. He quotes Muhammad al-Ghazali that Quraysh perhaps reckoned Muhammad to be one of the religious men who spoke about divinity, such as Umayya ibn Abi al-Salt, Qass ibn Sa'ida and 'Amr ibn Nufayl. But they became wary of his news spreading and began to watch his fate ^{9 12}. Three years passed, in which a community of believers formed on brotherhood and mutual help. Then revelation came, charging the Prophet ﷺ to proclaim the message openly to his people ⁹.

• In al-Ghazali's phrase, "'Amr ibn Nufayl" most probably means Zayd ibn 'Amr ibn Nufayl. The link to this card is the museum's own judgement.
• The author's view that the inclusion of some named among the foremost believers is open to question is given without attribution to any source.