Treaty of Hudaibiya
by Rukaiah Maulvi
‘Allah’s Good Pleasure was on the believers when they swore Fealty to you [Mohammed] under the tree. He knew what was in their hearts, and He sent down Tranquility on them; and He rewarded them with a speedy victory.’ [Qur’an 48: 18]
Nearly six years after the Prophet’s [s] migration to Madinah from Makkah [Hijrah], he [s] had a vision in which he found himself entering the Ka’bah in Makkah unopposed. He took this as a good omen and decided to attempt the Lesser Pilgrimage [umrah]. He [s] had not been to Makkah [his birth-place] since and was craving to visit it.
**Allah says, 'Truly did Allah fulfil the vision for His Apostle: ye shall enter the Sacred Mosque, if Allah wills, with minds secure, heads shaved, hair cut short, and without fear. For He knew what ye knew not, and He granted, besides this, a speedy victory.' [Qur'an 48: 27]**
The Prophet [s] along with the other Muslims donned on the ihram. There was, from the conception of the idea for umrah, no intention to fight the Makkans. The Prophet’s [s] purpose was only to visit the House of Allah.
Being an Arab custom, they were entitled, as the others, to visit the Sacred Enclosed Sanctuary. However, the Quraysh took this as the greatest threat ever.
They sent Khalid ibn al-Walid [who embraced Islam less than two years later] with a troop of two hundred horses to bar the pilgrims’ entry by force of arms. The Prophet [s], having no intention to fight, changed his route and alighted on the plain of Hudaibiya.
**Narrated al-Bara, 'On the Day of Hudaibiya, we were 1400 men along with the Prophet [s].' [Bukhari vol. 5 h # 4150]**
The prophet [s] and his Companions remained in Hudaibiya for the next few days. There and then negotiations were opened between the Muslims and the Quraysh. Having completed the preliminary discussions, the Prophet [s] sent Uthman ibn Affan [ra], who was a member of the influential and powerful clan of Abdu Shams. He was well received by his kinsmen and also exclusively permitted to make rounds of the Ka’bah. He refused on grounds that he would not make rounds before the Prophet [s]. This decision pleased the Prophet [s].
When Uthman [ra] was late in returning, a rumor got about that he had been murdered. On hearing this rumor, the Prophet [s] immediately assembled his Companions and sitting under a wild acacia tree, took a Pledge [Ba’ait al-Ridwan - Pledge of Good Pleasure] from them.
**Yazid b. Abu Ubaid [ra] [the freed slave of Salama b. al-Akwa'] said, 'I asked Salama as to what effect he had sworn fealty to the Messenger of Allah [s] on the Day of Hudaibiya. He said, 'To the effect that we will die fighting.' ' [Muslim book 20 h # 4590]**
** 'Allah’s Good Pleasure was on the believers when they swore Fealty to you [Muhammad] under the tree. [Qur’an 48: 18]**
The enthusiasm was great. One by one the Companions came and pledged allegiance to him. The Prophet [s] swore allegiance for Uthman [ra] who was missing.
Uthman’s [ra] death fortunately was what it was - a rumor! He returned to Hudaibiya and it became clear that the Makkans were prepared to conclude a treaty.
The Quraysh sent Suhayl bin Amr to draw up the terms of the Treaty.
**Narrated Al-Bara bin 'Azib [ra], ' When Allah's Messenger [s] concluded a peace treaty with the people of Hudaibiya, Ali bin Abu Talib [ra] wrote the document and he mentioned in it, 'Mohammed, Allah's Messenger' . The pagans said, 'Don't write 'Mohammed, Allah's Messenger', for if you were a messenger we would not fight with you.' Allah's Messenger asked Ali to rub it out, but Ali said, 'I will not be the person to rub it out.' Allah's Apostle rubbed it out and made peace with them on the condition that the Prophet and his companions would enter Makkah and stay there for three days, and that they would enter with their weapons in cases.' [Bukhari Vol. 3 h # 862]**
**Anas [ra] said that the Quraysh made peace with the Prophet [s]. They laid the condition on the Prophet [s] that anyone who joined them from the Muslims, the Makkans would not return him, and anyone who joined you [the Muslims] from them, you would send him back to them. The Companions said, 'Messenger of Allah, should we write this?' He [s] said, 'Yes'. One who goes away from us to join them - may Allah keep him away! and one who comes to join us from them [and is sent back] Allah will provide him relief and a way of escape. [Muslim book 19 h # 4404]**
The treaty that was signed came to be known as ‘The Treaty of Hudaibiya’. The following terms and conditions were agreed upon-
** 1. There would be peace for ten years. During this period, Muslims could go to Makkah and the Quraysh could go to Syria through the Muslim areas.
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There would be one-sided extradition - the Makkans taking refuge with the Prophet [s] would be handed over on demand to the Quraysh. But Muslims taking refuge with the Quraysh would not be handed back.
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Muslims would depart from Makkah this year. They would be free to perform umrah the following year and remain in Makkah for only three days.
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Any tribe wishing to sign the agreement with the Makkans or the Quraysh, would be able to do so.
**
During that period some believing women emigrants including Umm Kalthum bint Uqba bin Abu Muait [ra] who came to Allah’s Messenger [s] and she was a young lady then. Her relative came to the Prophet [s] and asked him to return her, but the Prophet [s] did not return her to them for Allah had revealed the following verse regarding women-
** ‘O you who believe! When the believing women come to you as emigrants. Examine them, Allah knows best as to their belief, then if you know them for true believers, Send them not back to the unbelievers, [for] they are not lawful [wives] for the disbelievers, Nor are the unbelievers lawful [husbands] for them.’[Qur’an 60.10] [Muslim vol. 3 h # 874]**
It was a trying period for the Muslims. The treaty was a blessing in disguise. They had hoped to visit the Ka’bah and were now disappointed. Some of the general bitterness at having signed a treaty where the Muslims seemed ‘obviously’ at loss, smoothed over.
**'He rewarded them [Pledgers of allegiance] with a speedy victory.' [Qur'an 48: 18]**
Most of the commentators assume that the above verse relates to the conquest of Khaybar, which took place a few months after the Truce of Hudaibiya. It is probable, however, that it is a prophecy of the almost bloodless conquest of Makkah in the year 8H, the victorious establishment of Islam in all of Arabia and, finally, the tremendous expansion of the Islamic Commonwealth under the Prophet’s [s] immediate successors.
‘Speedy victory’ could also mean the ‘Treaty of Hudaibiya’ which was signed immediately after the Pledge of Allegiance.
**Narrated Abu Wail [ra], 'Umar [ra] asked, 'O Allah's Apostle! Was it [Hudaibiya Treaty] a victory?' Allah's Apostle [s] said, 'Yes'. [Muslim vol. 4 h # 406]**
The dream-vision the Prophet [s] had in Madinah before the expedition, which subsequently ended at Hudaibiya was fulfilled indeed. In the year 7 A.H., the Muslims were able to perform their first peaceful Lesser Pilgrimage to the Holy City of Makkah.
The Treaty of Hudaibiya proved to be of the greatest importance for the future of Islam. Muslims were united for a cause like never before. For the first time in six years peaceful contacts were established between Madinah and Makkah. This opened the way for the spread of Islam into the Pagan Arabian tribes.
People of both sides could meet freely. New converts rallied around Allah’s Messenger [s], first in hundreds and then in thousands.
The Treaty brought about the moral and political victory of Islam all over Arabia.