Historical Background
The events in connection with which this Sura was sent down began life this: One day
the Holy Prophet saw in a dream that he had gone to Makkah with his Companions and
had performed the umrahthere. Obviously
the Prophet's dream could not be a mere dream and fiction for it is a kind of Divine
inspiration as Allah Himself has confirmed in verse 27 below and said that He Himself
had shown that dream to His Messenger. Therefore
it was not merely a dream but a Divine inspiration which the Holy Prophet had to obey
and follow. Apparently
there was no possible way of acting on this inspiration. The disbelieving Quraishhad
debarred the Muslims from proceeding to the Ka'bahfor the past six years and no
Muslim had been alliowed during that period to approach the Kabahfor the purpose of
performing hajjand umrah. Therefore
it could not be expected that they would allow the Holy Prophet to enter Makkah along
with a party of his Companions. If they had proceeded to Makkah in the pilgrim
garments with the intention of performing umrah
along with their arms
this would have provoked the enemy to war
and if they had proceeded unarmed
this would have meant endangering his own as well as his Cumpanions' lives. Under
conditions such as these nobody could see and suggest how the Divine inspiration
could be acted upon. But the Prophet's position was different. It demanded that he
should carry out whatever Command his Lord gave fearlessly and without any
apprehension and doubt. Therefore
the Holy Prophet informed his Companions of his dream and began to make
preparations for the journey. Among the tribes living in the suburbs also he had the
public announcement made that he was proceeding for umrahand the people could join
him. Those who could only see the apparent conditions thought that he and his
Companions were going into the very jaws of death none of them therefore was inclined
to accompany him in the expedition. But those who had true faith in Allah and His
Messenger were least bothered about the consequences. For them this information
was enough that it was a Divine inspiration and Allah's Prophet had made up his mind
to carry it into effect. After this nothing could hinder them from accompanying the
Messenger of Allah. Thus
1
400 of the Companions became ready to follow him on this highly dangerous journey.
This blessed caravan set off from Madinah in the beginning of Dhil Qa'dah
A. H. 6. At Dhul Hulaifah they entered the pilgrims robe with the intention of umrah
took 70 camels with collars round their necks indicating that they were sacrificial
animals; kept only a sword each in sheaths
which the pilgrims to the Kabahwere allowed to carry according to the recognized
custom of Arabia
but no other weapon. Thus
the caravan set out for the Ka'bah
the House of Allah
at Makkah
chanting the prescribed slogan of Labbaik
Allahuma labbaik. The nature of the relations between Makkah and Madinah in those
days was known too well to every Arab. Just the previous year
in Shawwal A. H. 5
the Quraishmustering the united strength of the Arab tribes had invaded Madinah and
the well known Battle of the Trench had taken place. Therefore
when the Holy Prophet along with such a large caravan set off for the home of his
blood-thirsty enemy
the whole of Arabia looked up with amazement
and the people also noticed that the caravan was not going with the intention to fight
but was proceeding to the House of Allah in a forbidden month in the pilgrims garb
carrying sacrificial animals and was absolutely unarmed. The Quraishwere confounded
at this bold step taken by the Holy Prophet. Dhil-Qa'dah was one of those foibidden
months which had been held as sacred for pilgrimage in Arabia for centuries. Nobody
had a right to interfere with a caravan which might be coming for hajjor umrahin the
pilgrims garb in this month; so much so that even an enemy tribe could not hinder it
from passing through its territory according to the recognized law of the lan
Powered By The Muslims Internet Directory