For three years, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) continued inviting people to Islam secretly and people gradually embraced Islam. After this period of three years, the following command was revealed, instructing Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) to invite to Islam openly:

فَاصۡدَعۡ بِمَا تُؤۡمَرُ وَ اَعۡرِضۡ عَنِ الۡمُشۡرِکِیۡنَ ﴿۹۴﴾

Then proclaim openly that which you have been instructed (i.e. Islam) and turn away from the disbelievers (Surah Hijr v. 94)

وَ اَنۡذِرۡ عَشِیۡرَتَکَ الۡاَقۡرَبِیۡنَ ﴿۲۱۴﴾ۙ وَ اخۡفِضۡ جَنَاحَکَ لِمَنِ اتَّبَعَکَ مِنَ الۡمُؤۡمِنِیۡنَ ﴿۲۱۵﴾ۚ

And warn your close relatives and treat those believers who have followed you with affection and kindness (Surah Shu‘araa v. 214-215)

وَ قُلۡ اِنِّیۡۤ اَنَا النَّذِیۡرُ الۡمُبِیۡنُ ﴿ۚ۸۹﴾

And say (O Muhammed) I am indeed an open warner (Surah Hijr v. 89)

(Extracted from Seeratul Mustafa 1/171)

In Baghdad, Imaam Shaafi‘ee (rahimahullah) was known by the title ‘Naasir-us-Sunnah’ (the savior of the Sunnah).

Haafiz Ibnu Katheer (rahimahullah) says, “Imaam Shaafi‘ee (rahimahullah) memorized the Qur’aan Majeed when he was only seven, the Muwatta of Imaam Maalik (rahimahullah) when he was ten, and his Shaikh, Muslim bin Khallaad Al-Zanji (rahimahullah), permitted him to pass verdicts (Fatwa) when he was only fifteen (some narrations state that he was eighteen).”

Hazrat Abu Thowr (rahimahullah), one of the Mujtahideen of that era, says, “We never saw anyone as great as Imaam Shaafi‘ee (rahimahullah).”

(Al-Bidaayah-wan-Nihaayah 10/276)

عن العرس ابن عميرة الكندي عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: إذا عملت الخطيئة في الأرض كان من شهدها فكرهها وقال مرة: أنكرها كان كمن غاب عنها ومن غاب عنها فرضيها كان كمن شهدها (سنن أبي داود رقم 4345)

Hazrat ‘Urs bin ‘Umairah Al-Kindi (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “When sin is being committed in a place, then the one who is present and is not pleased with it (in another narration, it is mentioned, “he regards it to be wrong”), he will be like the one who was not present and did not witness it (i.e. he will not be sinful as being present was not of his choice), and the one who was not present where sin was being committed, yet he was pleased with the sin (and desired to be present), he will be like the one who was present where the sin was committed (i.e. he will also be sinful).”

عن أبي سعيد الخدري رضي الله عنه عن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: أيما رجل مسلم لم تكن عنده صدقة فليقل في دعائه: اللهم صل على محمد عبدك ورسولك وصل على المؤمنين والمؤمنات والمسلمين والمسلمات فإنها زكاة وقال: لا يشبع مؤمن خيرا حتى يكون منتهاه الجنة (القول البديع ص274)

Hazrat Abu Sa‘eed Khudri (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that Rasululah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “Whichever Muslim does not have anything to give in sadaqah, he should recite the following durood in his du‘aa as it will be a means of him receiving the reward of sadaqah and it will purify him of his sins.”

اَللّٰهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلٰى مُحَمَّدٍ عَبْدِكَ وَرَسُوْلِكَ وَصَلِّ عَلٰى الْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتِ وَالْمُسْلِمِيْنَ وَالْمُسْلِمَاتِ

O Allah! Send durood (i.e. shower Your mercy) upon Muhammed (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), Your slave and Rasul, and shower Your mercy upon all the mu’mineen and muslimeen, males and females.

Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) thereafter said, “A believer continues to do good and is never fully satisfied with the good that he carries out until he finally (passes away on imaan and) reaches Jannah.”