`Amr bn `Abbas as-sulami reported: "I, in the state of ignorance (before embracing Islam ), used to think that the people were in error and they were not on anything (which may be called the right path) and worshipped the idols. In the meanwhile I heard of a man in Makkah who was giving news ( on the basis of his prophetic knowledge ); So I sat on my ride and went to him.
The messenger of Allaah (peace and blessing of Allaah be upon him ) was at that time hiding as his people had made life hard for him. I adopted a friendly attitude (towards the people of Makkah and thus managed) to enter Mecca and go to him (the holy prophet) and I said to him: Who are you? He said: I am a prophet (of Allaah). I again said : Who is a prophet? He said: (I am a prophet in the sense that ) I have been sent by Allaah. I said: What is that which you have been sent with? He said: "I have been sent to join ties of relationship (with kindness and affection ), to break the idols ,and to proclaim the oneness of Allaah (in a manner that) nothing is to be associated with Him." I said: "Who is with you in this (in these beliefs and practices )? He said: A free man and a slave.
He (the narrator) said: Abu bakr and Bilal were there with him among those who had embraced by that Islam time. I said: I intend to follow you. He said: During these days you will not be able to do so. Don't you see the (hard) condition under which I and (my) people are living ? You better go back to your people and when you hear that I have been granted victory, you come to me. So I was sent to my family.
I was in my home when the messenger of Allaah (peace and blessing be upon him) came to Madinah. I was among my people and used to seek news and ask people when he arrived to madinah. Then a group of people belonging to yathrib (Madinah) came. I said (to them): How is that person getting on who has come to Madinah? They said: The people are hastening to him, while his people (the polytheist of Makkah) planned to kill him , but they could not do so.
This article was culled from the publications of Deen Communication Limited