1 Dhu al-Qa'dah, 6 AH · 6 AH
In the 6th year of the Hijrah, the Prophet ﷺ saw a dream. In it he was doing tawaf around the Ka'bah in a state of ihram, with his head shaved, performing the rites of Umrah. He understood it as Allah's command to go to Makkah for Umrah. He announced his intention to the Muhajirun, the Ansar and the Muslim tribes around Madinah, and invited everyone who was able to join him.
The Muhajirun, who had not seen Makkah for six years, prepared eagerly. The Bedouin tribes around Madinah mostly refused to come, fearing a clash with the Quraysh. In the end about 1,400 Muslims set out with the Prophet ﷺ. The sources differ on whether they were armed. One way to reconcile the reports is that they carried weapons in their baggage as a precaution but did not wear them, since this is not allowed in ihram.
The Prophet ﷺ deliberately waited to leave until the 1st of Dhu al-Qa'dah, the start of the Sacred Months, to show the Quraysh that he came in peace. At Dhu al-Hulayfah, the place where pilgrims from Madinah enter ihram, he prayed two rak'at and put on his ihram. There he also marked his camels as sacrificial offerings, a practice going back to Ibrahim AS. One report says there were 70 of them. From there he sent Busr ibn Sufyan al-Khuza'i ahead to Makkah to find out what the Quraysh were planning.
The Qur'an rebukes the Bedouins who stayed behind in Surah al-Fath. By holding back, they missed the Pledge of Ridwan, which took place on this journey. Those who made that pledge hold the third-highest rank among the Companions, after the ten promised Paradise and the veterans of Badr.
Other events recorded in 6 AH. Their order within the year is not established; use the storyline above for the sequence.
Nothing recorded for this event yet.
لَّقَدْ صَدَقَ اللَّهُ رَسُولَهُ الرُّؤْيَا بِالْحَقِّ ۖ لَتَدْخُلُنَّ الْمَسْجِدَ الْحَرَامَ إِن شَاءَ اللَّهُ آمِنِينَ مُحَلِّقِينَ رُءُوسَكُمْ وَمُقَصِّرِينَ لَا تَخَافُونَ ۖ فَعَلِمَ مَا لَمْ تَعْلَمُوا فَجَعَلَ مِن دُونِ ذَٰلِكَ فَتْحًا قَرِيبًا
“Indeed, Allah will fulfill His Messenger's vision in all truth: Allah-willing, you will surely enter the Sacred Mosque in security —[some with] heads shaved and [others with] hair shortened— without fear. He knew what you did not know, so He first granted you the triumph at hand”
Confirms the fulfillment of the dream that prompted this journey.
“Indeed, the number of months with Allah is 12 [lunar] months in the register of Allah [from] the day He created the heavens and the earth; of these, four are sacred.”
Establishes the sanctity of Dhu al-Qa'dah, the month in which the Prophet ﷺ deliberately timed this departure.
سَيَقُولُ لَكَ الْمُخَلَّفُونَ مِنَ الْأَعْرَابِ شَغَلَتْنَا أَمْوَالُنَا وَأَهْلُونَا فَاسْتَغْفِرْ لَنَا ۚ يَقُولُونَ بِأَلْسِنَتِهِم مَّا لَيْسَ فِي قُلُوبِهِمْ ۚ قُلْ فَمَن يَمْلِكُ لَكُم مِّنَ اللَّهِ شَيْئًا إِنْ أَرَادَ بِكُمْ ضَرًّا أَوْ أَرَادَ بِكُمْ نَفْعًا ۚ بَلْ كَانَ اللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرًا
“The nomadic Arabs (Bedouin) who stayed behind will say to you [O Prophet], "We were preoccupied with our wealth and families, so ask for forgiveness for us." They say with their tongues what is not in their hearts. Say, "Who then can stand between you and Allah in any way if He intends harm or benefit for you? In fact, Allah is All-Aware of what you do."”
Rebukes the Bedouin tribes who made excuses to avoid joining the journey.
بَلْ ظَنَنتُمْ أَن لَّن يَنقَلِبَ الرَّسُولُ وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ إِلَىٰ أَهْلِيهِمْ أَبَدًا وَزُيِّنَ ذَٰلِكَ فِي قُلُوبِكُمْ وَظَنَنتُمْ ظَنَّ السَّوْءِ وَكُنتُمْ قَوْمًا بُورًا
“The truth is you thought that the Messenger and the believers would never return to their families again. And that was made appealing in your hearts. You harbored evil thoughts [about Allah], and [so] became a doomed people.”
Rebukes the Bedouin tribes who made excuses to avoid joining the journey.
وَمَن يُعَظِّمْ شَعَـٰٓئِرَ ٱللَّهِ فَإِنَّهَا مِن تَقْوَى ٱلْقُلُوبِ
“And whoever honors the symbols of Allah, it is certainly out of the piety of the heart”
Cited regarding the consecration of the sacrificial animals as symbols of Allah.