Hazrat Ali (ra) Announces the Verses of Surah Taubah

It is narrated that Hazrat Ali (ra) announced the initial verses of Surah al-Taubah on the occasion of Hajj. The narration is as follows:

Abu Ja‘far Muhammad bin Ali narrates that when Surah Bara‘ah (i.e. Surah al-Taubah) was revealed to the Holy Prophet (sa), he had already sent Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) as the leader for Hajj. It was suggested to the Holy Prophet (sa) that he should convey this chapter to Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) so that he may recite it there. The Holy Prophet (sa) said that none other than someone from his own family could fulfil this task on his behalf. He then summoned Hazrat Ali (ra) and instructed him to take what had been stated in the beginning of Surah al-Taubah and announce it among the people on the day of sacrifice when they gather in Mina that no disbelievers shall enter Paradise, and after that year, none of the disbelievers would be allowed to perform Hajj. No one would be allowed to perform circuits around the House of Allah while naked, and whoever entered into a treaty with the Holy Prophet (sa) its period would be fulfilled.

Hazrat Ali bin Abi Talibra took the Holy Prophet’s (sa) camel Adba and set out, and met Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) along the way. Hazrat Ali (ra) met Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) either in Arj or the Valley of Dajnan. Arj is a valley between Mecca and Madinah where caravans would encamp; Dajnan is a place on the outskirts of Mecca, at a distance of 25 miles on route to Madinah. When Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) saw Hazrat Ali (ra) along the way, he asked whether he had been appointed as the amir or whether he would be under his leadership. This was the degree of Hazrat Abu Bakr’s (ra) humility, he immediately asked whether the Holy Prophet (sa) had sent Hazrat Ali (ra) as the amir or if Hazrat Ali (ra) would work under his leadership in the convoy. Hazrat Ali (ra) said that he would be under Hazrat Abu Bakr’s (ra) leadership, and then both of them continued on.

Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) oversaw all matters relating to Hajj. That year, the people of Arabia set up their camps in the same places where they used to during the time of ignorance. When the day of sacrifice arrived, Hazrat Ali (ra) stood and announced that which the Holy Prophet (sa) had instructed him to say:

“O people, no disbeliever shall enter Paradise and after this year, no disbeliever shall perform Hajj, nor shall anyone be allowed to perform circuits of the House of Allah while naked. Whoever has a treaty with the Holy Prophet (sa), its term shall be completed. From the day of this announcement, the people will be given a period of four months, so that every tribe can return to their places of security or dwellings. Thereafter, there shall be no oath or treaty with a disbeliever nor will they be entrusted with any duty, excluding those oaths and treaties which have already been formed with the Holy Prophet (sa) for a set period of time (in other words, those treaties for which the stipulated timeframe still remained). Aside from these treaties, there will be no new treaties. The existing treaties made with the Holy Prophet (sa) will be honoured according to their fixed time period.”

After that year, no disbeliever performed Hajj, nor did anyone perform circuits of the Kabah while naked.

In another narration, Hazrat Ali (ra) is recorded to have said:

“Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) came to Arafah and addressed the people. When he completed his address, he turned to me and said, ‘O Ali, stand and deliver the message sent by the Holy Prophet (sa).’ I stood and recited the [first] 40 verses of Surah Bara‘ah to them.” Thereafter, both Hazrat Ali (ra) and Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) returned to the Holy Prophet (sa).

(Ibn Hisham, Sirat Ibn Hisham, Hajj Abi Bakr (ra) bi al-Nas… [Beirut, Lebanon: Dar al-Kutub al-’Ilmiyyah, 2001], p. 832), (‘Ali bin Burhan al-Din al-Halabi, Al-Sirah al-Halabiyyah, Vol. 12, Bab Sarayuh wa Bu’uthuh… [Beirut, Lebanon: Dar al-Kutub al-‘Ilmiyyah, 1993], p. 73), (Ibn Kathir, Al-Bidayah wa al-Nihayah, Vol. 7, Dhikr Ba’th Rasul (sa) Allah Aba Bakr (ra) Amiran ‘Ala al-Hajj… [Beirut, Lebanon: Dar Hajr, 1997], pp. 228-229), (Yaqut Ibn ‘Abd Allah al-Hamawi, Mu’jam al-Buldan, Vol. 3 [Beirut, Lebanon: Dar al-Kutub al-‘Ilmiyyah], p. 515), (Sayyid Fadl al-Rahman, Farhang-e-Sirat [Karachi, Pakistan: Zawwar Academy Publications, 2003], p. 198)