Episode Summary
In the 7th year of Hijrah, approximately seven months after the Battle of Khaybar, the Prophet (saw) and the Sahaba returned to Makkah to fulfill the Umrah that was disrupted the previous year. This episode, known as Umratul Qada, explores the fulfillment of divine dreams, the institutionalisation of specific rites like Ramal (marching) and Idtiba' (uncovering the shoulder), and the profound spiritual lesson that reward is based on sincere effort rather than logistical outcomes. It highlights the Prophet’s (saw) tactical wisdom in countering Makkan rumors and his mercy in demonstrating the accessibility of worship for the elderly and infirm.
Key Highlights
- This Umrah is known by three names: **Umrah al-Qada** (the makeup), **Umrah al-Qisas** (legal retribution), and **Umrah al-Qadiyah** (the contractual decree).
- The Prophet (saw) taught that believers receive the **full reward for their intentions** and efforts even if an act of worship is blocked by factors outside their control.
- The practice of **Ramal** (marching briskly for the first three circuits of tawaaf) was established to counter rumors that the 'illness of Yathrib' had made the Muslims weak.
- Men were instructed to perform **Idtiba'**—uncovering the right shoulder—to project a warrior-like strength and dignity while being stared down by the Quraysh.
- The Prophet (saw) performed tawaaf on his **she-camel, Al-Qaswa**, and touched the Black Stone with a walking stick to demonstrate the permissibility of using mounts or wheelchairs for the exhausted or elderly.
- The expedition marked the fulfillment of the Prophet's (saw) divine vision mentioned in **Surat al-Fath**, where he saw himself and the Sahaba entering the Masjid al-Haram in safety.
- The Muslims remained in Makkah for the contractually agreed **three days**, during which the Prophet (saw) married **Maymunah bint al-Hadith**.
Comprehensive Analysis
1. The Names and Nature of the Journey
Following the Battle of Khaybar, the Prophet (saw) waited until the month of Dhu al-Qi’dah in the 7th year of Hijrah to gather the Sahaba for Umrah. This journey is referred to by scholars as Umrah al-Qada’ because it was a “make-up” for the disrupted pilgrimage of the previous year. It is also called Umrah al-Qisas (retribution), as it served as a replacement for what the Makkans had taken away, and Umrah al-Qadiyah (the decree), because it was contractually agreed upon in the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah.
2. The Lesson of Sincere Effort
The sources emphasize a profound spiritual lesson: we do not control the outcome of things, only our effort. Although the first Umrah attempt was blocked, the Prophet (saw) and the Sahaba received the reward for two Umrahs because they made their best effort. This serves as comfort for any believer whose noble intentions—such as memorizing the Quran—are hindered by life’s circumstances; if the effort is sincere, the reward is secure with Allah.
3. Countering the “Yathrib Illness”
When the Muslims approached Makkah, the Quraysh spread rumors that the “fever and disease of Yathrib” (the old name for Madinah) had made the Sahaba frail and broken. Historically, Yathrib was known for making visitors ill, though the Prophet (saw) had performed a miraculous dua to remove this sickness upon his arrival years prior. To silence these taunts and project strength, the Prophet (saw) implemented two specific tactical displays during tawaaf:
- Idtiba’: Men were told to uncover their right shoulder and chest to look like warriors.
- Ramal: For the first three of the seven circuits, the men were to march with their chests out and shoulders back rather than walking normally.
4. The Fulfillment of the Divine Vision
This journey was the literal fulfillment of the dream mentioned in Surat al-Fath (48:27), where Allah promised the Messenger he would enter Masjid al-Haram in safety with his head shaved. Despite the frustration felt by Umar al-Khattab the year prior, the Prophet (saw) reminded the Sahaba to “keep the faith and keep the hope,” as the vision was finally being realized.
5. Prophetic Mercy and Accessibility
Because the Prophet (saw) was nearly 60 years old and exhausted from the long journey, he performed his tawaaf on the back of his she-camel, Qaswa. He touched the Hajar al-Aswad (Black Stone) with a walking stick from his mount. Scholars note that the Prophet (saw) did this not because he was ill, but as a mercy to his Ummah, demonstrating that those who are physically incapable of walking are permitted to perform tawaaf via mounts or wheelchairs.
6. Entering Makkah with Dignity
As the 2,000 Muslims entered the city reciting the talbiyah, Abdullah ibn Rawaha led the Prophet’s camel, reciting poetry that asserted the dignity of the Muslims. Despite the “angry and hateful” stares from the Quraysh lined up on the streets, the Sahaba maintained their focus on worship. The Prophet (saw) remained a man of his word, ensuring all weapons were sheathed and holstered and that no Makkans were taken back to Madinah against the treaty’s terms.