穆罕默德的呼吁可以分为两个界限分明的阶段：

The Muhammadan Call could be divided into two phases distinctively demarcated:

1. 麦加时期：约十三年。

1. The Makkan phase: nearly thirteen years.

2. 麦地那时期:整整十年。

2. The Madinese phase: fully ten years.

两个阶段各自都有鲜明的特征，通过对当时各自所处情形的仔细考察，这些特征是不难辨认的。

Each of the two phases included distinctive features easily discernible through accurate scrutiny into the circumstances that characterized each of them.

麦加时期可分为三个阶段：

The Makkan phase can be divided into three stages:

1. 秘密传教阶段：三年。

1. The stage of the secret Call: three years.

2. 在麦加宣扬使命的阶段：从先知职分的第四年初到第十年将近结束。

2. The stage of the proclamation of the Call in Makkah: from the beginning of the fourth year of Prophethood to almost the end of the tenth year.

3. 向伊斯兰教召唤并将其传播到麦加以外的阶段：从先知职分的第十年末持续到穆罕默德（愿主福安之）迁徙至麦地那。

3. The stage of the call to Islam and propagating it beyond Makkah: it lasted from the end of tenth year of the Prophethood until Muhammad’s (Peace be upon him) emigration to Madinah.

关于麦地那时期，将在适当的时候另行讨论。

The Madinese phase will be considered later in its due course.