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Madinites with his piety, uprightness and sincerity. And so they embraced the religion of Allah in flocks.
At the time the Prophet (PBUH) sent him there, only twelve Muslims had pledged allegiance to the
Prophet (PBUH) at the Pledge of `Aqabah. He had hardly completed a few months when they answered
to the call of Allah and the Prophet (PBUH). During the next pilgrimage season, the Madinite Muslims
sent a delegation of 70 believing men and women to Makkah to meet the Prophet (PBUH).
They came with their teacher and their Prophet's envoy, Mus`ab Ibn `Umair. Mus`ab had proven, by
his good sense and excellence, that the Prophet (PBUH) knew well how to choose his envoys and
teachers.
Mus'ab had understood his mission well. He knew that he was a caller to Allah and preacher of His
religion, which calls people to right guidance and the straight path. Like the Prophet (PBUH) in whom he
believed, he was no more than a deliverer of the message. There he stood fast, with As`ad Ibn Zoraarah
as host, and both of them used to visit the tribes, dwellings, and assemblies, reciting to the people what
he had of the Book of Allah, instilling in them that Allah is no more than One God.
He had confronted certain instances which could have put an end to his life and that of those with
him but for his active, intelligent, great mind. One day, he was taken by surprise while preaching to the
people to find Usaid lbn hudair, leader of the `Abd Al-Ashhal tribe, at Al-Madiinah confronting him with
a drawn arrow.
He was raging with anger and animosity against the one who had come to corrupt the religion of his
people by telling them to abandon their gods and talking to them about the idea of only One God Whom
they did not know before and had never heard of. Their gods were to them the center of their worship.
Whenever any of them needed them, he knew their places. They would invoke them for help. That was
how they thought and imagined!
As for the God of Muhammad, to whom this envoy was calling, nobody knew His place, nor could
anybody see Him! When the Muslims who were sitting around Mus`ab, saw Usaid lbn hudair advancing
in his unbridled anger, they were frightened, but Mus`ab the Good stood firm. Usaid stood before him
and As`ad lbn Zoraarah shouting, "What brought you here? Are you coming to corrupt our faith? Go
away if you wish to be saved!"
And like the calmness of the sea and its force, Mus`ab started his fine speech saying, "Won't you sit
down and listen? If you like our cause, you can accept; and if you dislike it, we will spare you of what
you hate."
Allah is the Greatest! How grand an opening whose ending would be pleasant! Usaid was a thoughtful
and clever man, and here he saw Mus`ab inviting him to listen and no more. If he was convinced he
would accept it, and if he was not convinced, then Mus`ab would leave his neighborhood and his clan,
and move to another neighborhood without harm, nor being harmed. There and then Usaid answered him
saying, "Well, that is fair," and he dropped his arrow to the ground and sat down listening.
Mus`ab had hardly read the Qur'aan, explaining the mission with which Muhammad lbn `Abd Allah
(PBUH) came, when the conscience of Usaid began to dear and brighten and change with the
effectiveness of the words. He became overwhelmed by its beauty. When Mus`ab finished speaking,
Usaid lbn Hudair exclaimed to him and those with him, "How beautiful is this speech, and how true!
How can one enter this religion?" Mus`ab told him to purify his body and clothes and say, "I bear
witness that there is no god but Allah." Usaid retired for some time and then returned pouring clean
water on his head and standing there proclaiming, "I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and that
Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah."
The news spread like lightning and then Sa`d Ibn Mu`aadh came and listened to Mus`ab, and he was
convinced and embraced Islam. Then came Sa`d lbn `Ubaadah.