Conversion of Amr ibn Abasah al-Sulami

Amr ibn Abasah al-Sulami was among the earliest converts to Islam. Even before the Prophet's mission, Amr had rejected idolatry, considering it irrational and beneath human dignity. When he heard that a man in Mecca was receiving revelation and calling to monotheism, he traveled to Mecca and found the Prophet in hiding during the early period of secret dawah. He asked: 'What are you?' The Prophet replied: 'I am a prophet.' Amr asked: 'What is a prophet?' He said: 'Allah has sent me.' Amr asked: 'With what has He sent you?' He replied: 'To maintain family ties, break the idols, and worship Allah alone without associating anything with Him.' Amr declared his faith and asked to stay with the Prophet, but was told: 'You cannot do so now. Do you not see my situation and the people around me? Go back to your family, and when you hear that I have prevailed, come to me.' Amr returned to his people and waited until after the Hijrah, when he came to the Prophet in Medina and was recognized as one of the earliest Muslims.