The first pilgrimage
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- This is a sub-article to Muhammad in Medina.
The first pilgrimage or Umrah Dhu'l-Qada was the first pilgrimage that the Muslim made after the Migration to Medina. It happened in on the morning of the fourth day of Dhu al-Qi'dah 7 AH, after the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah 6 AH. The entire event was three days long [1].
A pilgrimage that occurs during the month of Dhu al-Qi'dah is named a "major pilgrimage", or just "pilgrimage" (Arabic: Hajj), while pilgrimages on all other month are called "minor pilgrimage" (Arabic: Umrah).
[edit] History
Since Muhammad had stated that God had promised in the Qur'anic verse of 48:27 that the Muslims where to do a pilgrimage, some of them were not satisfied that the attempted pilgrimage in the previous year, 628, only resulted in the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah, but no actual pilgrimage.
In 629, the year after the treaty, the Muslims appeared to make the the first pilgrimage in the month of Dhu al-Qi'dah.
The Sealed Nectar (Arabic: al-Raheeq Al-Makhtum), in the chapter of The Compensatory ‘Umrah (Lesser Pilgrimage), it describes the event as follows:
- "When Dhul Qa‘da month approached towards the close of the seventh year A.H., the Prophet ordered his people, and the men who witnessed Al-Hudaibiyah Truce Treaty in particular, to make preparations to perform ‘Umrah (lesser pilgrimage). He proceeded with 2000 men besides some women and children [Fath Al-Bari 7/700], and 60 camels for sacrifice, to visit the Holy Sanctuary in Makkah. The Muslims took their weapons with them fearing the treachery of the Quraishites, but left them with a party of two hundred men at a place some eight miles from Makkah. They entered the city with the swords in their scabbards [Za'd Al-Ma'ad 2/151; Fath Al-Bari 7/700], with the Prophet at their head on his she-camel, Al-Qaswa’, while the surrounding Companions attentively focusing their look on him, all saying: "Here I am! at Your service O Allâh!" The Quraishites had left the place and retired to their tents on the adjoining hills. The Muslims performed the usual circumambulation vigorously and briskly; and on recommendation by the Prophet they did their best to appear strong and steadfast in their circumambulation as the polytheists had spread rumours that they were weak because the fever of Yathrib (Madinah) had sapped their strength. They were ordered to run in the first three rounds and then walk in the remaining ones. The Makkans meanwhile aligned on the top of Qu‘aiqa‘an Mount watching the Muslims, tongue-tied at witnessing their strength and devotion. When they entered the Holy Sanctuary." [2].
