Umrah al-Qada - 7 AH

In Dhu al-Qa'dah 7 AH, the Prophet ﷺ led approximately 2,000 Muslims to perform Umrah al-Qada, making up for the Umrah they missed the previous year. This was a massive gathering, and the Muslims brought weapons for protection, which alarmed the Quraysh. However, the Prophet ﷺ adhered to the treaty and left the weapons outside Makkah, guarded by 200 men, while the rest performed tawaf. The guards later swapped places to ensure all participated in the Umrah.

The Quraysh divided into three groups: some stayed in their homes for three days, others gathered in Dar al-Nadwa, and some camped outside Makkah to avoid interaction with the Muslims.

A rumor spread among the Quraysh that the Muslims were weakened by the diseases of Madinah. To counter this, the Prophet ﷺ instructed the Muslims to:

1. Raise their voices with talbiyah.

2. Expose their right shoulders during the first tawaf.

3. Perform the first three circuits of tawaf with a brisk walk (raml).

This display of strength shattered the rumor, and the Quraysh admitted, "We have never seen them more energetic than this." The Prophet ﷺ and the Muslims peacefully performed Umrah over three days. The Quraysh honored the treaty and did not interfere. Though the seerah books provide little detail, it was a moment of deep emotion for the Prophet ﷺ as he ﷺ revisited the city of his childhood and memories of his beloved wife Khadija رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْھَا  and his family.

Maymunah bint al-Harith: The Blessed Bride

Maymunah bint al-Harith رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْھَا was the last woman to marry the Prophet ﷺ. She was previously married to Abu Rahm ibn Abd al-Uzza, who had passed away. On the way out of Makkah after Umrah al-Qada, the Prophet ﷺ married Maymunah رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْھَا, with the proposal facilitated by his uncle al-Abbas.

The marriage was consummated at Sarif (سرف), a place outside of Makkah where they camped for the night. Interestingly, Allah willed that Maymunah رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْھَا passed away many years later in 51 AH at the very same place, Sarif, making her the last of the Prophet's wives to pass away. She rests in her grave there to this day. Maymunah رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْھَا was known for her devotion to worship and her love for the Prophet ﷺ, often described as a woman of humility and kindness.

Three new Muslims

The following three entered Islam after the Umrah al-Qada:

Amr ibn al-As

Amr ibn al-As had long been a political strategist of Quraysh, and after the Battle of Khandaq he became convinced that the Prophet ﷺ would eventually conquer Makkah. Fearing what would happen when that day came, he proposed to his circle of followers that they flee to Abyssinia and live under the Najashi, whom they preferred over living under the rule of Muhammad ﷺ. In Abyssinia, Amr encountered the Muslim envoy Amr ibn Umayyah al-Damri and, seeking favor with Quraysh, requested permission from the Najashi to kill him. The Najashi reacted with intense anger, revealing that he was himself a Muslim and admonishing Amr for even suggesting harming the Prophet’s ﷺ messenger. He urged Amr to accept the truth of Islam, affirming that the Prophet ﷺ would surely be victorious just as Moses was over Pharaoh. Overwhelmed, Amr accepted Islam and secretly left for Madinah. On his way, he met Khalid ibn al-Walid and Uthman ibn Talha, who were also heading to Madinah to embrace Islam. The three of them became the final group to accept Islam before the Conquest of Makkah.

Khalid ibn al-Walid

Khalid ibn al-Walid, the brilliant military strategist who caused significant losses to the Muslims at Uhud, began reflecting on the truth of Islam after the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah. When the Prophet ﷺ entered Makkah for Umrah al-Qada, he ﷺ inquired about Khalid, expressing his admiration for his skills. Khalid's brother sent him a letter encouraging him to accept Islam. Khalid first approached his friend Safwan ibn Umayyah, who rejected Islam, and then Ikrimah ibn Abi Jahl, who angrily gathered the Quraysh leaders against Khalid. Realizing his life was at risk, Khalid fled Makkah with Uthman ibn Talha and met Amr ibn al-As on the way to Madinah, where they all accepted Islam.

Uthman ibn Talha

Uthman ibn Talha, the custodian of the Ka'bah, was influenced by Khalid ibn al-Walid to embrace Islam. The two secretly left Makkah and encountered Amr ibn al-As on the journey to Madinah. Uthman رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ was later honored as the key-holder of the Ka'bah after the Conquest of Makkah—a position that has remained with his descendants to this day.