The second ‘Aqabah Pledge
The next year during the pilgrimage season seventy three men, and two women came from ‘Madina’ to ‘Makkah’, once they arrived they had secret contacts with the Prophet (saaw) and agreed to meet him secretly at night in mid-Tashriq Days ( 11th, 12th and 13th days of Duul Hijja) in Al-Aqabah.
‘Ka’b Ibn Malik’ who was a leader of ‘Al-Ansar’ said in his account of the meeting:
“We set out for pilgrimage and struck a rendezvous in mid Tashreeq Days. We were accompanied by a celebrity and a notable of ours called ‘Abd-Allah bin Amr bin Haram’, who was still a polytheist. We disclosed to him our intention of meeting Muhammad and exhorted him to join our ranks and give up polytheism lest he should serve as wood for Hell in the Hereafter. He promptly embraced Islam and witnessed the serious meeting at Al-‘Aqabah.
That very night we slept with our people in our camps. After a third of the night had elapsed, we began to leave stealthily and met in a hillock nearby. We were seventy three men and two women ‘Nusaibah bint Ka’b’ from ‘The Najjars’ and ‘Asma’ bint Amr’ from ‘Bani Salamah’. We waited for the Messenger of Allâh until he came in the company of his uncle ‘Al- Abbas bin Abd-Al-Muttalib’ who (though himself not a Muslim yet) adjured us not to draw his nephew away from the protection of his own kindred unless we were fully prepared to defend him even at the risk of our lives. He was the first to speak:
"O you people of -the Khazra-j - the Arabs used to call ‘the Ansâr’ (Helpers) Khazraj, whether from ‘Khazraj’ or ‘Aws’ - you all know the position that Muhammad holds among us. We have protected him from our people as much as we could. He is honoured and respected among his people. He refuses to join any party except you. So if you think you can carry out what you promise while inviting him to your town, and if you can defend him against the enemies, then assume the burden that you have taken. But if you are going to surrender him and betray him after having taken him away with you, you had better leave him now because he is respected and well defended in his own place."
‘Ka’b bin Malik’ replied: "We have heard your words, and now O Messenger of Allah, it is for you to speak and take from us any pledge that you want regarding your Lord and yourself."
‘Jabir ibn Abd-Allah’ has reported:
‘The Ansar’ (Helpers) asked the Messenger of Allah about the principles over which they would take a pledge. The Prophet (saaw) answered:
1. You listen and obey in all sets of circumstances.
2. You spend in plenty as well as in scarcity.
3. You enjoin good and forbid evil.
4. In Allah’s service, you will fear the censure of none.
5. You should defend me in case I seek your help, and debar me from anything you debar yourself, your spouses and children from. And if you observe those precepts, Paradise is in store for you.
In another narration ‘Ka’b bin Malik’ said:
The Prophet began to speak, recited some Qur’anic verses, called people unto Allah, exhorted them to enter the fold of Islam and concluded saying:
"I give you my pledge that you debar me from whatever you debar your women and children from." Here ‘Al-Bara’ bin Ma‘rur’, caught him by hand, and said: "Oh yes, we swear by Allah, Who sent you as a Prophet in Truth, that we will debar you from whatever we debar our women from. Have confidence in us, O Messenger of Allah. By Allah, we are genuine fighters and quite reliable in war, it is a trait passed down to us from our ancestors."
Then ‘Abul Haitham At-Taihan’ interrupted and said: "O Prophet of Allah! Between us and the Jews, there are agreements which we would then sever. If Allah grants you power and victory, should we expect that you would not leave us, and join the ranks of your people (meaning Quraish)?"
The Prophet smiled and replied:
"Nay, it would never be; your blood will be my blood. In life and death I will be with you and you with me. I will fight whom you fight and I will make peace with those with whom you make peace.""
After the negotiations concerning the conditions of allegiance had ended, and all of the audience were unanimously agreed to ratify it, two men of the early generation of converts who had embraced Islam in the eleventh and twelfth years rose to their feet to apprise the others of the serious step they were about to take so that they could give their pledge fully aware of the whole affair and consequently be ready for the sacrifice they were expected to make. ‘Al‘Abbas bin Ubada bin Nadlah’, in this context, remarked: "O you people of ‘Khazraj’! Do you know the significance of the pact that you are entering into with this man? You are in fact avowing that you will fight against all and sundry. If you fear that your property will be at stake or the lives of your nobles will be endangered, then leave him now, because if you do this after the pledge, it will be degrading for you both in this world and the world to come. But if you think that you can carry out what you are called upon to do in spite of the loss of precious lives and property, then undertake this heavy responsibility, and I swear by Allah, that herein lies the good of this world and that of the next."
They replied, "We have already considered the loss of property and the murder of our notables, yet we pay him allegiance. But what is our reward if we observe all the items of this pact?" The Prophet replied: "Paradise is in store for you." Then they asked him to stretch out his hand, and they all stretched out their hands and took the pledge. Only at that time did ‘As‘ad bin Zurarah’ come to realize the people’s readiness for sacrifice in the cause of Allah.
On the authority of ‘Jabir ibn Abd-Allah’ who said:
“When we started to pay allegiance to the Prophet, ‘As’ad bin Zurarah’ stood up and gave the following short address: "Take it easy people of ‘Yathrib’! We have not covered that long distance except because we have had deep belief that he (Muhammad) is the Messenger of Allah. We are already convinced that following him entails departure from the pagan Arabs even if it were at the risk of our life. Should you preserve in this course, holdfast to it and your great reward is placed in the Hand of Allah, but if you are caught in fear, I admonish you to give it up just now, and then you would be more excusable by Allah”
Regarding the two women the pledge was taken orally, as the prophet never shake hands with strange ladies.
Afterwards Muhammad (saaw) asked the group to appoint twelve deputies to preach Islam in Medina and assuming the responsibility to implement literally the pledge regarding the people of their own tribe so as to propagate Islam. Thus, they swore in front of the prophet (saaw) to keep their eyes over the affairs of their people.
When the Quraysh leaders knew about the treaty, they set out for the camp of ‘Abd-Allah bin Ubai bin Salul’ who was a Medinese polytheist. He confirmed that his people did not know anything about the secret him.The Quraysh leaders were not convinced with what Madinese polytheist said. Thus, they continued investigating the matter. They didn't realize that the treaty was in place until the Madinese pilgrims, who kept silent along the protest, left Makkah.
By Youssef KHANNOU
References:
‘’The sealed nectar‘’, Saifur Rahman al-Mubarakpuri, ‘Dar-us-Salam’, 1994.
“Sirat Ibn Hisham”, ‘Ibn- Hisham’, ‘Dar Ibn Al-Haytham’, 2006.