Saying · Before the delegation's departure from Madinah, 9 AH
Verily, the mushrikun perform tawaf naked around the Ka'bah, and I do not wish to perform the Hajj until that is eliminated.
~Dhul Hijjah, 9 AH · 9 AH
Scholars read this differently
Some Shia readings treat the Prophet ﷺ's choice of Ali RA (rather than Abu Bakr RA, already en route) to convey Surat al-Tawba as evidence Ali RA was the intended successor, alongside the incident of Ghadir Khumm. Sunni scholars, including al-Baghawi, instead explain the choice through pre-Islamic Arab custom, under which only a man's own kinsman could announce the breaking of a treaty on his behalf, and note that Ali RA himself told Abu Bakr RA he remained the amir of the delegation throughout.
By the end of the 9th year of the Hijrah, Thaqif had accepted Islam, the expedition to Tabuk was over, and the matter of Najran had been settled. The Prophet ﷺ then sent Abu Bakr al-Siddiq RA from Madinah to Makkah at the head of an official delegation of 300 Muslims. Their task was to prepare the way for the Prophet ﷺ's own Hajj the following year, Hajjat al-Wada', the only Hajj he ever performed.
The Prophet ﷺ did not go himself. He explained to Abu Bakr RA that the mushrikun (idol-worshippers) still performed tawaf around the Ka'bah naked, and that he did not wish to perform Hajj until that was ended. This was the only year in which pagans and an official Muslim delegation performed Hajj and tawaf side by side. Since the Prophet ﷺ had not yet shown the correct rites of Hajj, Abu Bakr RA performed them in the old way.
Soon after the delegation left, the opening verses of Surat al-Tawba were revealed. Ali ibn Abi Talib RA caught up with the delegation at Dhu al-Hulayfah, riding the Prophet ﷺ's own camel. Abu Bakr RA asked him whether he had been sent to take command over him. Ali RA replied that Abu Bakr RA was still the amir (leader), and that he had come only to recite Surat al-Tawba.
At Mina, Ali RA and Abu Hurairah RA recited the opening of Surat al-Tawba to the pagans and Muslims gathered there. They then made four announcements. No one but a believer would enter Jannah. No one would ever again perform tawaf naked. After this year, no mushrik would perform Hajj again. And any existing treaty with the pagans would last four more months and then end, unless it already had its own fixed term.
This was the end of pagan Hajj in Arabia. The ban on performing tawaf naked was enforced at once, that same year. The ban on pagans performing Hajj was only enforced from the following year, since the pagans of the 9th year had already arrived. The announcement that only a believer enters Jannah was, in effect, the final invitation to Islam given to the pagans of Arabia, before they had to choose between accepting Islam and leaving the Peninsula.
The Expedition of Tabuk·Chapter 15 of 15The Hajj of Abu Bakr
See the whole storyOther events recorded in 9 AH. Their order within the year is not established; use the storyline above for the sequence.
Verily, the mushrikun perform tawaf naked around the Ka'bah, and I do not wish to perform the Hajj until that is eliminated.
Together with Abu Hurairah, we make four announcements to the people gathered here at Mina: no one shall enter Jannah except a believer; no one shall ever perform tawaf naked again; after this year, no mushrik shall ever perform tawaf again; and any treaty standing with the pagans shall remain for four more months, after which there is no treaty.
Go back to your people and tell them: either leave, or convert to Islam; you have four months. If you do not, we will attack you.
Said to the pagan pilgrims gathered at Mina, conveying the newly revealed opening of Surat al-Tawba.
Are you being sent to be a commander over me? Or am I still the commander?
Asked when Ali RA arrived riding the Prophet ﷺ's own camel, a sign he had been sent as the Prophet ﷺ's representative.
No, you are still the commander, but I have come to recite Surat al-Tawba.
يَا بَنِي آدَمَ قَدْ أَنزَلْنَا عَلَيْكُمْ لِبَاسًا يُوَارِي سَوْآتِكُمْ وَرِيشًا ۖ وَلِبَاسُ التَّقْوَىٰ ذَٰلِكَ خَيْرٌ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ مِنْ آيَاتِ اللَّهِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَذَّكَّرُونَ
“O children of Adam! We have provided for you clothing to cover your nakedness and as an adornment. However, the best clothing is righteousness. This is one of Allah's bounties, so perhaps you will be mindful.”
Cited to explain why tawaf was traditionally performed unclothed by some jahili Arabs, and why the practice was ended.
يَا بَنِي آدَمَ لَا يَفْتِنَنَّكُمُ الشَّيْطَانُ كَمَا أَخْرَجَ أَبَوَيْكُم مِّنَ الْجَنَّةِ يَنزِعُ عَنْهُمَا لِبَاسَهُمَا لِيُرِيَهُمَا سَوْآتِهِمَا ۗ إِنَّهُ يَرَاكُمْ هُوَ وَقَبِيلُهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا تَرَوْنَهُمْ ۗ إِنَّا جَعَلْنَا الشَّيَاطِينَ أَوْلِيَاءَ لِلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ
“O children of Adam! Do not let Satan deceive you as he tempted your parents out of Paradise and caused their cover to be removed in order to expose their nakedness. Surely, he and his soldiers watch you from where you cannot see them. We have made the devils allies of those who disbelieve.”
Cited to explain why tawaf was traditionally performed unclothed by some jahili Arabs, and why the practice was ended.
وَإِذَا فَعَلُوا فَاحِشَةً قَالُوا وَجَدْنَا عَلَيْهَا آبَاءَنَا وَاللَّهُ أَمَرَنَا بِهَا ۗ قُلْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَأْمُرُ بِالْفَحْشَاءِ ۖ أَتَقُولُونَ عَلَى اللَّهِ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ
“Whenever they commit a shameful deed, they say, "We found our forefathers doing it, and Allah has commanded us to do it." Say, "No! Allah never commands what is fahsha. How can you attribute to Allah what you do not know?"”
Cited to explain why tawaf was traditionally performed unclothed by some jahili Arabs, and why the practice was ended.