The Call to Faith and Freedom

A cry was raised. A man was standing by the hill and
calling to the people: "Come, O people, come, I have brought
a message for you."
The people ran towards him, children too, and gathered
around him. In order for his voice to reach the people more
clearly and so that they could all see him, the man climbed
upon a large boulder and stood there. Then he looked at the
people and said:
"O people! O fellow townsmen! O my kith and kin! You
all know me well and trust me. Is it not so?"
The affirmation of the listeners was loud and
unanimous. The man continued:
"O people! I have been, sent by God the One and Unique
with a message for you."
"What is that message, O Muhammad the
Trustworthy?" said one of the listeners.
"Say, `there is no God but Allah, you will prosper
replied the prophet. "Don't worship idols anymore.
Don't maintain partners with God. Don't obey the
tyrants. Don't be unjust to others, and be an enemy to
injustice and oppressors.
"Say, `there is no God but Allah', and accept the
leadership of mankind and save them from the
disgrace of oppression.
"Say, 'there is no God but Allah', and be dignified and
free in the world and live in Paradise in the Hereafter.
"This is the message I have brought to you from God,
`there is no God except Allah."'-
There was an uproar. They wouldn't allow Muhammad (P.B.U.H.)
the Trust worthy to continue his speech. Some were
sunk in thought while some, who were the nobles and tyrants
of Mecca, were angry and were making fun of the prophet.
One day a group of the nobles of Mecca went to the
house of Abu Talib, the Prophet's uncle. Abu Talib was the
head of his tribe and a leader of the city. He was an old man
worship the idols arid to believe in One God. What crazy
words he is uttering!"
"O Abu Talib", they continued, "You have to stop him
from saying such things. Otherwise, it is possible that he will
be killed.'
One of them then put his mouth close to Abu Talib's ear
and quietly said, "What is it Muhammad wants? Does he
want a wife, house and a fine life? Whatever he wants we will
give him, provided he stops saying these things and stops A
calling himself the Messenger of God."
They told Abu Talib to speak to Muhammad (P.B.U.H.) and
then they left.
Abu Talib invited his nephew, the Holy Prophet
"Do you know what the leaders of the city came to see
Muhammad (P.B.U.H.), to his house.
me about yesterday?" he asked him. "What have you been
"My dear uncle", said Muhammad (P.B.U.H.) who loved his
uncle very much. "God has selected me to be His Prophet. He
has given me a message so as to lift the people from
degradation. He has given me a message for me to call the
people to worship of the One God. God has ordered me to
prevent the people from idol-worship and oppression."
Abu Talib had been listening to Muhammad (P.B.U.H.) well
and, at heart, he believed in him. Quietly he said to his
nephew, "Do you know what they wanted from me? They
wanted me to stop you from speaking like this!"
"Never will I disobey God's command", Muhammad (P.B.U.H.)
told him without hesitation. "I am going to carry it out
and will continue to call the people to devotion to the One
True God and to Tawhid (monotheism).
"My dear uncle", he continued, "I swear by God that if
they were to offer me the sun in my right hand and the moon
in my left, together with all the wealth and beauty in the
world, still I would not turn back from the mission which
God has entrusted me!"
Abu Talib thought for a moment. "In whatever way
God has commanded you", he finally said, "obey Him. I will
always support you."