Finally the great caravan set out composed of the Migrants...

Finally the great caravan set out composed of the Migrants (muhajirun) the Helpers (ansar) and the other Muslims who were leaving Madinah in the company of their leader and they advanced towards Makkah. After entering the city they began their acts of worship at the Ka'bah. During those days the city of Makkah witnessed one of the most glorious of Islamic ceremonies performed by thousands of Muslims who were gathered around their leader like the thunderous waves of an ocean.

The Prophet too was proud in front of his Lord that on such a day he was able to see the results of his unremitting efforts and toil. After that year's pilgrimage had been completed - the pilgrimage known as the Farewell Pilgrimage - the Prophet left the House of God together with the great crowd of pilgrims (hujjaj) estimated by historians to have numbered between ninety and one hundred and twenty thousand and prepared to return to Madinah.

The caravan traversed several valleys and arrived at a waterless plain known as Ghadir Khumm. ( 1 ) It was then that the messenger of revelation came to the Prophet and ordered him to halt. The Prophet stopped the caravan and waited for the stragglers to catch up with the main ( 27 ) body.

This sudden halt in that torrid landscape beneath the burning midday sun astonished the weary travellers but it was not long before Jibril (Gabriel) the trustworthy angel of revelation conveyed to the pure soul of the Prophet a heavenly message - the categorical and clear command of the Creator that he should appoint and announce his legatee and successor: "O Messenger of God convey to mankind tire command that God has sent you.

If you do not do so you will not have conveyed tire prophetic message. God will protect you from tire harm men might cause you." (5:67) Close attention to the content of this verse demonstrates to us the important truth that the proclamation of this particular divine message was of such importance and gravity that if the Prophet were to shrink from conveying it it would be equivalent to his refraining from fulfilling his entire prophetic mission while conveying it to the ummah was tantamount to the completion of that mission.

In the verse the Most Noble Prophet peace and blessings be upon him and his family is reminded of the extraordinary significance of the task that has been assigned to him and he is guaranteed protection from any dangers that might result from proclaiming the message.