The Islamic Da‘wah (call) passed through two main phases: the phase of secret Da‘wah, which lasted for three years in Makkah, and the phase of public Da‘wah, which started after that period.
The nature of the first phase required secrecy until the appropriate time for announcing the public Da‘wah would come. The house of Al-Arqam, may Allah be pleased with him, was deemed the suitable place for practicing Da‘wah during this phase.
The house of Al-Arqam, may Allah be pleased with him, was on the mountain of As-Safa, which was an isolated place; hence, it was away from the eyes of the enemies. Furthermore, it was owned by Al-Arqam ibn Abu Al-Arqam ibn Asad ibn ‘Abdullaah Al-Makhzoomi, may Allah be pleased with him, who was also known as ‘Abd Manaaf, and he was among the first people who had embraced Islam and gave up his worldly pleasures for the sake of the Hereafter. He, may Allah be pleased with him, chose to endure harm and torture rather than live in polytheism and disbelief.
This house combined many characteristics that made it a suitable starting point and a beacon for this newly-born Da‘wah.
The Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), chose this house for many reasons, some of which are:
1- It was not known by the masses that the owner of this house, Al-Arqam, had embraced Islam; hence, none of the disbelievers would suspect that the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), would meet his Companions there.
2- Al-Arqam was still young when he had embraced Islam; hence, the people of Quraysh would not have suspected that the Muslims might gather at the house of a young man. They would rather, most probably, think that the Muslims would gather at the house of one of the senior Companions.
3- This house was near the Ka‘bah.
In this blessed house, the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), would meet his Companions, my Allah be pleased with them, and teach them the noble teachings and instructions of Islam. He would recite before them whatever was revealed of the Quran, teach them the matters of their religion and discuss with them the issues of Da‘wah and the stance of those who oppose it.
In this house, the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), would listen to the complaints of his Companions, my Allah be pleased with them, as well as their stories about the harm and the evil plotting that they experienced at the hands of the polytheists. He, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), would talk with them about their hopes and sufferings, and ask them to be patient and show endurance. He, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), would give them glad tidings that the best outcome and result would be for the pious, that victory is for the believers, and that no fear shall be for the allies of Allah The Almighty, nor shall they grieve.
It was very evident that Allah Almighty was guarding and protecting these believers - despite the harm they experienced at the hands of the polytheists. The ultimate wisdom implied that, at the beginning of the Da‘wah, these believers should be kept as much as possible away from any harm. The Wisdom of Allah Almighty also implied that the Islamic Da‘wah should remain within its secret phase; it was He Who arranged and Decreed the causes and circumstances for its announcement. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {And Allah is predominant over His affair, but most of the people do not know.} [Quran 12:21]
