IMAM ABU AL-FIDA' ISMA?L IBN KATH~R 191There is no doubt that this, as stated by Imzm Mdik, God bless hi, is apprw
priate. However, the actual practice is contrary to this. The first month of the
Arabs is indeed al-Muharram. They thus made the first year of the calendar that
of the emigration, and had it begin with al-Muharram (instead of Rahic al-Awwal)
so that there would he no confusion in the system. But God knows best.Our comment is - and we rely on God's help - that the year of the blessed
emigration begins while the Messenger of God (SAAS) was still resident in
Mecca. He had received the pledge of the an$&, "the Helpers", at the second
'Aqaba meeting, as we have explained, in the middle days of the iashriq period,
that is on the 12th of Dhii al-Hijja, preceding the year of the emigration.
The aqar then went back and the Messenger of God (SAAS) permitted the
Muslims to emigrate to Medina. One by one his Companions left for Medina to
the point where no one was left in Mecca who could emigrate except for the
Messenger of God (SAAS). Abii Bakr had kept himself hack so as to be able to
accompany the Messenger of God (SAAS) on the journey, as we have explained
earlier. They then emigrated together, as is detailed above. 'Ali b. Abn Tdib was
to leave later, at his command, to take care of the deposits entrusted to the
Messenger of God (SAAS); he joined the other two men at Quba'. The Messenger
of God (SAAS) entered Medina on a Monday at approximately noon, when the
heat was extreme.
Al-Waqidi and others stated, "That occurred on the 2nd of the month of Rabic
al-Awwal." Ibn Ishaq also related this, except that he did not stop there but pre-
ferred a date of the 12th of that month.
This is the popular view held by most scholars. The Messenger of God
(SAAS) according to the best accounts, remained in Mecca following his receiv-
ing the Mission for 13 years.
This is what we learn in the account of Hammad b. Salama, from Aba Harnza
al-Dabbi, from Ibn 'Abhas, who said, "The Messenger of God (SAAS) received
the Mission at the age of 40 and remained living in Mecca for 13 years."
Ibn Jarir related it similarly from Muhammad b. Mu'ammar, from Rawh b.
Wbada, from Zakariyyz' b. Ishaq, from 'Amr b. Din= that he (Ihn 'Ahbas) used
the words, "The Messenger of God (SAAS) stayed in Mecca 13."
It has been earlier stated that Ibn {Ahhas wrote down verses of Sirma h. Abii
Anas b. Qays, including,
"Some decades he stayed among Quraysh, preaching in
hopes of finding agreeable friends"Al-Waqidi stated, from Ibraim b. Ismacil, from Da'iid b. al-Husayn, from
'Ikrima, from Ibn 'Abbas, that he cited that same verse as testimony (to the resid-
ence having been for 13 years).
Ibn Jarir related the same, from al-H~th, from Mubad b. Sa'd, from
al-Wqidi, but with reference to "15 pilgrimages", a very strange statement indeed.