The peaceful March to Makkah

THE PEACEFUL MARCH TO MAKKAH

Introduction:  

Content:

The Prophet and the others who had made Hijrah were now living in Madinah.

They longed to be back in Makkah

The Pagan ( Non-believers of Makkah) were oppressive and cruel.

During the month of Shawwal the Prophet (SAW) had a very special vision of offering Hajj, shaving his head and sacrificing Hadiy.

The real objective of his vision is considered as to find a way to have peace between the Muslims and the Pagans

In the sixth year after the Hijrah, the Prophet set out to make Umrah.

Some of the pagans did not want him to come in spite of the rule (that all are allowed to visit Ka’bah and do pilgrimage or Hajj in sacred months without any restriction or harm)  

The Prophet Muhammad (SAW) traveled in the sixth year after Hijrah to Makkah with 1400 companions in the month of Thul Qi'da for performing pilgrimage. This month was considered as sacred by the Arabs ( Al-Ash-hur-ul-Hurum) when the Quraish people had not been attacking the pilgrims even though they are enemies according to their traditional system. 

This journey is considered as a new beginning in the history of preaching Islam because the Prophet (SAW) viewed peace as major pre-requisite for preaching Islam. The periods of war and enmity remained as hurdle in the way of flourishing the message of Islam. He thought that this journey will bring peace between two warring groups of Muslims and Makkans. During his journey he got a message that the Quraish are prepared to block him and wage battle and camped in a place known as Thee-Tuwa. He selected another route in the west of main route and reached Al-Hudaibiya, camped there and waited for permission of Quraish to enter Makkah. But the Quraish tried ether to provoke Muslims and start the war or to surrender to their superiority. When the Prophet denied to surrender and did not want to engage in battle things reached into the course of bilateral peace talks. The Prophet (SAW) sent Uthman bin Affan as his emissary to Quraish. There spread a rumor that Uthman is killed by Quraish. The Prophet wanted his companions to pledge that they will stand with him in the case of life and death and it was for waging war for Uthman bin Affan. This pledge is known as Bay'at-ur-Ridwan. However later known that Uthman is alive and he came back. Thereafter peace talks started between two groups.  

Class notes:

Key words:

 Sacred: Holy

Al-Ash-hur-ul-Hurum: The sacred months which are four months

Muharram (1),      Rajab (7), Thul-Qi’dah (11), Thul-Hijjah (12

                                                                                                                  

Al-Masjid-ul-Haram: The sacred Masjid in Makkah

Pilgrimage: the Hajj

Hadiy: The animal that is slaughtered as part of Hajj or Umrah rituals

Negotiate: talk, bargain, agree

Al-Hudaibiya: A place 15 miles north-west of Makkah that became very historical

Bay’at-ur-Ridwan: The action of 1400 Muslims who pledged to obey the Prophet as he stood under a tree to take their pledge.

They swore to obey Allah and His Prophet (SAW) even in matters of life and death.

Study Questions and answers:

1.      When did the Prophet (SAW) head to Makkah and why?

Six years after Hijrah in the month of Thul-Qi’dah, one of the sacred months, the Prophet (SAW) headed to Makkah on Umrah, the lesser pilgrimage.

2.     Why did he choose the month of Thul-Qi’dah to perform his visit to Makkah?

The Prophet (SAW) chose the month of Thul-Qi’dah because it was one of the sacred months in which people could visit Makkah without fearing being killed or attacked.

3.     What was the Prophet’s (SAW) main motive for visiting Makkah, additional to worshipping in Al-Masjid Al-Haram?

It seems that the real objective of the Messenger of Allah (SAW) was to find a peaceful way to resolve the conflict between the Muslims and Pagans. He also wanted to counter the Quraysh’s war mongering attitude with a spirit of peace.

4.     What was the Quraysh’s reaction to Prophet Muhammad’s (SAW) initiative?

Quraysh set off with their camels to Thee-Tuwa in preparation for a long and arduous war under Khalid Ibn-ul-Walid. They swore that they will never allow the Prophet (SAW) to enter Makkah in spite of them.

5.     Who was the Prophet Muhammad’s ﷺ emissary to Makkans? What happened to him?

Uthman was Prophet’s (SAW) emissary to Makkans. Quraish gave him permission to do Umrah but he denied to do it until the Prophet had done so. Then they held him in hostage. When Uthman was delayed, the Muslims feared that he had been killed or hurt.

6.     What is Bay’at-ur-Ridwan? Why did the Prophet ﷺ call for it? And where did it happen?

It is the action of 1400 Muslims who pledged to obey Allah and his Prophet (SAW) even in matters of life and death. Prophet (SAW) called his men for this pledge when he heard that his emissary Uthman is captured by the Makkans. It happened under a tree in Al-Hudaybiyah.