TREATY OF HUDAIBIYAH (628 AD)
In the sixth year after his migration to Medina
(March 628), Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) decided to perform the Umrah (the lesser
pilgrimage). Fourteen hundred of the companions joined the Prophet for Mecca.
He ordered them not to carry any weapons of war, but allowed a sword which
was customary for the travelers to carry for protection against caravan raids.
The Quraish (Pagans) intent upon not allowing
the prophet to enter Mecca closed all access to the city. The Prophet then
reached a place called Hudaibiya, on the precincts of the sacred territory
of Mecca, and halted there. The Quraysh tried to provoke the Prophet’s companions
to fighting. Upon finding the pilgrims in their Ihram (pilgrim’s garb) and
their intention not to fight, the fears and anxieties of the Quraysh were
abated; and they were forced to think of the consequences if the pilgrims
were turned back without performing the rites. The Quraysh sent Urwah bin
Mas’ud to the Prophet as their spokesman. The Prophet’s delegation and that
of the Quraysh negotiated back and forth. In these deliberations, the Quraysh
made some unpleasant remarks about the Prophet and his companions. At this
Urwah, the Meccan representative, felt that he was led to be misguided and
protested to Quraysh that he had not made a pact with them for such a behaviour
and stated:
“I have been sent as envoy to the courts
of Kesra (Chosroes), Qaisar (Caeser), and the Negus but I have not seen a
king whose men so honor him as the companions of Muhammad honor Muhammad.
If he commands anything they almost outstrip his words in fulfilling it....When
he speaks, their voices are hushed in his presence and they lower their eyes
in reverence for him. He has made you a good offer, therefore accept it from
him.”
The Quraysh realizing their mistake and
the risk of losing important allies, came to an agreement with the Prophet.
The terms of the treaty were written down and is known as the "Treaty of Hudaibiyah.”
It included:
“In your name, O Allah. These are the terms
of the truce between Muhammad, the son of Abdullah and Suhayl, the son of
Amr (of Mecca).
Both parties have agreed to lay down
the burden of war for ten years. During this time, each party shall be safe,
and neither shall injure the other; no secret damage shall be inflicted, but
uprightness and honor shall prevail between them.
The Muslims shall return this
year without performing Umrah (the pilgrimage). In the coming year, you may
enter it with your companions, staying therein for three days, bearing no
arms except the arms of the traveler, with swords remaining in their sheaths.
If a Quraysh person comes to
Muhammad (i.e., after accepting Islam) without the permission of his guardian,
Muhammad shall return him to them, but if one of the Muhammad’s people come
to the Quraysh, he shall not be returned.
Whoever wishes to enter into
covenant with Muhammad can do so, and whoever wishes to enter into covenant
with the Quraysh can do so.”
Many of the Muslims were not satisfied with
the terms of the treaty and they regarded it to be humiliating to themselves,
considering the behavior of the Quraish against the Prophet during the negotiations.
The Prophet declared the treaty a victory and they accepted it on the conviction
that Allah and His messenger know best.
On their way back to Medina, Allah (The One
God) revealed to the Prophet (pbuh) a chapter of the Qur’an known as “Al-Fath”
(The Victory, XLVIII). The chapter begins with: “Verily We have given thee
a victory, a very clear victory
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