Umrah of Obligation

The Muslims' Departure to Mecca

After the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah, a turning point came in the relations between the Prophet Muhammad and his companions with the Quraysh of Mecca regarding their entry into Mecca and visiting the Kaaba. Muhammad called upon the people to prepare for the journey of Umrah al-Qada, a pilgrimage they were previously prohibited from completing. It is not difficult for you to imagine how eager the Muslims responded to this call, including the migrants who had left Mecca seven years earlier and the Ansar, who had trading ties and a deep affection for Mecca. Consequently, the number of participants in this expedition reached two thousand, compared to the previous year when there were only 1,400. In adherence to the terms of the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah, none of these men carried weapons except for sheathed swords. However, Muhammad was always cautious about any potential treachery. He organized a hundred horsemen led by Muhammad ibn Muslimah to act as a vanguard to ensure they did not breach Mecca's sanctuary and to halt in a valley nearby when they reached the outskirts. 

The Muslims also brought sixty sacrificial camels, and Muhammad led the way on his camel, al-Qaswa. They set out from Medina with great enthusiasm, eager to enter the holiest of cities, perform the rituals of the pilgrimage, and witness the landmarks of their homeland. Each migrant longed to see the place of his birth, the house where he grew up, and the companions he left behind. They yearned to breathe the air of this sacred land, to feel the honor and reverence for their blessed city, where the first revelation descended upon Muhammad. You can envision this unique procession of two thousand Muslims and their excitement, fueled by faith, as their hearts danced with joy.

When they finally reached Mecca, they circled the Kaaba, their hearts brimming with devotion and joy. Upon their return, they shared stories about their experiences in Mecca, recounting their memories of the city, their childhood friends, and the sacrifices they had made for the sake of God during their migration. This remarkable display of faith and devotion during the Umrah al-Qada pilgrimage demonstrated the deep bond that the Muslims had with their homeland and the Kaaba, which God had made a sanctuary and a source of security for all people.

The Evacuation of Quraysh from Mecca

Quraysh recognized the advance of the Messenger Muhammad and his companions, and as part of the terms of the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah, they evacuated Mecca. They retreated to the surrounding hills, where they set up tents and sought shelter beneath the trees. From vantage points like Abu Qubays and Hira, high above Mecca and overlooking the city, the Meccans watched with eyes filled with longing as Muhammad and his companions entered the sanctuary of the Kaaba. Nothing stood in their way as they approached the sacred city; there was no resistance or obstacle preventing them from reaching their destination.

The Muslims in Front of the Sacred Kaaba and Performing Tawaf

The Muslims descended upon Mecca from the north, with Abdullah bin Rawaha leading the way on the back of his camel, Qaswa. The senior companions surrounded the Prophet, peace be upon him, and the rows of Muslims stretched behind them, with every man on foot or atop his riding camel. As they reached the exposed Kaaba, the hearts of the Muslims burst forth with a single voice, chanting, "Labbayk, Labbayk!" Their hearts and souls were turned towards the majestic countenance of Allah. They were enveloped in a radiant aura of hope and reverence, accompanying this Prophet sent by Allah with guidance and the true religion to manifest it above all other religions.

This was a truly extraordinary scene in history, one that shook the very foundations of the earth, attracting even the hardest of hearts among the pagans and idolaters towards Islam. All eyes in Mecca were focused on this event, and they witnessed the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, and his companions during this momentous journey.

The echoing call of "Labbayk! Labbayk!" from the depths of their hearts resounded and reverberated. When the Prophet, peace be upon him, arrived at the Masjid al-Haram (the Sacred Mosque), he lay down his cloak, extended his right arm, and said, "O Allah, have mercy upon those who observe today from themselves a strong and faithful resolution". Then, he touched the Yemeni Corner, marked by the Black Stone, and began the circumambulation (Tawaf) around the Kaaba.

The approximately two thousand Muslims followed in his steps, running as he ran and walking as he walked. Quraysh, observing from the vantage point of Abu Qubays and Hira, witnessed this remarkable scene from various angles. They testified that the Prophet Muhammad and his companions were performing this act in a state of exhaustion and toil. They realized the significance of what was happening, which erased all doubts they held regarding Muhammad and his companions.

Upon completing the circumambulation, the Prophet, peace be upon him, proceeded towards Safa and Marwah, where he performed seven rounds, following the practice of the pre-Islamic Arabs. Afterward, he sacrificed an animal at Marwah and shaved his head, thus fulfilling the rituals of Umrah. On the following day, the Prophet entered the Kaaba and remained inside until the Dhuhr (noon) prayer.

The idols remained intact within the Kaaba, but Bilal ascended its roof to call the Muslims to the Dhuhr prayer, serving as a muezzin from the Sacred Mosque. On that day, the Prophet led a congregation of two thousand Muslims in prayer at the very house he had been barred from for seven years.

The Muslims spent three days in Mecca, as stipulated in the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah, during which time Mecca was emptied of its inhabitants. The Muslims roamed freely without fear or interference from anyone.

During this time, the emigrants from Mecca visited their homes and families, and the Ansar accompanied them as if they were the hosts of this sacred city. Everyone moved as if they were native inhabitants of Mecca. All observed the Islamic way of life, performing their daily prayers with the utmost devotion. Each day, they extinguished the arrogance within themselves and aided their weaker brethren, extended help to the needy, and showed kindness to the poor.

The Prophet, peace be upon him, moved among them as a beloved friend and leader, smiling with some and jesting with others. He always spoke the truth, and in this enthusiasm for Islam, he had a unique opportunity to spread the message. The scene was magnificent, stirring even the most steadfast of the Meccans, who were ensnared by their idols and resistant to change.

This breathtaking tableau left a deep impression on the hearts and minds of the Meccans, witnessing a people whose noble qualities resembled their own. The Muslims neither drank alcohol nor engaged in sinful behavior, and they were not swayed by the allure of food or drink. They were unaffected by worldly temptations or desires and remained obedient to Allah's commands, carrying out their duties with humility.

One can only imagine the impact of this incredible scene on the Meccans. Later, Muhammad returned to Mecca with ten thousand Muslims and opened the city to the religion of Islam, fulfilling a promise he had made to himself and to Allah during these remarkable days.

The Marriage of Muhammad to Maimuna and the Muslims' Departure to Medina

Umm al-Fadl, the wife of Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib and the aunt of the Prophet played a pivotal role in facilitating the marriage of her sister Maimuna to Muhammad. Maimuna was twenty-six years old at the time and a cousin of Khalid ibn al-Walid.

When Maimuna observed the events during the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah and saw the actions of the Muslims, her heart inclined towards Islam. She approached her brother-in-law Abbas, who was Muhammad's uncle and offered her hand in marriage. Muhammad accepted the proposal, and the dowry for Maimuna was set at four hundred silver coins.

Although the stipulated three days of Hudaybiyyah had passed, Muhammad intended to make his marriage to Maimuna a means of further reconciliation and understanding between him and the Quraysh. When representatives from the Quraysh, Suhail ibn Amr and Huwaytib ibn Abd al-Uzza, approached him, saying, "Your agreed time has expired; leave us," Muhammad replied, "Why not let me perform the sacrifice I promised and prepare food for you? You may attend and partake in it". Muhammad offered this knowing the impact that the delay in performing the Umrah had on the hearts of the people of Mecca. He recognized how it had captivated them and eased their enmity, and he understood that if they accepted his invitation for food and conversation, it would open the doors of Mecca to him.

When Suhail and Huwaytib feared this outcome, they responded, "We have no need for your food; just leave us". Muhammad did not hesitate to comply with their request, realizing that this was part of his agreement with their tribes. He instructed the Muslims to depart, and they followed him. Abu Rafi, a freed slave, remained with Maimuna and brought her to Muhammad secretly. He built a chamber for her there.

Maimuna became one of the Mothers of the Believers, and after her, Muhammad did not marry another woman. She lived for fifty more years after their marriage and eventually asked to be buried where the chamber was built by the Messenger of Allah.

During this period, Muhammad also married Maimuna's sister, Salma, who was the widow of his uncle Hamza, and Amarah al-Bakriyah, who never married.

The Muslims reached Medina, establishing themselves there. Muhammad had no doubt about the lasting impact of the delay in performing the Umrah on the hearts of the Quraysh and the people of Mecca. He also recognized the rapid and significant consequences that would arise from these events.

Islam of Khalid ibn al-Walid

Time confirmed its destiny, for whenever someone from Mecca would return to Medina, Khalid ibn al-Walid would stand firm in his disbelief. Khalid was a renowned warrior of the Quraysh and a hero of the Battle of Uhud. He once said to a gathering of his people, "It is evident to anyone with intelligence that Muhammad is not a sorcerer or a poet, and his words are from the words of the Lord of the Worlds. It is incumbent upon everyone with sound judgment to follow him".

Akrama ibn Abi Jahl was alarmed when he heard this and responded, "You have certainly lost your mind, O Khalid!" Their conversation continued as follows:

Khalid: "I have not lost my mind; I have embraced Islam".

Akrama: "By Allah, the most deserving among the Quraysh not to speak such words is you!"

Khalid: "Why?"

Akrama: "Because Muhammad disgraced your father when he was injured, and he killed your uncle and your cousin at the Battle of Badr. By Allah, I never thought you would embrace Islam or utter such words, O Khalid! Have you not seen the Quraysh's intention to fight against him?"

Khalid: "That was the time of ignorance and tribal loyalty. But by Allah, I embraced Islam when the truth became clear to me".

Khalid then sent a message to the Prophet Muhammad, along with a declaration of his Islam and his gratitude. Word reached Abu Sufyan about Khalid's conversion, so he sent for him and asked, "Is it true what I've heard about you?" When Khalid affirmed his conversion, Abu Sufyan became angry and said, "By al-Lat and al-Uzza, if what you say is true, I would have embraced it before Muhammad". Khalid replied, "By Allah, it is the truth, despite all your objections". Furious, Abu Sufyan approached Khalid, but Akrama intervened and said, "Hold on, Abu Sufyan! By Allah, I feared that I would say the same as Khalid and I would follow his path. You are about to kill Khalid, who has embraced the faith, while all of Quraysh has given their allegiance to him! By Allah, I fear that the situation will not change until all the people of Mecca follow him". Khalid left Mecca for Medina and joined the ranks of the Muslims.

Islam of Amr ibn al-As and Uthman ibn Talha

Following Khalid's conversion, Amr ibn al-As and Uthman ibn Talha also embraced Islam. Many of the people of Mecca began to accept Islam and follow the true religion. With the conversions of these individuals, the strength of Islam grew, and the doors of Mecca were opened to the message of Muhammad, leaving no room for doubt.