Treaty of Hudaybiyyah

The Journey to Mecca

In the 6th year after Hijra, the Prophet ﷺ saw in a dream that he was entering the Masjid al-Haram and performing Tawaf. He set out with approximately 1,400 companions for Umrah — unarmed, wearing ihram, driving 70 sacrificial camels.

Quraysh heard of this and were alarmed. They sent Khalid ibn al-Walid with cavalry to intercept. The Prophet ﷺ took an alternative route through difficult terrain. His camel, al-Qaswa, sat down at Hudaybiyyah (on the outskirts of the Haram) and refused to move. The Prophet ﷺ said: "She has not refused out of stubbornness. She is stopped by the same One who stopped the Elephant [from entering Mecca]."

Negotiations

Several Qurayshi envoys came and went. The Prophet ﷺ sent Uthman ibn Affan RA — knowing Quraysh would not harm him given his family connections. When Uthman was delayed, a rumour spread that he had been killed.

The Prophet ﷺ called his companions under a tree and took from them the Pledge of Ridwan (Bay'at al-Ridwan) — a pledge to fight to the death to avenge Uthman if necessary. Allah mentions this pledge in the Quran:

*"Certainly was Allah pleased with the believers when they pledged allegiance to you under the tree."* (Al-Fath: 18)

The Terms of the Treaty

When Uthman RA returned safely, Quraysh sent Suhayl ibn Amr to negotiate. The terms agreed were:

1. The Muslims would return to Madinah without performing Umrah this year 2. They could return next year for three days (unarmed, with only travelling swords) 3. 10 years of peace — no war between the parties 4. Whoever leaves Quraysh for the Muslims must be returned — but not vice versa 5. Any tribe may enter into alliance with either side

The Companions' Distress

Umar ibn al-Khattab RA was deeply troubled: "O Messenger of Allah — are we not upon the truth and they upon falsehood? Why do we give in our religion?"

When the Prophet ﷺ responded calmly that Allah was with them, Umar RA said later: "I never ceased giving in sadaqah, fasting, and praying as expiation for what I said that day, in hope that it would be good."

Abu Bakr RA told Umar RA: "Hold to his stirrup. For by Allah, he is upon the truth."

The "Clear Victory"

Allah revealed Surah Al-Fath shortly after: "Indeed, We have granted you a clear victory." (Al-Fath: 1)

The companions were puzzled — this looked like a defeat. The Prophet ﷺ explained: "It is a victory."

Why it was a victory: - Peace gave Islam two years to spread without war — and thousands entered Islam including Khalid ibn al-Walid and Amr ibn al-As - Quraysh, by negotiating, had implicitly recognised the Muslim state as an equal political entity - The clause allowing tribes to ally freely enabled Banu Khuza'ah to ally with Muslims — whose later attack by Banu Bakr (Quraysh's allies) gave the justification for the Conquest - Ibn Shihab al-Zuhri said: "There was no victory in Islam before Hudaybiyyah greater than it."