Umrah is finally performed

A year had gone by since the Treaty of Hudaybia, and in accordance with the pact, the Muslims were now free to set out for Umrah. After handing over the affairs of Madinah to Abu Rahm Ghifari, the Prophet started out for Makkah with sixty sacrificial camels under the care of Naj’ah bin Jundub Aslami. Fearful of fresh treachery by the Quraysh, they carried their weapons and one hundred horses under the care of Basheer bin Sa’d.

At Dhul Hulayfah, the party entered the state of consecration and put on Ihraam. The Prophet began chanting the Talbiyah aloud. “Labbyak,” he called to his Lord. “Here I am at your service O Allah!” he cried out, and his followers echoed his cry. The journey to the House of God was formally begun. When the pilgrims got to Hajoon, they disarmed themselves and handed their weapons to Aus bin Khuli Al-Ansari who, along with two hundred men, was in charge of weaponry. These people would stay behind to form the defence while the others performed their religious duties.

As they neared Makkah, the pilgrims took with them only sheathed swords, adhering to the agreement at Hudaybia. They entered the city at Kada’a which opened at Hajun. Mounted on his camel, Qaswa, flanked by his armed Companions, and chanting, “Labbyak,” the Prophet rode into the city. Thus they all moved towards the Ka’bah. The Prophet touched the Black Stone with a stick. Still seated on Qaswa, he circumambulated the Ka’bah, and the Muslims followed suit. They circled round the Ka’bah with their right shoulders uncovered in a display of their valour. After all, they had won the right to worship Allah in His Sacred Mosque in full view of the pagans.

Abdullah bin Rawaha moved ahead of the Prophet , his sword across his shoulder as he recited the couplets: Progeny of the unbelievers, step aside and make room. Make room, for all the virtues lie in our Prophet . Today we shall smite you at His command upon whose revelation we smote you before. We will smite you to dislodge your skulls and make friend oblivious to friend.

The polytheists sat on mount Qayiqa’ north of the Ka’bah, observing the newcomers in amazement and reluctant admiration. They had heard that the pilgrims were a sickly lot, reeling under the fevers rampant in Yathrib, as they still referred at Madinah, but what they saw was different. These were not feverish, emaciated men, but proud sturdy warriors who compared with the best of their own. Thus, the Prophet’s strategy succeeded. Well aware of the mentality of the Quraysh, the Prophet had instructed his Companions to run while performing circumambulation in order to show off their strength to the pagans. However, they were not to run between the Yemini pillar and the Black Stone, for this position lay south, out of the polytheists’ range of vision.

Circumambulation being over, the Prophet stayed in Makkah. During this period, he married Maymoona bint Al- Harith Hilalya, widow of Hamzah bin Abdul Muttalib and the aunt of Ibn Abbas. When she received the Prophet’s proposal, she entrusted it to Abbas, who then gave her in marriage to the Prophet . The Prophet of course was out of Ihraam at the time, for his first act had been to complete Umrah and come out of the state of consecration.

On the morning of the fourth day, the Prophet began the journey back to Madinah. His first halting place was Sarf, none miles from Makkah. It was there that Maymoona was sent out to him as his bride. Allah had also decreed that Maymoona would later die at Sarf and be buried there, at the same place where she had become the bride of the Prophet .