النص المفهرس

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be conquered soon and Heraclius will flee from there."
Rasūlullah % then prohibited them from going to fortunetellers
and from eating their sacrificial animals. They departed after a
few days. Rasūlullah
gave them some gifts on their
departure.1
24. The delegation of Balīyy
In Rabī' al-Awwal 9 A.H. a delegation of Balīyy came to
Rasulullah ¿ and embraced Islam. Rasulullah % said to them:
"All praise is due to Allah who guided you towards Islam.
Anyone who dies on a religion other than Islam shall enter the
hell fire."
The head of the delegation, Abu ad-Dabib, said: "O Messenger
of Allah! I like entertaining guests. Is there any reward for me
in this?" Rasūlullah % replied: "Yes. There is reward in this as
well. When you show kindness to anyone, whether he is rich or
poor, it is recorded as a charity in your favour." He asked: "O
Messenger of Allah! What is the limit of entertaining a guest?"
Rasūlullah % replied: "Three days. Thereafter it is charity. It is
not permitted for a guest to cause discomfort to the host."
These people left after three days. Rasulullah gave them
provisions for the journey when they were departing.2
25. The delegation of Banī Murrah
After Tabūk, a delegation of 13 members from the Banī Murrah
came to Rasulullah in 9 A.H. Harith ibn 'Auf was the leader
of this delegation. They said to Rasulullah : "O Messenger of
Allah! We are from your people. We are from the progeny of
Lu'ayy ibn Ghalib." Rasulullah % smiled and inquired about
their land. They replied that there was a lot of destruction
1 Zād al-Ma 'ād, vol. 3, pp. 48-49.
2 'Uyûn al-Athar, vol. 2, pp. 251-252.

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The Life of Muhammad %
because of the severe drought. He immediately supplicated for
rain. When they returned to their land, they learnt that it had
rained the very day in which Rasulullah & had supplicated for
rain. The entire land had become green and lush. When they
were leaving, Rasūlullah % gave 10 ounces of silver to each of
them and 12 ounces to their leader.1
26. The delegation of Khaulan
In Sha'ban 10 A.H. ten people from the Yemeni tribe of
Khaulan came to Rasūlullah % and said: "O Messenger of
Allāh! We believe in Allah and in His Messenger. Allah and
His Messenger have been very kind to us. We have travelled a
great distance because of our desire to meet you." Rasūlullah
replied: "This journey of yours has not been in vain. You are
rewarded for every step that you took. The person who comes
to visit me in Madinah will be under my protection on the day
of resurrection." Rasulullah & then inquired of them about their
idol, 'Amm Anas. They replied that through his guidance and
teachings, they found a far better alternative, and that no one
save a few old men and old women bother about it. They added
that on their return, Insha Allah, no traces of it will be left.
Rasūlullah % taught them the compulsory injunctions of Islam
and advised them to fulfil their promises, fulfil their trusts, see
to the needs of neighbours, and to abstain from oppressing
anyone. When they were departing, he gave them 12 ounces of
silver. The first thing they did when they returned was that they
destroyed that idol.2
'Uyun al-Athar, vol. 2, pp. 252-252.
2 Zād al-Ma 'ād, vol. 3, p. 50.

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The Life of Muhammad %
27. The delegation of Muharib
The people of this tribe were very stern and rough. When
Rasūlullah % used to invite the Arab tribes in Makkah during
the days of hajj, these people used to treat him very harshly.
Ten members of this tribe came to Rasūlullah # in 10 A.H. and
embraced Islam. One of them said to Rasulullah : "O
Messenger of Allah! From my friends, there was not anyone
who was more severe than me to you and more antagonistic
towards Islam than my self. My friends have now passed away.
I am the only one left. All thanks are due to Allah s that he
kept me alive till I brought īman in you and testified to your
truthfulness." Rasūlullah # replied: "The heart is in the control
of Allah." The person said: "O Messenger of Allah! Supplicate
to Allah % on my behalf and seek forgiveness for me that Allah
forgives whatever disrespect I had shown to you." Rasūlullah
replied: "Embracing Islam wipes out unbelief and all actions
that were done when one was an unbeliever." These people
then returned to their homes.
28. The delegation of Suda'
When Rasūlullah % returned from Ji'irranah in 8 A.H., he sent
Muhājir ibn Abī Umayyah to San'ā', Ziyād ibn Labīd to
Hadramaut, and Qays ibn Sa'd ibn 'Ubādah with 400 riders
towards Qanat. Rasūlullah * also instructed Qays to visit the
Yemeni area of Sudā'. When Ziyad ibn Harith Suda'i heard of
this, he came himself and said: "O Messenger of Allah! Call
your army back. I guarantee that my people will embrace
Islam." Rasulullah ¿ summoned Qays ibn Sa'd back. Ziyad ibn
Harith came to Rasūlullah ¿ with a delegation of 15 people.
They all embraced Islam and pledged allegiance at his hands.
Rasūlullah % addressed Ziyad saying: "O Ziyad! Your people
are very obedient to you." He replied: "O Messenger of Allah!
It is the kindness of Allah and His Messenger that Allah guided
them to Islam." After pledging their allegiance, these people

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returned and Islam spread throughout the tribe. One hundred
people from this tribe took part in the Farewell Pilgrimage.1
29. The delegation of Ghassan
In Ramadan 10 A.H. three people from this tribe came to
Rasulullah ¿ and embraced Islam. They said that they were not
sure as to whether their people would follow suite or not. When
they were departing, Rasulullah
gave them gifts and
provisions for the journey. Since their people hadn't embraced
Islam, they concealed their own Islam. Two of these passed
away. The third person went and met Abu 'Ubaydah 4% in the
battle of Yarmuk and informed him of his Islam. Abū
'Ubaydah 4% showed much respect to him.2
30. The delegation of Salaman
A delegation of seven people from this tribe came to Rasūlullah
in Shawwal 10 A.H. and embraced Islam. They complained
of a drought. Rasūlullah raised his hands and supplicated for
them. He then gave them some gifts and provisions and bid
them farewell. On reaching their homes, they learnt that it had
rained there on the exact day and time when Rasulullah _ had
raised his hands and supplicated.3
31. The delegation of Banī 'Abas
Three members from this tribe came to Rasulullah # and said:
"O Messenger of Allah! We have heard that Islam without
emigration is not accepted. We have some wealth and cattle on
which we survive. If Islam is not accepted without emigration,
can there be any blessing in our wealth and cattle? Can we sell
1 'Uyûn al-Athar, vol. 2, p. 254.
2 Zurqānî, vol. 4, p. 61.
3 Ibid.

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The Life of Muhammad
all this and emigrate to you?" Rasūlullah % replied: "Fear Allah
wherever you may be. Allah will not reduce the rewards of
your deeds in any way."
32. The delegation of Ghamid
This is a tribe from Yemen. Ten members of this tribe came to
Madinah in 10 A.H. and got off in Baqi'. They left a youngster
to see to their goods and went to Rasulullah . He asked them:
"Who did you leave with your goods?" They replied: "We left
a youngster." Rasūlullah % said: "A bag has been stolen." A
person said: "O Messenger of Allah! That bag belonged to me."
Rasulullah said: "Don't worry, it has been found." When
these people returned to their goods they learnt that the
youngster had fallen asleep. When he woke up, he realized that
one bag was missing. He therefore went out in search for it. He
saw a person sitting at a distance. When he advanced towards
him, this person ran away. On reaching the spot where that man
was sitting, he found that the ground there had been dug up
recently. On digging it, he found the bag there. These people
said: "Without doubt, he is the Messenger of Allah." Ubayy ibn
Ka'b was instructed to teach them the Qur'an. When they
were leaving, some injunctions of Islam were written and given
to them. As was his habit, Rasulullah % gave them some gifts.
33. The delegation of Azd
Seven members from this tribe came to Rasulullah . He was
impressed by their appearance and mannerisms. He inquired as
to who they were. They replied: "We are believers." Rasūlullah
smiled and said: "There is a proof for every claim. What is
the proof of your īman?" They said: "Fifteen characteristics:
five of which your envoys asked us to believe in, five of which
1 Zurqānî, vol. 4, p. 63.

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The Life of Muhammad
your envoys asked us to practise on, and five of which we
possess since pre-Islamic times."
Rasūlullah asked: "What are those which my envoys asked
you to believe in?" They replied: "To believe in Allāh, His
angels, His Books, His Messengers, and life after death."
Rasūlullah asked: "What are those which my envoys asked
you to practise on?" They replied: "We should continuously
say that there is none worthy of worship but Allah, we should
establish salah, we should pay the zakah, we should fast in the
month of Ramadan, we should perform the hajj if we are able
to."
Rasūlullah asked: "What are the five qualities which you
have since pre-Islamic times?" They replied: "(1) To be
grateful at times of prosperity. (2) To be patient at times of
hardship. (3) To be pleased with whatever has been destined.
(4) To remain steadfast when meeting the enemy. (5) To
abstain from being happy when calamity afflicts the enemy."
Rasūlullāh ¿ said: "You are very wise and intelligent people.
You are very close to being Prophets based on your
intelligence." Rasulullah % then said: "I will now add five other
qualities thereby completing 20. If you are as you claim, then
(1) Do not horde that which you will not eat. (2) Do not build
that in which you will not live. (3) Do not compete in
something that you are certain to leave behind tomorrow. (4)
Fear Allah to whom you are going to return and before whom
you will be presented. (5) Desire that in which you are going to
live forever, i.e. the hereafter."
These people went back with this advice of Rasūlullah . They
remembered it well and practised on it.1
1 Zād al-Ma 'ād, vol. 3, p. 54.

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34. The delegation of Bani al-Muntafig
This delegation came to Rasulullah % after the fajr salah.
Coincidentally, Rasūlullah % had gathered the Sahabah and
gave them a lengthy talk in which he explained the
resurrection, paradise, hell, etc. to them. When he completed
his talk, these people went up to him, pledged allegiance to him
and returned.
35. The delegation of Nakha'
This is a tribe from Yemen. Two hundred people from this tribe
came to Rasulullah % in the middle of the month of Muharram,
11 A.H. A person by the name of Zurarah ibn 'Amr was also
part of this delegation. During this journey of his, he saw
several dreams which he related to Rasulullah % and which the
latter interpreted for him. From among these dreams he saw
one in which a fire was emanating from the ground which came
as a barrier between himself and his son. The fire was calling
out: "I am the fire, I am the fire. Give me a person who can see
and a blind person to eat. I will eat you, your family and your
wealth."
Rasūlullah % said: "There will be a tribulation wherein people
will kill their leader. The evil ones will consider themselves to
be very pious. Killing believers will be more enjoyable than
drinking water. If your son passes away first, you will witness
this tribulation. If you pass away first, your son will witness it."
Zurārah said: "O Messenger of Allah! Supplicate on my behalf
that I do not have to witness this tribulation." Rasūlullah
supplicated in his favour. Zurarah passed away after some time
and this was followed by the tribulation of the martyrdom of
'Uthman 4%. Zurarah's son had joined the ranks of the rebels.1
Allah Wg knows best.
1 Zād al-Ma 'ād, vol. 3, p. 59. Also Zurqānî, vol. 4, p. 67.

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The Life of Muhammad %
Islam is taught in Yemen
In 9 A.H. or 10 A.H. Rasūlullah ¿ sent Abu Mūsa Ash'arī
and Mu'adh ibn Jabal 4% to the people of Yemen in order to
teach them Islam. However, both were not sent to the same
place. Abū Mūsā 4% was sent to the eastern section of Yemen
while Mu'adh ibn Jabal 4% was sent to the west, i.e. to Aden
and the areas surrounding Jund.
Khalid ibn Walid's expedition to Najran
In Rabī' ath-Thanī or Jumādā al-Ula 10 A.H. Rasulullah # sent
Khalid ibn Walid 4% at the head of an expedition to Najran and
the surrounding areas. Rasulullah # ordered him to invite the
people towards Islam for three days before fighting them. If
they embrace Islam within these three days, he must accept
their Islam. If they refuse to embrace Islam, he may fight
against them. When Khalid 4% reached Najran and invited them
towards Islam, they all responded positively. Khalid 4% began
teaching them the basics of Islam. He sent a letter to Rasūlullah
informing him of this news. Rasulullah % sent a reply that
Khalid % should return to Madinah with a delegation from the
Banu Harith ibn Ka'b tribe. Khalid 4
complied with these
instructions of Rasulullah and brought these people to
Madinah. Rasūlullah ¿ hosted them with much honour. When
they were departing in Dhul Qa'dah 10 A.H., he appointed
Qays ibn Husayn as their leader. Rasulullah % also appointed
'Amr ibn Hazm to teach them the injunctions and rules of
Islam, to collect the taxes, etc. Rasulullah % also gave him the
following letter:
In the name of Allah, the beneficent, the merciful.
This is an order from Allah and His Messenger. O you who are
believers! Fulfil your covenants. This is a covenant from Muhammad,
the Prophet and Messenger of Allah for 'Amr ibn Hazm when he sent
him to Yemen. He commands him to fear Allah in all his affairs. Surely

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The Life of Muhammad %
Allah is with those who fear and those who do good. He commands
him to hold on to the truth as Allah commanded him. That he
commands the people with good and gives them the glad tidings
thereof.
That he teaches the people the Qur'an and gives them an
understanding of it. That he prohibits the people from touching the
Qur'an without being in a state of purity. That he informs the people of
their rights and their responsibilities. That he be lenient to them in
matters of the truth and strict on them in matters of oppression. Surely
Allah dislikes oppression and prohibited it. Allah says: "Listen! Allah's
curse is on the oppressors." That he should give the people the glad
tidings of paradise and teach them the deeds that will convey them to
paradise. That he warns the people of the hell-fire and caution them
against deeds that will convey them to the hell-fire. That he should
attract the people towards him so that they may learn about Islam.
That he teaches the people about the pilgrimage, the Sunnah and
obligatory acts thereof, all that Allah ordered concerning it. That he
should teach them about the 'umrah as well. That he should prohibit
the people from offering salah in a small garment unless it be a
garment whose two ends are thrown over the shoulders. That he
prohibits people from wearing clothes in such a way that their private
parts are exposed to the sky. That he prohibits the people from plaiting
their hair by their neck. That when there is any dispute among people,
they should not shout out the slogans of families, tribes, etc. Rather,
they should call to one Allah and to His commands. If anyone does not
call to one Allah, and instead, calls out the slogans of families and
tribes, then he should be put to the sword.
That he commands the people to perform a complete wudu: washing
their faces, their hands upto the elbows, and their feet upto the ankles.
And that they wipe their heads. This is the procedure as commanded
by Allah [in the Qur'an]. That he orders that salah be performed at its
correct time, and that they complete the bowing posture and
prostrations properly with humility. That they offer the fajr salah when

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The Life of Muhammad %
it is dark, the zuhr salah after mid-day, the 'asr salah when the sun
spreads its light on the earth towards sunset, the maghrib salah the
moment the night commences [immediately after sunset] - it should
not be delayed to the extent that stars begin appearing in the sky, and
the 'isha salah in the first third of the night. That when the call to the
jumu'ah salah is made, they should hasten to it. That they should take
a bath before going for the jumu'ah salah.
That he takes out from the booty one fifth which is the right of Allah.
That he collects the sadaqah from the produce of the lands belonging
to Muslims. One tenth of the produce should be given as charity from
lands that have been irrigated with rain water and springs. One
twentieth of the produce should be given as charity from lands that
have been irrigated with water from wells.
For ten camels, the charity that is due is two sheep. For 20 camels it is
four sheep. For 30 cows it is one cow. For 40 sheep it is one sheep.
This is the duty which Allah is made incumbent on the believers with
regard to zakāh. Whoever gives more, it will be better for him.
Whoever embraces Islam after being a Jew or a Christian and he is
sincere in his Islam, then he shall enjoy the same rights and bear the
same responsibilities as other believers. He who remains on his
Judaism or Christianity and wishes to live under the Islamic state will
have to pay the jizyah which is one dinar or its value in clothing. This
is applicable to every mature person irrespective of whether the
person is male or female, free person or slave. Whoever pays this
shall enjoy the responsibility of Allah and His Messenger % [i.e. his
life, wealth and honour will be protected]. Whoever refuses to pay this
jizyah is the enemy of Allah, His Messenger % and of all believers.
Allah's peace, salutations, mercy and blessings on Muhammad.1
1 Sîrah Ibn Hishām, vol. 4, p. 241.

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The Life of Muhammad %
'All's 4% expedition towards Yemen
In the month of Ramadan 10 A.H. Rasulullah _ appointed 'Alī
at the head of 300 men and sent him towards Yemen.
Rasūlullah % personally tied a turban onto his head. This turban
had three folds. One end of it which was an arm's length was
made to hang in the front while the other end which was a
span's length was made to hand at the back. Rasulullah said
to him: "You must move straight ahead, do not be diverted in
any direction, on reaching there, do not start any battle. You
should first invite them towards Islam. If they accept, do not do
anything to them. By Allah, if a single person embraces Islam
at your hands, it will be better for you than this world and
whatever it contains." 'Alī 4% departed with 300 men and on
reaching Qanat, he stopped over there. From this place, he sent
small detachments of the Sahabah in different directions. The
Muslim army first reached the area of Mudhjij and acquired
many children, women, camels and goats. All this booty was
gathered at one spot. They then had to face another group [of
unbelievers]. 'Alī 4% invited them to Islam. They refused and
instead, began flinging arrows and rocks onto the Muslims. It
was only then that 'Alī
attacked them. Twenty of their
people were killed and the remainder dispersed. After a short
pause, 'Alī 4% gave chase to them. He invited them to Islam a
second time. They accepted Islam for themselves and on behalf
of their tribe as well. They made a promise that they will pay
the zakah which is the right of Allah g.
'Alī 4% gathered all the booty, took out one fifth and distributed
the balance among the mujahidin. He appointed a person as his
deputy in order to lead the army and hastened towards Makkah
before his companions. 'Alī 4% had received the information
that Rasulullah % had left Madinah in order to perform the hajj.

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The Life of Muhammad #
He therefore left Yemen and went straight to Makkah. He
joined Rasulullah % for the Farewell Pilgrimage.1
Hajjatul Wada' - the Farewell Pilgrimage
The help and assistance of Allah s came and Makkah was
conquered. People embraced Islam in droves. The power of
unbelief and polytheism was broken. Delegations and tribes
from far and wide came to Rasulullah , repented from their
unbelief and polytheism and testified to the oneness of Allah lg
and the prophet-hood of Rasulullah with sincerity. The
responsibilities of prophet-hood were fulfilled and the
injunctions of Islam were taught both verbally and physically.
Rasūlullah ¿ sent Abu Bakr 4% to Makkah in 9 A.H. in order to
completely wipe out all traces of jāhilīyyah.
The time now came for Rasulullah to personally perform the
hajj so that the people may know forever how the hajj is to be
performed, what the method of Ibrahim and Isma'il (l)
was. The rites of hajj, from beginning to end, entailed the
oneness of Allah %. They were completely pure of words
denoting polytheism and customs of the days of ignorance
(jāhilīyyah). Rasūlullāh % used to pay particular attention to the
talbiyah so that no traces of polytheism whatsoever would
remain. The talbiyah that he used to say was:
لَبَّيْكَ اللّهُمَّ لَبَّيْكَ لاَ شَرِيْكَ لَكَ لَبَّيْكَ إِنَّ الْحَمْدَ وَالِنِعْمَةَ لَكَ لاَ شَرِيْكَ لَكَ
"Here I am, O Allah! Here I am. You have no partner. Here I
am. All praise and bounty belongs to You. You have no
partner."
Rasūlullah % performed several hajj before the emigration.
Imām Tirmidhī rahmatullāhi 'alayh narrates from Jābir ibn
1 Zurqānî, vol. 3, p. 103.

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The Life of Muhammad
'Abdillah % that Rasulullah % performed two hajj before the
emigration. Ibn Athīr rahmatullahi 'alayh states in an-Nihāyah
that before the emigration, Rasulullah % used to perform hajj
every year. Ibn Jauzī rahmatullahi 'alayh says that he was
unable to establish with certainty how many hajj Rasūlullah
performed. However, all are agreed that he performed only one
hajj after the emigration.
The order that hajj is compulsory was revealed in 9 A.H. In that
year, Rasūlullah % appointed Abu Bakr 4% as the amir of the
hajj and sent him to Makkah. The Muslims performed the hajj
in that year under his leadership. In Dhul Qa'dah 10 A.H.
Rasūlullah % made the intention of personally performing the
hajj. An announcement was made in the surrounding areas that
Rasūlullah % is to perform the hajj that year. Rasulullah _ left
Madinah on 25 Dhul Qa'dah 10 A.H. on a Saturday, between
the zuhr and 'asr salah. The Muhajirūn, the Ansar and
numerous other loyal Muslims joined him. It was an assembly
of 90 000 to 114 000 or even more. Rasūlullah % entered
Makkah on 4 Dhul Hijjah on a Sunday.1
Nine of Rasulullah's wives, plus his daughter, Fatimah
radiyallāhu 'anhā, accompanied him. Various other close
associates and servants were with him. 'Alī 4%
,
whom
Rasulullah ¿ had sent in the month of Ramadan to Yemen, met
him in Makkah. Rasulullah % fulfilled the different rites of hajj
and delivered a lengthy sermon on the fields of 'Arafat. He first
praised and glorified Allah g. He then said:
O people! Listen attentively to what I have to say. It is possible
that I will not meet you next year. O people! Your lives, your
honour and your wealth are all sacred to each other just as this
day, this month, and this city are all sacred. All the matters
1 Sharh al-Mawāhib, vol. 3, p. 105.

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The Life of Muhammad
related to jāhilīyyah are all crushed beneath my feet. All the
jāhilī claims of blood are forgiven. I first of all forgive the
Banu Hudhayl for the blood of Rabi'ah ibn Harith ibn 'Abdil
Muttalib. All the interest and usury of jāhilī times is written off.
You may only keep the capital wealth. I first of all write off the
usury of 'Abbas ibn 'Abdul Muttalib.
Rasūlullah then explained the mutual rights of husband and
wife.
"I am leaving behind such a firm thing, that if you hold on to it,
you will never go astray: the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of
Rasūlullah. On the day of resurrection you will be asked about
me. What reply will you give?" The Sahabah & replied: "We
will testify that you conveyed Allah's message to us, that you
fulfilled the trust of Allah and that you desired the well-being
of the ummah." Rasulullah % pointed his index finger to the sky
and said three times: "O Allah, You be witness to this."
When Rasulullah
completed his sermon, Bilal 4% called out
the adhan for the zuhr salah. The zuhr and 'asr salah were both
offered at one time. Rasulullah % then remained engaged in the
praise, thanks, seeking forgiveness and remembrance of Allah
g. While he was busy in this, the following verse was revealed:
الْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِيْنَكُمْ وَتََّمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِيْ وَرَضِيْتُ لَكُمُ الإِسْلاَمَ دِيْنًا
"Today have I perfected for you your religion and completed
My favour on you, and I chose Islam as a religion for you."
(Sūrah al-Mā'idah, verse 3)
On reaching Mina on the 10th of Dhul Hijjah, Rasūlullah
slaughtered 63 camels, equivalent to his age, with his own
hands. 'Alī 4% slaughtered 37 camels on his behalf. Rasūlullah
delivered a similar sermon to the one which he delivered in
'Arafat. He eventually made the farewell tawaf . When he

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The Life of Muhammad %
shaved his head in Mina, he distributed his blessed hair among
the Sahabah & so that they may keep it as a source of blessing.
Because he did not get the opportunity of performing the hajj
the following year, and he had alluded to this fact in his
sermons in 'Arafat and Mina, this pilgrimage is known as the
Farewell Pilgrimage in the sense that he bade farewell to his
ummah. This pilgrimage is also referred to as Hajjatul Islam
because it was the first hajj in Islam after it was made a
compulsory duty.
The sermon at Ghadir Khum
When Rasūlullah
was returning from the hajj, Buraydah
Aslamī made certain complaints against 'Alī %. Rasulullah
delivered a sermon in Ghadīr Khum, a place between Makkah
and Madinah. The gist of the sermon was:
I am a mortal. It is possible that a messenger from my Sustainer
will call me soon and that I will accept his call. [This was a
reference to the fact that his time to depart from this world had
drawn near]. He then emphasised the importance of having love
for his family and said with regard to 'Alī 4%: "The person who
is my friend, 'Alī is also his friend." After hearing this sermon,
'Umar 4% congratulated 'Alī 4% and Buraydah 4% also no longer
harboured any ill-feeling towards 'Alī
.
The purpose of this sermon was to show that 'Ali 4
š was a
beloved and close servant of Allah g and that to have love for
the family of Rasulullah % was one of the requirements of
īman. To harbour malice, enmity, dislike or ill-feeling towards
his family is against the demands of īman. So the purpose of
this Hadith is solely to explain the duty of having love for 'Alī
This Hadith has no connection whatsoever to the concept of
imāmat or khilafat. Even a person endowed with basic
intelligence can understand that there is a world of difference
between love and khilafat and that these two are separable. A
.

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The Life of Muhammad
person has love for his parents, his children, his wives, his
friends, etc. By having love for all of them, do they all become
the person's khalīfah? 'Abbas 4%, Fatimah radiyallahu 'anhā,
Hasan
and Husayn 4
% were not only the beloveds of
Rasūlullah į but also his close family. If love was a proof for
khilafat, Hasan % should have been the first caliph. In fact, if
we were to base the khilafat on the person who has the closest
relationship, then Fatimah radiyallāhu 'anhā ought to have
been the first caliph, followed by Hasan 4%, then Husayn % and
only then, 'Alī 4%.
So even if it were based on the principles of the Shi'ah, 'Alī
would have still been the fourth caliph. Why, then, is there a
complaint against the Ahlus Sunnah when they consider 'Alī
to be the fourth caliph? Moreover, when Rasulullah % delivered
this sermon at Ghadir Khum, his Companions and family
members were also present. None of them took this meaning
that after him, 'Alī 4% is to become the uninterrupted caliph
after him. Rasūlullah % passed away two months after this. The
matter concerning the khilafat was discussed in the Saqīfah
Banī Sā'idah. The Companions who had heard his sermon at
Ghadir Khum were also present here. None of them presented
this Hadith as proof to the khilafat of 'Alī 4%. Neither did 'Alī
'Abbas % nor anyone from the Banu Hashim [family of
,
Rasulullah ] ever use this Hadith as a proof for the khilafat of
'Alī 4
.
In short, in this sermon at Ghadīr Khum, Rasūlullah % ordered
the ummah to have love for 'Alī % and his [Rasulullah's]
family members and prohibited us from harbouring any enmity
towards them. All praise is due to Allah % that all the Ahlus
Sunnah wal Jama'ah have full love and respect for the family
of Rasulullah % and consider this to be part of their īman.
However, the Ahlus Sunnah are not so stupid like the Shi'ah as
to consider love to be proof of imamat. Love for the family of
Rasūlullah % is a duty on every individual. Does it now mean

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The Life of Muhammad
that every member of his family must now be made into an
imam and caliph ?!!
Return to Madinah
After the Farewell Pilgrimage, Rasulullah
returned to
Madinah and reached there towards the end of Dhul Hijjah.
Within a few days, the 10th year after emigration came to an
end and the 11th year commenced.
Jibra'il stocke comes to Rasulullah
Some days after Rasulullah's return from the Farewell
Pilgrimage, Jibra'īl &k) came in the form of a stranger dressed
in pure white clothes. He sat right in front of Rasulullah % with
great respect. He asked Rasūlullah % questions with regard to
īman, Islam, ihsan, the resurrection, the signs of resurrection,
etc. Rasūlullah answered all these questions of his. When he
left, Rasūlullah asked the Sahabah & to go and see who this
person was. When they went out, they did not see anyone.
Rasulullah said that he was Jibra'il & who had come to
teach them about Islam. He added that he always recognized
him but today he did not.
Note: Resulullahhad also seen Jibra'il stay in his original
form at sidratul muntahā (the lote tree of the furthest limit) and
ufuq mubin (clear horizon). Allah % says:
وَلَقَدْ رَآهُ بِالأُفُقِ الْمُبِيْنِ
"He saw that angel on the clear horizon." (Sūrah at-Takwir,
verse 23)
وَلَقَدْ رَآهُ نَزْلَةً أُخْرَى عِنْدَ سِدْرَةِ الْمُنْتَهَى
"He had seen him coming down on another occasion as well,
by the lote tree of the furthest limit." (Sūrah an-Najm, verses
13-14)

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The Life of Muhammad
Apart from this, he had come to Rasulullah % on numerous
occasions. Irrespective of which form he came in, or what
clothing he wore, Rasulullah % knew it was him. However, on
this occasion, he came in the form of a Bedouin in order to ask
some questions. He did not come as an envoy of Allah s with
any message to Rasūlullah . Rasūlullah % did not recognize
him at first. Only when he left did he realize that it was him.
The reason for not recognizing him at first was because he
came as a stranger and not as an envoy of Allah %, bringing
some message or revelation. If not, he would have certainly
recognized him.
The military expedition of Usamah ibn Zayd
On 26 Safar 11 A.H. Rasulullah ordered the Sahabah & to
prepare for war against the Romans at Ubna. This was the place
where the battle of Mu'tah had taken place, and in which
Usamah's 4% father, Zayd ibn Harithah 4%, Ja'far Tayyar
'Abdullah ibn Rawahah 4% and others were martyred.
This was the last military expedition and the last army prepared
by Rasūlullah . He appointed Usamah ibn Zayd 4% as the
commander-in-chief of this army and ordered many other
senior Sahabah from among the Muhajirūn and Ansār to join.
Rasūlullāh's illness started on a Wednesday. The following
day, despite being ill, he personally gave a map to 'Usamah
and said to him:
اغز باسم الله وفي سبيل الله فقاتل من كفر بالله
"Wage jihad in the name of Allah and in the cause of Allah,
and fight those who reject Allah."
Usamah 4% gave the map to Buraydah Aslamī 4%, gathered the
army at Juruf, and all the senior Sahabah from among the
Muhajirun and Ansar rushed and gathered there. 'Abbas % and
'Alī 4% returned to Madinah in order to tend to Rasulullah .

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The Life of Muhammad
Abu Bakr and 'Umar used to take permission from
Usamah 4% in order to visit Rasūlullah . On Thursday his
illness intensified. He was unable to go to the musjid for the
'isha salah. He therefore ordered Abu Bakr 4% to lead the salah
in his place. The army was still gathered at Juruf. This place
was about 2 miles from Madinah. When Rasulullah's # health
improved on Sunday and the Sahabah & felt that he would
recover, Usamah 4% made a decision to proceed. He was busy
making preparations when his mother Umm Ayman
radiyallahu 'anhā sent a message that Rasulullah's health
had deteriorated badly. Within a short while they heard the
news that he passed away. To Allah we belong and to Him is
our return.
Panic spread throughout Madinah and all the Sahabah
returned dejectedly. Buraydah 4% brought the map and placed it
on the door to Rasulullah's room. When Abu Bakr
became the caliph, the first thing that he did was that he
despatched the army of Usamah % despite protests from the
other Sahabah
. He accompanied the army till Juruf. The
army then continued on its journey and returned victorious after
40 days. Usamah % fought valiantly against anyone who came
before him. He also killed the person who had killed his father,
Zayd ibn Harithah 4%. Before returning, the houses and
orchards of these people were burnt down. When they returned,
Abu Bakr 4% went out of Madinah in order to welcome them.
When Usamah 4% entered Madinah, he went into the musjid,
offered two rak'ats of salah as thanks and then proceeded to his
house.1
1 At-Tabagāt al-Kubrā, vol. 2, p. 136.

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The Life of Muhammad %
Preparation for the journey to the hereafter
After his return from the Farewell Pilgrimage, Rasūlullah
began preparations for his journey to the hereafter. He
remained fully engaged in the glorification and praise of Allah
As, repenting to Him and seeking His forgiveness. The first
thing that made him realize the approach of his death was the
revelation of the following sūrah:
بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيْمِ
إِذَا جَآءَ نَصْرُ اللهِ وَالْفَتْحُ وَرَأَيْتَ النَّاسَ يَدْخُلُوْنَ فِيْ دِيْنِ اللهِ أَفْوَاجًا فَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّكَ
وَاسْتَغْفِرْهُ إِنَّهُ كَانَ تَوَّابًا.
In the name of Allah, the beneficent, the merciful.
"When the help of Allah and victory come, and you see people
entering the religion of Allah in large numbers, then glorify the
praises of your Sustainer and seek His forgiveness, surely He is
forgiving."
In other words, when the help and victory which Allah had
promised have come, when the head of unbelief and polytheism
has been smashed, when the flag of tauhid has been raised,
when the truth has vanquished falsehood, when people have
entered the true religion in droves, when the world has received
the message of Allah, and when the religion of Allah has been
completed and perfected - then the purpose behind sending you
to this world has been accomplished, and the responsibility that
was given to you has been fulfilled. You should now prepare to
return to Us. The task for which Allah sent you to this world
has been completed. You should now prepare to return to that
being who sent you into this world. This fleeting world is not
for you to remain in. It is more appropriate for a sanctified soul
like you to remain in the company of al-mala' al-a 'la (the
highest assembly) and ar-rafiq al-a 'la (the highest companion).