In the beginning of Islam, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) would perform salaah in secret. The reason is that if the Quraish saw him performing salaah, then they would trouble him. They worshipped idols and did not want people to worship Allah Ta‘ala.
When the time for salaah would come, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) would go out of Makkah Mukarramah, to a mountain or a valley, and he would perform his salaah there, away from people.
One day, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was performing salaah at a mountain with Sayyiduna ‘Ali (radhiyallahu ‘anhu). While they were performing salaah, it so happened that his uncle, Abu Taalib, came that way and saw them. Abu Taalib saw them performing salaah and was surprised.
When they completed salaah, Abu Taalib asked Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), “O my nephew! What religion is this, and what type of worship is this?” Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) replied, “O my uncle! This is the Deen of Allah Ta‘ala, His angels and all His prophets, especially our forefather, Nabi Ebrahim (‘alaihis salaam). Allah Ta‘ala has made me His Prophet and sent me to all His servants. I invite you to goodness and guidance. You should accept Islam and help me to invite people to Deen.”
Abu Taalib did not accept Islam, because he did not want to leave the religion of his forefathers. But, he told Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) that if any people tried to harm and hurt him, then he would protect him from them.
Sayyiduna ‘Ali (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) was a young boy at that time. Before this, Abu Taalib, his father, did not know that he had accepted Islam. Now, when he saw him performing salaah with Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), he asked him, “O my son! What is this religion you have chosen for yourself?”
Sayyiduna ‘Ali (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) answered, “O my father! I have brought imaan in Allah Ta‘ala and His Rasul (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and I believe in his message. I worship Allah Ta‘ala with him and I follow him.” Abu Taalib said to him, “This is best for you. He has called you to goodness, so make sure that you don’t leave him.”
One day, Sayyiduna ‘Ali (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) was on the right side of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), performing salaah with him, when Abu Taalib passed by with his other son, Sayyiduna Ja’far (radhiyallahu ‘anhu). When Abu Taalib saw Sayyiduna ‘Ali (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) performing salaah with Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), he turned to Sayyiduna Ja’far (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) saying, “O my son! You should also join and support your cousin like ‘Ali (radhiyallahu ‘anhu). Stand on the left of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and join them in salaah.”
In this way, Sayyiduna Ja’far (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) also accepted Islam. He was either the twenty-first or twenty-fifth person to embrace Islam.
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