AL-BUKHARI’S NARRATION OF THE ‘UMRAH OF AL-HUDAYBIYYAH
Al-Miswar Ibn Al-Makhramah and Marwan (whose narrations corroborate each other) said: Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, set out at the time of Al-Hudaibiyyah (treaty), and when they proceeded for a distance, he said, “Khalid Ibn Al-Waleed is leading the cavalry of Quraish and is at a place called Al-Ghameem, so take the way to the right.” By Allah, Khalid did not perceive the arrival of the Muslims till the dust arising from the march of the Muslim army reached him, and then he turned back hurriedly to inform the Quraish.
The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, went on advancing till he reached Thaniyyah (i.e., a mountainous way) through which one would go to them (i.e., people of Quraish). The she-camel of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, sat down. The people tried their best to cause the she-camel to get up but in vain, so they said, “Al-Qaswa’ (i.e. the she-camel’s name) has become stubborn! Al-Qaswa’ has become stubborn!” The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: “Al-Qaswa’ has not become stubborn, for stubbornness is not her habit, but she was stopped by Him Who stopped the elephant.” Then he said: “By the Name of Him in Whose Hands my soul is, if they (i.e., the Quraish infidels) ask me anything which will respect the ordinances of Allah, I will grant it to them.”
The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, then rebuked the she-camel and she got up. The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, changed his way till he dismounted at the farthest end of Al-Hudaibiyyah at a pit (i.e., well) containing a little water which the people used in small amounts, and in a short while the people used up all its water and complained to Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, of thirst. The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, took an arrow out of his arrow-case and ordered them to put the arrow in that pit. By Allah, the water started and continued gushing out till all the people quenched their thirst and returned with satisfaction.
While they were still in that state, Budail Ibn Warqa’-Al-Khuza‘i came with some people from his tribe Khuza‘ah and they were the advisers of Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, who would keep no secret from him and were from the people of Tihamah. Budail said, “I left Ka‘b Ibn Lu’ayy and ‘Amir Ibn Lu’ayy residing at the profuse water of Al-Hudaibiyyah and they had milch camels (or their women and children) with them, and will wage war against you, and will prevent you from visiting the Ka‘bah.” Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “We have not come to fight anyone, but to perform the ‘Umrah. No doubt, the war has weakened Quraish and they have suffered great losses, so if they wish, I will conclude a truce with them, during which they should refrain from interfering between me and the people (i.e., the Arab infidels other than Quraish), and if I have victory over those infidels, Quraish will have the option to embrace Islam as the other people do, if they wish; they will at least get strong enough to fight. But if they do not accept the truce, by Allah in Whose Hands my life is, I will fight with them defending my Cause till I get killed, but (I am sure) Allah will definitely make His Cause victorious.”
Budail said, “I will inform them of what you have said.” So, he set off till he reached the Quraish and said, “We have come from that man (i.e., Muhammad) whom we heard saying something which we will disclose to you if you should like.” Some of the fools among the Quraish shouted that they were not in need of this information, but the wiser among them said, “Relate what you heard him saying.” Budail said, “I heard him saying so and-so,” relating what the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, had told him.
‘Urwah Ibn Mas‘ood got up and said, “O people! Are you not the sons? They said, “Yes.” He added, “Am I not the father?” They said, “Yes.” He said, “Do you mistrust me?” They said, “No.” He said, “Do you not know that I invited the people of ‘Ukadh for your help, and when they refused I brought my relatives and children and those who obeyed me (to help you)?” They said, “Yes.” He said, “This man (i.e., the Prophet) has offered you a reasonable proposal, you had better accept it and allow me to meet him.” They said, “You may meet him.” So, he went to the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, and started talking to him. The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, told him almost the same thing as he had told Budail. Then ‘Urwah said, “O Muhammad! Won’t you feel any scruple in extirpating your relations? Have you ever heard of anyone amongst the Arabs extirpating his relatives before you? On the other hand, if the reverse should happen, (nobody will aid you, for) by Allah, I do not see (with you) dignified people, but people from various tribes who would run away leaving you alone.”
Hearing that, Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, abused him and said, “Do you say we would run and leave the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, alone?” ‘Urwah said, “Who is that man?” They said, “He is Abu Bakr.” ‘Urwah said to Abu Bakr, “By Him in Whose Hands my life is, were it not for the favor which you did to me and which I did not compensate, I would retort at you.” ‘Urwah kept on talking to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and seizing the Prophet’s beard as he was talking while Al-Mugheerah Ibn Shu‘bah was standing near the head of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, holding a sword and wearing a helmet. Whenever Urwah stretched his hand toward the beard of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, Al-Mugheerah would hit his hand with the handle of the sword and say (to ‘Urwah), “Remove your hand from the beard of Allah’s Messenger.” ‘Urwah raised his head and asked, “Who is that?” The people said, “He is Al-Mugheerah Ibn Shu‘bah.” ‘Urwah said, “O treacherous one! Am I not doing my best to prevent the evil consequences of your treachery?”
Before embracing Islam, Al-Mugheerah was in the company of some people. He killed them and took their property and came (to Madinah) to embrace Islam. The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said to him: “As regards your Islam, I accept it, but as for the property I do not take anything of it.” (As it was taken through treason).” ‘Urwah then started looking at the Companions of the Prophet. By Allah, whenever Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, spat, the spittle would fall in the hand of one of them (i.e. the Prophet’s Companions) who would rub it on his face and skin; if he ordered them they would carry out his orders immediately; if he performed ablution, they would struggle to take the remaining water; and when they spoke to him, they would lower their voices and would not look at his face constantly out of respect. ‘Urwah returned to his people and said, “O people! By Allah, I have been to the kings and to Qaisar, Kisra and Najashi, yet I have never seen any of them respected by his courtiers as much as Muhammad is respected by his Companions. By Allah, if he spits, the spittle falls in the hand of one of them (i.e. the Prophet’s Companions) who would rub it on his face and skin; if he orders them, they carry out his order immediately; if he performs ablution, they struggle to take the remaining water; and when they speak, they lower their voices and do not look at his face constantly out of respect.” ‘Urwah added, “No doubt, he has presented to you a good reasonable offer, so please accept it.”
A man from the tribe of Banu Kinanah said, “Allow me to go to him,” and they allowed him, and when he approached the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and his companions, Allah’s Messenger said: “He is so-and-so who belongs to the tribe that respects the Budn (i.e. camels of the sacrifice). So, bring the Budn in front of him.” So, the Budn were brought before him and the people received him while they were reciting Talbiyah. When he saw that scene, he said, “Glorified be Allah! It is not fair to prevent these people from visiting the Ka‘bah.” When he returned to his people, he said, ‘I saw the Budn garlanded (with colored knotted ropes) and marked (with stabs on their backs). I do not think it is advisable to prevent them from visiting the Ka‘bah.” Another person called Mikraz Ibn Hafs got up and sought their permission to go to Muhammad, and they allowed him, too. When he approached the Muslims, the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: “Here is Mikraz and he is a vicious man.” Mikraz started talking to the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, and as he was talking, Suhail Ibn ‘Amr came.
Ma‘mar related: Ayyoob related to me on the authority of ‘Ikrimah that when Suhail Ibn ‘Amr came, Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: “Your affair has become easy.” Ma‘mar added: Az-Zuhri related in his own narration: Suhail said, “Please conclude a peace treaty with us.” So, the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, called the scribe and said to him: “Write: In the Name of Allah, the most Beneficent, the most Merciful.” Suhail said, “As for ‘Beneficent,’ by Allah, I do not know what it means. So write: ‘In Your Name O Allah’, as you used to write previously.” The Muslims said, “By Allah, we will not write except: By the Name of Allah, the most Beneficent, the most Merciful.” The Prophet, peace and blessing of Allah be upon him, said: “Write: In Your Name O Allah.” Then he dictated: “This is the peace treaty which Muhammad, Allah’s Messenger has concluded.” Suhail said, “By Allah, if we knew that you were Allah’s Messenger we would not prevent you from visiting the Ka‘bah, and would not fight with you. So, write: “Muhammad Ibn ‘Abdullah.” The Prophet, peace and blessing of Allah be upon him, said: “By Allah! I am the Messenger of Allah even if you people do not believe me. Write: Muhammad Ibn ‘Abdullah.”
It is recorded in the Saheeh that ‘Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, objected saying, “By Allah I will not erase you.” Then he took over the writing and wrote: “This is the peace treaty which Muhammad Ibn ‘Abdullah has concluded.” Many people have spoken at length on this issue and we mentioned it in brief in the explanation of the statement of Allah: Neither did you (O Muhammad) read any book before it (this Qur’an), nor did you write any book (whatsoever) with your right hand. In that case, indeed, the followers of falsehood might have doubted.
In some versions, the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: “Whoever defects from us will be distanced by Allah (from His mercy).”
Az-Zuhri said, “The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, accepted all those terms, as he had already said that he would accept everything they would demand if it respected the ordinance of Allah, the Almighty, (i.e., by letting him and his companions perform ‘Umrah.)” The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said to Suhail: “On the condition that you allow us to visit the House (i.e. Ka‘bah) so that we may perform Tawaf around it.” Suhail said, “By Allah, we will not (allow you this year) so as not to give chance to the Arabs to say that we have yielded to you, but we will allow you next year.” So, the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, got that written.
Then Suhail said, “We also stipulate that you should return to us whoever comes to you from us, even if he has embraced your religion.” The Muslims said, “Glorified be Allah! How will such a person be returned to the pagans after he has become a Muslim?” While they were in this state Abu Jandal Ibn Suhail bin ‘Amr came from the valley of Makkah staggering with his fetters and fell down amongst the Muslims. Suhail said, “O Muhammad! This is the very first term with which we make peace with you, i.e., you shall return Abu Jandal to me.” The Prophet, peace and blessing of Allah be upon him, said: “The peace treaty has not been written yet.” Suhail said, “I will never allow you to keep him.” The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: “Yes.” He said, “I will not.” The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “We allow you (to keep him).” Abu Jandal said, “O Muslims! Will I be returned to the pagans though I have come as a Muslim? Don’t you see how much I have suffered?” Abu Jandal had been tortured severely for the cause of Allah, the Almighty.
Az-Zuhri added: ‘Umar Ibn Al-Khattab said, “I went to the Prophet and said, ‘Are you not truly the Messenger of Allah?’ The Prophet, peace and blessing of Allah be upon him, said: ‘Yes, indeed.’ I said, ‘Is not our cause just and the cause of the enemy unjust?’ He said: ‘Yes.’ I said, ‘Then why should we be humiliated in our religion?’ He said: “I am Allah’s Messenger and I do not disobey Him, and He will make me victorious.” I said, ‘Did you not tell us that we would go to the Ka‘bah and perform Tawaf around it?’ He said: “Yes, but did I tell you that we would visit the Ka‘bah this year?” I said, ‘No.’ He said: “So you will visit it and perform Tawaf around it.”
“Umar further said, “I went to Abu Bakr and said, ‘O Abu Bakr! Is he not truly Allah’s Prophet?’ He replied, ‘Yes.’ I said, ‘Then why should we be humble in our religion?’ He said, ‘Indeed, he is Allah’s Messenger and he does not disobey his Lord, and He will make him victorious. Adhere to him as, by Allah, he is on the right.’ I said, ‘Was he not telling us that we would go to the Ka‘bah and perform Tawaf around it?’ He said, ‘Yes, but did he tell you that you would go to the Ka‘bah this year?’ I said, ‘No.’ He said, ‘You will go to the Ka‘bah and perform Tawaf around it.’” (AzZuhri added, ‘Umar said, “I performed many good deeds as expiation for the improper questions I asked them.”)
When the writing of the peace treaty was concluded, Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said to his companions, “Get up and slaughter your sacrifices and get your head shaved.” By Allah none of them got up, and the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, repeated his order thrice. When none of them got up, he left them and went to Umm Salamah, may Allah be pleased with her, and told her of the people’s attitude toward him. Umm Salamah, may Allah be pleased with her, said, “O Prophet of Allah! Do you want your order to be carried out? Go out and do not say a word to anybody till you have slaughtered your sacrifice and call your barber to shave your head.” So, the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, went out and did not talk to anyone of them till he did that, i.e., slaughtered the sacrifice and called his barber who shaved his head. Seeing that, the Companions of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, got up, slaughtered their sacrifices, and started shaving the heads of one another.
Afterwards, Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, returned to Madinah then Abu Baseer, a new Muslim convert from Quraish came to him (Ibn Ishaq said: al-Azhar bin Abd Awf az-Zuhri and al-Akhnas bin Shuraiq ath-Thaqafi sent a man from Banu Amir bin Lu’ayy along with a freed slave of theirs to seek Abu Baseer’s repatriation. He also mentioned that the one whom Abu Baseer killed was the man from Banu al-Amir and the one who escaped was the freed slave).
The infidels sent in his pursuit two men who said (to the Prophet), “Abide by the promise you gave us.” So, the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, handed him over to them. They took him out (of the city) till they reached Dhul-Hulaifah where they dismounted to eat some dates they had with them. Abu Baseer said to one of them, “By Allah, O so-and-so, I see you have a fine sword.” The other drew it out (of the scabbard) and said, “By Allah, it is very fine and I have tried it many times.” Abu Baseer said, “Let me have a look at it.”
When the other gave it to him, he hit him with it till he died, and his companion ran away till he came to Madinah and entered the Mosque running. When Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, saw him he said: “This man appears to have been frightened.” When he reached the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, he said, “My companion has been murdered and I would have been murdered too.” Abu Baseer came and said, “O Allah’s Messenger, by Allah, Allah has made you fulfill your obligations by your returning me to them (i.e. the Infidels), but Allah, the Almighty, has saved me from them.” The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: (Woe to his mother! What an excellent war kindler he would be, should he only have supporters!)
When Abu Baseer heard that he understood that the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, would return him to them again, so he set off till he reached the seashore. Abu Jandal Ibn Suhail managed to escape from captivity (i.e. of the infidels) and joined Abu Baseer. So, whenever a man from Quraish embraced Islam he would follow Abu Baseer till they formed a strong group. By Allah, whenever they heard about a caravan of Quraish heading toward Sham, they stopped it, attacked and killed them (i.e., infidels) and took their properties. The people of Quraish sent a message to the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, requesting him for the sake of Allah, kith and kin to send for Abu Baseer and his companions promising that whoever (amongst them) came to the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, would be secure. So the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, sent for them (i.e. Abu Baseer’s companions) and Allah revealed the following Verses:
And it is He Who has withheld their hands from you and your hands from them in the midst of Makkah, after He made you victorious over them… the pride and haughtiness of the time of ignorance.” (Surah Al-Fat‘h 48:24-26)
And their pride and haughtiness was such that they did not confess (write in the treaty) that he (i.e. Muhammad) was the Prophet of Allah and refused to write: “In the Name of Allah, the most Beneficent, the Most Merciful,” and prevented the Muslims from visiting the Ka‘bah. This version includes some beneficial additions that are not present in the version of Ibn Ishaq from Az-Zuhri.
Al-Bukhari related from Zaid Ibn Aslam who narrated from his father that while Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, was proceeding at night during one of his journeys and ‘Umar Ibn Al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, was traveling beside him, ‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, asked him about something but Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, did not reply. He asked again, but he did not reply, and then he asked (for the third time) but he did not reply. On that, ‘Umar Ibn Al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, said to himself, “Thakilatka Ummuka ya Umar (May ‘Umar’s mother lose her son)! I asked Allah’s Messenger three times but he did not reply.” ‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, then said, “I made my camel run faster and went ahead of the people, and I was afraid that some Quranic Verses might be revealed concerning me. Not long afterwards, I heard somebody calling me. I said to myself, ‘I fear that some Quranic Verses have been revealed concerning me,’ and so I went to Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, and greeted him. He said: “Tonight a Surah (Chapter) has been revealed to me, and it is dearer to me than that on which the sun rises (i.e. the world)” Then he recited: “Verily, We have given you a manifest victory.” (Surah Al-Fat‘h 48:1)
By: Ibn Katheer
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