THE PROPHET—U. W. B.—FIRST SECRETLY INVITES THE PEOPLE [TO ACCEPT ISLÂM], AND AFTERWARDS PROMULGES HIS MISSION, BY THE COMMAND OF THE MOST HIGH AND GLORIOUS LORD TO ALL MANKIND.

It is related that during three years his holy and pro­phetic lordship—u. w. b.—was secretly inviting the people to accept the immaculate Law, and some professed Islâm, one by one or two by two; and in connection with this matter the blessed verse, ‘Obey to what thou art ordered, and avoid idolaters,’* was revealed. After that his lord­ship the refuge of the termination [of prophecy] began openly to invite the people to accept the upright faith and the straight road; and when the blessed verse, ‘Admonish thy near relatives, and protect those believers who follow thee,’* was revealed, his lordship the seal of the prophets and prince of the illustrious—u. w. b.—went to Mount Safa and exclaimed: ‘O tribe of the Qoraish!’ Accord­ingly the people assembled, and asked for the reason of his calling them. His lordship replied: ‘Would you believe me if I were to inform you that in the rear of this hill there is an army desirous of surprising you?’ They answered: ‘Yes; because thou art not suspected of false­hood, nor did we hear thee utter anything but truth and righteousness.’ Then the favourite of the Gracious Sovereign and Mercy to mankind said: ‘I warn you of a severe punishment!’ Here Abu Lahab Bin A’bd-ul-Muttalleb interrupted him, asking: ‘Is it for this that thou hast assembled us all in this day?’ Therefore the Surah, ‘The hands of Abu Lahab shall perish,’* was revealed on the spot.

Some traditions have it that when his sacred and pro­phetic lordship—u. w. b.—ascended to Mount Safa, he exclaimed, ‘O family of the Qoraish!’ and that when the people had congregated he turned his blessed face towards them, saying: ‘Did you consider me to be a liar?’ They replied: ‘No.’ He continued: ‘Then be it known unto you that Allah has sent me to be an apostle to you!’ and recited to them the words, ‘O ye men, I am an apostle from Allah to you all!’ But Abu Lahab said: ‘My cousin has become demented; do not pay attention to what he says.’ Accordingly the people dispersed.

In the Fazâil-ahl-beit* it is recorded that A’li Murtaza said: ‘When the blessed verse “Admonish thy relatives” was revealed, his lordship the apostle ordered me to pre­pare food, to bring a pitcher of milk, and to convene his more near relatives who were scattered. Accordingly I invited forty of them to the repast, among whom were also Abu Tâleb, Hamzah, A’bbâs and Abu Lahab. When I got the meal ready, his lordship took up some meat with his blessed hand, tasted it, and put the remainder back near the dish, saying: “Take ye, in the name of Allah!” All of them ate and were filled, and I swear by Allah, in the grasp of whose power the life of A’li is, that one person alone might have consumed the whole meal, and that the thirst of all was quenched by that one pitcher of milk, which would not have sufficed one man. After drinking, and before his lordship the apostle had begun to speak, Abu Lahab turned towards the guests, and said: “O people, let him not prevail who is your companion, namely, Muhammad, who has practised magic.” Then he said to the prophet—u. w. b.: “The Qoraish have not the strength to contend against all the Arab tribes, and my proposal is, so to coerce the Bani Hâshem as to deprive them for ever from every pleasure and joy. This would be easier to us than that all the Arabs should gird their loins to fight and wage war against us; nor did any one of our tribe or family ever machinate to bring such an evil upon us except thyself.” These words of Abu Lahab dis­pleased his lordship, but he remained silent, and the people dispersed.’

His lordship A’li Murtaza—u. w. b.—continues: ‘On another occasion the apostle of God said: “O A’li, Abu Lahab has been forward in speaking, as thou hast heard. Prepare thou again food as before.” I did as he had bid me, and after the people as well as the family of his lord­ship had assembled, they ate and drank, whereon his lord­ship exclaimed, after praising the Creator and testifying to His unity: “I swear by Allah that, if I tell a falsehood to everybody, I shall not do so to you. I swear by that God besides whom there is no other, and who has raised me in truth, that I am an apostle of the Lord to you, and to all mankind. By Allah! you will die as if you were falling asleep, and you shall be resuscitated in the same way as you are awaking. Verily you shall have to account for all your acts, and shall receive rewards and punishments according to your deserts.”’

A’li the Commander of the Faithful continues: ‘I said: “I, who am younger than they, have believed and faithfully served thee, and would not sell the dust of thy feet for collyrium made of jewels.” The apostle of Allah praised me, and said: “This is my brother and my legatee. Listen to what he says, and do not transgress his injunctions.”’ A’li the Commander of the Faithful says: ‘At these words the people rose, and, roaring with laughter, said to Abu Tâleb: “Seest thou how Muhammad has appointed thy son over thee, and has subjected thee to him?”’ It is related that at the time when his holy and prophetic lord­ship invited the people to profess the religion, and paid no attention to the idols whom the Qoraish called gods, who knew nothing certain about the abode of their fathers and ancestors who had departed on their journey to eternity without the provisions of the Faith, the people paid no attention to his lordship, and when he happened to pass near a company of the Qoraish, they used to say: ‘This is the grandson of A’bd-ul-Muttalleb, who gives news about heaven, and with whom the denizens of the upper world are conversing.’ After some time had elapsed in this manner, the false gods were blamed in the verses of the Qurân, and the people were informed that their fathers who had departed this life without the adornment of the Faith were condemned to suffer in hell; and as the glorious book was being revealed, the Arabs manifested enmity, and began to persecute the prince of the righteous and his noble companions.