A Grand Announcement at Hajj

According to the narrations, it is stated that Hazrat Ali (ra) read out the opening verses of Surah al-Taubah on the occasion of Hajj. The narration is as follows; Abu Ja’far Muhammad bin Ali relates:

“When Surah Bara‘ah (Surah al-Taubah) was revealed to the Holy Prophet (sa), he had already sent Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) as the Amir of the Hajj. A suggestion was put before the Holy Prophet (sa) to send this chapter [Surah] to Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) so that he could recite it there. The Holy Prophet (sa) stated, ‘No one can fulfil this responsibility apart from someone among the members of my household.’ Thereafter, the Holy Prophet (sa) called for Hazrat Ali (ra) and stated, ‘On the day when the people gather in Mina to offer their sacrifice, announce before them what has been mentioned in the opening part of Surah al-Taubah which is that a kafir [disbeliever] shall not enter Paradise. Also, after this year, no idolater will be permitted to perform the Hajj, nor will they be permitted to perform the Tawaf [circuits] around the House of Allah, whilst naked and whoever has entered into a treaty with the Holy Prophet (sa), the complete duration of that treaty will be honoured.’

“Subsequently, Hazrat Ali bin Abi Talib (ra) mounted upon the camel of the Holy Prophet (sa) called Adhba and left [for Mecca]. Whilst on route, he caught up with Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra). Upon seeing him, Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) asked, ‘Have you been appointed as the amir, or will you be under me?’ Hazrat Ali (ra) replied, ‘I will serve under you.’ Thus, they both continued their journey and Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) oversaw all the matters in relation to the Hajj.

“That year, the Arabs had camped in the same place where they previously used to camp during the Jahiliyyah [era of ignorance prior to the advent of Islam]. When it was the day to offer their sacrifices, Hazrat Ali (ra) stood up and just as he had been instructed by the Holy Prophet (sa), he announced before the people, ‘O people, no disbeliever shall enter paradise. And after this year, no idolater shall be permitted to perform the Hajj, nor will they be permitted to perform the Tawaf [circuits] around the House of Allah naked, and whoever has entered into a treaty with the Holy Prophet (sa), the complete duration of that treaty will be honoured.’

“Everyone was granted a duration of four months from the moment of that announcement, so that all the tribes could reach their respective areas and places of safety. And after the passing of that duration, no idolater would have any kind of treaty or pact, nor would they be responsible for them in regards to this, except if they had entered into a treaty with the Holy Prophet (sa).” In other words, if the duration of a treaty still remained, then that would continue to be honoured but there would be no new treaty or pact [for the idolaters to perform Hajj].

“After that year, no idolater performed the Hajj, nor did anyone perform the Hajj whilst naked. Thereafter, Hazrat Ali (ra) and Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) returned to the Holy Prophet (sa).”

(Ibn Hisham, Al-Sirah al-Nabawiyyah, Hajj Abi Bakr bi al-Nas… [Beirut, Lebanon: Dar al-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, 2001], 832)