Worship and training of the believers (2)

Since Wudu was made a prerequisite of prayer, perfect purity became the sign of a believer. Salah was based on Surah Al- Fatihah, the opening Surah of the Quran, and praise and glorification of Allah punctuated each movement made during prayer. Salah was now established as the mainstay of the believer’s faith, and act of worship to be offered twice a day. Trying to keep their worship pristine, far from the idolatrous practices of Makkah, the believers would perform Salah in secluded places like vales and passes.

At this stage the Prophet’s revelations focused mainly on the articles of faith and the different aspects of Tawheed (Oneness of Allah). These early revelations exhorted the Prophet’s Companions to purify their souls, aroused in them a sense of morality, and vividly described Paradise and Hell. With their themes of transience of life, the permanence of the Hereafter, eternal joy and everlasting punishment, the verses of the Qur’an offered much in the way of inspiration and admonition.

The Prophet taught his followers the meanings of the verses revealed to him, and he offered them a perfect model of how to live by the teachings of the Qur’an. He led them from the darkness of unbelief into the light of faith by showing them the Straight Path and counselling them to hold fast to the Religion of Allah.

Although the Prophet had not yet preached his message in public, the Quraysh came to know of his activities. Some of the believers openly practiced their new faith, but the Quraysh in general paid no attention to it. Similarly, the Prophet did not oppose them or their gods.