Life of Prophet Muhammad PBUH : Brief History of Medina & the Covering of Kaaba

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِیْمِ

In the name of Allah the most beneficent, the most merciful.

Dear Brothers & Sisters, 

"السلام عليكم ورحمتہ اللہ وبرکاتہ"Assalamu Alaikum 

(May the blessings of Almighty and peace be upon you) 

The Beginning (Brief History of Medina & Covering of the Kaaba)

Medina was earlier called as ‘Yasrib’. People from Syria started moving to this place. The followers of of Hazrat Musa (A.S) Moses PBUH and Hazrat Esa (A.S) Jesus PBUH were originally from Syria. Many of the tribes like Bani Nazeer, Bani Quraiza and Bani Kainuka came from Yemen and they settled down in Yasrib (Medina). One of the leaders, Rabi Yatan Nasr living in Medina saw a dream that some of the people from Ahbaash tribe, which was considered as the lowest of the class amongst the tribes will come and take over the reigns of Medina. Upon seeing this dream, he fled Medina along with his entire clan and settled down in a place called Haira in Iraq. Rabi Yatan Nasr had a son named Asnaan Ibn  Asad, his title was Tubba, and people knew from his title rather than his original name.

Tubba was very powerful and he went on to wage wars with the neighbouring tribes and places and became a powerful king. Tubaa along with his forces came down to Medina, after seeing the pleasing behaviour of the people of Medina he left his son in Medina to acquire knowledge from the people of Medina. The people of Medina were practising Judaism and religious scholars of Judaism had good influence in religious matters and also in making the society a peaceful one, as how it could not be as they were the true followers of Hazrat Musa (A.S). Tubba’s son started learning amongst the people in Medina and somehow by some of the unknown persons he was one day killed. When Tubba came to know about the death of his son, he went on to avenge his son's death with the people of Medina. The people of Medina were also powerful and they defended Tubba with their troops, this war was so fascinating and imploring that during the daytime the people of Medina would fight with the troops of Tubba. At dusk they would send his troops and him dinner, as his troops and Tubba were the guest of Medina and it was customary amongst the people of Medina that they would never leave any guest empty handed. 

Tubba was very much amazed by this behaviour of the people of Medina, still he wanted to avenge the death of his son, so he continued to fight with the people of Medina. One day some of the religious scholars of Judaism came over to Tubba and asked him as to what he does want from the people of Medina and why he is destroying their peaceful life, he said he would not leave the city until it is razed down completely and will avenge the death of his son by doing so. To this, the religious scholars said, listen "Oh Tubba" you cannot raze down this city as this city is meant for the last of the Prophet to come down and deliver the message of Islam and this place will be the centre of Islam for the whole world. To this, Tubba retrieved his army and asked the religious scholars to come along with him and spread the knowledge to his people in Iraq.

During his journey back to Iraq, a tribe named Banu Huzail from Makkah approached him and said if you wish to have one of the biggest of the treasures of gold and jewellery, you can have it by razing down the Kaaba as many treasures are kept inside the Kaaba. It was customary from the people of those days that whenever they use to visit Kaaba, they would offer some of their gold or jewelleries in a faith that this offering would be accepted by their Gods (idols kept inside Kaaba) and their supplications will be answered. 

When Tubba came to know about this, he decided to raze down the Kaaba and take over the treasure while on his way to Iraq. The moment Tubba thought this, thick black mount of clouds started embracing the sky and it was so pitch black that he could not even see his hands. Upon seeing this, he immediately called the religious scholars who were with him and asked what is the matter that the sky is so dark. The scholars enquired that did he  think of anything bad about the place Makkah and Kaaba, to which he accepted and said he thought of razing down the Kaaba and in turn take over the treasures kept over there. The scholars admonished him and intimated that listen “Tubba, this place Kaaba is the house of Allah (swt) and built by Hazrat Ibrahim (A.S)” no one can raze it and better you repent for your sins and as a repentance go down to Kaaba and circumambulate it. Tubba immediately sought forgiveness and informed to the religious scholars that he do not know about circumambulation however will visit the Kaaba and then move forward to Iraq and would not raze the Kaaba. In the same night, Tubba saw a dream that he is covering the Kaaba with a huge cloth. When he informed the same to the religious scholars, they said this is also a form of paying respect to Kaaba, and by this way Tubba was the first person to cover the Kaaba with a cloth. From this day onwards many coverings were put over Kaaba and it became so heavy that it endangered the walls of the Kaaba, hence it was finally decided that only one piece of cloth will be put over Kaaba to cover it.

Continued………./-

What we learnt/ Guidance:

1.  It is learnt from the above, that during those times, people were very much into the Abrahamic religion and were following the teachings of  Hazrat Musa (A.S) and Hazrat Esa (A.S) peacefully. They also had so much respect amongst each other that it influenced the other people who visited their place such is the teaching of the true religion of Islam.

2. Even to this day, it is seen we keep on paying offerings at some or other holy shrines or places in order to fulfil our desires, which was also a practise during those days of ignorance in Kaaba, it is learnt that such practises do not yield any benefit and one should always be seeking the refuge of Allah (swt) and should be asking him directly.

3. One can understand from the above, that people of Judaism were of the opinion that the final Prophet Muhammad PBUH was supposed to come down to Medina and make it the centre of Islam to spread the word of Allah (swt). There is no such evidence on any other Prophet that before his coming the preparations for his coming have started. It is as if the entire universe is folding the events to make the mankind understand that a Prophet who is the Seal of all Prophets would be coming soon.