Treaty of al-Hudaybiya

The Treaty of Hudaybiyyah (Arabic: صلح الحديبية) is the treaty that took place between the state of Medina and the Quraishi tribe of Mecca in March 628CE (corresponding to Dhu al-Qi'dah, 6 AH) .

Background

See also: Pledge of the Tree

In 628 AD, a group of 1,400 Muslims marched towards Mecca, in an attempt to perform Hajj (pilgrimage). They were forced to perform an Umrah (small pilgrimage). The group was prepared with animals of sacrifice, as they hoped that the Quraish made them honor the Arabian custom of allowing converts to enter the city. According to Lewis, Muhammad felt strong enough to attempt an attack on Mecca; but on the way, it became clear that the attempt was premature and the expedition was converted into a peaceful pilgrimage. Andrae disagrees, writing that the Muslim state of ihram (which restricted their freedom of action) and the paucity of arms carried indicated that the pilgrimage was always intended to be pacific. The Quraish intercepted the Muslim party well outside Mecca. By this time, all of Arabia was aware of the military strength of the Muslims. Muhammad wanted to avoid bloodshed in or near the holiest city of worship. He said: (Bukhari B3V50H891)

We have not come to fight anyone, but to perform the 'Umra. 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, 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.

The two parties decided to resolve the matter through diplomacy rather than warfare. Hence the Quranic reference to the Sakina. "He it is Who sent down As-Sakinah (calmness and tranquillity) into the hearts of the believers that they might add faith unto their faith" (48:4).

A treaty was drawn up.

Treaty

The outline of the treaty was as follows:

In the name of almighty Allah. These are the conditions of Peace between Muhammad, son of Abdullah and Suhayl ibn Amr the envoy of Mecca. 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. Anyone who wishes to join the Quraish and to enter into any agreement with them is free to do so. A young man, or one whose father is alive, if he goes to Muhammad (saw) without permission from his father or guardian, will be returned to his father or guardian. But if anyone goes to the Quraish, he will not be returned. This year the muslims will go back without entering Mecca. But next year Muhammed (saw) and his followers can enter Mecca, spend three days, perform the tawaaf. During these three days the Quraish will withdraw to the surrounding hills. When Muhammad (saw)and his followers enter into Mecca, they will be unarmed except for sheathed swords.

Controversy

The treaty was quite controversial for many reasons. Originally, the treaty referred to Muhammad as the Messenger of God which was unacceptable to the Quraish ambassador Suhayl ibn Amr. Muhammad ordered Ali to strike it out, but Ali replied that he would not as it would be false, after which Muhammad himself rubbed out the words. (Sahih al-Bukhari, 3:49:62, Sahih Muslim, 19:4404).

The Muslims objected over a clause of the treaty that said that any citizen from Mecca entering Medina is eligible to be returned back to Mecca (if they want), while any Muslim from Medina entering Mecca is not eligible to be returned to the Muslims, even if Muhammad requested. (Sahih al-Bukhari, 3:50:874)

After the signing of the treaty, there was still great fury among the Muslims because they did not like the stipulations of the treaty. Muhammad, binding onto the Islamic ethic "fulfill every promise" ordered that Muslims do exactly as the treaty says. A few Muslims, especially Umar bin Khattab, strongly objected to the treaty, and even went on as far as regarding Muhammad's decision to be wrong. Many Muslims thereafter objected, when Muhammad told them (thrice) to perform their rites there and then. (Sahih al-Bukhari, 3:50:891)

Muhammad insisted that Muslims had been victorious and was supported in this by new revelation: "Verily we have granted thee a manifest victory" (Qur'an 48:1). He promised much spoils in the near future: "...and He sent down peace of reassurance on them, and hath rewarded them with a near victory, and much booty that they will capture". (Qur'an 48:18-19)

The treaty's stipulations on the movement of persons gave rise to later controversy, when the Quraysh woman Um Cultum went to Medina and joined the Muslims, and her brothers demanded her return from Muhammad, as they interpreted the treaty to mean. Muslim commentator Abdullah Yusuf Ali considers that the treaty had already been violated, probably by an attack by the Quraysh-allied tribe of Banu Bakr upon the Muslim tribe of Banu Khuza'a. Thus he believed that divine instruction was needed on what was to be done with migrants from Mecca. Other Muslim sources state that the treaty's restrictions only applied to free men, and not to slaves or women. Ultimately, Muhammad refused on the basis of revelation from God: "When there come to you believing women refugees, examine and test them... if ye ascertain they are believers, send them not to the unbelievers" (Qur'an 60:10). If the woman married a Muslim, the Muslims would pay the Meccan refugee's ex-husband a sum equal to the dower he had paid upon marriage to her". (Qur'an 6:10)

Aftermath

Main article: Conquest of Mecca

In 629 AD, the Muslims made The first pilgrimage. The next year, the Banu Bakr, allied with the Quraish, attacked the Bedouin Khuza'a, allied with Mohammed in response to a pre-treaty attack by the Khuza'a. Mohammed considered the Banu Bakr attack a breach of the treaty, citing one of the clauses of the treaty: "an attack on an ally of the party, will be considered an attack on the party itself". Mohammed offered the Quraish three alternatives:

1. Dissolve their alliance with the Banu Bakr
2. Compensate by paying blood money
3. Dissolve the treaty

The Quraish chose the third alternative. Muhammad decided to march on to Mecca. With the 10,000 men of his army, he marched on to Mecca where he ordered his troops not to harm women, children, old people, those who surrender, those who are sick, those who are weak, not to destroy houses, and destroy trees or gardens. Thus, there was no bloodshed in the conquest of Mecca.

Islam spread widely and quickly during the two years that the treaty was in effect. While Muhammad had 1,400 followers when he signed the treaty in Hudaybiyya, he had well over 10,000 for his conquest of Mecca two years later.

See also

• Pledge of the Tree
• List of treaties
• Urwah ibn Mas'ud

References

• The Oxford History of Islam by John Esposito (Oxford U. Press, 1999)
• Kitab al-Tabaqat al-Kabir
• Sirat Rasul Allah
• Bukhari