Guillaume--Life of Muhammad.pdf - Radical Truth
Guillaume--Life of Muhammad.pdf - Radical Truth
Guillaume--Life of Muhammad.pdf - Radical Truth
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II4<br />
The <strong>Life</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Muhammad</strong><br />
Khuwaylid who also follows him in his religion.' 'Mif said after he had<br />
become a Muslim and Islam was firmly established in his heart, "Would<br />
that I had been a fourth I" '1<br />
'ALl B. ABU TALIB THE FIRST MALE TO ACCEPT ISLAM<br />
'Ali was the first maIe to believe in the apostle <strong>of</strong> God, to pray with him<br />
159 and to believe in his divine message, when he was a boy <strong>of</strong> ten. God<br />
favoured him in that he was brought up in the care <strong>of</strong> the apostle before<br />
Islam began.<br />
'Abdullah b. Abu Naji\I on the authority <strong>of</strong> Mujahid b. Jabr Abu.'l<br />
I;lajjaj told me that God showed His favour and goodwill towards hIm<br />
when a grievous famine overtook Quraysh. Now Abu Tahb had a large<br />
family, and the prophet approached his ~nck, AI-'Abbas, who :vas one <strong>of</strong><br />
the richest <strong>of</strong> B. Hashim, suggestmg that m vIew <strong>of</strong> hIS large famIly and the<br />
famine which affected everyone, they should go together and <strong>of</strong>fer to relieve<br />
him <strong>of</strong> the burden <strong>of</strong> some <strong>of</strong> his family. Al-'Abbii,s agreed"and so they<br />
went to Abu Talib <strong>of</strong>fering to relieve him from his responsibility ~f two<br />
boys until conditions improved. Abu Talib said, 'Do what you hke ,so<br />
long as you leave me 'Aqil' (150). So the apo'stle took 'Ali and kept hIm<br />
with him and AI-'Abbas took Ja'far. 'Ali continued to be with the apostle<br />
until God sent him forth as a prophet. 'Ali followed him, believed him,<br />
and declared his truth, while Jafar remained with AI-'Abbas until he<br />
became a Mllslim and was independent <strong>of</strong> him.<br />
A traditionist mentioned that when the time <strong>of</strong> prayer came the apostle<br />
used to go out to the glens <strong>of</strong> Mecca accompanied by 'Ali, who went unbeknown<br />
to his father, and his uncles and the rest <strong>of</strong> his people. There<br />
they used to pray the ritual prayers, and return at nightfall. This went on<br />
as long as God intended that it should, until one day Abu Talib came upon<br />
them while t\ley were praying, and said to the apostle, '0 nephew, .w~at is<br />
this religion which I see you practising?' He replied, '0 uncle, thiS IS the<br />
religion <strong>of</strong> God, His angels, His apostles, and the religion <strong>of</strong> O':f father<br />
160 Abraham.' Or, as he said, 'God has sent me as an apostle to mankmd, and<br />
Y OU my uncle most deserve that I should teach you the truth and call you<br />
, , 1 '<br />
to guidance, and you are the most wort,hy to resp~nd and he p .~e, or<br />
words to that effect. His uncle replied, I cannot gIve up the rehglOn <strong>of</strong><br />
my fathers which. they followed, but by God you shal.1 never meet .with<br />
anything to distress you so long as I live.' They mentlOn that he saId :0<br />
'Ali, 4My boy, what is this religion <strong>of</strong> yours?' He answered, II heheve l.n<br />
God and in the apostle <strong>of</strong> God, and I declare that what he has brought IS<br />
true, and I pray to God with him a~d follow hi~.' They all~ge tha: h~<br />
said, 'He wOll!d not call you to anythmg but what IS good so suck to hIm.<br />
Zayd the ftee4man <strong>of</strong> the apostle was the first male to accept Islam after<br />
I See Introduction, pp. uti f.<br />
The <strong>Life</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Muhammad</strong> I 15<br />
'Ali ('5')' Then Abu Bakr b. Abu Qu\Iiifa whose name was 'Aliq became ,6,<br />
a Muslim. His father's name was 'Uthman b. 'Amir b. 'Amr b. Ka'b b.<br />
Sa'd b. Taym b. Murra b. Ka'b b. Lu'ayy b. Ghalib b. Fihr. When he<br />
became a Muslim, he showed his faith openly and called others to God and<br />
his apostle. He was a man whose society was desired, well liked and <strong>of</strong><br />
easy manners. He knew more about the genealogy <strong>of</strong> Quraysh than anyone<br />
else and <strong>of</strong> their faults and merits. He was a merchant <strong>of</strong> high character<br />
and kindliness. His people used to come to him to discuss many matters<br />
with him because <strong>of</strong> his wide knowledge, his experience in commerce, and<br />
his sociable nature. He began to call to God and to Islam all whom he<br />
trusted <strong>of</strong> those who came to him and sat with him (152).<br />
[I.K. iii, 24. The following day 'Ali b. Abu Talib came as the two <strong>of</strong><br />
them were praying and asked, 'What is this, <strong>Muhammad</strong>I' He replied, 'It<br />
is God's religion which He has chosen for Himself and sent His apostles<br />
with it. I call you to God, the One without an associate, to worship Him<br />
and to disavow al-Lat and al-'Uzza.'