An Outline of Early Islamic History — Page 24
24 idolatrous city to repent and support his mission. It sheds a strong light on the intensity of his belief in the divine origin of his calling. ” [Life of Muhammad, by Sir William Muir, pp. 112 - 113] In the face of the bitter hostility, and in the midst of all his grief, the Prophet did not lose heart. He again went round the tents of the tribes who had come again on the annual Pilgrimage to the Kaaba. Abu Lahab and Abu Jahl were not far behind. They w ould warn people and say, “Hear him not. He has given up his religion. He wants you to do the same. ” The Prophet met there some tribesmen of Yasreb or Medina. They were six chiefs of Khazraj tribe. He read to them the Quran. He spoke to them of Islam. They had had heard the Jews of their town say that time was ripe for a Prophet to appear. They said to on e another, “Let the Jews not be the first to accept him. ” The all became Muslims. They were Abu Amama, Asad bin Zarrara, Auf bin Haris, Rafi bin Malik, Qutba bin Amir, Uqba bin Amir and Jaber bin Abdullah. At the time of the next Hajj five of these men came back from Yasreb. With them were seven more. Some belonged to the influential Aus tribe. They met the Prophet at Aqba, a hill outside Mecca. They embraced Islam at his hands. This is called the Baiat Aqba Ula – the first allegiance pact at Aqba. The Prophet sent