Why Was ʿAlī رضي الله عنه Sent to Proclaim Sūrah al-Tawbah Instead of Abū Bakr رضي الله عنه?
Source: Fatāwā Ameenpuri by Shaykh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Ameenpuri
❖ Question:
During the Hajj, why did the Prophet ﷺ assign the proclamation of Sūrah al-Tawbah to ʿAlī رضي الله عنه, even though Abū Bakr al-Ṣiddīq رضي الله عنه had already been appointed as Amīr al-Ḥajj?
❖ Answer:
Before the Farewell Hajj, the Prophet ﷺ appointed Abū Bakr رضي الله عنه as the leader (Amīr) of Hajj. He also instructed him to announce that no polytheist would be allowed to perform Hajj after that year.
Later, the duty of delivering the message of Sūrah al-Barāʾah (al-Tawbah) was taken from Abū Bakr رضي الله عنه and given to ʿAlī رضي الله عنه. This was because, according to Arab custom, the annulment of a treaty could only be declared by the one who had made the treaty himself or by a close family member from his tribe.
Thus, in line with Arab tradition, the Prophet ﷺ reassigned this specific responsibility to ʿAlī رضي الله عنه, who was a close relative. However, the overall leadership of Hajj remained with Abū Bakr رضي الله عنه.
✿ Scholarly Explanations
✔ Imām Aḥmad ibn ʿAbd Allāh al-Ṭabarī رحمه الله (694H) said:
إن تبليغ هذا الواقعة خاص، وكانت له سبب، وهو أن عادة العرب كانت أن يعلن بفسخ العهد من عقده أو رجل من قبيلته…
“This particular proclamation was specific to this incident, and there was a reason for it: Arab custom required that the annulment of a treaty be announced by the one who made it, or someone from his tribe. The Prophet ﷺ first entrusted this to Abū Bakr رضي الله عنه, contrary to their custom, but Allah commanded that someone from his own tribe be sent, so that proof would be established and they would not cling to their custom as an excuse. It was not that such proclamations were restricted to the Ahl al-Bayt, for it is well established that the Prophet ﷺ employed different messengers in different regions for conveying revelations, rulings, and messages.”
(Dhakhāʾir al-ʿUqbā, p. 129)
✔ Ibn al-Qayyim رحمه الله (751H) said:
ولى أبا بكر إقامة الحج سنة تسع، وبعث فى الركب عليا يقرأ على الناس سورة براءة…
“In the 9th year of Hijrah, the Prophet ﷺ appointed Abū Bakr رضي الله عنه to lead the Hajj. Later, he sent ʿAlī رضي الله عنه to recite Sūrah al-Barāʾah to the people. Some say this was because the opening verses were revealed after Abū Bakr رضي الله عنه had already departed for Hajj. Others say it was because of the Arab custom that only the leader, or a member of his household, could annul treaties. Some also mention that the Prophet ﷺ sent him as support and assistance to Abū Bakr رضي الله عنه. This is why Abū Bakr asked: O Messenger of Allah, is ʿAlī sent as a commander or as one commanded? He ﷺ replied: Rather, he is commanded (under your leadership).”
(Zād al-Maʿād: 1/126)
