Taking the Message to the Public

        Although taking in the fact that I was now appointed as a messenger of our God was difficult for me, I finally began to relay the words I was hearing to others. Visits from the angel was beginning to become a daily thing, and I had major support from my wife/kids and extended family as well. I decided to reveal the messages I was receiving to my tribe. As time passed I became more comfortable with relaying the words to my fellow countrymen.
        The message I was speaking of mainly was about converting from pagan polytheism, immorality  and materialism to the one true God. Also, for them to repent from evil and worship Allah alone. I felt strongly for the words I spoke among the people, and it was important to follow through with the commandment I was given by God. It was vital for me to constantly make it clear for others to see that I was merely a prophet and that was the role God had assigned me in His work. I was no angel, I did not possess the mind of God, and I did not work miracles. My main goal was to preach the words that I had received on the Mount.
     

Image of Muhammad Preaching: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8e/Gagarin_PropovedMagometGRM.jpg

        Continuing to carry out my commandment, I preached the words I received as often as possible. In the first three years of my ministry, I gained only about 40 followers. Even though this was a small number, I knew that God was still using me to win over souls and that 40 was not the ending total. Trusting that God had a plan got slightly difficult when my teachings began to threaten the Meccan way of life.
         Although I was only teaching the things I was commanded too, it still went against the Meccan morals and economics. I received heavy persecution, as well as the followers I had gained. As I said before, it was very difficult to trust God in that situation, but I persevered and continued to follow his pathway for me. First, the Meccan's ridiculed me in the form of mockery, but that didn't last long. Soon, they began to be openly violent towards me and my followers. It was disheartening to see so many people rejected the good news and going against it among me.
        It got so bad that members of my small movement were being stoned, covered in dirt as they prayed, and beat with sticks. In some instances they were even thrown into prison and refused service by merchants. My tribe had even turned their back on me and created a ban on trade with my people, leaving us in near famine conditions. I lost my wife and uncle during this period and my heart was crushed at that point. The persecutions were become so brutal that I was close to questioning everything I was doing. Until I received some relieving news, I had gained followers in the city of Yathrib, 280 miles north of Mecca.
        The city of Yathrib was in need of a leader, a leader that would be strong and bold...they proposed that I take the job. In return, they pledged to worship Allah only, and to obey me and defend me alone with all of my followers to death. God soon made it clear to me that the emigration was approved, and we made plans to escape to Yathrib. I knew God had a plan all along!