An Announcement from Allah and His Messenger to the People

23/09/2010| IslamWeb

Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {“And [it is] an announcement from Allah The Exalted and His Messenger to the people on the day of the greater pilgrimage…” } [Quran 9:3]

The verse implies an injunction that is addressed to all Muslims that they should announce to all the polytheists that Allah The Almighty dissociates Himself from all those who associate partners with Him, abandon the Sunnah (tradition) of His Messenger and do not accept Islam as their religion and way of life.

This verse addresses the believers as well as all other people; since announcing such a significant proclamation to all people is of great importance to all of them. Moreover, scholars hold different opinions concerning the timing of that proclamation that was identified in the verse. The opinion that is more likely to be the correct one suggests that the proclamation was made on the Day of An-Nahr (the 10th of Thul-Hijjah).

This great announcement was made in the year prior to the Farewell Hajj of the Prophet when Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, was the leader of the pilgrims in that Hajj. It was narrated in Saheeh Al-Bukhari and Saheeh Muslim, that the Prophet sent ‘Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, and commanded him to recite Surat At-Tawbah aloud to the people. ‘Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, recited the first thirty or forty verses of Surat At-Tawbah publicly to the people [the pilgrims in Mina].

It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, said, “Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, sent me along with other announcers to Mina to make a proclamation, ‘From that year on, no polytheist is allowed to perform Hajj after this year and no naked person is allowed to perform Tawaaf around the Ka‘bah.’ Then, the Prophet sent ‘Ali ibn Abi Taalib, may Allah be pleased with him, to read out Surat At-Tawbah to the people. So he made the public announcement along with us on the Day of An-Nahr in Mina, ‘No polytheist is allowed to perform Hajj after this year and no naked person is allowed to perform Tawaaf around the Ka‘bah’.” [Al-Bukhari]

Furthermore, it was reported in another narration that Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, said, “Abu Bakr threw back (their covenant) to the disbelievers, so as to be on equal terms [that there will be no more covenant between Muslims and disbelievers] on that year as was stated in the verse. The next year when the Prophet performed the Farewell Hajj, no polytheist performed Hajj on that year.” [Al-Bukhari]

The verse indicates that proclaiming to all the polytheists that Allah The Almighty dissociates Himself from all those who have associated partners with Him, is for all Muslims in all times and places. Such proclamation announces the prohibition to make alliance with those who do not respect the ties of kinship or of covenant with Muslims, and who wait for some misfortune to befall Muslims. Moreover, the verse proclaims that the option of repentance to Allah The Almighty is still there for all those who have made war against Allah The Almighty and His Messenger and have shown hostility or enmity towards the allies of Allah The Exalted.

Additionally, the announcement indicates that whoever neglects it cannot cause failure to Allah The Almighty on earth or frustrate the Divine plans on it. Indeed, Allah The Almighty has full power and control [is predominant] over His affairs, but most of the people do not know.