General Invitation

Abdullah Bin Mas'ud

The Muslims who had embraced Islam secretly were telling among themselves that Quraysh had not heard the Holy Qur'an and it would be quite appropriate if one of them went into Masjid ul-Haram and recited some verses of the Holy Book with a loud voice. Abdullah son of Mas'ud expressed his willingness to do so. He came into the Masjid when Quraysh had assembled by the side of the Holy Ka'bah and recited the following verses with a loud and melodious voice:

In the name of Allah the Compassionate the Merciful. It is the Merciful who has taught the Qur'an. .....(Surah al-Rahman 55:1-2)

The eloquent verses of this surah struck Quraysh with a strange awe. And in order to forestall the effect of the heavenly call which was reaching their ears through a defenceless person they all stood up and beat him so much that blood began to flow from his entire body and he returned to the companions of the Holy Prophet in a pitiable condition. They were however happy that the invigorating voice had eventually reached the ears of the enemies.[^16]

Whatever has been said above was by way of example for otherwise the number of self-sacrificing devotees of Islam who endured the gravest hardships during the early days of the Prophet's mission and showed steadfastness in the path of achievement of their aim is much larger However we refrain from mentioning their names and the events of their lives for the sake of brevity.