The Caravan of The Apostle of God

We notice that while Ali bin Abi Talib after fulfiling his mission at Yemen was, with great en- thusiasm, making arrangements for his journey to Mecca.

The Holy Prophet, on the other hand, was busy in the preparations necessary for performing the obligatory statute of pilgrimage.

The Prophet of God had not offered pilgri- mage after his emigration to Medina. All of a sud- den the good news spread that the Messenger of God was preceeding towards the sacred city of Mecca.

In order to avail the opportunity of accom- panying the Prophet people from every corner of Arabia thronged in multitude. Within no time tents of more than 100,000 people desirous of pilgri- mage were seen planted in the environs of the city of Medina.

On Saturday, the twentyfifth of Zil- qa'ad 10 A.H., corresponding with the year 633 A.D., the last Messenger of God took bath and put on some simple garments comprising of a calico mantle for lower part of the body and a wrapper.

He applied perfume to the body and clothes, offe- red noon-prayers and accompanied by the mem- bers of his household came out of the city.

The ca- ravan was ready to start and awaiting for the order of departure. Receiving the signal to move on an immense concourse of human-beings was seen sur- ging up on the horizon.

A famous companion of the Holy Prophet, Jabir bin Abdullah Al-An'sari narrates, "When I looked to the front and behind and to the right and the left and then towards the extreme end which could come within sight only heads were visible.

When the Prophet uttered, ' Here I am thrilling voices joined in chorus chantingly echoed throughout the entire moun- tain and the desert".

At Thy service

The biographers have very cautiously quoted the figures and numbers. Their estimate is that the number of persons who set out for journey along with the Prophet of God was in no way less than ninety thousand.

Besides this the Muslims who rea- ched Mecca from other parts also numbered in thousands.

For instance, Imam Ali (a.s.) had led a large congregation of pilgrims to Mecca. Keeping this consideration in mind the observation of the fa mous historian,

Ibne Atheer Al-Jazari, that the crowd on the occasion of the Farewell Pilgrimage swelled to more than 140,000 seems to be quite correct.

Adapted from the book: "Ghadeer Khum Where The Religion Was Brought To Perfection" by: "I.H Najafi"