Pledges of Aqaba

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 The Holy Prophet started preaching to visitors and pilgrims
from 4th year of prophethood.
 In 10th year of Prophethood some outsiders accepted Islam
like Iyas b. Muadh from Yathrib, Tufail b. A’mr and Dimaad
Azdi from Yemen accepted Islam.
 In 620 he met six people from the tribe of Kazraj from Yathrib
in a valley of Mina and they accepted Islam.
 They were pre-exposed to his prophethood by Jews of Yathrib.
 They were very intelligent people and were destroyed recently
by the Battle of Buath with Aws and understood that
Muhammad has the ability to bring the tribes closer.
 They spread Prophet’s message out there in Yathrib.

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 In the 12th year/ July 621, 12 people came. Seven of them were
new and five were the old ones except for Jabir b. Abdullah.
 The Prophet asked them to gather behind Mount Aqaba after
one-third of night as he wanted to keep it secret.
 So they sneaked out of the camp at that time and Prophet also
arrived for pledge.
 The clauses of the pledge were as follow:
o Will never do Shirk
o Will avoid steading
o Will not commit adultery
o Will not kill children

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 o Will not disobey the prophet in any situation
o Will avoid slandering

 The Holy Prophet sent Musa’b Ibn Umair with them as his first
ambassador to Yathrib.
 Asa’d b. Zurarah took the responsibility of his food and
accommodation.
 First he converted the main leaders of Aws Usaid b. Hudair
and Saad b. Muadh to Islam and then all people of Yathrib
followed them.

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 In 13th year/ June 622, 73 men and 2 women (Nusayba and
Umm e Mani’) came and accepted Islam.
 They met in the darkness of night in the valley of A’qaba and
also invited the Holy Prophet to Yathrib.
 Hadrat Abbas, Prophet’s uncle, also attended the meeting as
his guardian.
 He asked them to give guarantee of his protection and they
should know that all Arabs will be against them. If they were to
leave him alone then they should leave him now as Banu
Hashim were peotecting him.
 They agreed to face all challenges for him.

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 The clauses of the pledge were:
o They will obey the messenger in all thick and thin.
o They will spend from their wealth in all circumstances.
o They will enjoin good and forbid evil.
o They will fight for Allah’s religion and will not be worried if
criticized.
o They will protect him as they protect their own lives.
o In return they will be given Jannah.
 Women pledged verbally as he never touched women’s hand.
 They also asked the Prophet that when his mission will be
fulfilled he will not leave Yathrib as they were going to severe
their ties with Jews for him.
 The Prophet smiled and said that will never happen.

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 Then Prophet appointed 12 leaders (Naqeeb) so they may take
the charge of the people’s affairs.
 Nine of them were from Khazraj and three of them were from
Aws.
 Just three month after this pledge Prophet migrated to Madina
in the month of Rabi ul Awwal.

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 Significance
 The Holy Prophet finally got a good response for which he was
looking for since a long time.
 It made him satisfied and confident.
 Muslim of Makka also became confident as now they were not
alone to support Islam.
 Due to the pledges Islam spread out of Makkah and became
known in Yathrib.
 Through pledges the Prophet learned which place in most
fertile for the growth of Islam.
 Due to the pledges number of Muslims increased rapidly.
 Pledges of Aqaba became the main reason for the migration of
Muslims to Yathrib.
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