Why people followed the Prophet

18-11-2002 | IslamWeb

Question:

Why did people follow Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) and his new religion in the olden days?

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Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

 

The best answer to your question is the answer given by J'afar Ibn Abu Taalib to Negus, the king of Abyssinia, when he said to him: "What is this religion which pushed you to separate from your parents and did not enter my religion nor did you join any of the other existing religions?' Ali answered: 'O! King, we used to be a people of ignorance who worshipped idols, ate dead meat (meat of non- slaughtered animals), committed Zina (fornication or adultery), severed ties of kinship, harmed our neighbors, and the powerful of us dominated the weak ones. We were as such until Allaah Sent to us a Messenger from amongst ourselves. We know his lineage, his frankness, and his honesty. He called us to the Oneness of Allaah. He ordered us to be honest, faithful, and to do good to our relatives and to become good neighbors. He warned us against breaching of trust, committing bad deeds, telling lies and eating the money of orphans." [Imam Ahmed]

These noble ethics and great morals were behind the conviction of masses that entered this religion. The best example of this is Indonesia, the largest Muslim country where people chose to become Muslims when they saw the great ethics of Muslim traders.

So, the noble morals preached by Islam as well as their manifestation in Muslims' lives are the two most important reasons for people following this religion.

Allaah Knows best.