From the Annals of History
Treaty of Hudaybiyah and the Companions’ Devotion
Maulana Muhammad ‘Ata-ul-Nabi Husayni Misbahi
Mudarris Jami’ah-tul-Madinah Faizan-e-Raza, Barayli Shareef Hind
Every page from the histories of Islam and every line in the annals of our rich heritage speaks of devotion and respect for Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. From sacrificing wealth to sacrificing life and everything in between; the companions and their heirs were willing to, and often did, give their most valuable assets in utter devotion to the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. The Treaty of Hudaybiyah and the Pledge of the Tree (Bayʿah al-Ridwān) are powerful reminders of such unwavering commitment and respect for the Noble Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم.
Not performing Tawaf of the Ka’bah without the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم
One would be hard-pressed to find a Muslim who does not yearn to circumambulate the Ka’bah. Yet, Sayyidunā ʿUthmān al-Ghanī رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ forwent this privilege, choosing instead to remain with the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم on the occasion of the Treaty of Hudaybiyah. After reaching Hudaybiyyah, the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم sent Sayyidunā ʿUthmān al-Ghanī رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ to the disbelievers in Makkah to offer them a truce. ‘Allamah Abdul Mustafa Aʿzami رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه describes the event as follows:
Due to his wealth and his support for fellow tribesmen, Sayyidunā ʿUthmān رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ was held in high esteem by the disbelievers of Quraysh. Realising they could not harm him, they said, ‘We will allow you to make Tawāf of the Ka’bah and to run between Safa and Marwah in order to complete your Umrah, but we will never allow Muhammad (صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم) to come near it.’ But, Sayyidunā ʿUthmān رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ refused outright, stating: ‘I can never perform Umrah without the Messenger of Allah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم.’ (Sīrat-i-Mustafā, 348, citing Sharh al-Zurqānī ʿalā al-Mawāhib, vol. 3, p. 222)
Disrespect of the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم is Intolerable
In the plains of Hudaybiyah, the representative of the disbelievers of Makkah arrived for the treaty, considering himself to be superior to all others. Drunk off this delusion, he would dare to grasp the blessed beard of the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم whenever he would address the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. Sayyidunā Mughīrah b. Shuʿbah رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ, who was standing behind the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم with an unsheathed sword, could not tolerate this impudence and disrespect, so he رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ would strike the man’s hand with the hilt of his sword, proclaiming, ‘Remove your hand from his blessed beard.’ (Sahīh al-Bukhārī, vol. 2, p. 223, Hadith 2731-2732; Madārij al-Nubuwwah, vol. 2, p. 206; Sīrat-i-Mustafā, p. 351-352)
An example of true devotion
During the Treaty of Hudaybiyah, the noble companions رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُم demonstrated unmatched expressions of love, affection, respect, and honour for the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. This was witnessed by the representative of the disbelievers, ʿUrwah b. Masʿūd who relayed it back to the disbelievers:
My people! By Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ! When Muhammad (صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم) emits his saliva, it falls onto the hand of a companion, and out of extreme love, he rubs it on his face and body. If he commands them to do something, they all hasten to fulfil it, and when he performs Wudu, they compete with each other for the water he used. Whenever he speaks, they fall silent. Such esteem for him fills their hearts that none of them can glance at him for too long.’ (Sahīh al-Bukhārī, vol. 2, p. 223, Hadith 2731-2732; al-Kāmil fi al-Tārikh, vol. 2, p. 88; Sīrat-i-Mustafā, pp. 352-353)
I will never erase your name
After the articles of the treaty were agreed, the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم had the following declaration penned:
هَذَا مَا قَاضَى عَلَيْهِ مُحَمَّدٌ رَّسُولُ اللهِ
‘These are the articles upon which Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, has made a treaty.’
The representative of the disbelievers of Makkah immediately announced his unhappiness with this: ‘By Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ! If we were to believe that you are the Messenger of Allah (صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم), we would not bar you from the Ka’bah or oppose you; so, write ‘Muhammad (صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم) the son of ʿAbdullāh’ instead. The Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم replied, ‘By Allah! I am Muhammad the Messenger of Allah and also Muhammad the son of Abdullah. It is another matter that you people do not accept my messengership.’
After saying this, he صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم instructed Sayyidunā ʿAlī رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ to replace ‘Muhammad the Messenger of Allah’ with ‘Muhammad son of ʿAbdullāh.’ Moved by his reverence for Allah’s Messenger صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, Sayyidunā ʿAlī رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ cried out, ‘Messenger of Allah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم! I will never erase your name.’ The Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم respected his sentiments and changed the name himself. (Sahīh al-Bukhārī, vol. 2, p. 223, Hadith 2731-2732; al-Kāmil fi al-Tārikh, vol. 2, pp. 89-90)
The Treaty of Hudaybiyah is one of many instances from the history of Islam which describe profound displays of devotion and honour for the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم - the likes of which the world has never witnessed and will never witness. May Allah Almighty grant us sincere, unbound veneration for and commitment to the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم.
اٰمِیْن بِجَاہِ النَّبِیِّ الْاَمِیْن صَلَّی اللہ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلہٖ وَسَلَّم
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