For three years, early on in the history of Islam, the faith’s propagation was done behind closed doors, as circumstances necessitated. Then, it was time to herald a new phase: Da’wah (calling people to Islam) in public, as it had to be introduced to the world at large and move forward on that path, regardless of the hardships, imperviousness, confrontation and opposition it might face. Allah The Almighty commanded His Messenger, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), who was sent to all of mankind, to proclaim the truth he was sent with, without fearing denunciation, when He Said (what means): {Then declare what you are commanded and turn away from the polytheists.} [Quran 15:94].
He also ordered him to preach to his own tribe and next of kin, Saying (what means): {And warn, [O Muhammad], your closest kindred.} [Quran 26:214]. So, after this verse was revealed, the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), ascended the mountain of Safa, calling out to Banu Haashim and Banu ‘Abd Al-Muttalib, among others, saying: “O Banu Fihr! O Banu ‘Adiyy!” The Companion, Ibn ‘Abbaas, may Allah be pleased with him, relates that when “they were assembled [and] those who could not come [had] sent their messengers to see what was there, the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said:‘Suppose I told you that there is (an enemy) cavalry in the valley intending to attack you, would you believe me?’They said, ‘Yes, for we have never seen you lying before.’He sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) then said, ‘I am a warner to you in the face of a severe punishment." So, Abu Lahab taunted,‘May you perish! Have you gathered us for this?’"
This loud cry was a clear message and a plain notification of the goal for which the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), was sent and the ends for which he lived and died. He, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), explained to his closest relatives that their belief in it was the sole tie between him and them; that the tribal bigotry they were accustomed to and used to defend, was of no value in the scale of truth as the right way was more worthy of being followed.
Thus, the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), continued to address his kindred: “O ‘Abbaas ibn ‘Abd Al-Muttalib, the uncle of the Messenger of Allah, I cannot save you from the Punishment of Allah. O Safiyyah, aunt of the Messenger of Allah, I cannot save you from the Retribution of Allah. O Faatimah, daughter of the Messenger of Allah, ask me of my wealth, but I cannot shield you from the Punishment of Allah.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
Not fearing the harm that would afflict him in preaching Islam, the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), would openly declare the truth, paying no heed to those who turned away from or ridiculed him. His only concern was to please Allah The Almighty, Who thus commanded him: {Say, "Indeed, my prayer, my rites of sacrifice, my living and my dying are for Allah, Lord of the worlds.} [Quran 6:162] He further preached by unambiguously announcing the truth in the words of Allah The Almighty, Who Says (what means): {Say, "This is my way; I invite to Allah with insight, I and those who follow me. And exalted is Allah; and I am not of those who associate others with Him."} [Quran 12:108]
Such a firm stance led to the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), being subjected to severity and suffering at the hands of the polytheists who deemed his Da‘wah a grave threat. They mobilized to prevent him from preaching, openly declaring that they would fight him. They did so, hoping to suppress the truth with which he, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), came, but as Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {And Allah is predominant over His affair, but most of the people do not know.}[Quran 12:21]
On his part, the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), proceeded with his Da‘wah, gently presenting the message of Islam, while exposing the abomination of idolatry and discrediting the polytheists’ mindset. Whereas a group of his relatives and people were guided by Allah The Almighty, the majority rejected his Da‘wah and harbored enmity towards him. In fact, ever since he had begun preaching, the tribe of Quraysh chauvinistically started fighting Allah The Almighty and His Messenger, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ). Allah The Almighty dispraises their sentiments, Saying (what means): {Rather, they say, "Indeed, we found our fathers upon a religion, and we are in their footsteps [rightly] guided.”} [Quran 43:22]
To sum up, the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), commenced public propagation, following a command from Allah The Almighty. Consequently, he contended with the enmity of the polytheists as well as their scheming and torture. However, the profitable trade with Allah The Almighty – worship for Paradise – led to the best outcome for the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ), and the believers. Additionally, as they guided people to the right path, they soon dominated much of the world, which Allah The Almighty subjugated to them; and in the Hereafter, theirs is the most prized reward from Him.
