A cry was raised. A man was standing by the hill and calling to the people: "Come, O people, come, I have brought a message for you."

The people ran towards him, children too, and gathered around him. In order for his voice to reach the people more clearly and so that they could all see him, the man climbed upon a large boulder and stood there. Then he looked at the people and said: "O people! O fellow townsmen! O my kith and kin! You all know me well and trust me. Is it not so?"

The affirmation of the listeners was loud and unanimous. The man continued: "O people! I have been, sent by God the One and Unique with a message for you."

"What is that message, O Muhammad the Trustworthy?" said one of the listeners.

"Say, 'there is no god but Allah', you will prosper replied Rasool Allah (saw)." Don't worship idols anymore. Don't maintain partners with almighty God. Don't obey the tyrants. Don't be unjust to others, and be an enemy to injustice and oppressors.

Say, 'there is no god but Allah', and accept the leadership of mankind and save them from the disgrace of oppression.

Say, 'there is no god but Allah', and be dignified and free in the world and live in Paradise in the Hereafter.

"This is the message I have brought to you from Allah, 'there is no god except Allah.'"

There was uproar. They wouldn't allow Rasool Allah (saw), the Trustworthy to continue his speech. Some were sunk in thought while some, who were the nobles and tyrants of Makkah, were angry and were making fun of Rasool Allah (saw).

One day a group of the nobles of Makkah went to the house of Abu Talib, Rasool Allah's (saw) uncle. Abu Talib was the head of his tribe and a leader of the city. "What crazy words your nephew is uttering!" "O Abu Talib", they continued, "You have to stop him from saying such things. Otherwise, it is possible that he will be killed."

One of them then put his mouth close to Abu Talib's ear and quietly said, "What is it Muhammad wants? Does he want a wife, house and a fine life? Whatever he wants we will give him, provided he stops saying these things and stops calling himself the Messenger of God (Rasool Allah)."

They told Abu Talib to speak to Rasool Allah (saw) and then they left. Abu Talib invited his nephew, Rasool Allah (saw), to his house. "Do you know what the leaders of the city came to see me yesterday?" he asked him." What have you been "My dear uncle", said Rasool Allah (saw) who loved his uncle Abu Talib very much.

Allah has selected me to be His Prophet (Rasool). He has given me a message so as to lift the people from degradation. He has given me a message for me to call the people to worship of the One God. Allah has ordered me to prevent the people from idol-worship and oppression.

Abu Talib had been listening to Rasool Allah (saw) well and, at heart, he believed in him. Quietly he said to his nephew, "Do you know what they wanted from me? They wanted me to stop you from speaking like this!"

"Never will I disobey Allah's command", Rasool Allah (saw) told him without hesitation. "I am going to carry it out and will continue to call the people to devotion to the One True God and to Tawhid (monotheism)."

"My dear uncle", he continued, "I swear by Allah that if they were to offer me the sun in my right hand and the moon in my left, together with all the wealth and beauty in the world, still I would not turn back from the mission which Allah has entrusted me!"

Abu Talib thought for a moment. "In whatever way Allah has commanded you", he finally said, "Obey Him. I will always support you."

One day Rasool Allah (saw) was on a journey and very tired, so he sat down under a tree to rest. A bad man seeing that Rasool Allah (saw) was alone thought it was a good time to kill him quickly and quietly. He went towards Rasool Allah (saw) with his sword out in front of him.

He asked Rasool Allah (saw): "Tell me who can help you now?"

"Allah," answered Rasool Allah (saw) calmly.

When the bad man saw how calm and sure Rasool Allah (saw) was that Allah would help him, he became frightened and the sword fell from his hand.

Rasool Allah (saw) picked up the sword and asked: "Now you tell me who is there to save you?"

"No-one" answered the man.

"No, you are wrong, the same Allah will help you also," said Rasool Allah (saw) and then he let the man go. When the man heard this he became a Muslim.

Rasool Allah (saw) took advantage of every opportunity to guide the people. On the days when people would come to visit the Holy Kaaba, he would invite the new visitors to Islam.

One day there were a few people from Medina among the visitors who, upon hearing the attractive sayings of Rasool Allah (saw), accepted his teachings. When these visitors returned to Medina they told their friends, relatives, and other people of Medina about the message which Rasool Allah (saw) had brought. The next year, more people came to Makkah from Medina and after meeting Rasool Allah (saw), they embraced Islam and invited Rasool Allah (saw) to Medina so that he could teach them better there and try to spread Islam. Rasool Allah (saw) accepted this invitation in order to escape persecutions in Makkah and told the Muslims to migrate to Medina in small groups.

When the enemies of Islam heard about this matter they decided to murder Rasool Allah (saw) before he could leave Makkah. Thus, they decided to select forty of their best and most courageous men to sneak into Rasool Allah's (saw) house and murder him. Allah informed Rasool Allah (saw) about their wicked plan, telling him to leave the city in secret. That night (Hijrah) Rasool Allah (saw) asked Imam Ali (as) to sleep in his bed so that the people would think that it was Rasool Allah (saw) sleeping in his bed and they wouldn't know that he had left the city.

Even though Imam Ali (as) knew that the enemies of Islam wanted to kill Rasool Allah (saw) and that if he slept in Rasool Allah's (saw) bed his life would be at stake, he did not hesitate to risk his life to protect Rasool Allah (saw) and Islam.

Imam Ali (as) was very happy to do this for Rasool Allah (saw). In fact Imam Ali (as) said that the best sleep that he had ever had was on that night (Hijrah). When the killers came into Rasool Allah's (saw) house and pulled off the blanket they saw Imam Ali (as) there, and so they left angrily.

Rasool Allah (saw) and his followers reached Medina safely. They started to spread Islam there. Finally, Islam spread rapidly to many new lands. In a short time, the Muslims gained control of Makkah. The people came out of their ignorance and bad ways of life by accepting Islam and following its guidance.

The time when Rasool Allah (saw) left Makkah for Medina marked the beginning of the Muslim calendar. When we say 1427 Hijrah, it means that 1427 years have passed since the time of Rasool Allah's (saw) flight (Hijrah) from Makkah to Medina.

Moral: When you do something purely for Islam, then Allah helps you. Everyone can plan but only what Allah wants will happen.

And when those who believe in Our communications come to you, say: Peace be on you, your Lord has ordained mercy on Himself... Holy Qur'an (6:54)

Our Rasool Allah (saw) was sitting one day with his Companions and they were talking together. A person came in without asking permission and didn't even offer his Salaam.

"Why didn't you say Salaam?" questioned Rasool Allah (saw). "Why didn't you ask permission to come in?"

"Go back. Ask our permission and greet us with your Salaam before you come in, Rasool Allah (saw) instructed."

Regarding Salaam, Rasool Allah (saw) has told us:

O Muslims! You will not enter Paradise unless you are kind to each other, unless you warmly say Salaam to each other whenever you meet.

Always say Salaam in a loud voice and reply in the same way.

Allah loves most the person who says Salaam first and gives him better rewards and blessings.

First give your Salaam, then say whatever you have to say.

Rasool Allah (saw) said: "When you meet each other then initiate greeting (salaam) and embrace; and when you separate from each other, then depart with seeking forgiveness."

Imam Hussain ibn Ali (as) said: "Seventy rewards is the share of the one who initiates a 'greeting' and only one reward belongs to the one who returns the 'greeting'." (When two people see each other, the initiator of the exchange of greetings receives a greater reward.)

Imam Sadiq (as) said: "He who initiates a greeting is more beloved with Allah (SWT) and His Messenger."

Note: Salaam - An Arabic word meaning peace and greetings, which Muslims uses in everyday life as per the teachings of Islam.