In the month Dhul-Qa`dah or in Dhul-Hijjah, 9th A.H., Allah’s Messenger (May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) sent Abu Bakr (May Allah be Pleased with him), as the deputy for Hajj, to lead the Muslims in the pilgrimage rituals.
Soon after the departure of the Muslims, Revelation came from Allah which comprised of the opening passages of Surat Taubah (Bara’ah) in which `freedom from obligation’ is proclaimed from Allah concerning those idolatrous tribes who had shown no respect for the treaty which they had entered into with the Prophet (May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). Communication of this news went in line with the Arabian traditions of making public any change relating to declining conventions of blood and fortunes.
‘Ali bin Abi Talib (May Allah be Pleased with him) was sent to make this declaration. He caught up with Abu Bakr (May Allah be Pleased with him) at Al-’Arj or Dajnan, and Abu Bakr (May Allah be Pleased with him) inquired whether the Prophet (May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) had put him in command or he had just been sent to make the announcement. “I have been sent to make the proclamation only,’’ replied `Ali (May Allah be Pleased with him). The two Companions then proceeded with the pilgrimage. Towards the close of the rituals, on the day of the ritual sacrifice, `Ali stood at al-Jamrah (a spot at which stones are pelted) and read aloud to the people that gathered around him and declared the cancellation of the treaties with the idolaters, and give them four months to reconsider their position. As for the other idolaters with whom the believers had a treaty, and they had negated nothing of the rights of the Muslim or supported anyone against them, then the terms of their treaty would remain valid until its expiration, and no new treaty would then be signed.
Abu Bakr (May Allah be Pleased with him) then sent some Muslims to declare publicly that after this year no disbeliever would perform the pilgrimage, nor would anyone be allowed to make Tawaf (going round) of the Sacred House unclothed.
That proclamation in fact prohibited all aspects of paganism that resided in Arabia and stated quite clearly that those pre-Islamic practices would no longer be permitted.