But Muhammad tore the stone from his neck and said, 'Don't worry about me.

But Muhammad tore the stone from his neck and said, 'Don't worry about me. My God is taking care of me!’" So we see that from childhood he was blessed with God's favour and grace, and was always guided by Divine friendship and help in works that were in their right time and place. Muhammad's behaviour and speech in childhood were such that everyone's attention was attracted. In his youth, also, he was far from all the evil deeds which tainted those people in its environment.

He took no part in their riotous poetry gatherings. He drank no wine, was an enemy of the idols; he was perfect in his speech and behaviour. Years before he became a prophet, the people called him as- Sddiq (the truthful) and al-Amin (the trustworthy). He had a pure mind and radiant intellect, and a godly and heavenly character. Every year for one month he went to the cave of Hira and was with God in His mysteries and in prayers.

At the end of the month, before returning to his home, he went to the Ka^bah and made seven or more circumambulations. 3. Commencement of the Mission At the age of forty, while busy in worship in the cave of Hira, he was proclaimed as the Messenger of God. For three years, the Prophet of Islam received no command to call the people openly to Islam, and during that time only a few people had accepted the message of God brought by Muhammad (s.a.w.).

Among men, the first person who loved and followed him was Imam 'Ali (a.s.j, and among women, Khadijah.1 Then after three years, he received the command to invite people openly to Islam. First he invited his relatives as guests; about forty of them assembled together. The food which the Prophet had prepared was no more than enough to satisfy the appetite of one man, but by the power of God that little food filled everyone, and this was the cause of much amazement.

Abu Lahab, without thinking what he was saying, cried out: "Muhammad is a magician!" That day the relatives dispersed before the Prophet could speak. So he called them again the next day. After they had partaken of the food and hospitality, he spoke: "O Sons of ^Abdul Muttalib! No youth has brought to his people better than what I bring to you. I have brought to you the best of this world and of the hereafter. I have been commanded by God to call you to Him.

Which of you will extend his help to me and become my brother and successor?" Apart from 'Ali (a.s.), no one answered.