In a nutshell: Muhammad (PBUH) began spreading Islam by first embodying its teachings through his honest, caring nature, earning the trust of those around him. His close circle, including Khadijah and Abu Bakr, were the first to believe in his message. Once chosen as a prophet, he patiently invited others to worship the One true God, starting with his family, then expanding to the wider community. His character and message inspired many, and his companions helped carry the faith forward, despite facing opposition.
Since Allah sent down Angel Jibril with the Qur’an to his servant and messenger Muhammad (PBUH), Islam started to gain ground every day, ever since! Till this moment, Islam keeps blooming and spreading all over the world, no matter how many barriers, or obstacles there are. Islam has been standing all tests of time, and place, beyond all human changing circumstances. Its divine, miraculous spreading has always been a stunning mystery for those who are yet to know the truth about Islam.
The answer of this puzzle lies in putting its pieces in the right place; it turns to be clearly whole and complete once them right all together. Let’s do this right now, in the following lines, having a look at how Islam, in its essence, is so calling and well-grounded, as the universal belief, paving the way, in turn, for Muhammad, (PBUH) to spread Islam so widely, needing only few, simple steps to take!
How Did Prophet Muhammad Start Spreading His Message About Islam?
There are certain, effective ways that Muhammad (PBUH) followed to successfully spread the Message of Islam;
1. Prophet Muhammad Set A Real-Life Example:
Even before Muhammad’s declaration of his prophethood for Islam, he was already known among his people as “the Truthful, the Trusted”. He was already following the genuine faith and the essential belief of the previous Prophets, like Ibrahim, Musa, and Issa, along with their unique morals, and inspiring ethics.
So, after becoming the Prophet of Islam, at age of forty, the closest ones to Muhammad (PBUH), like his friend Abu Bakr, and his wife Khadejah, were the first ones to totally believe in him, and in the message sent to him, Islam, and then Muhammad’s people. Allah, Almighty, in Qur’an praised his prophet Muhammad, and his ethics, making him the good example to follow by all Muslims:
[There has certainly been for you in the Messenger of Allāh an excellent pattern]
His being true, real, and genuine was so inspiring for all people to follow his footsteps, and trust him. He was so considerate, caring, and merciful, as Allah actually sent him as so: [And We have not sent you, [O Muḥammad], except as a mercy to the worlds.]
Therefore, the Prophet (PBUH), by his inspiring character, doing actually what he calls for, was so convincing to follow the message he came with, Islam. Actually, all Muslims are commanded by Allah to make their actions good to match their good sayings, not just preaching what they don’t do!
[Greatly hateful in the sight of Allāh is that you say what you do not do.]
2. Calling People: (Da’wah):
Muhammad’s major way to spread Islam is to simply call people to Islam, like all the prophets, letting them know about the truth of Islam, with genuine sincerity, wisdom, and patience. his da’wah to Islam was exactly as Allah commanded him:
[Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good instruction, and argue with them in a way that is best. Indeed, your Lord is most knowing of who has strayed from His way, and He is most knowing of who is [rightly] guided.]
3. Sending Messengers:
After establishing a strong Muslim community in Medina, Islam started to get spread around, mainly by communicating with the Muslims, themselves, whether the Prophet (PBUH), who is the best example of the Muslim-version, his companions whom Islam dramatically changed to way better persons, and even the other Muslims who became so disciplined, reflecting the surpassing morals of Islam in actions.
Along with the spreading Muslims’ communications, and jihad-conquests, with the growing numbers of the Muslims and those wanting to know the truth of Islam, the Prophet (PBUH) encouraged the Muslims themselves to duly convey the message of their faith, sending some of the best taught companions to various places to teach people there about Islam:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Convey (my teachings) to the people even if it were a single sentence, and tell others the stories of Bani Israel (which have been taught to you), for it is not sinful to do so. And whoever tells a lie on me intentionally, will surely take his place in the (Hell) Fire.”
Even after the Prophet (PBUH), Islam, in itself, urges the Muslims to fulfill their duty to enlighten humanity, to lead them to return to their Lord, Allah, and to guide them to what is good, and to keep them away from what is bad. This is the responsibility of all Muslims all around the world, and till the Day of Judgment!
[You are the best nation produced [as an example] for mankind. You enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and believe in Allāh…]
How Did Islam, Itself, Help the Prophet Muhammad In Spreading Its teachings?
Islam, by its nature, has the required features and the logical reasons to get widespread; here are the major points that accelerate the spreading Islam, since its start:
1. Islam is The Inborn Inclination of All Humans (Fitrah)
When something is already natural and sound, it is convincing enough by itself! Like when telling someone that he has a heart, while his heart is already pulsing in his chest!
The essential belief of Islam is that innate call inside all of us to ultimately return to our Creator, Allah, the One and Only. It is to seek His refuge, His mercy, His support, His blessings, His forgiveness, and much more. It is that deep down certainty of our limitedness as created human beings, versus the divine limitlessness of our Lord, The Surpassing Creator Who is The Wise, The All-Capable, The All-Knowing. So, Islam is that natural, human, inborn inclination, and deep need to submit, and return to The Great Lord:
[So direct your face [i.e., self] toward the religion, inclining to truth. [Adhere to] the fiṭrah1 of Allāh upon which He has created [all] people. No change should there be in the creation of Allāh.2 That is the correct religion, but most of the people do not know.]
2. Islam is The Essence of All Religions:
At the bottom line, monotheism – the core of Islam- is the ultimate divine message of Allah, The Creator, to His servants on earth, since the beginning of life, and till its end, through all the prophets and messengers sent to each people, since the creation of Adam: the message has been always the same; it is to save the humanity from the misguidance and deviation they brought themselves, to free the humans from worshipping false, fake, unworthy gods, and to call them to worship Allah, The Only, One, True God, The Most Merciful, and The Most Gracious:
[We surely sent a messenger to every community, saying, “Worship Allah and shun false gods.”]
[And We sent not before you any messenger except We revealed to him that, “There is no deity except Me, so worship Me.”]
3. Islam is The Preserved Message of Allah
So, Islam already came with the same divine message of all religions, so why are we not all Muslims, then?! Simply, because, unfortunately, some of the ancient, major, misguided scholars of Jews and Christians distorted and fabricated many parts of the messages for which Allah had entrusted them to faithfully keep and sincerely follow.
Monotheism – the core of Islam and its Book, the Qur’an- is actually the true, untouched belief of all humans, even the real Jews and Christians, away from the false, human-made fabrications done to Torah, and Bible, later. Whereas, Islam, referred by the Qur’an, was Allah’s Gift- which He keeps safe and preserved-to the humanity at last to hold unto till the Judgment Day, as a living, lasting reminder:
[Some Jews take words out of context and say, “We listen and we disobey,” “Hear! May you never hear,” and “Râ’ina!” [Herd us!]—playing with words and discrediting the faith…]
[It is certainly We Who have revealed the Reminder, (i.e. Qur’an) and it is certainly We Who will preserve it.]
4. Islam is The True Religion from God:
Pay great attention to the previous ayah mentioned, particularly to the word “the Reminder” referring to the Qur’an- the symbol of Islam; it means that the Qur’an was sent down ‘to remind’ humanity of the same divine message that has already come with all the prophets and messengers sent before Prophet Muhammad himself. The message is always to submit to Allah, The Creator, and to obey Him Alone, as He is The One and Only God, with no partners, or associates.
As Islam is originally the essential, divinely preserved message of The Creator to His servants, all people are enjoined to follow it consequently, seeking Allah’s guidance, success, and mercy, in this life, and the hereafter, away from the twisted, individual desires, or fabricated, human-made legislations which ultimately lead to mess and loss.
[Whoever seeks a way other than Islam, it will never be accepted from them, and in the Hereafter they will be among the losers.]
Stages of Prophet Muhammad’s Call to Islam:
Da’wah to Islam has three main stages:
1. First Stage of Da’wah – Preparation:
The first years of Muhammad’s prophethood in Makkah were spent in preparing himself, as a Prophet, before calling his people, and others. Then, he (PBUH) was commanded by Allah to start calling his own, close people, and warning them from deviation of falsehood:
[And warn ˹all, starting with˺ your closest kindred., and And lower your wing [i.e., show kindness] to those who follow you of the believers.]
2. Second Stage of Da’wah – Public Call:
After that stage of calling the close ones, the Prophet (PBUH) was commanded by Allah Almighty, next, to start calling the others, too, and to neglect the mocking and hurting of the disbelievers opposing him:
[So proclaim what you have been commanded, and turn away from the polytheists.]
At this stage of calling the people for Islam, the Prophet (PBUH) and those who believed with him were getting extremely wronged, and mercilessly hurt by the mockers and disbelievers! They were already crossing all the lines of humanity, showing them all kinds of unimaginable torture! Just to shush the voice of truth and innate nature, Islam!
On the other hand, the believers were so unwavering, pious, and brave that they kept holding unto their firm belief of Islam, until it got too much pain for them to undergo, and the Prophet (PBUH) was allowed, with the few believers then, to migrate from Makkah to save themselves from all such torture, moving to Medina to be able to safely worship, and openly call for Allah, The One and Only true God.
3. Third Stage of Da’wah – Huge Spread of Islam:
At the third stage of Da’wah, the Muslims grew in number, and in faith; that, of course, was so threatening to the major disbelievers whose lives were totally based on immoralities, like injustice, high arrogance, whims, robbery, and so on. The righteous Muslim community was definitely their coming nightmare, indicating their end!
So, they kept fighting the Muslims ruthlessly and madly, and even spreading despicable falsehoods and lies about the Muslims, and the Islamic message, preventing anyone from becoming a Muslim, by their mass murder and attacks. Jihad was the natural consequence, so that the Muslims can save their lives, and also do their duty of guiding humanity, as commanded by Allah.
Conclusion:
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) began spreading Islam after receiving the divine revelation, and his exemplary character played a crucial role in preparing people to accept the message and aiding its spread.
Known for his integrity and honesty, even before his prophethood, he was called “the Truthful, the Trusted.” His close companions, such as his wife Khadijah and friend Abu Bakr, were the first to embrace Islam.
With his exemplary character, Muhammad (PBUH) naturally inspired others to follow his teachings. His kindness, mercy, and ethical behavior made him a compelling role model for those around him.
Once appointed as a prophet at the age of 40, Muhammad (PBUH) began calling people to Islam, starting with his family and close friends, using wisdom and patience. His method of “Da’wah” (inviting to Islam) focused on inviting others to worship Allah alone, just as all previous prophets had done.
As Islam spread, his companions played a crucial role in continuing the message, and eventually, the faith grew in strength and numbers, despite facing immense opposition.
So, Islam, itself, is too convincing to be neglected, and too inspiring to be overlooked by anyone at any time. As shown, the Messenger (PBUH) spread Islam by his actions, great character, wisdom, and patient daw’ah. That is definitely the right way to spread the message of mercy and care for all humanity.
