THE FOREMOST MUSLIMS (VERSE NO. 100)

      A mention is made here of three classes of the primeval and forefront Muslims:-

      1- The foremost converts who emigrated to ABYSSINIA and to MEDINA. They were the vanguards of Islam who endangered their lives through wonderful self-sacrifices, and suffered for the cause of God painfully, having no other intention but to please Allah, their Lord God. They were persecuted wildly by the pagans of Mecca, but none of them gave up their faith, and when they found it necessary to change their field of combat, they forsook their home and hearth and even their wife and children and emigrated to Abyssinia and to Medina! Inspite of all their sacrifice and suffering, they rejoiced in the pleasure and concent of their Lord God.

      2- The second class of the outstrippers who were also in forefront, were among the inhabitants of Medina. They accepted Islam by all means, and provided refuge and shelter for the emigrants, and fought for the cause of Allah sincerely. They are known as the Helpers in the history of Islam. They invited the emigrants, welcomed them and gave them help. They also formed the pivot of the new religious community.

      3- And the third class of the praise worthy Muslims who are the pioneers who go before preparing the way for others to follow, are those who follow the prophet and the emigrants and helpers in their good deeds and truthful motives, throughout the history of mankind-not only the companions of the prophet, but men and women in all ages who live a nobel and pious Islamic life. A Muslim should not forget the verse in Qurän saying:ِ ``The most honoured of you in the sight of Allah is the most virtuous of you.''

WHO WAS THE FIRST BELIEVER IN ISLAM?

      Almost all the commentators have written that the first believer in Islam was her holiness HAZRAT KHADIJEH the faithful wife to the messenger of God; and with no doubt the second convert was HAZRAT Imam Ali who was then a boy of ten or twelve years old. So HAZRAT Ali was the first Muslim and HAZRAT KHADIJEH the first muslimess.

      HAKIM NISHABURI has written in his famous book; (MOSTADRAK MAARIFAT: PAGE 22):-there is no difference and disagreement among the historians, that HAZRAT Ali was the foremost and the first of man believers in Islam. Yet some commentators in opposite sects, have tried to reduce the importance of his conversion because of his low age; and also to by-pass the third conversion who was the prophet's adopted son (ZAID), and give the honour of being the first Muslim to ABUBAKR, their first adopted kalif, if he really was the fourth convert! And such endeavours are no more than political struggles.

      The famous Sonni scholar, IBN-ABI-ALHADID who has a famous commentary on Nahjolbalagha has:ِ ``In several occasion HAZRAT Ali has made a mention that he was the first man who believed in the Messenger of God, and also he was the first man who prayed to God as a Muslim behind the prophet; while ABUBAKR has never claimed so in all his assertions. No one would ignore such a great advantage or by-pass it for some one else.''

EMIGRATION

      Emigration is a natural phenomenon of departure from one place of abode, for life or residence to another. The journey might also be for some ideals of higher value, such as freedom of belief and assertion. In 19th and 20th centuries several important waves of emigration occured corresponding to periods of severe economic hardship in certain parts of the world. One striking example is the Potato Famine in Ireland in 1845-6 which led to massive emigration to the U.S.A. halving of Ireland's population!

      In 19th and 20th century, Nazi persecution of the Jews, led to future emigration from all over Europe, with the U.S.A. again being the final destination. So far several countries have been built on the work of emigrants, notably U.S.A., Canada, Australia, and most recently Israel. From 1790 to 1960, over 41 millions of emigrants came to the United States, nearly 90% from the countries of Europe. Even the birds and animals emigrate when they feel it to be necessary. Bird migration has facinated man for centuries, but its evolutionary origins, and how birds are able to navigate over great distance, are two questions to which even to-day there are only partial answers. The origin of the migrating habit in birds, just like in men has various reasons. Many migratory birds abandon their northern homes while the food supply is still ample, and with the coming of spring they return north, even though more comfortable living conditions are left behind. The fact is also worth of deep consideration that birds can find their way over great distances to exact spots where they habitually nest.

      As a matter of fact it is the cause of immigration which gives value to the immigrant. It might either be physical or spiritual. The emigration of the foremost Muslims was rather an spritual than physical. Their only problem was that of their belief in Allah, the only one God, and renouncing and casting off idolatries and fetishes. Such a belief agitated their community and made it compulsory for them to leave their home and hearth and to forsake all that they had for the

sake of Allah. They went after freedom-freedom of belief and worship-freedom of thought and assertion. Therefor their emigration was among the most valuable immigrations, being only for the sake of God. In fact, they went out of themselves spiritually, towards their Lord God-Him who is the Creator of the universe and all that exists.

THE EARLY CONVERTS OF ISLAM

      Almost all the important historians and commentators of all sects of Islam have narrated that the first person who accepted Mohammad's inspired message was his loyal wife HAZRAT KHADIJEH, and so she is reckoned to be the first Muslim.

      The second convert was HAZRAT Imam Ali, the ten or twelve year old cousin of Mohammad who was living his life with the prophet when he was inspired. When Mohammad asked the boy to bear witness that there is no God but Allah the Only God, and that Mohammad is His Messenger in truth, the boy said that before the testimony he had to see his father and consult with him. The prophet said to him:ِ ``All right! You may do as you like, No compulsion is there in the religion.''

HAZRAT Ali, the 12 years old boy took leave to go to his father to consult him, but he stopped at the door of the prophet's house, pondering over something important with him! He then returned to the prophet and uttered the testimony and bore the witness; that, ``Allah is the only one God, and that Mohammad is His truthful Messenger.''

      The prophet asked the boy:ِ ``why did you change your mind in consulting with your father about the faith?'' In answer to the prophet,HAZRAT Ali said:ِ ``At the door a thought seized my mind, that, when Allah my Lord decided to create me, He did not consult my father. Why should I, then, consult my father when I am asked to worship my Lord and Creator.'' HAZRAT Ali then established himself as Mohammad's chief lieutenant, and advisor, and finally his real choice for successor. At a later incident Mohammad called HAZRAT Ali his brother with all the advantages of Aaron in

relation to Moses. (SEEREH HALABIYEH VOL.1P; 288)

      The third convert was Zaid; who was Mohammad's adopted son. Zaid was the son of a chieftain, enslaved and sold to HAZRAT KHADIJEH, and she offered him as a present to Mohammad.

      More than a couple of years elapsed from the first revelation, until the fourth Muslim joined the group. He was ABUBAKR who made a living by commerce. He considered himself a friend to Mohammad, and so he was given a title of, ``SEDDIQ''.

      ABUBAKR, then introduced to his friend who now claimed to be the Messenger of God, a group of four men from among his colleagues in commerical business namely:ِ ABDU-AL-RAHMAN, OTHMÄN, TALHA, ZOBAIR.

      ABUBAKR was an influential wealthy man, and made use of his influence and wealth for improving Islam. Within a period of three years before Mohammad's public preaching, some fifty persons were converted, among whom the following were of more fame and reputation:ِ AL, ARQAM-ABUOBEID-OMMAR'S SISTER AND HER HUSBAND, ABDULLAH JAAFAR-IBN-ABUTALIB AND OMAR.

TRANSLATOR'S NOTE)