Pledge of al-Aqaba: Difference between revisions

'''Pledge of al-ʿAqaba''' (Arabic:{{iarabic| البیعة العقبة}}) is the oath of allegiance of people of [[Yathrib]] to [[Prophet Muhammad (s)]], prior to his [[emigration to Medina]]. The first pledge was [[year 12 after Bi'tha]]/621 and the second pledge was a year later in [[year 13 after Bi'tha]]/622, both are known as the pledge of al-'Aqaba. The first pledge is known as Bay'at al-Nisa' and the second one is known as Bay'at al-Harab. The significance of these pledges is that both were important in the preparation of situation for emigration of Prophet Muhammad (s) and Muslims from [[Mecca]] to [[Medina]].

Lexically, al-'Aqaba means mountain pass<ref>Ibn Manzur, ''Lisan al-'Arab'', Vol.1, P.621</ref>, a way to get to the top of a mountain<ref>Ibn Manzur, ''Lisan al-Arab'', Vol.1, P.621</ref>. Because both of the pledges of allegiance to [[Prophet Muhammad (s)]] were held at a mountain pass between [[Mecca]] and [[Mina]], they are known as pledges of al-'Aqaba. It is located five kilometers far from Mecca<ref>Yaqut al-Hamawi, ''Mu'jam al-buldan'', Vol.2, PP.692-3</ref>.

[[Abu Talib b. 'Abd al-Muttalib]] and [[Khadija bt. Khuwaylid]] passed away [[ten years after Bi'that]]/618, which left [[Prophet Muhammad (s)]] with no supporter, in addition, he was under severe pressure from his enemies<ref>Tabari, ''Tarikh'', Vol.2, PP.343-4</ref>. He met six members of [[Khazraj]] from [[Medina]] 11 years after Bi'that/619. According to the sources, they met in [[Mina]]<ref>Ibn Sa'd, ''al-Tabaqat'', Vol.1, P.218</ref> or in al-'Aqaba<ref>Yaqut al-Hamawi, ''Mu'jam al-buldan'', Vol.3, P.693; Al-Tabari, ''Tarikh'', Vol.2, P.353</ref>. Prophet Muhammad (s) asked about their identity and their allies. They said they were Jews' ally. Then he introduced Islam and [[Qur'an]] to them. People of Medina vaguely knew about a prophet in Mecca, and they hoped the Prophet (s) could stop the adversaries between the tribes of [[Aws and Khazraj]]. After they returned to [[Yathrib]], they told about the Prophet (s) to people.

==First Pledge of al-'Aqaba==

In the first Pledge of al-'Aqaba, also known as Bay'at al-Nisa', twelve members of Aws and Khazraj converted to Islam and took an oath of allegiance to Prophet Muhammad (s) in the time of [[hajj]], twelve years after [[Bi'that]]/621.

* [['Awf b. al-Harith]]

* [[Dhakwan b. 'Abd al-Qays]]

* [['Ubada b. al-Samit]]

* [[al-'Abbas b. 'Ubada]]

* [['Uqba b. 'Amir]]

* [[Qutba b. 'Amir b. Hadida]]

* [['Uwaym b. Sa'ida]]<ref>Ibn Sa'd, ''al-Tabaqat'', Vol.1, P.205</ref>

 

Some historians named to pledge as Bay'at al-Nisa' (pledge of the women), however, Bay'at al-Nisa' is the name of the pledge of the women of Mecca with the Prophet (s) after the [[Conquest of Mecca]].<ref>Hasan Ibrahim al-Hasan, ''Tarikh al-Islam'', Vol.1, P.95</ref>

After the first Pledge of al-'Aqaba, Prophet Muhammad (s) sent [[Mus'ab b. 'Umayr]] to [[Medina]] to teach [[Qur'an]] to newly converted Muslims.<ref>Tabari, ''Tarikh'', Vol.2, P.357</ref> However some historians mentioned that he was sent to Medina after the second Pledge of al-'Aqaba.<ref>Baladhuri, ''Kitab jumal min ansab al-ashraf'', Vol.1, P.277</ref>

==Second Pledge of al-'Aqaba==

The second Pledge of al-'Aqaba, also known as Bay'at al-Harb (pledge of war), took place near [[Mina]], [[Mecca]] (today [[al-Khayf mosque]] is located there) in the time of [[hajj]], thirteen years after [[Bi'that]]/622. It is said seventy men or seventy two men and two women were present at al-'Aqaba. Also [[al-'Abbas b. 'Abd al-Muttalib]], the Prophet's uncle was present at al-'Aqaba. People of Medina took oath of allegiance to Prophet Muhammad (s) individually or in a group of two. [[Rafi' b. Malik b. al-'Ajlan]] was the first person who took the oath of allegiance.

Al-'Abbas said to attendants: "Muhammad is one of us, we have protected him as much as we could. If you can support him, it is good; otherwise, leave him to us." "We take the oath of allegiance to him and we promise that we will fight against his enemies and befriend his friends."

Because people of Yathrib promised to fight alongside Prophet Muhammad (s), this pledge is known as Pledge of War. Some members of [[Ansar]] (Helpers) declared they will fight for Prophet Muhammad (s) from the first night. Al-'Abbas b. 'Ubada asked Prophet Muhammad (s) for permission to attack polytheists who were performing hajj practices in Mina, but Prophet rejected it and said return to your families and relatives.<ref>Ibn Hisham, ''al-Sirat al-nabawiyya'', Vol.1, P.448</ref>

* After the pledge, Prophet Muhammad (s) chose [[twelve naqibs]] of [[Yathrib]] as responsible of their tribes.<ref>Hasan Ibrahim al-Hasan, ''Tarikh al-Islam'', Vol.1, PP.277-8</ref>

* Baladhuri, Ahmad b. Yahya al-. 1417 AH/1996. ''Kitab jumal min ansab al-ashraf''. Beirut: Suhayl Zakkar & Riyad Zirkili.

* Hasan, al-Hasan Ibrahim al-. 1964. ''Tarikh al-Islam: al-siyasi wa l-dini wa l-thiqafi wa l-ijtima'i''. Cairo.

* Ibn Manzur. 1363 sh/1985. ''Lisan al-'arab''. Nashr-i Adab-i Hawza.

* Ibn Sa'd. 1405 AH/1985. ''Al-Tabaqat al-kubra''. Beirut.

* Tabari, Muhammad b. Jarir al-. 1382-87 AH/1962-67. ''Tarikh al-Tabari, Tarikh al-umam wa al-muluk''. Beirut: Muhammad Abu l-Fadl Ibrahim.

* Hamawi, Yaqut al-. 1873-66. ''Mu'jam al-buldan''. Leipzig: Ferdinand Wüstenfeld.