When our Master learnt how to perform salat directly from Gabriel he came home and taught Khadija how to take ablution. Together they stood for salat, and hence Khadija was the first person to establish salat after our Master…

Our Master and Khadija frequently performed salat in the house. One night while they were engaged in salat Hadhrat Ali, who was around 9-10 at the time, saw them and asked, “What is this? What are you doing?”

Our Master replied, “O Ali, this is the religion favored by Allah… I call you to have faith in Allah, the Ahad, and to refrain from the idols Lat and Uzza who can cause no harm nor benefit to anyone…”

Ali thought for a few seconds then said, “I have never heard of this religion before… Let me ask my father first and then I’ll let you know my decision…”

However, our Master had not yet shared the recent events with anyone other than his household… 

“O Ali” he said, “If you want to follow my advice then do so, if not, then don’t share it with anyone, keep it to yourself!”

Ali thought about it all night. When he finally made his decision, he went to sleep. The next day he went to our Master and said, “Can you please repeat what you told me last night?”

Our Master was very pleased, he repeated, “I bear witness that there is no God, only Allah and that Muhammad is the Rasul of Allah (Ash hadu an la ilaha illallah wa ash hadu anna muhammadan rasuluhu)” and Ali repeated after him… 

For some time after this Ali did not tell his father that he had accepted the religion of Islam. Sometimes our Master would go out of Mecca to perform salat and Ali would join him. Nobody knew about this. 

One day Abu Talib’s wife, Fatma, shared her worry with her husband:

“Ali is constantly accompanying Muhammad… I fear he may get involved in something that may cause trouble to him… What do you say?”

Abu Talib responded, “So that’s why he’s never around! Let us see, surely there is a way to find out what’s going on…”

That day, Abu Talib secretly followed them. Our Master was performing salat at the valley of Abu Dood with Ali by his side. Abu Talib walked up to them and asked, “O son of my brother! What is this religion you have taken on? What are you doing like this with Ali?”

Our Master replied, “My dear uncle… This is the religion ordained by Allah… This is the religion of the Angels, the Nabis and Rasuls, and of our forefather Abraham… Allah has sent me to spread this religion to mankind… And you, more than anyone, deserve to join this religion…”

Abu Talib stopped and thought for a moment… Should he accept it? But what would everyone say?

“My brother’s son, it is not in my hands, I do not have the strength to leave the belief of my forefathers… But you continue doing what you have been sent here to do. As long as I’m alive I will not allow anyone to stand in your way…”

Then he turned to his son Ali and asked, “My dear son, and what about you? What do you want to do?”

Hadhrat Ali told his father, “I have believed in Allah and His Rasul… I believe in his message and I choose to perform salat with him…”

Abu Talib thought for a moment then said, “My son, it is nice to see you have taken on the religion of your uncle’s son, he will only invite you to something that is beneficial for you… Continue to follow his advice!”

Abu Talibs words were very pleasing and a great relief to our Master…