Islamic preaching among tribes

During the season of Hajj, tribes from far-flung areas of Arabia would gather in Makkah. The Beloved and Blessed Rasool صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم would visit all tribes, inviting them to Islam. Similarly, many fairs used to be held in Arabia and attended by the tribesmen of far-flung areas.
Heصَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم would also go to these fairs in order to preach Islam. Some of the big fairs in which he صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم invited the Arab tribes to Islam included ‘Ukaaz [عُکَاظ], Majannah [مَجَنَّە], Zul-Majaaz [ذُوالمَجَاز]. Similarly, some other tribes which he صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم invited to Islam also included Banu ‘Aamir, Muharib, Fazaarah, Ghassaan, Murrah, Sulaym, ‘Abs [عَبْس], Banu Nasr, Kindah, Kalb, ‘Uzrah, Hadaarimah, etc. But wherever he صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم went, his uncle, Abu Lahab, followed him about. When he صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم started delivering a speech to any tribe, Abu Lahab would call out, ‘He has deviated from the religion and is a liar.’¹

When he صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم went to the tribe Banu Zuhl Bin Shayban, Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddeeq رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ accompanied him. The chief of this tribe ‘Mafrooq’ became attentive towards him and asked, ‘O Qurayshi brother! Which is the religion you invite people to?’ He صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم said, ‘The Almighty is One and I am His Rasool.’ He صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم then recited some Ayahs of Surah Al-An’aam. All of those people were very much impressed with the speech and the Ayahs. However, they said, ‘How can we instantly give up our ancestral religion we have been practicing for ages? We are the people of the Persian king, Kisra, and are under his rule. We have made the agreement that we will remain under his rule only.’ Anyway, he صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم praised them for their frankness and said that the Almighty would help and assist His religion.²