and purifies them, and teaches them the Book and wisdom; indeed, before this they were in manifest error.” (3:164)
“And it was only by a mercy from Allah that you were gentle with them; had you been harsh or hard-hearted, they would have scattered from around you. So pardon them, seek forgiveness for them, and consult them in the matter.” (3:159)

He continued, without pause, to summon people to tawḥīd (pure monotheism), to the articles and foundations of the religion, establishing them with decisive proofs and many kinds of signs, while warning against shirk and every form of evil. From the moment he was sent until roughly ten years had passed, he called to Allah upon clear insight.

Then he was carried by night from the Sacred Mosque to the Farthest Mosque so that Allah might show him some of His signs, and he was taken up beyond the seven heavens.

There Allah made the five daily prayers obligatory, each with its appointed time and form. Jibrīl (Gabriel) then came immediately afterward, taught him their times and manner, and prayed with him for two days: on the first day he performed the five prayers at the beginning of their times, and on the second at the end of their times. He said, “The time of every prayer lies between these two limits.” (1)

Thus the five prayers were enjoined about three years before the Hijrah, while at that point neither the adhān (call to prayer) nor the remaining pillars of Islam had yet been prescribed.

Islam quickly spread throughout Medina and its surroundings. Contributing to this was the fact that the Aws and the Khazraj lived alongside the Jews of the city, who had long told them that they were awaiting a Prophet whose era was imminent and had described some of his characteristics. Therefore, when the Aws and Khazraj met the Prophet ﷺ in Mecca and were convinced that he was truly the Messenger of Allah, they hastened to embrace him. As for the Jews, wretchedness and envy overtook them: “Yet when there came to them what they recognized, they rejected it.” (2:89)