The Universal Invitation of the Prophet (PBUH): Mercy, Wisdom, and Truth

He then said to them:

“O Quraysh! If I were to tell you that there is a powerful enemy force waiting behind this mountain, ready to attack you, would you believe me?”

They all replied in unison:
“Yes, of course! We have never known you to lie.”

At that, the Prophet (PBUH) declared:

“Then know that I have come to you as a warner, warning you of a severe punishment on the Day of Judgment.”

Then, with deep emotion, the Prophet (peace be upon him) called out to each tribe by name, saying, "O Quraysh, save yourselves from the fire of Hell! O Banu Kab bin Lu’wai! O Banu Abd Manaf! O Banu Abd Shams! … O Banu Hashim! O Banu Abdul Muttalib! Save yourselves from the fire of Hell!" He then addressed individuals personally, saying, "O Abbas bin Abdul Muttalib, save yourself from the fire of Hell! O Safiyah, the Prophet’s paternal aunt, save yourself! O Fatimah, daughter of Muhammad, save yourself!"

Despite this heartfelt appeal, his uncle Abu Lahab was unmoved and openly replied, "May destruction be upon you! Is this why you have gathered us?" In response to Abu Lahab’s rejection, Surah Al-Lahab was revealed: "May the hands of Abu Lahab be ruined, and ruined is he."

After this incident, the Prophet (peace be upon him) continued to call the people of Makkah everywhere in the markets and especially during the pilgrimage season urging them to say that there is no deity except Allah for success. Following this call, open opposition from the polytheists began. They started spreading false accusations against the Prophet, claiming that he was a poet, a madman, that his religion was based on ancient myths, that he was possessed by jinn, and that he had no noble lineage.

They mocked, ridiculed, insulted, and gave him obscene nicknames, engaging in sharp arguments against him. They challenged him to prove his prophethood, demanding signs such as bringing angels from the sky or producing treasures from the heavens. They questioned how someone like him, made of flesh and blood like them, could be a prophet, and accused him of trying to scare people to gain leadership. They demanded to know when the Day of Judgment would come.

Sometimes the leaders of Quraysh tried to defend their disbelief by saying that they never considered their idols greater than Allah, but only believed that the souls of those idolized could intercede for them with Allah. They also argued that accepting Muhammad’s message would mean losing their leadership and status.

The hostility grew harsher over time. The opposition turned into violence and terror. The Prophet’s paths were strewn with thorns, his prayers were disturbed by noise, bones were thrown on his back while he prostrated, and he was insulted during the recitation of the Quran.

When the people of Makkah refused to accept his message, the Prophet, deeply saddened, traveled to Ta’if to continue his mission. There he too was rejected and brutally mistreated. Eventually, Allah granted permission for migration, and the Prophet instructed his companions to migrate gradually to Madinah. This migration marked the beginning of his blessed life in Madinah and the victorious spread of Islam across the world.

Author: Maulana Muhammad Ashraf Ali (Islamic Researcher)