Various Miscellaneous Incidents of 5 A.H.

During this year, various miscellaneous incidents also took place, for which exact dates have not been recorded in narrations. Among these incidents, one was the occurrence of an earthquake. When this quake was felt in Madīnah, the Holy Prophet(sa) exhorted the Companions that these were natural phenomena, from which a believer should take a lesson, and that on certain occasions, in order to make people vigilant, alert and attentive, Allāh the Exalted brings about such happenings.1

In light of various narrations, it was in this year that Ḥajj was made obligatory. However, according to most scholars, these narrations are not correct and the actual era in which Ḥajj was officially prescribed was at a later time. Nonetheless, as mentioned above, ‘Īdul-Aḍḥā which is part and parcel of Ḥajj had already been instituted in 2 A.H. According to authentic narrations, it is also ascertained that from the very start, the Muslims believed in the Ka‘bah as being a holy place. As an act of voluntary worship, etc., they would perform circumambulation of the Ka‘batullāh as well whenever they could find an opportunity. However, the official and detailed obligation of the duty of Ḥajj was perhaps prescribed at a later date.2 Therefore, at this instance we shall leave this discussion. In the same year, i.e., 5 A.H., the Holy Prophet(sa) fell off of a horse as well and sustained injuries to his calf and thigh. Due to this, the Holy Prophet(sa) was required to lead the Ṣalāt whilst sitting.3