The first pilgrimage

Last updated

The first pilgrimage or Umrah of Dhu'l-Qada (Pilgrimage of the 11th month) was the first pilgrimage that the Islamic prophet Muhammad S.A.W and the Muslims made after the Migration to Medina. It took place on the morning of the fourth day of Dhu al-Qi'dah 7 AH (629 CE), after the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah 6 AH (628 CE). The entire event was three days long. [1]

Contents

A pilgrimage that occurs during the month of Dhu al-Hijjah is named a "major pilgrimage", or just "pilgrimage" (Arabic : حَـجّ, Ḥajj ), while pilgrimages of all other months are called "minor pilgrimage" (Arabic : عُـمْـرَة, Umrah ).

History

Muhammad, the prophet, had reported that from the age of 40, he was receiving revelations from God. He and his followers, called Muslims, were persecuted by the ruling clan of Mecca, the Quraysh, and forced to leave to the northern city of Medina. Several armed confrontations followed, along with the Muslims attempting a return pilgrimage to Mecca in 628, as directed by one of the revelations. [2] They were rejected by the Quraysh, but the Meccans did agree to a truce, and the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah had a provision that the Muslims could return peacefully to Mecca for a pilgrimage in 629. [3] [4] [5]

Pilgrimage

Ar-Raḥīq Al-Makhtūm (Arabic : ٱلـرَّحِـيْـق ٱلْـمَـخْـتُـوْم, "The Sealed Nectar"), in the chapter The Compensatory ‘Umrah (Lesser Pilgrimage) the event is described as follows:

When Dhul Qa‘da month approached towards the close of the seventh year A.H., the Prophet ordered his people, and the men who witnessed Al-Hudaibiyah Truce Treaty in particular, to make preparations to perform the lesser pilgrimage. He proceeded with 2000 men besides some women and children [Fath Al-Bari 7/700], and 60 camels for sacrifice, to visit the Holy Sanctuary in Makkah. The Muslims took their weapons with them fearing the treachery of the Quraishites, but left them with a party of two hundred men at a place some eight miles from Makkah. They entered the city with the swords in their scabbards [Za'd Al-Ma'ad 2/151; Fath Al-Bari 7/700], with the Prophet at their head on his she-camel, Al-Qaswa’, while the surrounding Companions attentively focusing their look on him, all saying: "Here I am! at Your service O Allâh!" The Quraishites had left the place and retired to their tents on the adjoining hills. The Muslims performed the usual circumambulation vigorously and briskly; and on recommendation by the Prophet they did their best to appear strong and steadfast in their circumambulation as the polytheists had spread rumours that they were weak because the fever of Yathrib (Madinah) had sapped their strength. They were ordered to run in the first three rounds and then walk in the remaining ones. The Makkans meanwhile aligned on the top of Qu‘aiqa‘an Mount watching the Muslims, tongue-tied at witnessing their strength and devotion. [6]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mecca</span> Holiest city in Islam, provincial capital in Saudi Arabia

Mecca, officially Makkah al-Mukarramah and commonly shortened to Makkah is a city and administrative center of the Mecca Province of Saudi Arabia, and the holiest city in Islam. It is 70 km (43 mi) inland from Jeddah on the Red Sea, in a narrow valley 277 m (909 ft) above sea level. Its last recorded population was 1,578,722 in 2015. Its estimated metro population in 2020 is 2.042 million, making it the third-most populated city in Saudi Arabia after Riyadh and Jeddah. Pilgrims more than triple this number every year during the Ḥajj pilgrimage, observed in the twelfth Hijri month of Dhūl-Ḥijjah.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Treaty of Hudaybiyyah</span> Treaty between Muhammad, representing the state of Medina, and the Quraish tribe of Mecca

The Treaty of Hudaybiyyah was an event that took place during the time of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. It was a pivotal treaty between Muhammad, representing the state of Medina, and the Qurayshi tribe of Mecca in January 628. It helped to decrease tension between the two cities, affirmed peace for a period of 10 years, and authorised Muhammad's followers to return the following year in a peaceful pilgrimage, later known as The First Pilgrimage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Military career of Muhammad</span> Overview of Muhammads military career

The military career of Muhammad, the Islamic prophet, encompasses several expeditions and battles throughout the Hejaz region in the western Arabian Peninsula which took place in the final ten years of his life, from 622 to 632. His primary campaign was against his own tribe in Mecca, the Quraysh. Muhammad proclaimed prophethood around 610 and later migrated to Medina after being persecuted by the Quraysh in 622. After several battles against the Quraysh, Muhammad conquered Mecca in 629, ending his campaign against the tribe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Al-Fath</span> 48th chapter of the Quran

Al-Fath is the 48th chapter (surah) of the Qur'an with 29 verses (ayat). The surah was revealed in Madinah in the sixth year of the Hijrah, on the occasion of the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah between the Muslim city-state of Madinah and Makkan polytheists. It mentions this victory, then criticizes the attitudes of the hypocrites, continues with further promises to the Muslims, and ends by mentioning certain important virtues of the Muslim community.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Umrah</span> Islamic pilgrimage

The ʿUmrah is an Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca that can be undertaken at any time of the year, in contrast to the Ḥajj, which has specific dates according to the Islamic lunar calendar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dhu al-Qadah</span> 11th month of the Islamic calendar

Dhu al-Qa'dah, also spelled Dhu al-Qi'dah or Zu al-Qa'dah, is the eleventh month in the Islamic calendar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Conquest of Mecca</span> Muslim conquest of Mecca in the 7th century

The Conquest of Mecca was the capture of the town of Mecca by Muslims led by the Islamic prophet Muhammad in December 629 or January 630 AD (Julian), 10–20 Ramadan, 8 AH. The conquest marked the end of the wars between the followers of Muhammad and the Quraysh tribe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Suhayl ibn Amr</span>

Suhayl ibn ʿAmr, also known as Abū Yazīd, was a contemporary of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, and a prominent leader among the Quraysh of Mecca. Clever and articulate, he was known as the Khatib or orator of the tribe, and his opinion carried great weight among them.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Muhammad in Islam</span> Role of Muhammad in the Islamic religion

Muḥammad ibn ʿAbd Allāh ibn ʿAbd al-Muṭṭalib ibn Hāshim, is believed to be the seal of the messengers and prophets of God in all the main branches of Islam. Muslims believe that the Quran, the central religious text of Islam, was revealed to Muhammad by God, and that Muhammad was sent to restore Islam, which they believe did not originate with Muhammad but is the true unaltered original monotheistic faith of Adam, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and other prophets. The religious, social, and political tenets that Muhammad established with the Quran became the foundation of Islam and the Muslim world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Farewell Pilgrimage</span> Significant event in early Islam

The Farewell Pilgrimage refers to the one Hajj pilgrimage that Muhammad performed in the Islamic year 10 AH, following the Conquest of Mecca. Muslims believe that verse 22:27 of the Quran brought about the intent to perform Hajj in Muhammad that year. When Muhammad announced this intent, approximately 100,000 of his Sahaba gathered in Medina to perform the annual pilgrimage with him. Muhammad performed Hajj al-Qiran.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Muhammad in Medina</span> Overview of Muhammads stay in Medina

The Islamic prophet Muhammad came to the city of Medina following the migration of his followers in what is known as the Hijrah in 622. He had been invited to Medina by city leaders to adjudicate disputes between clans from which the city suffered. He left Medina to return to and conquer Mecca in December 629.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Muhammad after the occupation of Mecca</span> Period of Muhammads life following the Muslim conquest of Mecca

Muhammad led the Conquest of Mecca in Ramadan of the Islamic year 8 AH. The Quraysh in Mecca was Muhammad's final major rival in the Arabian Peninsula, and following the conquest, Muhammad focused his military operations on further expansion of his Islamic realm to the north, with a campaign against the Ghassanids and the Byzantine Empire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Persecution of Muslims by Meccans</span> Persecution of the first Muslims in Mecca

In the early days of Islam at Mecca, the new Muslims were often subjected to abuse and persecution. The persecution lasted for twelve years beginning from the advent of Islam to Hijrah. Muhammad preached Islam secretly for three years. Then, he openly preached Islam, resulting in public prosecutions. Muhammad and his followers were first belittled and ridiculed, then persecuted and physically attacked for departing from traditional Mecca's tribal ways.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Diplomatic career of Muhammad</span> Aspect of the life of the Islamic prophet Muhammad

The diplomatic career of Muhammad encompasses Muhammad's leadership over the growing Muslim community (Ummah) in early Arabia and his correspondences with the rulers of other nations in and around Arabia. This period was marked by the change from the customs of the period of Jahiliyyah in pre-Islamic Arabia to an early Islamic system of governance, while also setting the defining principles of Islamic jurisprudence in accordance with Sharia law and an Islamic theocracy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pledge of the Tree</span>

The Pledge of the Tree or Pledge of Satisfaction or Pledge of Ridwan was a pledge that was sworn to the Islamic prophet Muhammad by his Sahaba (companions) prior to the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah. The pledge, sworn under a tree, was to avenge the rumoured death of Uthman bin Affan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kaaba</span> Building at the center of Islams most important mosque, the Masjid al-Haram

The Kaaba, also spelled Ka'bah or Kabah, sometimes referred to as al-Kaʿbah al-Musharrafah, is a building at the center of Islam's most important mosque, the Masjid al-Haram in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. It is the most sacred site in Islam. It is considered by Muslims to be the Bayt Allah and is the qibla for Muslims around the world when performing salah.

The Expedition of Qatan, was the first Raid on the Banu Asad bin Khuzaymah tribe, which occurred directly after the Battle of Hamra al-Asad in the year 4 A.H of the Islamic calendar.

The Patrol of Dhu Al-Ushairah occurred in the year 2 A.H. of the Islamic calendar between the months of Jumādi al-Ūlā and Jumādi al-Ākhirah .This was the 6th caravan expedition and the 3rd ‘Ghazwah’ occurring about 2 months after the Invasion of Buwāṭ.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Masjid al-Haram</span> Islams holiest mosque located in Mecca, Saudi Arabia

Masjid al-Haram, also known as the Great Mosque of Mecca, is a mosque that surrounds the Kaaba in Mecca, in the Mecca Province of Saudi Arabia. It is a site of pilgrimage in the Hajj, which every Muslim must do at least once in their lives if able, and is also the main phase for the ʿUmrah, the lesser pilgrimage that can be undertaken any time of the year. The rites of both pilgrimages include circumambulating the Kaaba within the mosque. The Great Mosque includes other important significant sites, including the Black Stone, the Zamzam Well, Maqam Ibrahim, and the hills of Safa and Marwa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Muslim–Quraysh War</span> Religious conflict in the early Islamic period

The Muslim–Quraysh War was the six-year-long military and religious conflict in the Arabian Peninsula between the early Muslims led by Muhammad, and the Arab pagan Quraysh tribe. The conflict started in March 623 with the Battle of Badr, and concluded with the fall of the Quraysh tribe and the Conquest of Mecca.

References

  1. Tafsir ibn Kathir
  2. Quran   48:27
  3. "Muhammad: Legacy of a Prophet" (documentary). PBS. 2002.{{cite news}}: |format= requires |url= (help)
  4. Armstrong, Karen (2002). Islam: A Short History. New York: Modern Library. p.  22. ISBN   978-0-8129-6618-3.
  5. Armstrong, Karen (2007). Muhammad: A Prophet for Our Time. New York: HarperCollins. p. 181. ISBN   978-0-06-115577-2.
  6. Mubarakpuri, S. R., "The Compensatory 'Umrah (Lesser Pilgrimage)", Ar-Raḥīq Al-Makhtūm ("The Sealed Nectar"), archived from the original on 2011-08-20, retrieved 2006-07-25