Who Was The First To Embrace Islam?

On page 37 of ‘Savanih Karbala’, [the 92-page publication of Maktaba-tul-Madinah, the publishing house of Dawat-e-Islami] it is stated: ‘Although most of the blessed companions’ رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہُ and the Tabi’in emphasized that Siddiq Al-Akbar رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہُ was the first Muslim, some said that Sayyiduna ‘Ali رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہُ was the first Muslim, and others said that Sayyidatuna Khadijah رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہُ embraced Islam first.’

Imam Abu Hanifah رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہُ has reconciled these opinions by saying that Sayyiduna Abu Bakr embraced Islam first from amongst the men, the Mother of the Believers, Sayyidatuna Khadijah رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہُ was the first woman of Islam and Sayyiduna ‘Ali کَرَّمَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی وَجْھَہُ الْکَرِیْم embraced Islam first among all the boys.

(Tarikh-ul-Khulafa, p. 26)