Page 17 The Islamic Bulletin Volume XXIV No. 28 edge of the Quran and his ability to recite it beautifully and movingly was also an important consideration. Mus’ab understood his mission well. He knew that he was on a sacred mission to invite people to God and the straight path of Islam and to prepare what was to be the territorial base for the young and struggling Muslim community. He entered Madinah as a guest of Sa’d ibn Zuraarah of the Khazraj tribe. Together they went to people, to their homes and their gatherings, telling them about the Prophet (S), explaining Islam to them and reciting the Quran. Through the grace of God, many accepted Islam. This was especially pleasing to Mus’ab but profoundly alarming to many leaders of Yathribite society. Once, Mus’ab and Sa’d were sitting near a well in an orchard of the Zafar clan. With them were a number of new Muslims and others who were interested in Islam. A powerful noble of the city, Usayd ibn Khudayr, came up brandishing a spear. He was livid with rage. Sa’d ibn Zaraarah saw him and told Mus’ab: “This is a chieftain of his people. May God place truth in his heart.” Musab replied, displaying all the calm and tact of a great daa’iy (inviter), “If he sits down, I will speak to him.” The angry ‘Usayd shouted abuse and threatened Mus’ab and his host. “Why have you both come to us to corrupt the weak among us? Keep away from us if you want to stay alive.” Mus’ab smiled a warm and friendly smile and said to ‘Usayd: “Won’t you sit down and listen? If you are pleased and satisfied with our mission, accept it. However, if you dislike it, we would stop telling you what you dislike and leave.” “That’s reasonable,” said Usayd and, sticking his spear in the ground, sat down. Mus’ab was not compelling him to do anything. He was not denouncing him. He was merely inviting him to listen. If he was satisfied, well and good. If not, then Mus’ab would leave his district and his clan without any fuss and go to another district. Mus’ab began telling him about Islam and recited some verses of the Quran to him. Even before ‘Usayd spoke, it was clear from his radiant face, that faith had entered his heart. He said: “How beautiful are these words and how true! What does a person do if he wants to enter this religion?” “Have a bath, purify yourself and your clothes. Then utter the testimony of Truth (Shahadah), and perform Salat.” Usayd left the gathering and was absent for only a short while. He returned and testified that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. He then prayed two rak’aats and said: “After me, there is a man who if he follows you, everyone of his people will follow him. I shall send him to you now. He is Sa’d ibn Mu’aadh.” Sa’d ibn Muaadh came and listened to Mus’ab. He was convinced and satisfied and declared his submission to God. He was followed by another important Yathribite, Sa’d ibn ‘Ubadah. Before long, the people of Yathrib were all in a flurry, asking one another: “If Usayd ibn Khudayr, Sa’d ibn Mu’aadh and Sa’d ibn ‘Ubaadah have accepted the new religion, how can we not follow? Let’s go to Mus’ab and listen to what he has to say. They say that truth emanates from his lips.” The first ambassador of the Prophet (S) was thus supremely successful. The Prophet had chosen well. Men and women, the young and the old, the powerful and the weak accepted Islam at his hands. The course of Yathribite history had been changed forever. The way was being prepared for the great Hijrah. Yathrib was soon to become the center and the base for the Islamic state. Less than a year after his arrival in Yathrib, Mus’ab returned to Makkah. It was again in the season of pilgrimage. With him was a group of seventy-five Muslims from Madinah. Again at ‘Aqabah, near Mina, they met the Prophet (S). From then on events moved swiftly. Shortly after the Pledge, the Prophet directed his persecuted followers to migrate to Yathrib where the new Muslims or Ansar (Helpers) had shown their willingness to give asylum and extend their protection to the afflicted Muslims. The first of the Prophet’s companions to arrive in Madinah were Mus’ab ibn ‘Umair and the blind ‘Abdullah ibn Umm Maktum. ‘Abdullah also recited the Quran beautifully and according to one of the Ansar, both Mus’ab and ‘Abdullah recited the Quran for the people of Yathrib. Mus’ab continued to play a major role in the building of the new community. The next momentous occasion in which there is recorded history of Mus’ab was during the great Battle of Badr. After the battle was over, the Quraish prisoners of war were brought to the Prophet (S) who assigned them to the custody of individual Muslims. “Treat them well,” he instructed.
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