39. 9TH YEAR OF HIJRAH: THE MESSENGER OF ALLAH’S APPOINTMENT OF ABU BAKR AS-SIDDIQ AS THE LEADER OF THE HAJJ DELEGATION AND THE REVELATION OF SOORAH AL-BARA’AH
Ibn Ishaq related that after the deputation of the people of Ta’if, who came to Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, in the month of Ramadan, Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, remained in Madinah for the remainder of Ramadan, Shawwal, Dhul-Qa‘dah and then he dispatched Abu Bakr as leader of the Hajj delegates in the 9th year to apprise the people of the Hajj rites. Meanwhile, the polytheists remained in their residences and did not hinder access to the House (Ka‘bah). Among them were those who had a temporary pact for a period of time with the Muslims. When Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, exited along with the other Muslims who were with him and they had evacuated the House, Allah revealed these first few Verses of Soorah At-Tawbah:
“Freedom from (all) obligations (is declared) from Allah and His Messenger to those of the Mushrikoon, (with whom you made a treaty). So travel freely (O Mushrikoon) for four months (as you will) throughout the land” up to the Verse: “And a declaration from Allah and His Messenger to mankind on the greatest day (the 10th of Dhul-Hijjah – the 12th month of Islamic calendar) that Allah is free from (all) obligations to the Mushrikoon and so is His Messenger. So if you (Mushrikoon) repent, it is better for you, but if you turn away, then know that you cannot escape from the Punishment of Allah. And give tidings (O Muhammad) of a painful torment to those who disbelieve.” (Soorah At-Tawbah 9:3) till the end of the story.
Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, dispatched ‘Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, after Abu Bakr As-Siddiq, may Allah be pleased with him, in order to join him and to undertake the conveyance of AlBara’ah to the polytheists on behalf of Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, owing to his blood relationship with him as his cousin. On the authority of Abu Hurairah who narrated: “Abu Bakr sent me during that Hajj in which he was the leader of the pilgrims along with an announcers whom he sent on the Day of Nahr to announce at Mina: ‘No pagan shall perform Hajj after this year, and none shall perform the Tawaf around the Ka‘bah in the state of nudity.’ Humaid added: The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, sent ‘Ali Ibn Abi Talib, may Allah be pleased with him, and ordered him to recite Soorah Al- Bara’ah aloud in public. Abu Hurairah added: “So ‘Ali, along with us, recited Bara’ah (loudly) before the people at Mina on the Day of Nahr and announced: ‘No pagan shall perform Hajj after this year, and none shall perform the Tawaf around the Ka‘bah in a state of Nudity’.”
On the authority of Muharrar Ibn Abi Hurairah reported from his father that: “I was with ‘Ali Ibn Abi Talib when Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, sent him. (He said): ‘What were you announcing?’ They replied: ‘We were announcing that none shall enter Paradise except a Believer and none should circumambulate the Ka‘bah while in a state of nudity, and anyone with whom Allah’s Messenger has a pact, the duration of that pact is now four months. When the four months expire, Allah dissociates His Messenger from the polytheists. No polytheist shall be allowed to make pilgrimage to the Houseafter this year.’ I kept announcing till my voice became hoarse.”This chain of narrations is good except that there is an objection concerning the reporter’s statement that: “Anyone with whom Allah’s Messenger has a pact, the duration of that pact is now four months.”
Even though some have adopted this opinion, the more correct position is that: whoever had a pact (with Allah’s Messenger), its deadline was according to the fixed duration, however long it was— even if it spanned beyond four months. However, concerning those pacts whose durations were not determined, then for such was a moratorium of four months. The majority of pacts were those whose duration was less than four month from the beginning of the moratorium, then it was possible to apply the terms of the first category which is that its deadline was according to the fixed duration, however short it was. It is equally possible to say: It is deferred till four months elapsed because they have a greater right than those who did not have any pact at all in the first instance. And Allah (SWT) knows best.
By: Ibn Katheer
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