The raids, taken together with the disciplinary action meted out by the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) in the wake of the battle of Uhud, had a great effect in restoring the high standing of the Muslims and in reasserting the authority of the Islamic State.

The Muslims’ sphere of influence widened and their authority increased dramatically, reaching new heights. The whole of the Arabian Peninsula became cautioned of the might exercised by the Muslims. Whenever the Arabs got wind of a raid that was about to be launched against them by Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) they would not contest it but rather run away. This happened in Ghatafan and Dumat al-Jandal. The Quraysh were no longer a match for the Muslims and they could no longer dare to confront them on their own. For example, in the last raid at Badr, the Quraysh backed down and did not even turn up. This helped the Muslims to enjoy some stability and gave them some respite, allowing them to concentrate on life in Madinah. They were able to adopt their living in lieu of the recent changes that had taken place. Now that the Muhajireen had gained the booties of Banu Nadir such as their lands, palm trees (date palms), houses and furniture, which had been distributed among them, a considerable change in their fortunes had occurred. However, this did not distract them from pursuing their top priority, which was evidently Jihad, for Jihad has been decreed till the Day of Reckoning. Nevertheless, their living standards had become better and more stable than before.

Despite the serenity in Madinah, the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) always remained on the alert fearing the treachery of the enemy. He was forever keen to gather news about everyone and every development taking place in the Arabian Peninsula. He (pbuh) would send people on exploratory and news gathering missions all over the land and beyond. He (pbuh) was anxious to learn everything about the movements of the Arabs in order to be ready to deal with any hostilities. This was especially the case at this point, now that the enemies of the Muslims in the Peninsula numbered many, which was reactionary to the building of an army and a State to be reckoned with. This was particularly the case after the expulsion of the Jews of Banu Qaynuqa’ and Banu Nadir, as well as after having dealt the tribes such as Ghatafan, Hadhayl and many others a crushing blow.

In light of the above, the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) considered intelligence gathering to be vital. In fact it was through this medium that he received early warnings of the Quraysh, combining together with several other tribes to raid Madinah. He (pbuh) was therefore able to make advanced preparations to meet the new threat.

It was the Jews of Banu Nadir who endeavored to incite the Arabs against the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) in order to exact their revenge for being expelled from Madinah. A number of them had formed a party against the Messenger of Allah (pbuh), among whom were Huyayy ibn Akhtab, Salam ibn Abi al-Huqayq and Kinanah ibn Abi al-Huqayq, and from Banu Wa’il were Haudhah ibn Qays and Abu ‘Ammar, and it was this party which approached the Quraysh in Makkah. The Quraysh asked Huyayy about his people and he said, “I left them between Khaybar and Madinah hesitating and waiting for you to march with them against Muhammad and his Companions.” They also asked him about Banu Quraydah and he said, “They remained in Madinah to deceive Muhammad. They are waiting for you to raid Madinah to help you from within.” At that stage the Quraysh were hesitant, not knowing whether to attack Madinah or not. They considered that there was no dispute between them and Muhammad (pbuh) except his (pbuh) call to Allah (swt) and Islam. They, therefore, wondered whether Muhammad (pbuh) was in the right? To lessen their doubts the Quraysh asked the Jews, “You, O Jews, are the first people to receive scripture and know the nature of our dispute with Muhammad. Is our Deen the best or is his ?” The Jews replied, “Certainly your Deen is better than his and you have a better claim to be in the right!”

The Jews were monotheistic and they knew very well that the Deen of Muhammad (pbuh) was the right one, but their burning desire to incite the Arabs against him (pbuh) landed them in this despicable blunder. To declare that the worshipping of idols was better than the Tawheed was their eternal disgrace and shame, but the Jews did it and are ready to do it over and over again.

Once they were assured that the Quraysh were convinced and that they would gladly respond to their call the Jews went to Ghatafan of Qays Ghaylan, to Banu Murrah and to Banu Fazarah, to Ashja’a, to Salim, to Banu Sa’d, to Asad and to anyone else who held a grudge against the Muslims. In time, a number of Arab tribes allied and went out with the Quraysh heading for Madinah.

The Quraysh marched under the leadership of Abu Sufyan. They numbered about 4,000 warriors, 300 cavalrymen and another 1,500 warriors riding on camels. Banu Fazarah marched under the leadership of ‘Uyayna ibn Hisn ibn Hudhayfah with a large number of warriors and 1,000 camels. Ashja’a marched under the leadership of Mis’ar ibn Rakhaylah, and Murrah marched under the leadership of al-Harith ibn ‘Auf with 400 warriors. Salim and Bir Ma’una’s people marched with about 700 warriors. When these had all gathered they were further reinforced by Banu Sa’d and Banu Asad. Altogether the army totaled about 10,000 men and the coalition force marched under the leadership of Abu Sufyan. When news reached the Messenger of Allah (pbuh), he decided to entrench himself inside Madinah. Salman al-Farsi recommended digging a trench around Madinah. The trench was dug and the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) worked at it himself encouraging the Muslims on with the hope of reward in Heaven. He (pbuh) prodded them to double and redouble their efforts and in this way the trench was completed in six days. In addition, the walls of the houses facing the enemy were fortified, the houses beyond (outside) the trench were then evacuated, and the women and children placed inside the fortified houses within Madinah. The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) set off with three thousand Muslims, he had his back to the valley of Sal’ and the trench dividing him from the enemy. There he (pbuh) encamped, and a red tent was pitched for him.

The Quraysh and their allies set off, hoping to encounter Muhammad (pbuh) at Uhud, but it was not to be. The Quraysh then marched on until they reached Madinah and to their surprise they found their way barred by the trench. Clearly the Quraysh and her allies were not familiar with this kind of defensive strategy, they were forced to encamp outside Madinah beyond the trench to consider their next move. Abu Sufyan and those with him soon realized that they were in for a long stay by the trench because they were not able to storm it. This inconclusive situation proved troublesome as it was winter, the winds were fierce and biting cold. Under these conditions the people began to feel demoralized, they wished that they could return home. Huyayy ibn Akhtab was aware of this and so he suggested that Banu Quraydah should be talked into violating the peace treaty, which they had signed with Muslims, and join the coalition. He told the Quraysh and their allies that if the Quraydah did this the Muslims would lose all links with the outside world and the way would be open to invade Madinah.

The Quraysh and Ghatafan were pleased with the idea and sanctioned Huyayy to approach Ka’ab ibn Asad, the leader of Banu Quraydah. When Ka’ab heard Huyayy coming he shut the door of the fort in his face. However Huyayy persisted until Ka’ab opened the door; he said to him, “Good heavens Ka’ab! I have brought you immortal fame and a great army. I have come with Quraysh with their leaders and chiefs, and Ghatafan with their leaders and chiefs. They have made a firm agreement and promised me that they will not depart until we have made an end of Muhammad and his men.” Ka’ab was hesitant and he recalled the Messenger of Allah’s (pbuh) loyalty and faithfulness. He feared the consequences of what he was letting himself into. But Huyayy kept on wheedling Ka’ab, reminding him of how Muhammad (pbuh) had treated the Jews and how strong the Allies were, until at last Ka’ab gave way and accepted what Huyayy had asked of him.

Thus Ka’ab broke his promise and cut loose from the bond that was between him and the Messenger of Allah (pbuh). The Quraydah, therefore, joined the Allies without the knowledge of Allah’s Messenger (pbuh). The news reached the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) and his Sahabah and this caused them a great deal of concern. They feared the worst, and thus, Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) sent Sa’d ibn Mu’adh, chief of the ‘Aus, and Sa’d ibn ‘Ubadah, chief of al-Khazraj, together with ‘Abdullah ibn Rawahah and Khawwat ibn Jubayr to go and see whether the report was true or not. He (pbuh) asked them to give him a sign which only he could understand so as not to undermine the peoples’ morale and that if the Quraydah were still loyal to their agreement they were to speak out openly before the people. So they went forth and found the situation even more deplorable than they had at first heard. When they tried to persuade the Quraydah not to dishonor their agreement, Ka’ab demanded that they allow their brothers Banu Nadir to return back to their homes. Sa’d ibn Mu’adh, who happened to be an ally of the Quraydah, attempted to persuade them to stick to their agreement. They spoke disparagingly of the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) saying, “Who is the Messenger of Allah? We have no agreement or undertaking with Muhammad.” The envoys returned and briefed Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) of their findings. The situation was obviously extremely serious and fear was everywhere.

The Allies prepared for combat. The Quraydah meanwhile asked the Allies to allow them ten days in order to prepare for battle while they, the Allies, would fight the Muslims fiercely during that time. They formed three divisions to fight the Messenger of Allah (pbuh), the division of Ibn al A’war al-Silmi closed in on Madinah from the valley, the division of ‘Uyayna ibn Hisn moved in from the side, and Abu Sufyan came before the trench. Panic gripped the Muslims and they became terrified. The Allies’ strength was apparent, and their morale very high, they went for the trench and a few of them managed to storm it. Some Qurayshi horsemen amongst whom were ‘Amr ibn ‘Abdu Wudd, ‘Ikrimah ibn Abi Jahl and Dirar ibn al-Khattab made for a narrow part of the ditch and beat their horses so that they dashed through it and carried them into the swampy ground between the trench and Sal’.

‘Ali ibn Abi Talib with some Muslims came out to hold the gap through which they had forced a passage. Now ‘Amr ibn Abdu Wudd went forth when his contingent had come to a halt and challenged anyone to fight him. ‘Ali accepted the challenge and said to him, “I call on you to dismount.” ‘Amr replied, “O son of my brother, I do not want to kill you.” ‘Ali said, “But I want to kill you.” So they fought and ‘Ali killed him. The remaining horsemen fled bursting headlong in flight across the trench. This upset, however, did not affect the Allies’ morale it actually enraged them and made them all the more determined to terrorize the Muslims. In the meantime the zealots of Banu Quraydah began to leave their forts and enter Madinah, this was with the aim of terrorizing nearby houses. Torment, anxiety and terror intensified within the Muslims’ quarters, but the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) was always confident that Allah (swt) would grant him victory. Relief came through Nu’aym ibn Mas’ud. He had already embraced Islam though his own people did not know it and he came to the Messenger of Allah (pbuh). Nu’aym proposed to the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) a way in which he could jeopardize the coalition. So Nu’aym went to Banu Quraydah, with whom he had been a close friend in the days of Jahilliyah, and reminded them of his affection and the special ties that existed between them.” Nu’aym told Banu Quraydah what their fate would be if Ghatafan and the Quraysh were to leave them to face Muhammad (pbuh) alone. He emphasized that the Quraysh and Ghatafan might not bear waiting for a long time because they were not inhabitants of that area. He told them that if they were left to face Muhammad on their own they would not be able to do so.

Finally, he suggested to them not to fight alongside the Allies until they had taken hostages from their chiefs who would remain in their hands as security in order to have Ghatafan and the Quraysh stay. Only then should they fight Muhammad (pbuh) with their allies until they made an end of him. The Quraydah thought that this was excellent advice. Nu’aym then went to Quraysh and told them that the Jews of Quraydah had regretted their action in opposing Muhammad (pbuh) and are working to overcome their shortcoming. He stated that they were prepared to make it up with him by handing over some chiefs of the two tribes, Quraysh and Ghatafan, so that he could cut their heads off. He said to them, “So if the Jews demand hostages, do not send them a single man.” Then he went to Ghatafan and told them the same story that he had told Quraysh.

The Arabs’ suspicion of the Jews grew and Abu Sufyan sent for Ka’ab informing him that they had been besieging Muhammad (pbuh) for a long time and that they should make ready for battle the next day. Ka’ab replied that it was the Sabbath, a day on which they did nothing, no fighting and no work. Abu Sufyan was enraged and he came to believe what Nu’aym had told him. He sent an envoy back to the Quraydah to tell them to make another Sabbath instead of this one for it was essential to fight Muhammad the next day. The envoy also told the Quraydah that if Quraysh and Ghatafan went out to fight alone, their coalition would be broken so they would end up fighting Muhammad alone. When the Quraydah heard Abu Sufyan’s comments they asserted their stand that they would not violate the Sabbath, and mentioned the hostages whom they should hold as security. When Abu Sufyan heard this he had no doubt left concerning what Nu’aym had told him. He began to think of a new strategy and he conferred with Ghatafan only to find out that they too had second thoughts about fighting Muhammad (pbuh).

That night, Allah (swt) sent a bitter wind and a thunderous storm which overthrew their tents and upset their cooking pots. They were stricken with panic and thought that the Muslims would seize the chance to direct their onslaught against them, so Tulayha arose and shouted, “Muhammad has come after you, so run for your lives”. Abu Sufyan said, “O Quraysh! Be off, for I am going.” So they grabbed hurriedly whatever they could carry and fled. Ghatafan and the rest of the Allies did the same. In the morning they were all gone.

When the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) saw this, he (pbuh) and the Muslims left the trench and returned to Madinah. Allah (swt) had spared the Muslims from fighting. Now that Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) had rid himself of the Quraysh he decided to deal with Banu Quraydah once and for all. It was they who had broken their agreement and had conspired with the allies to exterminate the Muslims, therefore Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) ordered the Mu’adhin (caller to the prayer) to inform to the people that whoever was obedient should not perform the afternoon prayer until he had reached the location where Banu Quraydah was. Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) sent ‘Ali forward with his banner and the Muslims hastened to it full of joy and zeal until they reached Banu Quraydah whereupon they besieged them for twenty-five nights. The Jews told the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) that they wanted to negotiate with him. After much negotiation they settled for the arbitration of Sa’d ibn Mu’adh and he gave judgment that, “The men should be killed, the property divided and the women and children taken as Sabaya (slaves).” The judgment was implemented, and thus the entity of the tribe ceased to exist and Madinah was rid of them once and for all.

The defeat of the Allies marked the end of any serious attempt by the Quraysh to confront the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) and the annihilation of Banu Quraydah meant that all three Jewish tribes, which had originally lived around Madinah and who had agreements with Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) (which each broke in turn), were not there any more. This meant that the supremacy of Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) and the Muslims over Madinah was absolute and as a result, the Arabs were just as alarmed of the Muslims as ever.

Six years had elapsed since the emigration of Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) from Makkah. By now he (pbuh) had become reassured about his army and the general state of the Islamic society in Madinah. The Islamic State had become a major force of contention for all the Arabs. But inspite of this, the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) was continually thinking of new moves which would enable him to strengthen the Islamic Message, which in turn would lead to the weakening of his enemies.

News had already reached Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) that the people of Khaybar and Makkah were conspiring to raid the Muslims. Muhammad (pbuh) designed a plan with the aim of appeasing the people of Makkah. It was hoped that this would result in them leaving the way clear for the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) to pursue his Da’wah within the Arabian Peninsula as well as to isolate the Jews of Khaybar from their allies, the Quraysh. To achieve this, the plan called for a peaceful visit to the Sacred House of Allah. He (pbuh) knew that his plan would be easy to fulfill because the Arabs would not fight during the sacred months. He (pbuh) also knew that the Quraysh were divided and had become fearful of the Muslims, therefore they would have to think twice before attempting any rash move against him. So he (pbuh) decided to go to the Sacred House as a pilgrim, if the Quraysh were to prevent him then he would use this as a powerful propaganda tool against them and this would serve to further promote the Message of Islam in the eyes of the general public.

With the above in mind, the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) announced that he was to go on the Hajj in the sacred month of Dhul al-Qa’dah and he sent to the other Arab tribes enjoining them to take part in the pilgrimage to the Sacred House peacefully. The purpose of this last move was to signal to the Arabs that he (pbuh) was coming out as a pilgrim and not as a raider. He (pbuh) had asked the non-Muslim Arabs to join him although they were not of his Deen simply because he wanted to emphasize that he did not want to fight.

The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) left Madinah with 1,400 men and seventy camels leading them on his she-camel, Quswa’. He (pbuh) was in Ihram for the purpose of clarifying to the people that he did not intend to fight and that he simply wished to visit the Sacred House of Allah. Six or seven miles after leaving Madinah, Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) and the Muslims reached a place called Dhil Halifah, and there they donned the pilgrim garb. Then they marched towards Makkah. The Quraysh heard that the Muslims had come for Hajj and not to fight, but they feared that it was a ploy that Muhammad (pbuh) was using to enter Makkah. This possibility was never far from their minds and they decided to prevent Muhammad (pbuh) from entering the city.

The Quraysh, therefore, appointed Khalid ibn al-Walid and ‘Ikrimah ibn Abi Jahl at the head of a great army that included a cavalry of two hundred. The army of the mushrikeen set off from Makkah towards the pilgrims in order to prevent them from going there. They encamped at Dhi Tuwa to await the coming of the pilgrims. Information about the movements of the Quraysh reached the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) and when he entered the village of ‘Usfan he met a man from Banu Ka’ab and asked him about them; he replied, “There are the Quraysh who have heard of your coming and have come out with their milch-camels and have put on leopard skins, and have encamped in Dhi Tuwa swearing that you will never enter Makkah in defiance of them. This man Khalid ibn al-Walid is with their cavalry which they have sent in advance to Kura’ al-Ghamim.” Kura’ al-Ghamim was about eight miles from Usfan where the Muslims were encamped.

When Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) heard this he said, “Woe to Quraysh, war has devoured them! What harm would they have suffered if they had left me and the rest of the Arabs to go our own way? If they should kill me that is what they desire, and if Allah should provide me with victory over them they would enter Islam in flocks. If they do not do that, they will fight while they have the strength, so what are the Quraysh thinking of? By Allah, I will not cease to fight for the mission with which Allah has entrusted me until He makes it victorious or I perish.”

The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) reflected on the plan that he had designed and he thought hard about the situation. He had already decided on a peaceful strategy and had not prepared for battle, but the Quraysh had sent an army to fight him though he did not want to fight. Would he go back, or change his plan and fight? He knew very well that the Muslims had enough Iman to face their enemy and engage in a battle with the Quraysh if they were left with no choice but to fight.

However, Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) had not come out for war and he had decided not to fight. He had instead come out to accomplish the Hajj and had only peace in mind. He (pbuh) thought that if he was prevented from fulfilling the Hajj, which he expected, he wanted it to be peacefully; not aggressive prevention nor a Hajj performed under hostile circumstances. The peaceful plan which Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) had masterminded was designed to create public opinion within Makkah and amongst the Quraysh about the glory and nobleness of the Message of Islam, and to contrast it with the misguidance, arrogance and aggression of the Quraysh. This public opinion was crucial and it had to be built if the Islamic Da’wah was to have the right grounds to prosper and spread. Public opinion was one of the most important contributory factors which would help to spread the Da’wah and enable it to emerge victorious. Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) was in danger of slipping in his chance to gain the public opinion on his side if he was to fight, therefore he decided not to change his original plan and to continue on in peace.

The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) thought long and hard about his next move. His shrewdness and statesmanship were far better than any other person. He decided to go with his peace plan, lest he miss the opportunity that presented itself and lest his plan backfired. Under which circumstances the Quraysh would be gifted with an excuse to launch a smear campaign amongst the Arabs against him, resulting in shifting the public opinion in their favor. Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) then called on the Muslims, “Who will take us out by a way in which we shall not meet them?” A man volunteered to do so and he took them by a rugged rocky tract between passes which was very hard on them until they managed to emerge from it into a valley below Makkah in a place called al- Hudaybiyah. There they camped. When the armies of Khalid and ‘Ikrimah saw them they became scared and galloped back to defend Makkah. The Muslims’ daring move sent shivers down the disbelievers’ spines. They could not believe that the Muslims had managed to out maneuver them and turn up at their doorstep unchecked. The disbelievers stationed themselves in Makkah while Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) and his army stationed themselves in al-Hudaybiyah. The two camps faced each other and each thought about what action to take against the other. Some Muslims predicted that the Quraysh would never allow them to perform the Hajj and that they were preparing for war. They thought that there was no other way for them but to fight the Quraysh, crush them and then perform the Hajj. In so doing, they maintained that this would see off the Quraysh once and for all.

The Quraysh, meanwhile, flirted with the idea of fighting the Muslims, even if this meant perishing itself, but this idea soon evaporated for they knew that the Muslims were formidable opponents. Thus, the Quraysh opted to wait for the Muslims to make the first move.

In order to achieve what he (pbuh) had really come for, the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) firmly adhered to his original plan ever since he had put on Ihram in Madinah. He (pbuh) simply remained stationed in Hudaybiyah, waiting to see what the Quraysh would do next. He (pbuh) knew that the Quraysh were scared of him and that they would soon send out envoys to negotiate with him about his coming on Hajj, so he (pbuh) patiently awaited their representatives. The Quraysh first sent Budayl ibn Warqa’ with some men of Khuza’ah to ask Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) what he had come for, and after a short exchange of words they were convinced that the Muslims had not come out to fight but to visit the Sacred House and venerate the sacred precincts.

The envoys returned to inform the Quraysh and persuade them of this, but the Quraysh accused them of being biased towards Muhammad (pbuh) and did not trust them. The Quraysh sent out another delegation and it too returned shortly with the same findings. Then the Quraysh sent to Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) al-Hulays, chief of al-Ahbash (Abyssinians) to negotiate. Quraysh was counting on al-Hulays to stop Muhammad (pbuh), they actually meant to incite him against the Muslims. The Quraysh hoped that once he had failed in his negotiations with Muhammad (pbuh) his hatred towards Muhammad (pbuh) would increase and he would become more determined to defend Makkah. However, when the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) heard that al-Hulays was coming he (pbuh) ordered the sacrificial animals to be let loose to meet him so as to demonstrate to him and make him realize that what the Muslims intended was Hajj and not war.

Al-Hulays saw the animals going past him from the side of the valley and people about to perform ‘Umrah, through observing their camp site engulfed in an atmosphere of worship, and that they did not appear to be equipped for fighting, he came to be greatly impressed. He was certain that these people really had come to worship and not to fight and so he went back to the Quraysh even before meeting Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) and he informed them of what he had seen. He demanded that the Quraysh allow the Muslims to perform the Hajj, and became furious threatening to withdraw his troops if the Quraysh attempted to come between Muhammad (pbuh) and the Ka’bah. The Quraysh, however, managed to calm him by changing their tone to a conciliatory one, and they asked him for extra time in the hope of obtaining more acceptable terms. He agreed so and the Quraysh then sent ‘Urwa ibn Mas’ud al-Thaqafi after reassuring Thaqafi that they trusted his judgment. He went to Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) and tried in vain to convince him to go back.

Eventually, he had to concede that the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) was in the right. So he returned to the Quraysh and said to them, “O people of Quraysh! I have been to Chosroes in his kingdom, Caesar in his kingdom, and the Negus in his kingdom, but never have I seen a king among a people like Muhammad among his Sahabah; whenever he performed his ablutions they performed ablutions the same way he did. If a hair of his head fell they ran to pick it up. They will never abandon him for any reason, so make up your mind.”

This only served to increase the Quraysh’s hostility and stubbornness and further negotiation and debate went on to no avail. The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) thought about sending a delegation himself, presuming that maybe the Quraysh’s envoys were too scared to approach him. He (pbuh) thought that his representative might be able to persuade them and so he sent to them an envoy, but they hamstrung the camel that he was riding on and tried to kill him. Fortunately, the al-Ahbash troops protected him. The Quraysh’s animosity grew by the day and they sent their louts out at night to throw stones at the Muslims’ camp. This angered the Muslims and caused them in turn to want to fight the Quraysh, but the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) managed to calm them down. Next, the Quraysh sent fifty men with orders to surround the Messenger of Allah’s camp and beat them, but they were caught and brought before the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) who forgave them and let them go their own way.

This last development had a profound effect on the people of Makkah and it proved without a shadow of a doubt that Muhammad (pbuh) had been truthful all along. It demonstrated to them that he had genuinely come to perform the Hajj and not to indulge in warfare. With this move he (pbuh) thus managed to motivate public opinion in Makkah in his favor. Now if he was to enter the city and the Quraysh attempted to prevent him the people of Makkah and the Arabs would back him all the way and support him against them. The Quraysh, therefore, ceased their provocative activities and began to seriously contemplate peace. The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) decided to send another envoy to negotiate with the Quraysh and he asked ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab to go, but ‘Umar told him, “O Messenger of Allah, I fear for my life with the Quraysh, there is no more of Banu ‘Adi ibn Ka’ab in Makkah to protect me and the Quraysh know of my enmity and my rough treatment of them. However, I recommend a man more prized there than myself, ‘Uthman ibn ‘Affan.”

The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) then summoned ‘Uthman and sent him to Abu Sufyan. So ‘Uthman went off and conveyed the Messenger of Allah’s (pbuh) message to them. They said to him, “If you want to go around the Sacred House, go around it.” He said, “I cannot do so until the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) does so.” ‘Uthman then initiated peace negotiations with the Quraysh, but they continued to reject the idea. The negotiations were extensive and proved difficult at times, however, the Quraysh’s position began to shift from a categorical refusal to an attempt to reach a compromise which would satisfy both parties. They searched together for a way out, they took to ‘Uthman’s style and felt at ease with him, and so it was that they ultimately endeavored to work to secure an end to the crisis and thereby terminate their state of war with Muhammad (pbuh).

When ‘Uthman extended his stay and was nowhere to be seen in Makkah, a rumor broke out in the Muslim camp that the Quraysh had killed him. The Muslims were incensed by the news and they all reached for their swords ready to do battle with the Quraysh. At this point, the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) found it necessary to review his whole plan now that the Quraysh had apparently betrayed ‘Uthman in the sacred month, despite being an envoy. Because of this, he (pbuh) said, “We shall not leave until we fight the enemy.” He (pbuh) summoned his Sahabah and stood under a tree where he sought an undertaking (pledge), and it was there that they all pledged to him that they would fight until death. Once the pledge had been given, Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) clapped his hand against the other as a pledge on behalf of ‘Uthman, as if he had been with them. The pledge became known as the Bay’at al-Ridwan regarding which Allah (swt) said,

“Indeed, Allah was pleased with the Believers when they gave their Ba’yah (pledge) to you under the tree, He knew what was in their hearts, and He sent down “As-Sakinah” (Calmness and tranquillity) upon them, and He rewarded them with a near Victory” [Al-Fath, 48:18]

Once the Ba’yah had been given, and while the Muslims were preparing for battle, news reached the camp that ‘Uthman had not been killed. Soon after ‘Uthman returned and briefed the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) about what the Quraysh had said. Peaceful negotiations then resumed between Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) and the Quraysh. The Quraysh then sent Suhayl ibn ‘Amr to negotiate with the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) over the issue of the armistice to be signed between the two camps, and as well over the broader issues concerning the performance of the Hajj and ‘Umrah. In the case of the latter the condition was that the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) should only be allowed back the following year.

The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) agreed to conduct peace negotiations on these terms because they secured for him what he had really come for in the first place. It would not matter therefore whether he visited the Sacred House this year or the next. What he (pbuh) truly wanted was to isolate Khaybar from the Quraysh and to remove all the obstacles that stood between him and the Arabs which hindered his Da’wah and conveyance of the Message of Islam. That is why he wanted to sign a treaty with the Quraysh and hold a truce which would put a halt to their war. As for the Hajj and ‘Umrah, he could always perform that next year.

Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) entered into long and delicate negotiations with Suhayl ibn ‘Amr about the truce and its conditions. The negotiations proved to be hard at times and were threatened with collapse had it not been for the shrewdness of the Messenger of Allah (pbuh). The Muslims followed the developments closely and thought that the negotiations were about the ‘Umrah, whereas the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) was all along aiming at securing a truce. Therefore, the Muslims were irritated, but Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) thought this to be a blessing, for he conducted the negotiation the way he wanted, regardless of the details and short term benefits. A deal was struck between the two sides once certain specific conditions had been laid down.

These conditions triggered the anger of the Muslims and they tried to persuade the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) to reject them and resort instead to war. ‘Umar jumped up and went to Abu Bakr saying, “Why should we agree to what is demeaning to our Deen?” ‘Umar tried to force Abu Bakr to go with him to persuade the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) not to accept the terms. Abu Bakr, however, tried to dissuade him from pursuing such an initiative, but to no avail. ‘Umar ended up going to Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) on his own. He spoke to him (pbuh) and expressed his anger and exasperation. However, that did not diminish Allah’s Messenger’s determination and perseverance, reminding ‘Umar, “I am Allah’s slave and His Messenger. I shall not go against His commandment and He will not make me the loser.”

In drawing up the treaty, the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) summoned ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib and told him to write, “In the name of Allah, ar-Rahman, ar-Raheem.” Suhayl said, “Hold it! I do not recognize ar-Rahman, ar-Raheem, but write ‘In your name, O my Lord’.” The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) told ‘Ali to write the latter and he did so. Then he (pbuh) said, “Write ‘This is what Muhammad the Messenger of Allah has agreed with Suhayl ibn ‘Amr’.” Suhayl said, “Hold it! If I witnessed that you were Allah’s Messenger I would not have fought you. Write your own name and the name of you father.” The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said, “Write ‘This is what Muhammad ibn ‘Abdullah has agreed with Suhayl ibn ‘Amr’.” After these opening lines the treaty between the two sides was written comprising the following terms:

1) To lay aside from war and refrain from hostilities during the period of the truce.

2) If anyone from the Quraysh embraced Islam and came to Muhammad (pbuh) without the permission of his guardian, he would return him to them, and if anyone from those with Muhammad came to the Quraysh, they need not return him to Muhammad.

3) Whosoever wished from amongst the Arabs to enter into an alliance with Muhammad could do so, and he who wished to enter into an alliance with the Quraysh could do so.

4) The Muslims and Muhammad’s Companions had to retreat from Makkah that year and return the following year when they would be free to enter Makkah and stay there three nights. They would be allowed to carry swords in their sheaths and nothing more.

5) The treaty was for a limited period of time, ten years from the date of its ratification.

The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) and Suhayl signed the treaty amidst agitation and anger of the Muslim army. Suhayl returned to Makkah leaving the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) disturbed and exasperated by the reaction of the Muslims. The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) felt awkward and depressed about the stand of the Muslims, their eagerness and zeal to fight, and he went to his wife Umm Salamah who was accompanying him and confessed to her his anguish. She said to him, “O Messenger of Allah, verily the Muslims will not disobey you, they only are zealous about their Deen and their Iman in Allah and your Message, shave your head and slaughter your animals and you will find that the Muslims will follow suit, then march with them back to Madinah.”

The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) came out and shaved his head, marking the ‘Umrah after which he felt calm and satisfied. When the Muslims saw him in that state they rushed to slaughter the animals and shave their heads. Then Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) returned with the Muslims to Madinah. When they were half way back, Sura al-Fat’h was revealed. Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) recited it in its entirety and it was then that everyone realized that the treaty of Hudaybiyah was indeed a clear victory for the Muslims.

As soon as the Muslims had arrived in Madinah, the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) began drawing up plans to deal with Khaybar and spread the Message of Islam beyond the Arabian Peninsula while strengthening Islam within it. He (pbuh) wanted to take advantage of his truce with the Quraysh to concentrate on abolishing a few pockets of resistance and to establish foreign ties. The treaty enabled him (pbuh) to achieve this. The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) managed to carry out the plan that he had so shrewdly pieced together under the pretext of performing the Hajj. Despite all the various difficulties and obstacles, he (pbuh) managed to achieve all of the political goals he had set out to achieve. Thus, without a shadow of a doubt, the treaty of Hudaybiyah was a great victory. Some of its achievements were:

1) The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) managed to create public opinion for the Message of Islam among the Arabs in general and among the Quraysh in particular. This enhanced the respect of the Muslims and diminished that of Quraysh.

2) The belief and trust of the Muslims in Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) was demonstrated. It proved that the Iman of the Muslims was unshakable, their courage and readiness to sacrifice themselves were second to none.

3) The Muslims learned that political maneuvers were an effective means to promote the Islamic Da’wah.

4) The Muslims who remained in Makkah among the disbelievers formed a pocket within the enemy’s stronghold.

5) The Hudaybiyah treaty demonstrated that the method in politics is derived from the same thought (source), truthfulness and faithfulness. However, the means must be coupled with shrewdness, and this can be achieved by concealing the means and the real aims from the enemy.

The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) remained in Madinah for fifteen nights after returning from al-Hudaybiyah, he then ordered the Muslims to prepare for a raid on Khaybar provided that only those who had been with him at al- Hudaybiyah take part.

Before marching to al-Hudaybiyah, news was received that the Jews of Khaybar were secretly conspiring with the Quraysh to raid Madinah in an effort to exterminate the Muslims. Being aware of this, Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) opted for a peace plan with the Quraysh in order to secure a truce with them so that he could concentrate his efforts towards taking care of Khaybar. As soon as he (pbuh) had concluded his peace treaty, which isolated the Jews of Khaybar from the Quraysh, he turned to Jews of Khaybar and ordered the Muslims to prepare the army just days after his return from al-Hudaybiyah.

The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) marched at the head of 1,600 Muslims accompanied by 100 riders and all were assured of Allah’s support. They reached Khaybar after a march of three days and took the people of Khaybar by surprise. Although the Muslims spent the night just outside their forts. In the morning, the peasants of Khaybar came out with their spades and baskets and when they saw the army of the Muslims they turned and fled crying, “Muhammad with his force.” The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said, “Allahu Akbar! Khaybar is destroyed. When we arrive at a people’s area it is a bad morning for those who have been warned.”

The Jews were expecting Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) to attack them, for when they heard about the treaty of Hudaybiyah they considered it to be a let down by their allies, the Quraysh. In response to the new dangerous situation some of them suggested forming an alliance with the Jews of Wadi al-Qura and Tayma’ in order to raid Madinah. They would then be without the need to rely on the pockets of Arab tribes, especially now that the Quraysh had signed a treaty with the Messenger of Allah (pbuh). Others actually flirted with the idea of entering into a pact with the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) in the hope that this would efface the Muslims’ hatred towards them. They used to remind each other of this ever since they felt the danger nearing. They were aware that the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) had learned of their conspiracy with the Quraysh and that he (pbuh) was about to raid them, but they were caught by surprise before they could enact their plans and instead had to call on Ghatafan to help them. They attempted to fortify their positions and resist the attack, but the Muslim army was swift and their defensive lines crumbled.

Eventually, they became desperate and sought peace with the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) provided he spared their lives. The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) agreed and he allowed them to remain in their homes. Since their land and their vineyards became his under the law of conquest, he allowed them to work and live there provided they gave him half of their crops and fruits annually. They agreed to his (pbuh) terms. Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) then returned to Madinah and stayed there until he left for the ‘Umrah of Qada’.

By his abolition of Khaybar’s political authority and by making them submit to the authority of the Muslims, the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) neutralized the perilous northern path to al-Sham, as he had done likewise in the south after the Hudaybiyah treaty. This action paved the way for the Message of Islam to be spread within the Arabian Peninsula as well as abroad.

Once the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) had found his mind at ease about the status of the Message within the whole of Hijaz, he (pbuh) initiated his Da’wah of relentlessly spreading Islam beyond Hijaz, for Islam is a universal Deen and he (pbuh) was sent to the whole of mankind. Allah (swt) says in Surah al-Anbiya’,

“And We have not sent you but as a Mercy for the ‘Alamin.” [Al-Anbiya, 21:107]

Allah (swt) also says in Surah Saba’,

“And We have not sent you except as a giver of glad tidings and a warner to all mankind.” [Saba’, 34:28]

Allah (swt) says in Surah al-Taubah,

“It is He Who has sent His Messenger with Guidance and the Deen of Truth (Islam),to make it superior over all deens even though the Mushrikun hate it.” [At-Tauba, 9:33]

The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) initiated contact abroad once he had secured 94 The Islamic State and strengthened the State and the Islamic Da’wah at home. He (pbuh) began by sending envoys abroad. He (pbuh) considered the scope of foreign policy to cover any part of the Peninsula which was not under his rule. Once the whole of Hijaz had fallen under his r’s rule, foreign policy came to be defined as the dealings with any land outside the Hijaz, such as the Persian and Roman empires. Now that he (pbuh) had signed the treaty of Hudaybiyah and the authority of Khaybar had been eliminated, the entire Hijaz came under his rule, for the Quraysh no longer had the force to stand in his way. The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) therefore sent his envoys abroad. However, he (pbuh) did not do so until he (pbuh) had ensured that his authority at home was strong enough to support his foreign policy.

The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) told his Sahabah one day after returning from Khaybar, “O people! Verily Allah has sent me as a mercy to all mankind, so do not differ about me like the Hawaryyun differed about ‘Isa, son of Maryam.” The Sahabah asked, “And how did the Hawaryyun differ O Messenger of Allah?” He (pbuh) said, “He invited them to what I invited you, as for the one who was sent to a near place he accepted, while the one who was sent to a far place he disliked and slowed down.” And he (pbuh) mentioned to them that he would send envoys to Heraclius (the Emperor of Rome), Chosroes (the Emperor of Persia), al-Muqawqis (the King of Egypt), al-Harith al-Ghassani (the King of al-Hirah), al-Harith al-Himyari (the King of Yemen) and to al-Najashi (the King of Abyssinia), inviting them to Islam. The Sahabah of Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) responded positively and they made a silver seal for him with the words “Muhammad the Messenger of Allah” engraved on it. He (pbuh) then sent his envoys with the messages he had written, inviting these rulers to Islam. His message to Heraclius was assigned to Dahiah ibn Khaleefah al-Kalbi; the one to Chosroes was assigned to ‘Abdullah ibn Hudhayfah al-Sahmi; that of al-Najashi to ‘Umar ibn Umayyah al- Damri; that of al-Muqawqis to Hatib ibn Abi Balta’a; that of the King of ‘Uman to ‘Amr Ibn al-’As al-Sahmi; that of the King of al-Yamamah to Sulait ibn ‘Amr; that of the King of Bahrain to al-’Ala’ ibn al-Hadhrami; that of al-Harith al- Ghassani, King of Tukhum al-Sham to Shuja’ ibn Wahab al-Asadi; and the message to al-Harith al-Himyari was assigned to al-Muhajir ibn Umayyah al- Makhzumy.

The envoys simultaneously set off, each one to where Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) had sent them. They delivered their messages and most of those leaders whom Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) had addressed replied somewhat favorably, while some replied in the negative and very rudely. As for the Arab rulers, the Kings of Yemen and ‘Uman replied rudely; the King of Bahrain responded positively and embraced Islam; the King of Yamamah replied that he was ready to embrace Islam if he were to be appointed ruler, so Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) condemned him. As for the non-Arab rulers, Chosroes, the Persian monarch, was enraged and tore up the message when it was read to him. He wrote to Badhan, his governor in Yemen, asking him for the head of that man in Hijaz.

When Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) heard this he said, “May Allah tear up his kingdom.” However, when the message of Chosroes reached his governor Badhan in Yemen, he inquired about Islam and soon declared his acceptance of it. He remained Muhammad’s governor over Yemen, although he was not actually al-Harith al-Himyari, King of Yemen. As for al-Muqawqis, the Leader of the Copts, he answered favorably and sent a present to the Messenger of Allah (pbuh). Al-Najashi also answered favorably, and it was said that he embraced Islam. As for Heraclius, he did not actually pay any attention to the message, neither did he contemplate sending an army nor did he say anything. When al- Harith al-Ghassani sought permission to head an army to punish this preacher (Muhammad (pbuh), he did not reply to him, but summoned him to al-Quds (Jerusalem).

As a result of these messages, the Arabs began entering the Deen of Allah in multitudes, their congregations hurried to the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) proclaiming their Islam. For the non-Arabs, Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) prepared a task force and declared Jihad against them.