name of Islam, but that such an act would only lead to strife. I told him that I disapproved of their method of proceeding, as a movement that took shape in such a manner was not truly Islamic and could

printing press, it is possible for us that we can prepare as much copies of the Quran and other Islamic literature as we wish. We can publish booklets and leaflets on the subject of dawah and distribute

opportunity. He or she can discharge this duty of spreading the message of God through the distribution of Islamic literature as have been prepared with an aim to spreading the message of God to the non-Muslims.

the divine religion. By understanding and utilizing them, adherents of this religion can bring Islamic thought into pre-eminence. Between the time of the Prophet Abraham and the coming of the Prophet

occurred, the massive advances in human knowledge that have taken place, have all combined in support of Islam. The religion that the Prophet taught can still take pride of place over other religions. But, for

degradation in contrast to the moral ascendancy of Islam. The result of this was that the people of Makkah were won over by the high ethical standards of Islam, which many of them started to embrace. Abu Jandal’s

had accepted Islam, the Prophet ordered that, according to the terms of the treaty which had been agreed upon, he be sent back to Makkah. “Abu Jandal,” he said, “be patient. God will grant you, and those

‘Ammar ibn Yasir and his parents were slaves of the Banu Makhzum tribe in Makkah when they accepted Islam. Their conversion was complete anathema to the Banu Makhzum. They would take the family out to the

UNSWERVING OBEDIENCETowards the end of the Prophet’s life the fertile regions bordering pre-Islamic Arabia were controlled by the two great imperial powers of the day—the Sassanians and the Byzantines

home front, he sent letters to the rulers of territories surrounding Arabia, inviting them to accept Islam. One such letter was taken by the Prophet’s envoy, Shuja’ ibn Wahb al- Asadi, to al-Harith ibn Abu

then support of it will earn one no credit with God. Commitment to Islam as a message is an act carried out for God. Commitment to Islam as an institution, however, is all too often entered into for the

There was an Iranian governor there at the time of the advent of Islam. His name was Bazan and, after initial opposition, he later accepted Islam. All this goes to show how far Arabian territory had become

opposition to Islam was so deep-rooted that when one of their number, ‘Urwah ibn Mas’ud Thaqafi—who was reputed to be “dearer to his people than sweet maidens”—came to the Prophet and accepted Islam, they forgot

their property: that was why, when the Prophet wrote to the Emperor of Persia inviting him to accept Islam, that proud monarch tore up his letter and said indignantly: He writes to me—and he is my slave! Abrahah’s

(A.D. 570) was part of this encroachment of foreign powers on Arab territory. Before the advent of Islam, the Ka’bah had been a centre of idol-worship for the whole of Arabia: every tribe had erected its