Return to Medina from the Battle of Tabuk

When the Holy Prophet (sa) returned, the men, women and children of Medina had already gathered at Thaniyat-ul-Wada in order to welcome the Holy Prophet (sa) on the outskirts of Medina. Thaniyat-ul-Wada is a place near Medina and those travelling from Medina to Mecca were accompanied to this place and bade farewell, hence it was called Thaniyat-ul-Wada. According to the historians of the life of the Holy Prophet (sa), when the Holy Prophet (sa) migrated from Mecca and to Medina, he passed by Quba and Thaniyat-ul-Wada was also situated on this route. According to the narration of Hazrat Aisha (ra), the children of Medina welcomed the Holy Prophet (sa) and the girls were reciting:

طلع البدر علینا من ثنیات الوداع

وجب الشکر علینا ما دعا للہ داع

That is, “The full moon has risen over us from the valley of Wada. We owe our gratitude to Allah, for we have among us a caller unto Him.”

Some commentators of the Ahadith, such as Allama Ibn Hajar Asqalani, who has written a commentary on Sahih al-Bukhari, believe that it is quite possible that the poetic verses (which have been mentioned in Hazrat Aisha’s narration) are in actuality connected to the return from the Battle of Tabuk, as adults and children welcomed the Holy Prophet (sa) at Thaniyat-ul-Wada. The reason for this is that the people who were travelling from Syria were welcomed at this very place.

When the people of Medina found out about the return of the Holy Prophet (sa) from the Battle of Tabuk, they rejoiced and gathered at this place outside of Medina in order to welcome the Holy Prophet (sa). In light of this, Hazrat Sa‘ib (ra) bin Yazid narrates, “I remember that along with the other children, I also went to Thaniyat-ul-Wada in order to welcome the Holy Prophet (sa) on his return from the Battle of Tabuk.”

Imam Bayhaqi has also stated that the children welcomed the Holy Prophet (sa) with these poetic verses when the Holy Prophet (sa) returned from the Battle of Tabuk.

(Mu‘jamul Buldan, Vol. 2, p. 100, Thaniyat-ul-Wadaa, Dar Ihyaa al-Turath al-Arabi, Beirut) (Justuju-e-Medina, pp. 403-404, Oriental Publications, Lahore, 2007) (Sirat Khatamun-Nabiyyin, Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad (ra), p. 267)

Nevertheless, whatever may be the case, both views of historians and biographers can be found; according to some, these verses were recited on the occasion of the migration of the Holy Prophet (sa) to Medina, whereas others believe that they were recited on the return from the Battle of Tabuk.