Open Preaching of Islam

The warner’s cries kept reverberating through Makkah. Shortly afterwards, Allah Almity revealed His Command of open and  general  preaching  of  Islam,  saying:  "Proclaim  openly  that which you are commanded, and turn away from the Mushrikin." (pbuh).

The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) rose and publicly preached Islam in the assemblies and societies of Quraish, reciting to them the Book of Allah, saying to them what previous messengers said to their people: 

The Messenger (pbuh), alone carrying upon his shoulders the mountainous task of guiding humanity to their Creator, went from one house to another in Mina, crying out:

The way to the goal was beset with intolerable hardships and challenges, which the Messenger (pbuh) wisely surmounted. He (pbuh) patiently endured persecution while conveying the Message.

An eyewitness, Rabi‘ah bin ‘Abbad Ad-Daili, related: “I saw the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) with my own eyes in Dhil- Majaz marketplace, walking through its streets, crying, ‘O people, say, ‘La ilaha illa Allah (there is no god but Allah)’ and you will succeed.’ People crowded around him, but I did not see anyone saying anything. Yet he was never silent and kept saying, ‘O people, say, ‘La ilaha illa Allah’ and you will succeed.’ Close behind him was a man, squint-eyed, handsome, with two braids, who was saying, ‘He is an apostate, a liar.’ I asked, ‘Who is this?’ They said, ‘Muhammad bin ‘Abdullah, and he speaks of prophethood.’ I said, ‘Who is this one denying him?’ They said, ‘His uncle, Abu Lahab.’”( reported by Ahmad).

Another witness, an old man from Banu Malik bin Kinanah, said:

The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) was asked about the Ayah that was the hardest on him when revealed from heaven, and he (pbuh) replied: I was in Mina, during Hajj season, when Arab Mushrikin and people from various places would gather for the (Hajj) season. Jibril (Gabriel) came down to me and said:

I stood at Al-‘Aqabah and called out, “O people, who will support me in conveying the Message of my Lord and have Paradise (as reward)? O people, say, ‘La ilaha illa Allah (there is no god but Allah),’ and that I am the Messenger of Allah for you, and you will succeed and Paradise will be yours.” But not a man, woman, or child remained who did not cast dust and stones at me and spit in my face, saying, “A liar, an apostate.”