His message ignored by most of the people and his uncles,
the Prophet (pbuh) continued to meet his friends secretly in a
house near the hill of Safa. There they prayed together and he
taught them about the religion of Islam. But even though they
kept to themselves, they were sometimes abused by those
who would not believe. From one such incident, however, an
unexpected conversion to Islam took place. One day, when the
Prophet (pbuh) was returning home, speaking with his
followers, he met Abu Jahl, a leader of Quraysh, who hated the
Prophet (pbuh) and his teachings. Abu Jahl started to insult
him and to speak spitefully of Islam, but the Prophet (pbuh)
made no reply and went on his way.
Later, Hamzah, one of the Prophet's uncles, who was a
strong and brave warrior of whom people were quite afraid,
heard how his nephew had been insulted. Filled with rage, he
ran straight to the Ka'bah where Abu Jahl was sitting among
the people and struck him a violent blow in the face with his
bow. Hamzah then shouted, 'Will you insult him when I follow
his religion, and I say what he says? Hit me back if you can!'
Some people got up to help Abu Jahl but he stopped them
saying, 'Leave Hamzah alone, for by Allah, I have insulted his
nephew badly. 'From that moment on Hamzah followed the
teachings of the Prophet (pbuh) and with his conversion to
Islam Quraysh realized that the Prophet (pbuh) had a strong
supporter and so for a while they stopped persecuting him.
Soon, however, the leaders of Quraysh became angry again,
when they saw that the Prophet (pbuh) was going ahead with
his teaching. A group of them went to his uncle, Abu Talib,
who had promised to protect him. They told him to ask the
Prophet (pbuh) to stop attacking their gods and their way of
life, and in return they would let him do as he wished with his
religion.
the Prophet (pbuh) continued to meet his friends secretly in a
house near the hill of Safa. There they prayed together and he
taught them about the religion of Islam. But even though they
kept to themselves, they were sometimes abused by those
who would not believe. From one such incident, however, an
unexpected conversion to Islam took place. One day, when the
Prophet (pbuh) was returning home, speaking with his
followers, he met Abu Jahl, a leader of Quraysh, who hated the
Prophet (pbuh) and his teachings. Abu Jahl started to insult
him and to speak spitefully of Islam, but the Prophet (pbuh)
made no reply and went on his way.
Later, Hamzah, one of the Prophet's uncles, who was a
strong and brave warrior of whom people were quite afraid,
heard how his nephew had been insulted. Filled with rage, he
ran straight to the Ka'bah where Abu Jahl was sitting among
the people and struck him a violent blow in the face with his
bow. Hamzah then shouted, 'Will you insult him when I follow
his religion, and I say what he says? Hit me back if you can!'
Some people got up to help Abu Jahl but he stopped them
saying, 'Leave Hamzah alone, for by Allah, I have insulted his
nephew badly. 'From that moment on Hamzah followed the
teachings of the Prophet (pbuh) and with his conversion to
Islam Quraysh realized that the Prophet (pbuh) had a strong
supporter and so for a while they stopped persecuting him.
Soon, however, the leaders of Quraysh became angry again,
when they saw that the Prophet (pbuh) was going ahead with
his teaching. A group of them went to his uncle, Abu Talib,
who had promised to protect him. They told him to ask the
Prophet (pbuh) to stop attacking their gods and their way of
life, and in return they would let him do as he wished with his
religion.