Before the call to Islam could be made openly, before the Companions could gather in the masjid, before the adhan echoed through the streets of Makkah — there was a house. A humble house at the foot of Mount Safa, belonging to Arqam ibn Abi al-Arqam, radiyAllahu anhu. It was Islam's first house of knowledge, and what happened within its walls changed the world.
The following excerpt is taken from When the Moon Split by Shaikh Safiur Rahman Mubarakpuri, pages 78–79.
The House of Arqam — Islam's First Center of Learning
The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, began using the house of Arqam ibn Abi al-Arqam as a secret center for prayer, preaching, education, and training.
Arqam's house was ideally located at the foot of Mount Safa, only a short walk from the Ka'bah and its bustling crowds. The pagans who lived in the area therefore did not take notice of the many people who gathered there.
The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, would meet his Companions there and recite verses of the Qur'an to them, which they would then memorize. These arrangements allowed the early Muslims to learn the essential tenets of Islam and perform prayers in secret, without incurring the wrath of their neighbors or other family members who had not yet accepted Islam.
As for the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, he continued to perform his prayers in the open for all to see. In the face of persecution, insults, and harassment, he kept preaching the message of Islam to everyone he met.
It was the wisdom and mercy of Allah that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, never refrained from carrying on with his mission, even under extremely adverse conditions. Because of his efforts, no soul will be able to argue on the Day of Judgement that Allah did not send a messenger to warn those who were astray and to show them the straight path.
A Reflection
The House of Arqam teaches us something profound about the nature of this religion. Islam did not begin in palaces or positions of power. It began in a house — with a small group of believers, sitting around the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, learning the words of Allah. Knowledge, sincerity, and patience were the foundation.
That foundation has never changed. Every masjid, every halaqah, every Islamic school today traces its roots back to that house at the foot of Mount Safa.
This same patient, deliberate teaching is what the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, modeled for his Companions throughout his mission — a theme we explore further in 3 Ways the Prophet Trained His Companions to Purify Their Souls.
About the Book
When the Moon Split by Shaikh Safiur Rahman Mubarakpuri is one of the most beloved and accessible biographies of the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, available in English. Published by Darussalam. Available at The Islamic Book Cafe for $17.00.
Baarakallahu feekum — The Islamic Book Cafe | Portland, Oregon
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