The Remembrance of the Bearer of Glad Tidings and the Warner صلى الله عليه وسلم - Episode 8: A Spotlight on Aqabah pledges

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: Allah planted stout seeds which strengthened Islam greatly. When Quraysh rejected his religion, He the Mighty allowed the light of his call to shine on all regions of earth. Abu-Zar (may Allah be pleased with him) heard about the prophet and his Call in Mecca.

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: Abu Zar was in Medina, but he heard about Muhammad and the message of Islam, so he sent his brother to look for Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم and find out about the new religion, the prophet himself and report back to him all about it.

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: So Unais went to Mecca and reported back to his brother.

Sheikh Ali Paqees: he said, "He calls the people towards virtues and forbids them from evils"

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: Abu Zar responded, "You didn't satisfy my curiosity."

Sheikh Ali Paqees: Then, he intended to go to Mecca himself.

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: he entered the Holy sanctuary

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: He looked for Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم cautiously, afraid of Quraysh if they found out the real purpose of his staying in Mecca

Sheikh Ali Paqees: One day Ali bin Abi Talib saw him and came upon him.

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon : he asked him, "Are you a stranger? Abu Zar answered, "Yes, I am."

Sheikh Ali Paqees: Ali offered to host him in his own house for the night and Abu Zar agreed. The next day Ali approached him again, asked him, "Did you not find yourself a home yet? Abu Zar answered, "No, not yet."

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: So Ali offered to host him again

Sheikh Ali Paqees: that night, Abu Zar opened his heart to Ali and told him the purpose of his coming to Mecca

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: He said, "I came to Mecca in order to find out the truth about that who claims himself as Allah's messenger"

Sheikh Ali Paqees: Ali told him, "You've found your heart's desire; I'd lead you to him, tomorrow morning walk closely behind me. Shall I suspect anything. I'd pretend to mend my shoe.

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: hence you may walk other path than me. and so they agreed.

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: Ali introduced him to the prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم who told him about his call unto Islam, and recited verses of the holy Quran to him.

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: Abu Zar was strongly impressed.

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: for then he testified "No god but Allah, and you're his messenger"

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: Attufail bin 'Amr Ad-Dousi one of the prophet's companions from outside Mecca.

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: When he came to Mecca, Quraysh approached him.

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: They showed him great hospitality, entertained him, offered him food and drinks, then they warned him against Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم and vituperate the prophet and defamed him, distorting his message as well.

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: Till Attufail was convinced he ought not to listen to Muhammad in the least.

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: But Allah guide whom he pleases and no one can prevent Allah's arrangements.

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: Attufail headed to Mecca, entered the Holy Sanctuary while the prophet was reciting the Holy Quran to a group of people.

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: His mind was stimulated; he condemned himself “What a fool I am! I am myself a good poet and can judge very well the standard and quality of a piece of literature, who could know soothsayers and fortune tellers better than me!"

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: I know very well Arabs' poetry, I could distinguish whether what he call unto is true or not.

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: he took the cotton pads off his ears and approached the prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم he sat in front of him, as soon as he listened to the recitation of the prophet, his heart softened, and his cautious manners loosened and his eyes wept, then he neared the prophet and told him he wish to embrace Islam, and so he did. Afterwards he said: O' Prophet of Allah

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi:Let me Call Dous (my clan) unto Islam, for they're pagans. The prophet permitted him to propagate Islam among his clan, and then he said: O' prophet of Allah pray that Allah may give me a sign.

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: The prophet prayed for him. When Attufail went back to his clan, Allah blessed him with a bright glow over his face, a sign for the truthfulness of his mission, he prayed for it to be in somewhere else his face, afraid that his people may see it as a blemish not as a sign. Allah accepted his prayer and made the light glow off a stick that was with him.

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: He started his mission, called his people unto the Islam. In short period, 70 families among his clan converted to Islam.

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: Quraysh never ceased averting the people who came to Mecca from the prophet and his Call.

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: The prophet developed new methods to propagate the message of Islam. He decided to set out himself to call the tribes outside of Mecca unto Islam

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: He took advantage of the season of pilgrim and the Arab Markets in particular.

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: He called various tribes and clans unto Islam, asked them to support him in his call, yet all of them denied his requests and rejected his Islam.

Sheikh Ali Paqees: During the time of pilgrim, the prophet met with Khazraj tribe

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: The prophet asked them: "Where are you from?" They answered: "From the Madinah. He inquired further: "Which tribe? They answered: "AL-Khazraj."

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: “Are you the allies of the Jews?” The Prophet enquired. They said: “Yes.” The prophet then said: “Why not sit down for a little for I wish to speak to you" they were six men, whom all sat down to the prophet. Among them was As'ad bin Zurarah (May Allah be pleased with them all)

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: The prophet introduced Islam to them, discussing the religion, their hearts opened up to it.

Sheikh Ali Paqees: The went back to Yathrib (Madinah) to propagate Islam among their tribe.

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: a whole year passed by afterwards.

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: on the pilgrim time, 12 men of them approached the prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: They held a meeting with the prophet, hence was the first 'Aqabah pledge. They avowed their faith in The ONE and his messenger and swore:

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: to obey him in whichever he says, whether in times of hardships or welfare.

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: not worship anyone but one Allah

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: to support him when he comes to Medina

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: to not steal, or commit adultery, nor utter slander, intentionally forging falsehood

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: When they had taken the pledge, the prophet said: “He who stays true to his pledge, Allah will reward him with the Paradise, and who neglects anything and is afflicted in this world then his affair is with Allah. He may forgive him or He may not.”

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: They took their pledges and swore to cling to it, then dispersed and went each to his saddle.

Sheikh Ali Paqees: They requested from the prophet to send with them someone who may preach them the doctrines of Islam and support them in Calling unto it, the prophet sent with them Mus'ab bin 'Umair, The first ambassador ever in Islam (may Allah be pleased with him)

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: Indeed he was the best ambassador of the best prophet.

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: He used to Call folks there unto Islam, guide them to the right path

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: He was sent there to bring the light of Islam to Taiba (Medina), to put an end to polytheism and evils. Hence those failures who clung to their paganism were hostile to him.

Sheikh Ali Paqees: Mus'ab bin 'Umair accompanied by the small delegation of Muslims from Aws and Khazraj went back to Al-Medina.

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: he resided at Sa'd bin Zurarah's place

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: together they propagated Islam from house to house and from tribe to tribe

Sheikh Ali Paqees: Mus'ab succeeded in getting two of the most honorable men of 'Abd Al-Ashhal clan to embrace Islam.

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: Usaid bin Hudhair and Sa'd bin Mu'ath (may Allah be pleased with them)

Sheikh Ali Paqees: When Usaid neared them, As'ad saw him and said to Mus'ab in a low voice: that's the Chief of his clan; be sincere and devoted in calling him unto Islam.

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: Usaid came closer cursing and aggressively ordering them to stop it altogether. Mus'ab then said

Sheikh Ali Paqees: Mus'ab said: "What about sitting and listening to us?" If you are pleased with our talk, you can accept it. Should you hold it in abhorrence, we'd leave your premises.”

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: I agree, that's fair enough

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: Musa'b then recited some verses of the Holy Quran and told him about the Message the prophet was sent with.

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: only few moments passed before Usaid's face bespoke satisfaction and pleasure before uttering any words of approval, and the two men realized that Usaid was about to accept the Call of Islam.

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: for As'Ad said: "By Allah we've seen the acceptance of Islam in Usaid's face before he uttered a word about it."

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: As soon as Mus'ab stopped reciting, Usaid asked: by Allah what does one have to do if he wants to embrace your religion?

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: They answered him: One should perform Ghusl [ritual purification] and should purify his clothes, and then declare the testimony of faith. and so he did.

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: Then he said: “There is a man behind me. If he follows you and reverts to Islam, all his people would follow him - he is Sa‘d bin Mu‘ath

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: Usaid bin Hudhair then went back to Sa'd bin Mu'ath

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: by Allah, Usaid bin Hudhair is coming to you with a face different from the one he left you with, then inquired after Mus'ab and As'ad

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: I have been told that Banu Harithah headed for As‘ad bin Zuraarah, your cousin, to kill him

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: Sa‘d got up in anger, loathing what he heard about Banu Haarithah. He said " let's see if they dared". He took the spear in his hand in the cause of avenging his cousin

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: When he reached Mus'ab and As'ad, he found them quite fine and secure

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: Hence he cursed them and said to them what Usaid at first told them. They then said: what about sitting down and hearing us out.

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: If you are satisfied with the matter, accept it; and if you are dissatisfied with it, we will stop doing what you do not like?

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: So, Sa'd sat to them and Mus'ab recited verses of Quran before him

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: As'ad bin zurarah said: "By Allah we foresaw his acceptance of Islam in the brightness of his face even before he uttered a word."

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: As soon as Mus'ab ended his recitation, Sa'd said: "By Allah what does one have to do if he wants to embrace your religion?"

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: He should purify himself and his clothes and declare the testimony of faith; and so he did.

 (Those pure hearts opened up to Islam, submitting to Allah in the hope of being rewarded with paradise; hence won the honor of both this life and the Hereafter. They became truly the supporters of Islam, sacrificing themselves awaiting their reward on the Judgment day)

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: Mus'ab continues his mission of Calling unto Islam in Medina, till he got back to the prophet on the following pilgrim season with seventy men, whom all embraced Islam.

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: On their way to the prophet; they discussed the hardships, harassment the prophet suffers in Mecca. How he moves between the mountains and wastelands to call tribes unto Islam. "We embraced Islam, how could we not support our prophet!" they said. They decided to request the prophet to accompany them to Yathrib (Medina) in order to protect and support him. When they reached Mecca, they started deliberately their secret arrangements to meet with the prophet.

Sheikh Ali Paqees: They agreed to meet on the second day of Tashreeq, after dusk when most people fell asleep that night.

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: After the first third of the night had passed, they went secretly to meet the Prophet

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: the Prophet came with his uncle Al-‘Abbas ibn ‘Abdul-Muttalib who was still a disbeliever at that time.

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: Al-‘Abbaas ibn ‘Abdul-Muttalib was the first to speak and he said that Al-Muttalib Clan and Hashim Clan protect Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم from Mecca's people ' he is honored by his clan and protected herein" hence could they not well protect him, they shall say so now. Ka'b then said to Al-'Abbas "We have heard what you said. Now O Messenger of Allah, speak and name what you and your Lord would like us to do.’

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: the prophet asked for their oath to protect him against whichever dangers they protect themselves and their families, money and town from

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: They said:O' Messenger of Allah, how should we be rewarded if we devotedly supported you? He صلى الله عليه وسلم answered "The Paradise is in store for you" then they said "O' prophet of Allah, give us your hand let us give you our pledge"

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: The prophet extended his hand and the men clasped it in theirs.

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: They gave him their pledge.

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: Just then, Abu Al-Haytham ibn At-Tayhan said warning the men and reminding them, saying to the prophet: "we have some agreements with the Jews (of Medina), and we shall break them."

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: If we supported you and Allah the Almighty renders you victorious

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: will you return to your people and leave us?’ The Prophet said: “No, Blood is blood, and destruction is destruction, I am from you and you are from me"

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: "I fight whom you fight and make peace with whomever you make peace with" and indeed the prophet kept his pledge till he died and buried in Medina.

(They gave their pledge to the prophet, so they won the hereafter, and sold Allah their souls and money, and the deal was closed)

Sheikh Ali Paqees: After the second pledge, the prophet told his companions that Allah permitted them to emigrate.

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: The prophet said "In a dream I saw myself migrating from Mecca to a place having plenty of date trees. I thought that it was Al-Yamama or Hajar, but it came to be Medina i.e. Yathrib"

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: The prophet's companions began to migrate to their brothers in Medina who promised the prophet to protect him and his companions.

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: They used to migrate secretly, majorly at night, so that they may escape the powerful authority of Quraysh to Medina (i.e. Taiba)

Sheikh Ali Paqees: Among the first vanguards of emigrants was Abu Salamah, his wife and their child (May Allah be pleased with them)

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: When they prepared their saddle, his in-laws, in a desperate attempt to raise obstacles, detained his wife; Um Salamah

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: "You overrode us in regard to your own self, but as for our daughter, Um Salamah, we will not let you roam with her through the land. She had converted to Islam by then

Sheikh Ali Paqees Thus her in-laws in rage, came and snatched her son away from her.

 Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: after the departure of her husband and the loss of her son

 Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: spent a year by herself, spending every morning at the outskirts of Mecca, weeping and lamenting.

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: She remembers her dead husband, and cherished son, thus couldn't hold her tears.

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: A relative of hers eventually had pity on her and exhorted the others to release her son and let her join her husband.

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: when she set out with her baby, Allah arranged for her to encounter ‘Uthmaan ibn Talhah ibn Abi Talhah

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: He accompanied her ever since she set out of Mecca till they reached al Baqee', then he said

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: "Your husband is in that village, so enter it" hence Abu Salamah and his family were one of the first emigrants to Medina, Allah said:

{وَالسَّابِقُونَ الْأَوَّلُونَ مِنَ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ وَالْأَنْصَارِ وَالَّذِينَ اتَّبَعُوهُمْ بِإِحْسَانٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ وَرَضُوا عَنْهُ وَأَعَدَّ لَهُمْ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي تَحْتَهَا الْأَنْهَارُ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا أَبَدًا ذَلِكَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ [التوبة: 100] }

Interpretation of the meaining: "And (as for) the foremost, the first of the Muhajirs and the Ansars, and those who followed them in goodness, Allah is well pleased with them and they are well pleased with Him, and He has prepared for them gardens beneath which rivers flow, to abide in them forever; that is the mighty achievement." [Surat: At-tawbah: 100]

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: Also, among the weak Muslims who decided to migrate to Medina was Suhaib Al-Romy (may Allah be pleased with him)

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: Suhaib expressed his wish to migrate, escaping Quraysh harassment, and worship Allah freely, but when Quraysh knew, they stood in his way.

Sheikh Ali Paqees: They insulted him "you had come into Mecca as a worthless tramp, yet when you've made enough money out of us, you want to escape to Muhammad"

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: He inquired: "Is it only my money that you are after?" What if I showed you the way to where all my money is, would you let me go?" They said: "Yes, we would. Thus he offered them all his wealth, in exchange of being free to worship none but Allah, and went to Medina

Allah said

  {وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَنْ يَشْرِي نَفْسَهُ ابْتِغَاءَ مَرْضَاتِ اللَّهِ وَاللَّهُ رَءُوفٌ بِالْعِبَادِ} [البقرة: 207]

Interpretation of the meaining: "And among men is he who sells himself to seek the pleasure of Allah; and Allah is Affectionate to the servants." [Surat: Al-Baqara: 207]

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: When Suhaib told that story to the prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم how he sacrificed all his wealth for the sake of Allah and his messenger, the prophet praised him saying: 'You're the Winner Aba Yahia, after all"