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Listen to words said by the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) about the beginning of Islam. He said “in the beginning, Islam began as something strange and will revert to being strange as it began. So give glad tidings to the strangers.”
The hadith is narrated by Imam Muslim in his Sahih. Imam Ahmed in his Musnad and a number of scholars state that the hadith is considered sahih. They said “When Islam first came in Mecca, it was an unfamiliar narration or thought. A thing that made this religion unfamiliar was because the Prophet Muhammad declared the oneness of God, La ilaha illa Allah”.
This becomes the root to break free from every form of man’s oppression of man and the root to against exploitative economic monopoly. The words also push human equality and justice enforcement. This narration is to confirm there is no man can dominate over man. Furthermore, no one can overwhelm a man.
In the beginning, this was only interested by a few people. The prophet Muhammad who brought it got invective and was judged by Meccan as a madman, a wizard, and a skillful ancient mythological storyteller. The Prophet was accused as a perverted and misleading man.
He was deported, was excomunicated, and was hated by Meccans. They deported and tried to kill him. The Prophet and his few companions moved then to Medina. In this new place, he got help from the society in which the majority of the population were Jewish and Cristian. They had lived a long time in Yatsrib, the first name of the city of Medina.
The Quraish clan who thought their legitimation was threatened by Muhammad still did not want to let him live. They knew that “Muhammad (pbuh) is a briliant conqueror of mind”. His invitation words to a new way that promises salvation are very beautiful and amazed them. If the Prophet was still alive, he would have built a great power in Media and could have destroyed their dinasty.
After Muhammad had gone to Medina, he and his companion faced various problems and threats from Meccans. He and his companion had to get involved in some great wars because they had to defend themselves. The wars were exactly not what the Prophet wanted but his life must have been defended because his mission, “the oneness of god”, has to live for all times. They believed that God would help and give them victories.
The Prophet, as a stranger, kept on his ways step by step. Besides, he still exhibited honesty, sincerity, composure, patience and he then got more and more empathy from Medinans. His manners and his virtuous behavior made Medinans to love and accept his teachings. In a short time, when he went back to Mecca, many of Meccans felt dumbfounded.
Those who deported, hated, harassed him, and killed his friends in several years before was shocked. The ‘new Muhammad’ made them feeling stressed and speechless. Looking at their situation, the Prophet stoods and smiled. They said “Anta Akh Karim, Ibn Akh Karim” (you are a big-hearted brother, and a son of big-hearted brother). The Prophet kept showing his charisma up and stared gracefully at them. He then told them and quoted some words of the prophet Yusuf:
“Today, there is no revenge for all of you, go to the place you like”. It means they (Meccans) are free.
The words absolutetly thrilled them and in a short time after this they followed the Prophet “in droves”, and loved him. The Quran captures this moment:
When the victory of Allah has come and the conquest, And you see the people entering into the religion of Allah in multitudes, Then exalt [Him] with praise of your Lord and ask forgiveness of Him. Indeed, He is ever Accepting of repentance. (QS. Al-Nashr: 1-3)
