The Treaty of Hudaybia , Pact of Hudaibia

The Treaty of Hudaybia , Pact of Hudaibia

The Holy Prophet Muhammad, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, saw in a vision that he was performing the circuits of the Ka‘bah in the company of his followers. He related this vision to his Companions and asked them to make preparations for the pilgrimage. It was the month of February in

the year 628 A.D (6 A.H), when fifteen hundred Muslims, headed by the Holy Prophet, set out on their journey towards  Makkah. A mounted guard of twenty men went some distance ahead to warn the Muslims in case of an enemy attack.  The Holy Prophet stayed at a place called Dhul Haleefah, six miles from Madinah. This was the first stage on the road to Makkah. The news of the Holy Prophet’s approach soon reached Makkah. The Makkans were greatly perturbed. They took up arms and were soon on the road to Madinah to take on the Muslims in battle, in order to stop them from entering Makkah.

The Muslims had nearly reached Osfan, the second stage, when the Holy Prophet was informed that further advance on the high road was impossible without confronting the enemy as the enemy were camping at a place called Dhu  Towa. In order to avoid confrontation the Holy Prophet took an alternative route and reached a place called  Hudaibiyah, only nine miles from Makkah and camped there.

When the Makkans learnt that the Muslims had reached Hudaibiyah and were camping there, they quickly drew back and headed towards that direction to defend the city of Makkah. They sent delegates to find out the real intentions of the Muslims. Budail bin Warqa, a chief of the Khuza‘ah tribe, was the first to arrive. The Holy Prophet explained to Budail that they had come with the intention to perform the circuits of the Ka‘bah and had no intention of fighting. Budail went back to Makkah and gave his report to Makkans. But the Makkans were not prepared to allow them to enter Makkah. Then came Urwah, another chief and the Holy Prophet told him exactly what he told Budail. He went back. The Makkans listened to him but were firm in their resolve not to let the Muslims to do the pilgrimage.

They said, “The Muslims must go back this year. Next year  they may come and perform the circuits of the Ka‘bah.”

The Makkans then sent Halees, a chief of Bani Kananah. Thus the negotiations went on between the

Makkans and the Muslims.

In the meantime the Holy Prophet felt that some intelligent person from among the respectable family of Quraish, should be sent to the Makkans in order to put forward the Muslim point of view to them. He desired Umar to go but Hadhrat Umar excused himself on account of the personal enmity of the Quraish tribe towards him and also on the ground that he had no influential relative in the city, who could protect him from danger. Hadhrat Umar very respectfully suggested  to the Holy Prophet that Hadhrat Usmaan should be sent instead because he belonged to one of the most powerful families in Makkah.

Hadhrat Usmaan agreed to this proposal. The Holy Prophet, therefore, provided him with a written statement addressed to the leaders of the Quraish in which he explained the purpose of his visit and assured the Quraish that  Muslims only intended to perform the pilgrimage and having offered their sacrifices, would return to Madinah.

Hadhrat Usmaan’s talks with the chiefs of Makkah became prolonged. A rumour spread that the Makkans have murdered him. Hearing this the Holy Prophet assembled his Companions and said, “I have heard that the Makkans have murdered Usmaan. If this is true we have to enter Makkah whatever the consequences.”

He continued, “Those who promise solemnly that if they have to go further, they will not turn back except as victors, should come forward and take an oath on my hand.”

Everyone rushed forward to take the pledge. This is called the ‘Covenant of the Pleasure of God.’ The Holy Prophet sat in the shade of an acacia tree, and all his followers declared their resolve to fight to the bitter end for the cause of Islam.

When the Quraish learnt of this pledge, they became apprehensive and let Hadhrat Usmaan go. They were however determined to avoid confrontation with the Muslims and wanted to secure an agreement with the condition that the Muslims would return to Madinah on this occasion and come for pilgrimage next year.

To draw a treaty of peace, the Makkans sent Suhail, a Makkan leader, to the Holy Prophet. The Holy

Prophet, then, summoned Hadhrat Ali to act as the scribe of the treaty.

The Holy Prophet started dictating the terms of the treaty. As soon as he said, “In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful,” Suhail objected by saying, “Allah we know and believe in, but what is this

‘The Gracious and the Merciful’?

This agreement  is  between  two  parties  therefore  the  religious  beliefs  of  both  parties  should  be respected.

The Holy Prophet agreed and said to Hadhrat Ali, “Only write, ‘In the name of Allah’.”

The Prophet then started dictating, “These are the terms of peace between the people of Makkah and

Muhammad the Prophet of God.”

Again Suhail objected and said, “If we believed you as a Prophet of God, we would not have fought you.”

The Prophet accepted his objection again. Instead of ‘Muhammad, the Prophet of God’, he proposed

‘Muhammad, son of Abdullah’.

The treaty contained the following conditions:

“There will be no fighting for ten years. Anyone who wishes to join Muhammad and to enter into any agreement with him is free to do so. Similarly anyone wishes to join the Quraish and to enter into any agreement with them is also free to do so. A young man, or one whose father is alive, if he goes to Muhammad without permission from his father or guardian, will be returned to his father or guardian. But should anyone go to the Quraish, he will not be returned. This  year Muhammad will go back without entering Makkah. But next year he and his followers may enter Makkah, spend three days and perform the circuits. During these three days the Quraish will withdraw to the surrounding hills. When Muhammad and his followers enter Makkah, they will be unarmed except for the sheathed swords which wayfarers of Arabia always have with them.”

While the treaty was being inscribed, Suhail’s son Abu Jandal, wearing handcuffs and chains and bearing marks of  injuries all over his body, staggered in the Muslim camp. He told Muslims that because he had embraced Islam he was tortured. He begged that he should not be returned to Makkah as he might not survive further cruelty. Suhail demanded  that he should be handed over into his custody. The Holy Prophet was greatly moved by the condition of Abu Jandal and pleaded with Suhail to let him remain with the Muslims, but Suhail was adamant that according to the treaty just signed, he would take his son back to Makkah. The Holy Prophet then addressed Abu Jandal and said, “Have patience, and put your trust in Allah. He will certainly provide for your freedom and provide for the freedom of other persons like you. We are unable to help you, as we have entered into an agreement with the Makkans, we cannot go against our word.”

The Muslims were very upset and felt that the terms of the treaty were not in their favour. Though Hadhrat Abu Bakr and other Companions remained quiet, yet Hadhrat Umar could not contain himself and went to the Holy Prophet and said, “O Prophet of Allah: Are we not in the right?”

“Yes,” said the Holy Prophet, “We are in the right.”

“Then why this agreement and why these humiliating terms?” asked Umar.

The Holy Prophet said, “I am the Messenger of Allah, and know what He desires. I cannot go against it and He alone is my Helper.”

Hadhrat Umar was still not satisfied and asked, “Did you not tell us that we would perform the circuit of the Ka`bah?”

“Indeed I did” said the Holy Prophet, “but did I also say that it would happen this very year? God did foretell that we  would perform the circuit in peace, so wait. You will, God willing, certainly enter Makkah and perform the circuits of the Ka‘bah.”

Hadhrat Umar realised his mistake and sought forgiveness from God Almighty for his momentary weakness.

Some other Companions asked why they had agreed to send a person, who had accepted Islam and reached Madinah, back to his guardian in Makkah without obtaining the same condition for a Muslim who had relinquished his faith and went to Makkah.

The Holy  Prophet  explained,  “Everybody  who  becomes  a  Muslim  is  bound  to  propagate  Islam wherever he happens to be. On the other hand a person who gives up Islam is of no use to us. It is better he should go elsewhere.”

This reply of the Holy Prophet satisfied all those who doubted the wisdom of the course adopted by the

Holy Prophet.

Moreover the agreement also tells us that the punishment for apostasy is not death, as some Muslim scholars believe. Had death been prescribed, as the punishment for apostasy, the Holy Prophet should have insisted that those who have abdicated Islam should be returned so that they could be punished accordingly.

During the course of the journey back from Hudaibiyah the chapter of the Holy Quran called AL FATH was revealed to the  Holy Prophet. AL FATH means ‘The Victory’. This chapter comprised the glad tidings:

“Surely We have granted thee a clear victory so that Allah may cover up for thee, thy shortcomings, past and future and that He may complete His Favour upon thee, and may guide thee on a right path. And that Allah may help thee with a mighty help.”

(Ch 48: 2-4)

“Surely Allah has indeed fulfilled for His Messenger the vision. You will certainly enter the Sacred Mosque, if Allah so wills, in security, some having their heads shaven, and others having their hair cut short and you will have no fear.” (Ch: 48: 28)

Hadhrat Umar asked the Holy Prophet, “Messenger of Allah! is this treaty truly the victory of Islam?” The Holy Prophet responded, “Most certainly this is a victory for us.”

It was indeed a great victory as there was a pact between Muslims and Makkans not to engage in a battle for ten years. The Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, and the Muslims devoted their full attention towards conveying the message of Islam as widely as possible. Thus Islam began to spread rapidly in the greater part of Arabia. The rate of progress can be estimated from the fact that while the number of Muslims present with the Holy Prophet were fifteen hundred at the time of the Treaty of Hudaibyah, the number had risen to ten thousand two years later, on the occasion of the Fall of Makkah.