The Life of the Prophet Muhammad by Ibn Kathir - Volume 2 of 4

IMAM ABU AL-FIDA' ISMAC~L IBN KATH~R 121
the Messenger of God (SAAS), on the night of the first (meeting at) 'Aqaba, that
we would not associate any other with God, that we would not steal, commit fornication,
kill our children, make false accusations, nor disobey him in anything
good. (He told us) "If you keep to this, you shall have paradise. But if you give
up any of this, and you are punished for it in this world, then that will provide
atonement for you. But if it is overlooked until Judgement Day, it will be up to
God to decide whether to punish or forgive you.'""
This had& is given in both ~ahih collections and elsewhere with paths from
al-Zuhri in much the same version.
The words here, the "women's pledge", are a reference to the similarity
between this and the revelation relating to the pledge later made by women in
the year of the truce of al-Hudaybiyya. And on that occasion the revelation
accorded with what had been revealed regarding the pledge he had required of
his Companions on the night of alLCAqaba. This is not strange, for a Qur'anic
revelation sometimes came in more than one location, as was affirmed by Wmar b.
al-Khag~b, as we have explained in both his biography and in the Tafiir (Exegesis).
And since this pledge resulted from revelation that was not recited?l it makes
the aforementioned observation all the more plausible. But God knows best.
Ibn Ishaq stated, "When the group left, the Messenger of God (SAAS) sent to
them Mus'ab b. Wmayr b. Hashim b. 'Abd Manaf b. 'Abd al-Dar b. Qusayy. He
told him to recite the Qur'an to them, to teach them Islam and to instruct them
in the faith."
Al-Bayhaqi reported, on the authority of Ibn Ishaq, who said, "'Asim b.
Wmayr b. Qatada related to me that the Messenger of God (SAAS) only sent
Mus'ab when they wrote to him asking that he send him to them. It was he who
was mentioned by Miisa b. Wqba, as given above, even though in that case he
applied to the first of the meetings what is here said of the second."
Al-Bayhaqi commented, "The account of Ibn Ishaq is more complete."
Ihn Ishaq stated, "'Abd Allah b. Abe Bakr used to say, 'I don't know what this
"first (meeting at) 'Aqaba" means."' Ibn Ishaq then commented, "Certainly, I
swear it, there was an 'Aqaba meeting, and then another one."
All authorities agree that Mus'ab took up residence with As'ad b. Zur- and
that he was known in Medina as the mugrz', the reciter.
Ibn Ishaq stated, "'Asim h. Wmar h. Qatada related to me that he used to lead
the prayer for them. This was because the Aws and the Khazraj disliked that
they be led in prayer by one who belonged to the other tribe. God be pleased
with them one and all."
Ibn Ishaq stated, "Muhammad b. Abe Umama b. Sahl b. Hunayf related to
me, from his father, from 'Ahd al-Rahan h. Ka'b b. Mdik who said, 'When my
31. This refers to a genre of revelation different from that of the Qur'w. It is therefore not
rnarlii, recited, as liturgy in the Muslim daily prayen.