Prediction of Waraqa Ibn nawfal

Khadijah had tried to comfort and encourage her husband on account of what she thought was correct or on the basis of her own knowledge and understanding. But the matter was serious, crucial and imperative. She had no peace of mind until she had consulted someone knowledgeable of the revealed religions, their history and scriptures, as well as the biography of the earlier Prophet's of God (u). Khadijah wished to know for sure what had befallen her husband.

Khadijah knew that Waraqa Ibn Naufal was the man who could clarify the matter. She took the Prophet (r) to Waraqa and when the Prophet (r) told him what he had seen and heard, Waraqa cried out, “Verily by Him in whose hand is Waraqa’s soul, Lo, You art the Prophet of this people. There hath come unto thee the greatest Namus, (Archangel Gabriel) who came unto Moses at his time. A day will come when You wilt be called a liar, Your people wilt maltreat thee, cast thee out and fight against thee.” The Prophet (r) was surprised to hear Waraqa’s premonitions for his fellow citizens had always received him with courtesy and esteem. They addressed him as the trustworthy and honest. Holding his breath in amazement, he demanded from Waraqa, “What! Will they expel me?” “Yes”, (replied) Waraqa, “For no man has ever brought anything like what You hast brought without being opposed and fought by his people, which hath always been so. If I live to see that day, I shall stand by thee.”

The Prophet (r) waited, day after day, but no revelation came for a long time. Then, it began again, so the revelation of the Qur’an started to manifest itself little by little and then in quick succession and was completed throughout the entire period of twenty-three years.

The First Muslims

KHADIJAH

Khadijah, the Prophet's wife, was the first believer in the new faith. She had the opportunity of being his companion and helper, his consort and supporter. She always stood behind him, consoling and giving him support against all those who denied and scorned him. She tried to relieve his apprehensions and encouraged him by reinforcing her trust in him.

ALI IBN ABU TALIB AND ZAYD IBN HARITH

‘Ali Ibn Abi Talib was the next to enter in the fold of Islam. He was then a youth of ten years, and had been brought up under the guardianship of the Prophet (r) since his early childhood. The Prophet (r) had taken the charge of ‘Ali from his uncle Abu Talib, and kept him as a member of his family since the time a grievous famine befell Quraysh. The third person to accept Islam was Zayd Ibn Haritha who was a freeman of the Prophet (r) and whom he had adopted as his son).

ABU BAKR

Acceptance of the Prophet's faith by Abu Bakr Ibn Abi Quhafa, after Zayd, was of no minor significance. This merchant of sociable nature was known for his moderation and prudence, good character and kindliness, and enjoyed a still greater reputation for his wide knowledge of the genealogy of the Quraysh and expertise in commerce. He began to preach the truth that he had affirmed himself to all those that he had relied upon including those who are associated with him or those who came to seek his company. (Ibn Hisham, Vol. I, pp. 249-59)

The persuasive businessman began to win over the elite of the Quraysh to place their trust in the mission of the Prophet (r). Those who accepted Islam at invitation of Abu Bakr included ‘Uthman Ibn Affan, Zubayr Ibn Al ‘Awwam, 'Abdul Rahman Ibn Auf, S’ad Ibn Abi Waqqa and Talha Ibn ‘Ubaydullah. Abu Bakr brought all of them to the Prophet (r) upon whose hands they embraced Islam. (Ibn Hisham, pp. 150-51)

Slowly, the mission of the Prophet (r) was made known to other respectable citizens of Makkah and some of them who followed after the first eight were:

Abu ‘Ubayda Ibn al-Jarrah, Al-Arqam, ‘Uthman Ibn Maz’un, ‘Ubaydah Ibn al-Harith Ibn Abdul Muttalib, Sa’id Ibn Zayd, Kahbbab Ibn Al-Aratt, ‘Abdullah Ibn Mas’us, ‘Ammar Ibn Yasir, Suhayb Ibn Sinan and others.

People now began to accept Islam in large numbers; they came in throngs from different tribes and families until the news spread throughout the city that Muhammed taught some sort of a new faith. (Ibn Hisham, pp. 262)

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