Abu-Bakr-[RA]-performs-the-Pilgrimage
Abu Bakr [R] performs the Pilgrimage

Abu Bakr [R] performs the Pilgrimage

DURING THIS YEAR MANY EVENTS OF GREAT SIGNIFICANCE TOOK PLACE THEY WERE:

  • After the Messenger’s return from Tabuk, the sworn allegation of infidelity between ‘Uwaimir Al-‘Ajlani and his wife took place.
  • Pelting with stones the Ghamidiyah woman who confessed  committing adultery. She was pelted with stones only after weaning her child off her breast milk.
  • Negus Ashama; the king of Abyssinia (Ethiopia), died so the Prophet (Peace be upon him) performed prayer in absentia for him.
  • The death of Umm Kulthum, the daughter of the Prophet (Peace be upon him), the Prophet felt extremely sad at her death. “Had I got a third daughter, I would let you marry her.” He said to ‘Uthman.
  • The death of ‘Abdullah bin Abi Salool, the head of hypocrites, after the Prophet’s return from Tabuk. The Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) asked Allah’s forgiveness for him. He also prayed for him in spite of ‘Umar’s disapproval and his attempt to prevent him from doing that. Later on a Quranic verse was revealed attesting to ‘Umar’s right viewpoint.

ABU BAKR (May Allah be pleased with him) PERFORMS THE PILGRIMAGE:

In the month Dhul-Qa‘dah or in Dhul-Hijjah of the very year (the ninth of Al-Hijra), the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) dispatched Abu Bakr (May Allah be pleased with him), the truthful, as a deputy prince of Al-Hajj (pilgrimage), so that he would lead the Muslims in performing of the pilgrimage rituals.

 

Soon after the departure of the Muslims, there came a Revelation from Allah: the opening passages of the Chapter 9 entitled ‘Repentance’ (Surah Tauba or Bara’a) in which ‘freedom from obligation’ is proclaimed from Allah in regard to those idolatrous tribes who had shown no respect for the treaties which they had entered into with the Prophet (Peace be upon him). Communication of this news went in line with the Arabian traditions of making public any change relating to declining conventions of blood and fortunes.

 

‘Ali bin Abi Talib was deputed to make this declaration. He overtook Abu Bakr at Al-‘Arj or Dajnan. Abu Bakr inquired whether the Prophet (Peace be upon him) had put him in command or he had just been commissioned to make the announcement. “I have been deputed to make the proclamation only” replied ‘Ali. The two Companions then proceeded with the pilgrimage process. Towards the close of the rituals, on the day of the ritual sacrifice, ‘Ali stood at Al-Jamrah (a spot at which stones are pelted) and read aloud to the multitudes that thronged around him and declared quittance from covenants with idolaters and giving them four months’ respite to reconsider their position. As for the other idolaters with whom the believers had a treaty and had abated nothing of the Muslims’ rights nor had supported anyone against them, then the terms of the treaty would run valid until the duration of which expired.

 

Abu Bakr then sent some Muslims to declare publicly that no disbeliever would after that year perform pilgrimage, nor would anyone be allowed to make the Tawaf (going round) of the Sacred House unclothed.

 

That proclamation in fact vetoed all aspects of paganism out of Arabia and stated quite unequivocally that those pre-Islam practices were no longer in operation.