The First Muslims

From that day on, Prophet Muhammad invited the people who were close to him to the religion of Islam. This invitation lasted for as long as three years. After Khadija, his close friend Abu Bakr, Ali ibn Abu Talib and Zayd ibn Harisa, and the Prophet's daughters Zaynab, Ruqiyya and Umm Qulsum all became Muslims. Other than the people mentioned above, Abu Bakr's close friends Uthman ibn Affan, Zubayr ibn Avvam, Abdurrahman ibn Awf, Talha ibn Ubaydullah, Sa‘d ibn Abu Vaqqas, Uthman ibn Maz‘un, Said ibn Zayd, Ayyash ibn Abu Rabea and his wife Asma bint Salame, Abû Ubayda ibn Jarrah, Arqam ibn Abu'l-Arqam, Abû Salame, Ja‘far ibn Abu Talib and Ubayda ibn Haris came to Prophet Muhammad and accepted Islam. During this period, Prophet Muhammad performed the prayer in his own house, on the outskirts of the mountains and in the Haram when it was not crowded; he sometimes had the opportunity to perform these practices together with other Muslims. Meanwhile, he recited the Quranic revelations that had been imparted to him to other people, and spoke about the belief of tawheed that is based on monotheistic faith and obedience to God, as well as issues related to morality and the Judgment Day on which people are responsible for their deeds on earth. He was careful not to convene and worship together with the Muslims when there were many polytheists around. During this period of secrecy, the Prophet and the Muslims assembled on the outskirts of the Safa Hill in the house of Arqam ibn Abu'l-Arqam, who had accepted Islam. In addition to it being a location where they could easily meet those who were coming to Mecca for pilgrimage, it was also a place where Muslims acted with solidarity and met Prophet Muhammad. Such activities in this house continued until Umar ibn Hattab became a Muslim. Dar al-Arqam, the name given to Arqam's house, is a phrase used in the sources to indicate the date when the companions embraced Islam and the spreading of Islam, and has taken a place in Islamic history.