The Truce of Hudeybiah and Story of Hadhrat Abu
Jandal and Hadhrat Abu Basir (Radhiyallaho anhu-ma)
In the 6th year of Hijrah, the Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam]
along with his companions left for Mecca to perform Umrah. The Qureysh
heard of the news and decided to resist his entry into Mecca even
as a pilgrim, and so he had to encamp at Hudeybiah. The devoted
Sahabah, 1 400 in number, were however determined to enter, even
if it involved an open fight; but the Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe
wasallam) viewed the matter differently and in spite of the Sahabah's
eagerness to fight, entered into a treaty with the Qureysh, accepting
their conditions in full.
This one-sided and seemingly ungraceful truce was a very bitter
pill for the Sahabah to swallow, but their devotion to the Prophet
(Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) would not allow them to demur, and
even the most valiant man like Hadhrat Umar (Radhiyallaho anho)
could not but submit to his decision. According to one of the articles
of the treaty, converts to Islam during the period of the truce
were to be returned, but not so the deserters from Muslims to Qureysh.
Hadhrat Abu Jandal (Radhiyallaho anho) a Muslim in Mecca, was suffering
great persecution at the hands of Qureysh. They kept him constantly
in chains. On hearing about the arrival of the Prophet (Sallallaho
alaihe wasallam) in Hudeybiah, he escaped somehow and managed to
reach the Muslim camp at a time when the truce was about to be signed.
His father, Suhail (till then a non-Muslim) was the envoy of Qureysh
in the negotiations for the truce. He smote Hadhrat Abu Jandal (Radhiyallaho
anho) on his face and insisted on taking him back to Mecca. The
Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) represented that, since the
truce had not till then been written, its application in Abu Jandal's
case was premature. Suhail, however, would not listen to any argument
and was not inclined to leave his son with the Muslims even at the
personal request of the Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam), and
would have forgone the truce even. Abu Jandal (Radhiyallaho anho)
counting his hardships remonstrated at the top of his voice but,
much to the grief of the Sahabah, the Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe
wasallam) agreed to his return. He however enjoined patience on
him saying:
"Do not be distressed, Hadhrat Abu Jandal (Radhiyallaho anho),
Allah will shortly open a way for you."
After the truce was signed and the Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam)
had returned to Madinah, another Meccan Muslim Hadhrat Abu Basir
(Radhiyallaho anho) escaped to Madinah and besought the Prophet's
(Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) protection. The Prophet (Sallallaho
alaihe wasallam) refused to accept his implorations and, in deference
to the truce condition, handed him over to the two persons who had
been deputed by the Qureysh to claim him. He, however, advised him
as he had advised Hadhrat Abu Jandal (Radhiallaho anho) to be patient
and to hope for the help of Allah. When Hadhrat Abu Basir (Radhiyallaho
anho) and his escort were on their way back to Mecca, Hadhrat Abu
Basir (Radhiyallaho anho) said to one of them:
"Friend, your sword is extremely fine."
The man was flattered and took it out from the sheath and said:
"Yes it is really very fine, and I have tried it on so many
persons. You can have a look at it."
Most foolishly he made over the sword to Abu Basir (Radhiyallaho
anho), who immediately 'tried' it on its owner and killed him. The
other man took to his heels and reached Madinah to report to the
Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam). In the meantime Abu Basir
(Radhiyallaho anho) also arrived. He said to the Prophet (Sallallaho
alaihe wasallam):
"0, Prophet of Allah, you once returned me and
absolved yourself of the truce obligations. I had no obligations
to fulfil and I managed my escape from them by this trick, as
I was afraid of their forcing me to forsake my faith."
The Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) remarked: "You
are a war-monger. I wish you could be helped."
Hadhrat Abu Basir (Radhiyallaho anho) came to understand from this
that he would be returned to Qureysh again when they demanded him.
He therefore left Madinah and fled to a place in the desert on the
sea shore. Abu Jandal (Radhiyallaho anho) also managed his escape
and joined him there. More Muslims of Mecca followed, and in a few
days quite a small group of such fugitives gathered in the wilderness.
They had to undergo untold sufferings in the desert, where there
was neither habitation nor vegetation. They, however, being bound
by no treaty proved a great nuisance for the Qureysh by dealing
blows after blows on their caravans passing that way. This compelled
the Qureysh to approach the Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam)
and beseech him to intervene and call the fugitives to Madinah,
so that they might be bound by the terms of the treaty like other
Muslims, and the caravans might pass in safety. It is said that
Hadhrat Abu Basir (Radhiyallaho anho) was on his deathbed when the
letter sent by the Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) permitting
his return to Madinah reached him. He died while holding the Prophet's
(Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) letter in his hand.
No power on the earth can make a person forsake his faith, provided
it is a true faith. Moreover, Allah has given an assurance to help
those who are genuine Muslims.
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