The Farewell Pilgrimage
Accounts relating to Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (ra) were being narrated. One narration with regards to Hajjat-ul-Wada [farewell pilgrimage of the Holy Prophet (sa)] is recorded in the following manner. The Holy Prophet (sa) left for Hajjat-ul-Wada on a Thursday, when only six days were remaining to the month of Dhul-Qadah, in the 10th year after Hijrah. According to another narration, the Holy Prophet (sa) set off on a Saturday.
(Ali bin Burhan al-Din al-Halabi, Al-Sirah al-Halabiyyah, Vol. 3, Bab Hajjatul Wada [Beirut, Lebanon: Dar al-Kutub al-‘Ilmiyyah, 2002], p. 361)
Nevertheless, in one narration, Hazrat Asma bint Abi Bakr (ra) relates, “When the Holy Prophet (sa) intended to set off for Hajjat-ul-Wada, Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) submitted, ‘O Messenger (sa) of Allah! I have a camel and we can load our provisions upon it.’ The Holy Prophet (sa) agreed to this. Hence, the same camel was used for the provisions of the Holy Prophet (sa) and those of Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra). The Holy Prophet (sa) had provisions prepared from flour and barley and loaded them on Hazrat Abu Bakr’s (ra) camel. Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) then handed the camel to his servant.”
Hazrat Asma bint Abi Bakr (ra) further relates, “We set off for Hajj alongside the Holy Prophet (sa). When we reached Arj, the Holy Prophet (sa) dismounted his camel and we did so as well. Following this, Hazrat Aisha (ra) sat down beside the Holy Prophet (sa) and I sat down beside my father. The provisions of the Holy Prophet (sa) and Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) were on the same camel, (as has been mentioned) and this was with a servant of Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra).
Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) was waiting for him to arrive. The servant arrived, but the camel was not with him. Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) asked, ‘Where is your camel?’ He replied, ‘I lost it the previous night.’ Upon this, Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) said, ‘There was only one camel and you have lost that as well?’ Following this, Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) stood up in order to hit him. The Holy Prophet (sa) was smiling and said, ‘Look at this Muhrim [a pilgrim who is in the state of Ihram]! What is he doing?’”
Ibn Abi Rizmah relates that the Holy Prophet (sa) only said, “Look at this Muhrim! What is he about to do?” The Holy Prophet (sa) then started smiling.
(Mustafa ‘Abd al-Wahid, Subul al-Huda wa al-Rashad fi Sirat Khair al-‘Ibad, Vol. 7, Fi Husn Khulqih [Beirut, Lebanon: Dar al-Kutub al-‘Ilmiyyah, 1993], pp. 12-13), (Sunan Abi Dawud, Kitab al-Manasik, Bab al-Muhrim Yu’addibu Ghulamah, Hadith 1818)
Nevertheless, when some of the companions came to know the provisions of the Holy Prophet (sa) had been lost, they brought him some hees. This is a confection of very high quality made from dates, flour and butter. This was presented before the Holy Prophet (sa). The Holy Prophet (sa) addressed Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra), who was reprimanding his servant, and said, “O Abu Bakr! Be lenient as this matter is neither in your control, nor ours. This servant must certainly have tried not to lose the camel, but it still got lost.” In any case, the Holy Prophet (sa) said, “Look, this is a pure form of nourishment, which has been brought to us from Allah the Almighty and it is a replacement of our provisions that were with this servant.” Following this, the Holy Prophet (sa) and Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) ate the food and those who used to eat with them also ate therefrom until all were satisfied with their fill.
Thereafter, Hazrat Safwan bin Mu‘attal (ra) arrived. His responsibility was to follow the entourage. The task that was entrusted to him was the same as mentioned in the incident of Ifk; to follow and see if anything had been left behind.
Hazrat Safwan (ra) arrived and with him was the camel which was carrying the travel provisions. He brought the camel and sat it at the entrance of where the Holy Prophet (sa) had camped. The Holy Prophet (sa) then said to Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra), “Check to see if any of your belongings are missing.” Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) replied, “Aside from a bowl which we used to drink water from, nothing is missing.” Upon this, the servant said, “That bowl is with me.”
(‘Ali bin Burhan al-Din al-Halabi, Al-Sirah al-Halabiyyah, Vol. 3, Bab Hajjatul Wada’ [Beirut, Lebanon: Dar al-Kutub al-‘Ilmiyyah, 2002], p. 365), (Sayyid Fadl al-Rahman, Farhang-e-Sirat [Karachi, Pakistan: Zawwar Academy Publications, 2003], p. 110)
Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (ra) relates that he departed alongside the Holy Prophet (sa) to perform the pilgrimage during the Hajjatul Wada. With him was his wife, Asma bint Umais (ra). When they reached Dhul-Hulaifah, Hazrat Asma’ (ra) gave birth to Muhammad bin Abi Bakr. Dhul-Hulaifah is situated 6-7 miles from Medina. Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) went to the Holy Prophet (sa) and informed him about the birth. The Holy Prophet (sa) said to him, “Tell Asma to bathe, then wear the Ihram for Hajj, and perform all the rites that others do – i.e. the other pilgrims – except for performing the circuits around the House of Allah.”
(Sunan al-Nasa’‘i, Kitab al-Manasik al-Hajj, Bab al-Ghusl li al-Ihlal, Hadith 2664), (Yaqut Ibn ‘Abd Allah al-Hamawi, Mu’jam al-Buldan, Vol. 2 [Beirut, Lebanon: Dar al-Kutub al-‘Ilmiyyah], p. 339)
When the Holy Prophet (sa) passed by the valley of Usfan he asked, “O Abu Bakr (ra), which valley is this?” Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) submitted, “This is the valley of Usfan.” The Holy Prophet (sa) then stated, “Hazrat Hudra and Hazrat Salihra passed by here to perform the pilgrimage of the Ancient House, on two red camels, the bridles of which were made from the bark of date palms. They were wearing a cloak, wrapped with a black and white patterned cloth on top, and they were reciting the Talbiyah [prayer invoked whilst performing the pilgrimage].”
(Mustafa ‘Abd al-Wahid, Subul al-Huda wa al-Rashad fi Sirat Khair al-‘Ibad, Vol. 8, Fi Siyaq Hajjat al-Wada’ [Beirut, Lebanon: Dar al-Kutub al-‘Ilmiyyah, 1993], p. 461)
Along the journey during the Farewell Pilgrimage, Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) was among those who had sacrificial animals with them.
(‘Ali bin Burhan al-Din al-Halabi, Al-Sirah al-Halabiyyah, Vol. 3, Bab Hajjatul Wada’ [Beirut, Lebanon: Dar al-Kutub al-‘Ilmiyyah, 2002], p. 369)
Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) relates:
“I saw during the Farewell Pilgrimage that Suhail bin Amr was stood at the place to make the sacrifices, and he was ushering the sacrificial animal of the Holy Prophet (sa) closer to him. The Holy Prophet (sa) slaughtered it with his own hands. He then called for a person to shave off the hair on his head.” Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) further says, “I saw Suhail was placing the blessed hair of the Holy Prophet (sa) on his own eyes. I then remembered that this was the same Suhail who was stopping the Holy Prophet (sa) from writing ‘Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim’ [in the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful] during the Treaty of Hudaibiyah. Upon this, I praised and glorified Allah, Who guided Suhail to Islam, and who then excelled immeasurably in his sincerity and devotion after being granted guidance.”
(Mustafa ‘Abd al-Wahid, Subul al-Huda wa al-Rashad fi Sirat Khair al-‘Ibad, Vol. 5, Fi Ghazwat al-Hudaibiyah [Beirut, Lebanon: Dar al-Kutub al-‘Ilmiyyah, 1993], p. 64)