At that time his age was ten years.

At that time his age was ten years.”[1] In this regard, the evidences of certain important companions of the Prophet (a.s) too are mentioned here: The Prophet (a.s) himself said: “The first Muslim amongst you is `Ali ibn Abi-Talib (a.s)”[2] Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s) says: “I was the first to embrace Islam on the call of the Prophet (a.s).”[3] `Abdullah ibn `Abbas says: “First of all `Ali ibn Abi-Talib (a.s) embraced Islam.”[4] Abū-Dharr al-Ghifari says: “I have heard the Prophet (a.s) say to `Ali (a.s), ‘You were the first to accept the Faith and bear my witness.’”[5] Salman al-Farisi says: “In this Ummah the first to reach near the Prophet (a.s) at the Cistern of Kawthar and the first to embrace Islam is `Ali ibn Abi-Talib (a.s)”[6] Abū-Ayyūb al-Ansari says: “The first person to profess Faith on the Prophet (a.s) was `Ali ibn Abi-Talib (a.s)”[7] Zayd ibn Arqam says: “The first to witness faith on the Prophet (a.s) was `Ali ibn Abi-Talib (a.s).”[8] [1] Sīrat Ibn Hushām, Vol 1, Page 262 [2] Al Al-Istī`āb, Vol 2, Page 457 [3] Tārīkh Baghdād, Vol 4, Page 233 [4] Al-Istī`āb, Vol 2, Page 458 [5] Al-Istī`āb, Vol 2, Page 208 [6] Al Al-Istī`āb, Vol 2, Page 457 [7] Sharh al-Taqrīb, Vol 1, Page 85 [8] Vol 4, Page 368 Besides precedence in embracing Islam, the first to join the Prophet (a.s) in his prayers were only `Ali (a.s) and Khadijah (a.s).

Besides these two, during the early days of Islam no third name is mentioned having joined the prayer. If anyone else had joined the ranks of Muslims in that period, why the history is silent about their joining or not joining the prayers with the Prophet (a.s)? For the first seven years, these were the only two who used to join the Prophet…