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.
With Thaqif's submission, the Battle of Tabuk, and the province of Najran all settled by the close of the 9th year of the Hijrah, the Prophet ﷺ sent Abu Bakr al-Siddiq RA at the head of an official delegation of 300 Muslims from Madinah to Makkah, to lay the groundwork for what would become his ﷺ only Hajj, the following year's Hajjat al-Wada'. The Prophet ﷺ himself did not attend, explaining to Abu Bakr RA that the mushrikun still performed tawaf around the Ka'bah naked, and that he did not wish to perform Hajj until that practice was ended. This was therefore the only year in Islam's history in which pagans and an official Muslim delegation performed Hajj and tawaf side by side. Because the Prophet ﷺ had not yet personally demonstrated the correct rites of Hajj, Abu Bakr RA led the pilgrims according to the old, pre-Islamic manner. At Dhu al-Hulayfah, Ali ibn Abi Talib RA caught up with the delegation riding the Prophet ﷺ's own camel, prompting Abu Bakr RA to ask whether Ali had been sent to take command over him; Ali RA replied that Abu Bakr RA remained the amir, and that he had come only to recite Surat al-Tawba. At Mina, Ali RA, together with Abu Hurairah RA, proclaimed the opening of Surat al-Tawba to the assembled pagans and Muslims, and made four further announcements: that none but a believer would enter Jannah; that tawaf was never again to be performed unclothed; that after this year no mushrik would be permitted to perform Hajj at all; and that any existing treaty with the pagans would stand for four more months (unless it already carried its own fixed term), after which it was void.
This was the closing act of pagan Hajj in Arabia. The prohibition on tawaf naked was enforced immediately, that same year; the prohibition on pagans performing Hajj at all was not enforced until the following year, since the pagans present in the 9th year had already arrived. The announcement that only a believer enters Jannah was, in effect, the final dawah given to the pagans of Arabia before they were required to choose between 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.