The Messenger of Allah, , decided to perform Hajj and announced publicly that he was going to do so, and so the people prepared themselves to perform it with him. This was during the month of Thul-Qa‘dah in the tenth year after Hijrah (emigration). A great number of people who lived around Madeenah heard about this and came eagerly to perform Hajj with the Messenger of Allah, . On the way, many people met him to go with him, and they filled the land as far as the eye could see. They were in front of him, behind him, to his right, and to his left. The Prophet, , set out from Madeenah in the afternoon after he had performed the four Rak’ahs (units) for the Thuhr prayer on Saturday, 25th of Thul-Qa‘dah.
Earlier, he had addressed them with a sermon in which he taught them how to assume Ihraam (ritual consecration), its obligations and Sunnahs. Then, he proceeded on as he recited Talbiyah (the pilgrimage related ritualistic chant), saying: “Labbayk Allahumma Labbayk. Labbayka la shareeka laka labbayk. Innal hamda wan-ni‘mata laka wal-mulk. La shareeka lak [I am responding to Your call, O Allah, I am responding to Your call; You Have no partner, I am responding to Your call. Praise and graces are Yours, and Yours is the dominion. You have no partner].”The people also pronounced their Talbiyah, with some minor additions or reductions, but the Messenger of Allah, , did not object to any of them. However, he adhered to his own Talbiyah.
He proceeded until he reached ‘Araj, and from there he advanced to Al-Abwaa’, then came upon the valley of ‘Usfaan, then Sarif, and continued until he alighted at Thu-Tuwa, where he spent the night of Sunday, Thul-Hijjah 4. He performed the morning prayer there and bathed; then he proceeded towards Makkah. The sun had risen when the Prophet, , entered Makkah from its upper side. He walked until he entered the Mosque in the forenoon, and he touched the corner (of the Ka’bah). [Muslim] He performed Tawaaf (circumambulation); three rounds at a quick pace and four rounds at a normal pace. Then he went to Maqaam Ibraaheem [the standing place of Ibraaheem (Abraham), may Allah exalt his mention], and recited (what means): {And [mention] when We made the House a place of return for the people and [a place of] security. And take, [O believers], from the standing place of Abraham a place of prayer. And We charged Abraham and Ishmael, [saying], “Purify My House for those who perform Tawaaf and those who are staying [there] for worship and those who bow and prostrate [in prayer].”} [Quran 2:125] He then stood, with Maqaam Ibraaheem between him and the House and offered a two-Rak’ah prayer; during the two Rak‘ahs, he recited Soorah Al-Kaafiroon and Soorah Al-Ikhlaas. He then returned to the corner of the Black Stone and touched it.
He then went out of the gate of the Mosque and went to Mount As-Safa. When he came near it, he recited: {Indeed, As-Safa and Al-Marwah are among the symbols of Allah. So whoever makes Hajj to the House or performs 'Umrah - there is no blame upon him for walking between them. And whoever volunteers good - then indeed, Allah is Appreciative and Knowing.} [Quran 2:158] He started with what Allah The Almighty started with - he first climbed Mount As-Safa until he could see the House. Facing the Qiblah (direction of prayer), he declared the Oneness of Allah whom he magnified, and said: “Laa ilaaha illaa Allah wahdahu laa shareeka lahu, lahul mulk wa lahul hamd wa huwa ‘ala kulli shay’in qadeer. Laa ilaaha illa Allah wahdah anjaza wa’dah wa nasara ‘abdah wa hazaamal ahzaab wahdah [There is none worthy of worship except Allah; He is One and has no partner. His is the dominion, and to Him be the praise, and He has Power over all things. There is none worthy of worship except Allah, The One, who fulfilled His promise, made His slave victorious, and [He] Alone defeated the confederates .” The Prophet, , said this three times and supplicated Allah The Almighty in between each saying and at the end.
He then descended and walked towards Mount Al-Marwah. When his feet came down in the bottom of the valley, he walked at a quick pace. When he started to ascend, he walked at a normal pace till he reached Mount Al-Marwah, where he did as he had done at Mount As-Safa. At the end of the last round at Mount Al-Marwah, he said: “Had I known earlier what I have now come to know, I would not have driven the sacrificial animals and would rather have made it an ‘Umrah [lesser pilgrimage]. So, whoever among you does not have the sacrificial animal with him should remove Ihraam and make it an ‘Umrah.” Suraaqah bin Maalik bin Ju‘shum got up and said, “O Messenger of Allah, does this apply only to this year or forever?” The Messenger of Allah, , intertwined the fingers of one hand into the other, and said twice: “The [rituals of] ‘Umrah have become included in the [ceremonies of] Hajj [adding], perpetually and forever.”[Muslim]
He stayed four days in Makkah, from Sunday to Wednesday. When it was Thursday forenoon, he went in the company of the Muslims who were with him to Mina where he alighted and led Thuhr, ‘Asr, Maghrib, ‘Ishaa’ and Fajr prayers. He waited a little until the sun rose, and then ordered that a tent made of hair be pitched for him at the area of Namirah. The Messenger of Allah, , proceeded and the people of Quraysh had no doubt that he would halt at Al-Mash‘ar Al-Haraam, as they used to do in the pre-Islamic days. The Messenger of Allah, , proceeded on till he arrived at ‘Arafaat where a tent had been pitched for him at Namirah. He halted till the sun moved away from its zenith. He ordered that his she-camel, Al-Qaswaa’, be brought and saddled for him. Then he came to the bottom of the valley, and addressed the people saying:
Indeed your blood and property are as sacred as this day of yours, in this month of yours, in this town of yours is. Behold, everything that belongs to Jaahiliyah [the pre-Islamic era] is under my feet [i.e. worthless]. The blood claims of retaliations of the pre-Islamic times are to be annulled. The first claim to retaliation, which I abolish, is that of Ibn Rabee‘ah bin Al-Haarith, who was nursed in the tribe of Sa‘d and then killed by [the tribe of] Huthayl. The Riba [usury and interest] of the pre-Islamic Days is also to be abolished. The first Riba [usury] of ours that I abolish is that of Al-‘Abbaas bin ‘Abd-Al-Muttalib; it is entirely abolished. Fear Allah concerning women! Indeed you have taken them under the protection of Allah, and sexual intercourse with them has been made lawful for you by the words of Allah. You also have rights upon them, that is, they should not allow anyone whom you do not like to enter your homes, and if they do so, you can hit them but not severely. Their rights upon you are that you should provide them reasonably with food and clothing. I have left among you the Book of Allah, and if you hold fast to it, you would never go astray. You will be asked about me [on the Day of Judgement]: What will you say?
The people said, “We will testify that you conveyed the message of Allah, fulfilled the duties of Prophethood and advised us.” The Prophet, , raised his index finger towards the sky and pointed at the people, (saying): “O Allah, bear witness!” He said this thrice. [Muslim]
Then, the Prophet, , ordered Bilaal, may Allah be pleased with him, to pronounce the Athaan (call to prayer), and he did so, and then pronounced the Iqaamah (immediate call to prayer). The Prophet, , led Thuhr prayer. Bilaal then pronounced the Iqaamah once again and the Prophet, , led the ‘Asr prayer. He did not perform any supererogatory prayer in between them.
The Messenger of Allah, , then rode his she-camel and came to the standing place, making his she-camel Al-Qaswaa’ turn towards the direction of the rocks at the foot of Mount Ar-Rahmah, having the path of walkers in front of him, and he was facing the Qiblah. He stayed there until sunset, when the yellow light had gone a little and the disc of the sun had disappeared.
According to Shaykh Abu Al-Hasan An-Nadwi the Messenger of Allah, , continued to pray, supplicate and invoke until the sun set, during which time he was raising his hands near his chest, as though he were an indigent begging for food; he supplicated:
O Allah, You hear my words, see my place, and know my hidden and open affairs, nothing thereof is hidden from You. I am the wretched, poor one who seeks rescue and refuge, and who is fearful and admits his sins. I ask You just as the indigent one does. I pray to You just as the humble, sinful one does, and I call upon You just as the terrified one whose neck has been submissively lowered down for You, whose tears have been shed, whose body has been made humble, and whose nose has touched the earth. O Allah, make me not unsuccessful in my supplication, and be kind and merciful to me. You are the best to be asked, and the best to give.
After he had finished, the following verse was revealed to him, in which Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favor upon you and have approved for you Islam as religion.} [Quran 5:3]
When the sun had set, he left ‘Arafah and made Usaamah bin Zayd, may Allah be pleased with him, ride behind him. He moved with tranquility. He tugged the nose string of his she-camel so such that its head touched the saddle. He then said: “O people, be tranquil.”
He kept reciting the Talbiyah uninterruptedly until he reached Muzdalifah, where he ordered the Mu’aththin to pronounce the Athaan, and he did so accordingly, and then he pronounced the Iqaamah, and the Prophet, , led the Maghrib prayer before unpacking their luggage and making their camels kneel down. When they unpacked their bags, he ordered prayer to be performed, and the prayer was established and he led ‘Ishaa’ prayer. Then, the Prophet, , slept there until morning. When it was dawn, he offered the morning prayer as soon as it became due.
He rode his she-camel and proceeded on until he arrived at Al-Mash‘ar Al-Haraam (the Sacred Site), where he faced the Qiblah, and went on with his supplication, invocation, Takbeer (saying Allahu Akbar, ‘Allah is Greatest’), Tahleel (saying La Ilaaha Illa Allah, ‘None is worthy of worship except Allah’), and celebrating the praises of Allah. He continued doing so till the daylight was very clear.
He then proceeded on quickly before the sun rose, and made Al-Fadhl bin Al-‘Abbaas, may Allah be pleased with him, ride behind him, and he was reciting Talbiyah while he went. He ordered Ibn ‘Abbaas, may Allah be pleased with him, to pick up seven pebbles for him to throw at the Jamrah. When he arrived at the bottom of Muhassir valley, he urged his she-camel on and walked at a quick pace, for it was at that place that the Companions of the Elephant had received the torment of Allah The Almighty. When he reached Mina, he came to Jamrat Al-‘Aqabah, which he cast with pebbles while he was mounting his she-camel, after the sun had risen.
(To be continued)