Abu Bakr performs Hajj

The pagan Arabs considered themselves followers of the religion of Ibraheem . Indeed they had inherited Hajj (pilgrimage to the Ka’bah) from Ibraheem, although they had added many innovations to the rites.

When the Prophet conquered Makkah, he put Atab bin Usayd in charge. Everyone, Muslims, polytheists included, performed Hajj under his authority, but they performed it in the same manner as during the days before Islam. In the year following the conquest of Makkah (9 A.H.), the Prophet sent Abu Bakr to lead the pilgrims in performing Hajj.

Abu Bakr set out for Makkah with three hundred Muslims from Madinah at the end of Dhul Qa’dah. He took twenty of the Prophet’s camels for sacrifice. After Abu Bakr left, the opening verse of Surah Al-Taubah were revealed. These verses contained an important announcement for tribes that had covenants with the Muslims. Any covenant that had not been honoured would be broken, and any tribe that did not have a covenant with the Muslims would have a grace period of four months. Covenants that had been honoured would remain valid.

The Prophet sent Ali to Makkah to inform every one of the new verses. On the day of the sacrifice, Ali recited the new verses to the pilgrims. Abu Bakr then sent a band of people to announce that from the next year, polytheists would not be allowed to perform Hajj, nor would anyone be allowed to practice the perverted tradition of circumambulating the Ka’bah in the nude.