Summary of Sira
Hajj was known to the people before Islam from the time of Prophet Ibraaheem (peace e upon him) who called all people to the pilgrimage. Other Prophets such like Moses (peace be upon him) performed pilgrimage too. It has been a known ritual since then, but the polytheists altered it, and the first person who introduced new changes to it was ‘Amr ibn Luhayy. After the emergence of Islam, Allah has made it obligatory upon every adult Muslim who can afford it, physically and financially. Allah, Most High, says: {Pilgrimage to this House is an obligation by Allah upon whoever is able among the people} [Quran 3: 97]. The Prophet ﷺ explained to us all of its rituals during the Farewell Pilgrimage, which he ﷺ performed in the 10th year after Hijrah.
The scholars differed about the year in which pilgrimage was made obligatory; some said it was in the 6th year after Hijrah while others said it was in the 7th year after Hijrah. It has been said that it happened in the 8th year after Hijrah, and others said it was in a different year.
The name of the king of Abyssinia, commonly known as al-Najaashi, which is an honorific title given to all kings of Abyssinia, was As-Hamah ibn Abjar. The meaning of his first name (As-Hamah) is ‘Atiyyah (the gift) and it has been said that it means ‘Attiyyatul Allah (the gift of Allah) while others said it means ‘Ataa’.
He ruled Abyssinia after the passing of his paternal uncle. During his reign justice prevailed and after a few years from assuming his position, he embraced Islam during the lifetime of the Prophet ﷺ. He welcomed the Muslims and treated them well when they emigrated to Abyssinia. The Prophet ﷺ proposed to his Companions to emigrate to Abyssinia and praised its king. He said: “Set out to the land of Abyssinia. There is a king there by whom no one is wronged, and it is a land of honesty. [Stay there] until Allah makes a way for you out from what you are suffering.”
When King Najaashee expired, the Prophet ﷺ offered his funeral prayer in absentia. Narrated Aboo Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him), that Allah's Messenger ﷺ informed them (i.e. his Companions) of the death of al-Najaashee, the king of Abyssinia, on the very day on which the latter died, and said, "Ask Allah's Forgiveness for your brother." Narrated Jaabir (may Allah be pleased with him): When al-Najaashee died, the Prophet ﷺ said, "Today a pious man has died. So, get up and offer the funeral prayer for your brother As-Hamah."
Tabook is a place situated between al-Shaam and Waadi al-Qura. Narrated Aboo Moosa al-Ash’aree (may Allah be pleased with him): “My companions sent me to Allah's Messenger ﷺ asking him to provide them with mounts as they were going along with him in the army of destitute - and that is the occasion of the Battle of Tabook…” This hadeeth indicates that the Companions were in extreme lack of money, supplies, and mounts. This is even noted in the hadeeth in Saheeh Muslim wherein Aboo Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that in this battle, the food supplies were so short that the Companions had to subsist on sucking date stones and drinking water. In another report in Saheeh Muslim, Aboo Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) related that he asked the Prophet’s permission to slaughter their mounts to eat. Allah, Most High, said: {Allah has certainly turned in mercy to the Prophet as well as the Emigrants and the Helpers who stood by him in the time of hardship} [Quran 9:117]. Ibn Katheer said: “The Prophet ﷺ began preparations to fight the Romans who were the closest in area to the Arabian Peninsula, and as such, had the most right to be called to Islam…” Allah, Most High, said: {O you who believe! Fight those of the disbelievers who are close to you and let them find harshness in you and know that Allah is with those who have piety} [Quran 9:123]. The Prophet ﷺ disclosed to the Muslims the destination of the army as reported in the authentic hadeeth. It is reported on the authority of Mu’aadh (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet ﷺ said: “Tomorrow you will come, by Allah’s will, to the spring of Tabook. But you will not get there until well into the morning. No one who arrives should touch any of its water until I come.” The famous, and most likely to be correct, view is that the army of Muslims in the battle of Tabook was made up of 30,000 fighters. However, no fighting ensued as the enemy fled before the arrival of the Muslim army; thus, the Prophet ﷺ returned to al-Madeenah victorious after he stationed in Tabook for 20 nights.
He is Abdullah ibn Ubay Ibn Salool, the head of hypocrites. He fell sick towards the end of the month of Shawwaal after the Prophet ﷺ returned from the battle of Tabook. When he died, Allah’s Messenger ﷺ asked Allah to forgive him and prayed over him despite the attempt of ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) to convince the Prophet ﷺ not to pray over him. However, Allah revealed afterwards confirmed the view of ‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab (may Allah be pleased with him). The reason the Prophet ﷺ prayed over him was to [show us that we should] act according to what appears to us [without delving into people’s hearts] i.e., he presented him as a Muslim so he should be treated as such, and to achieve a religious benefit – that is to soften the hearts of his people and followers since a large number of hypocrites were loyal to him, so the Prophet ﷺ hoped it would influence them and encourage them to stop their hypocrisy and become sincere to Allah and His Messenger.
The Prophet ﷺ sent Aboo Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) to superintend the Hajj after the month of Dhoo al-Qa’dah had expired. His mission was to ensure the pilgrimage of Muslims is correct. At that point in time, the polytheists were still occupying the places where the stated places of Hajj were found. After Aboo Bakr left al-Madeenah with the Muslims who were in his company, the Prophet ﷺ dispatched Alee ibn Abee Taalib (may Allah be pleased with him), since he was his paternal cousin and from his family, to follow Aboo Bakr to inform him, personally, on the behalf of the Prophet ﷺ of the ayaat that were revealed from Surah al-Tawbah.
Narrated Aboo Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him): On the Day of Nahr [when Aboo Bakr was the leader of the pilgrims in that Hajj] Abu Bakr sent me along with other announcers to Mina to make a public announcement: "No polytheist is allowed to perform Hajj after this year and no naked person is allowed to perform circumambulation around the Ka`bah.” Humayd ibn ‘Abd al-Rahmaan added: “Then Allah's Messenger ﷺ sent `Alee to read out the Surat al-Tawbah to the people.” Aboo Hurayarh (may Allah be pleased with him) continued saying: “So, Alee ibn Abee Taalib (may Allah be pleased with him) made the announcement along with us on the day of Nahr in Mina: " No polytheist is allowed to perform Hajj after this year and no naked person is allowed to perform circumambulation around the Ka`bah."
The delegates continued to arrive at al-Madeenah visiting the Prophet ﷺ. One of these delegates was the Christians of Najraan who signed a treaty with the Prophet ﷺ who made granted them protection after they agreed to pay the jizyah.
Ibraaheem was the son of the Prophet ﷺ and his mother was Mariyyah the Coptic (may Allah be pleased with her). All the children of the Prophet ﷺ except Ibraaheem, were from his wife, Khadeejah (may Allah be pleased with her).
Anas ibn Maalik (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: “I have never seen anyone more kind to one's family than Allah's Messenger ﷺ and Ibraaheem was sent to the suburb of Medina for suckling. He used to go there, and we accompanied him. He entered the house, and it was filled with smoke as his foster-father was a brick smith. He took him (his son Ibraaheem) and kissed him and then came back. 'Amr said that when Ibraaheem died. Allah's Messenger ﷺ said: Ibraaheem is my son, and he dies as a suckling babe. He has now two foster-mothers who would complete his suckling period in Paradise.”
Al-Mugheerah ibn Shu’bah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: “The sun eclipsed in the lifetime of Allah's Messenger ﷺ on the day when (his son) Ibraaheem died. So, the people said that the sun had eclipsed because of the death of Ibraaheem. Allah's Messenger ﷺ said, "The sun and the moon do not eclipse because of the death or life (i.e., birth) of someone. When you see the eclipse pray and invoke Allah."
Aboo Bakrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: "The sun became eclipsed during the lifetime of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ so he ﷺwent out dragging his garment, until he came to the masjid, and the people gathered around him. He ﷺ led us in praying two units and when (the eclipse) ended he said: 'The sun and the moon are two of the signs of Allah by means of which Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, strikes fear into His slaves. They do not become eclipsed for the death or birth of anyone. If you see that, then pray until Allah relieves you of fear.' That was because his son, named Ibraaheem, had died, and the people suggested to him that (the eclipse) happened because of that."
Ibraaheem was born in al-Madeenah in the 8th year after Hijrah from his slave-girl, Mariyyah the Coptic. It was Aboo Raafi’, the freed slaved of the Prophet ﷺ who delivered the good news of his birth to him; thus, he ﷺ granted him a slave. However, Ibraaheem died before he was weaned. The scholars differed on whether the Prophet ﷺ prayed over him or not.
It was named the Farewell Pilgrimage because the Prophet ﷺ bid farewell to the Muslims and it was his last pilgrimage. It was also called the Pilgrimage of Islam because it was the only pilgrimage that he ﷺ performed from al-Madeenah. It is also called the Pilgrimage of Announcement because the Prophet ﷺ proclaimed and taught the people the rites of pilgrimage in actions and words. Before this, all other rulings pertaining to the pillars of Islam were explained; therefore, after he ﷺ clarified the rites and rulings of Hajj, Allah, Most High, revealed to him while he was on the mount of ‘Arafah: {Today I have perfected your faith for you, completed My favour upon you, and chosen Islam as your way.} [Quran 5:3].
Large number of Muslims attended this Hajj because the Prophet ﷺ disclosed to the people that he is intending it. All of them wanted to attend, led by the Prophet, and learn the rites of Hajj from him directly in action. He ﷺ left al-Madeenah five nights from the end of the month of Dhoo al-Qa’dah.
During this journey, from al-Madeenah to Makkah and vice versa, the Prophet ﷺ faced and witnessed many events.
145 11 THE CALAMITY OF THE DEATH OF THE PROPHET ﷺ After his return from the farewell pilgrimage, the Prophet ﷺ fell ill. The illness began to take its toll on the Prophet, making him very frail and weak, and as the days passed, his sickness got worse and worse. At that time, he ﷺ was staying at the house of his wife, Maymoonah. He ﷺ called all his wives to come and then asked for their permission that he be treated at ‘Aishah’s house.
Narrated ‘Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her): “The Prophet ﷺ in his ailment in which he died, used to say, "O `Aishah! I still feel the pain caused by the food I ate at Khaybar, and at this time, I feel as if my aorta is being cut from that poison."
His sickness lasted for ten days before he ﷺ departed this life. Ibn Hajar said: “The scholars differed on the length of his sickness. The majority hold the view that it was 13 days. It was said, it was 14 days, and others said less than 13 days. And it was said, it was 10 days, which is the view that Sulaymaan al-Taymee confirmed in his book about the battles of the Prophet ﷺ and al-Bayhaqee reported through an authentic chain of narrators.”
He ﷺ died on Monday, the 12th of Rabee’ al-Awwal at the age of 63. He ﷺ was shrouded in three cotton garments of white Yemeni stuff from Sahool (This is said to have been the place where the cloth was woven, or the place from which it was exported), among which was neither a shirt nor a turban. The Muslims prayed over him ﷺ in successive groups due to their large numbers, and he ﷺ was buried in the same place where he died in the house of ‘Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her).
May Allah reward him ﷺ on behalf of us with the best reward that was ever given to any Prophet on behalf of his people and any Messenger on behalf of his nation.
Al-Aswad al-’Ansee, whose name is ‘Abhalah ibn Ka’ab ibn Ghawth, mounted a revolt towards the end of the life of the Messenger of Allah’s life, with a force of 700 fighters. He wrote a letter to the governors of the Prophet ﷺ (saying): O rebels! Keep for us the lands which you have taken from us and save what you have gathered. For we are more deserving of it, [especially since you have decided] to persist upon your current course of action!”
He then headed towards Najraan, with his army of fighters, and took possession of it; then he made his way towards San’aa’ where he clashed with Shahr ibn Baadhaam. Aswad overcame him and killed him and then proceeded to marry Shahr’s widow who was the paternal cousin of Fayrooz al-Daylamee whose name was Aazaadh. She believed in Allah and His Messengerﷺ and was (considered to be from amongst) the righteous.
As a result of the occupation of San’aa’ by al-‘Ansee, Mu’aadh ibn Jabal and Aboo Moosaa al-Ash’aree went to Hadramawt; the rest of the governors of the Prophet- Peace and Blessings be Upon Him-joined (forces) with al-Taahir; Omar ibn Haraam and Khaalid ibn Sa’eed ibn al-‘Aas returned to al-Madeenah. Yemen then began to trust al-Aswad al-‘Ansee and his affair began to spread like sparks from a blazing fire and intensified as his rule strengthened. Many people from Yemen denounced their Islam while those who remained Muslims had to hide their Islam from al-Aswad.
Upon hearing the news and developments regarding al-Aswad al-‘Ansee, the Messenger of Allah- Peace and Blessings be Upon Him-sent a letter to Qays ibn Makshooh; and in it, he commanded the Muslims to fight al-Aswad al-‘Ansee and to overpower him. Mu’aadh ibn Jabal (may Allah be pleased with him) proceeded to obey that letter very intently.
Some of the people of Yemen who were close to Mu’aadh ibn Jabal and allied to him, as well as Qays ibn ‘Abd Yaghawth-the commander of al-Aswad’s army-and Fayrooz al-Daylamee, all agreed and swore an oath they would kill him.
At nightfall, they all entered his home with Fayrooz al-Daylamee at the forefront where they found al-Aswad sleeping deeply on a bed made of silk. He was drunk and snoring with the woman sitting nearby. (The group) quickly (surrounded him) and grabbed him and he was like a camel [waiting to be slaughtered]. Someone took his head, smashed his neck, and pushed his knees into his back until they had killed him. Then Qays, Daadhwayhi, and Fayrooz discussed how they would next proceed to inform the people of their collective. They agreed that they would, in the morning, proclaim the sign by which they are known to the other Muslims. When the morning came, Qays stood on the walls of the fortress and yelled out their sign, causing the Muslims and the Disbelievers to gather round the walls. Qays yelled out: “I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, and that ‘Abhalah is a liar!” And he threw the head (of al-Aswad) towards them, upon which the companions (al-Aswad) fled the scene, but they were watched, followed, apprehended, and shackled everywhere they could be found. Thereupon, Islam prevailed, and Muslim reattained the power, and the deputies of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ returned to their posts and the agreed that Mu’aadh ibn Jabal would lead the Muslims in prayer. The governors of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ wrote to the Prophet ﷺ informing him of what happened. The reign of (al-Aswad al-‘Ansee) lasted only 3 or 4 months from the time of his appearance to the time of his assassination.
After the passing of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, some of the Arabs apostatized from Islam and hypocrisy reared its ugly head. The situation was intense and grave, and people’s concern grew great. In response to this, Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) dispatched Usamah’s battalion which depleted the number of fighters available in al-Madeenah. This tempted several Arab tribes to attack al-Madeenah to take it over; therefore, Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) placed upon the various entry-points around the city guards who were stationed there and surrounded by battalions. The scores of Arabs that came to al-Madeenah continued praying but refused to pay zakat; and some of them simply refused to pay it to Abu Bakr himself. The Companions advised Abu Bakr that he should leave those who are refusing to zakat and that he should be kind to them until faith is made strong in their hearts. Then, they will (return) to paying the zakat. However, Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with) disagreed and did not heed to their suggestions. ‘Omar ibn al-Khattaab (may Allah be pleased with him) then said to Abu Bakr: “Why are you going to fight (these) people while the Messenger of Allah-ﷺ- has said: “I have been commanded to fight people until they say that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, and if they say that, then they have safeguarded their blood and their wealth from me except by it.” Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) replied: “I swear by Allah, that if they kept young she-goats”-and in another narration: a camel’s leash- “that they used to give the Messenger of Allah ﷺ I will fight them for it. Verily, zakat is a right due on wealth. I swear by Allah! I shall fight whomsoever distinguishes between the [obligatory] prayer and zakat!”
Later, ‘Omar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “I then saw that Allah inspired Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) to fight and I knew then, that this was the right way [about the matter].” Accordingly, Abu Bakr (may Allah be well pleased with him) fought (the apostates) until only those who obeyed Allah and His Messenger ﷺ remained on the entire Arabian Peninsula and those under the care of Abu Bakr; such as [the Christians] in Najran, and those like them.
Most of those battles occurred towards the end of the 11th year of the Hijrah and part of the beginning of the 12th.
After three days from the warning of Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) that the apostatized Arabs may attack al-Madeenah, they launched a sudden surprise attack on al-Madeenah while half of them stationed at Dhee Hasaa as a support. The guards who were stationed around the city informed Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) about the impending attack. He responded by telling them to stay where they were, then he rode out with the people of al-Madeenah and the governors of its various fronts to fight the nomad Arabs who had encircled al-Madeenah to attack it. By dawn, the Muslims and their enemy were on one plane, and they did not hear a sound nor a whisper from them until the Muslims had their swords pointed at them. By the time sun had risen, each and every one of them had turned their backs and hastily ran back (in retreat). This was the first of battle-victories in which the polytheists were abased and which the Muslims took honor in.
At that time [before this battle], the tribes of Banee Dhubyan and ‘Abs killed the Muslim members amongst their respective tribes; and those tribes who followed Dhubyan and ‘Abs did likewise. Thereupon, Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) swore to avenge for the innocent Muslims who were killed and that he would kill from each tribe that partook in this crime equal number of people and more. This battle, which the Muslims won, was one of the greatest abetments which served to vindicate Islam and its people during this period. Not only did it honor the Muslims in their Arab tribes, but also abased every disbeliever in every tribe. After the battle, Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) then returned to al-Madeenah, victorious and helped, safe and successful.
When Usaamah ibn Zayd (may Allah be pleased with him) arrived from his mission to the Romans, Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) assigned him as his deputy in al-Madeenah, and he ordered him and his men to relax (after their travels). Then, he proceeded to ride out with the other Muslims that were with him. It was said to him [out of their concern for his safety], it would be better if you were to return to al-Madeenah and delegated someone else, but he said: “I swear by Allah that I will not do it, and I will put my life in line for you.” Among those who joined the ranks of Abu Bakr’s expedition were al-Nu’maan, Abdullah, and Suwayd from the tribe of Banoo Muqrin, and they were focused on the mission of avenging for the Muslims that were killed. Upon their arrival to al-Rabdhah in al-Abraq, they engaged in combat with the people from Banee ‘Abs, Dhubyan who were there with a band from Banee Kinaanah. Allah caused al-Haartih and ‘Awf to be split and they took al-Hutay’ah prisoner. The tribes of Banoo ‘Abs and Banoo Bakr then fled, and Abu Bakr and his victorious expedition remained in al-Abraq several days. As the Muslims took power over those territories after they were under the power of Banoo Dhubyan, Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) said: it is impermissible for Banoo Dhubyan to possess any of these lands, for Allah has given these lands to us (as booty) and protected al-Abraq with the Muslim equestrians. Then, he (may Allah be pleased with him) pastured the lands of al-Rabadhah. And when ‘Abs and Dhubyan fled, they joined the allies of Talhah who was at Bazaakhah.
After Usaamah’s army had finished recuperating, Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) continued riding out with the Muslims [letting people know] that he was ready for a fight (lit. his sword drawn), from al-Madeenah to Dhee al-Qissah. Alee ibn Abee Taalib (may Allah be pleased with him) was at the forefront of Abu Bakr’s numerous travels. The Companions asked him about this and began to impress upon Abu Bakr that he needed to return to al-Madeenah and that he should send out someone else to find against the nomad Arabs, amongst the brave and the heroic whom he already commands. He (may Allah be pleased with him) conceded to their requests and nominated eleven new commanders and generals. This, so that they would fight against Tulayhah ibn Khuwaylid, Maalik ibn Nuwayrah, Musaylimah the Liar, al-‘Ansi, ‘Uyaynah ibn Hisn and others from amongst the apostates. For that purpose, he wrote to every single commander and general a letter detailing their mission in detail, and upon which each general led his group of soldiers from Dhee al-Qissah, and then Abu Bakr returned to al-Madeenah.
When Khaalid ibn al-Waleed left Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with both of them) and set out with his troops from Dhee al-Qissah, he promised him that he would be stationed towards Khaybar with the rest of his commanders. He did so to make it obvious to frighten the nomad Arabs. Abu Bakr commanded him to first fight Tulayhah al-Asadee, then to fight Banee Tameem.
Tulayhah ibn Khuwaylid was amongst his people, Banee Asad in Ghatafaan, to whom Banoo ‘Abs and Dhubyan later joined. He also sent envoys to Banee Judhaylah, al Ghawth, and Tayy’ inviting them to join him. As a result of this, Khaalid ibn al-Waleed was on his guard because of Tulayhah’s actions i.e., he sent him messengers to warn him against spilling the blood of his companions, all of which Tulayhah disregarded and only increased in his transgression. This is when Khaalid became intent upon waging war against him. Amid all this, several nomad tribes were intently waiting to see who would come out the victor. When Tulayhah arrived (to fight) along with those who were allied with him from his peoples and from those who associated themselves to him, the people fled from him. And when the Muslims arrived, he mounted a steed prepared specifically to him and he placed his wife upon a she-camel and then fled with her to al-Shaam. His party then broke up and Allah slew a large portion of those who had allied themselves to him.
Tulayhah al-Asadee had apostatized during the Prophet’s lifetime. When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ died, ‘Uyaynah ibn Hisn supported and protected him after he had apostatized from Islam. Khaalid imprisoned ‘Uyaynah ibn Hisn, and then sent him along with others to al-Madeenah walking with his hands tied to their necks. As (‘Uyaynah) entered al-Madeenah looking like that, the children poked him with their hand and taunted him saying: “Oh Enemy of Allah! You decided to apostatize from Islam!” And he would respond: “By Allah, I never believed! Ever!” When he was brought before Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him), he was commanded to repent and promised his blood would be safeguarded. Thereafter, (‘Uyaynah) made good on his Islam. As for Tulayhah, he returned to his Islam as well; he went to Makkah on ‘Umrah during the time that Abu Bakr was still alive. Tulayhah was ashamed to face Abu Bakr the remainder of his life. He also witnessed several battles with Khaalid, but Abu Bakr wrote to Khaalid advising him that he should seek advice from Tulayhah in matters of war and not to command him.
