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Posted on: Sep 23, '08

Introduction to Islam - Part IV

In the name of Allah the Benificent the Merciful.

On the day of the return from the trench the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam) ordered war on the treacherous Bani Qurayezah, who conscious of their guilt had already taken to their towers of refuge. After a seige of nearly a month they had to surrender unconditionally. They only begged that the judgement with regard to them be given by one of their tribesmen who had embraced Islam. The Prophet granted their request. But, the judge upon whose favour they counted, condemned their men to death, their women & children to slavery (The bondage did not last long as freeing a slave was ordained as a highly noble deed in the eyes of Allah and the Muslims generously practiced that. As would be seen later at the end of the Prtophet's mission slavery was no more there in Arabia).

Early in the sixth Hijrah the Prophet led a campaign against the Bani' I Mustaliq, a tribe who were preparing to attack the Muslims. It was during the return from the campaign that Ayesha (Radi Allahu Anha), his young wife was left behind in a confusion and brought back to camp by a young soldier, an incident that gave rise to the scandal denounced in Surah XXIV of the Holy Quran(4. And those who accuse honourable women but bring not four witnesses, scourge them with eighty stripes and never (afterwards) accept their testimony-they indeed are evildoers- 5. Save those who afterwards repent and make amends. (For such) lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful...... 17. Allah admonisheth you that ye repeat not the like thereof ever, if ye are ( in truth) believers. 18. And He expoundeth unto you His revelations, Allah is Knower, Wise. 19. Lo! Those who love that slander should be spread concerning those who believe, theirs will be a painful punishment in the world and the hereafter. Allah knoweth. Ye know not.).

In the same year the Prophet had a vision in which he found himself entering the holy place at Mecca unopposed, therefore he determined to attempt the pilgrimage. Besides a number of Muslims from Madinah, he called upon the friendly Arabs, whose numbers had increased since the miraculous discomfiture of the clans to accompany him, but most of them did not respond. Attired as pilgrims and taking with them the customary offerings, a company of fourteen hundred men journeyed to Mecca. As they drew near the holy valley they were met by a friend who warned them that the Qurayesh had worn the leopard skin (badge of valour) and vowed to prevent him from entering the sanctuary. On that the Prophet ordered a detour through mountain gorges and the Muslims were tired out when they came down at last into the valley of Mecca and camped at a spot called Hudeybiah. From there he tried to open negotiation with the Qurayesh explaining that he came only as a pilgrim. The first messenger he sent towards the city was maltreated and his camel hamstrung. He returned without delivering the message. Qurayesh on their side sent an envoy who was threatening in tone and very arrogant. Another of their envoys was too familiar and had to be reminded sternly of the respect due to the Prophet. It was he who on return to the city said: "I have seen Caesar and Chosroes in their pomp, but never seen a man honoured as Muhammad is honoured by his comrades."

The Prophet sought some messenger from amongst his companions who would impose respect. Othman (R) was finally chosen because of his kinship with the powerful Umayyd family. A troop which came out of the city to molest the Muslims were captured before they could do any hurt and brought before the Prophet who forgave them on their promise to renounce hostility. Then proper envoys came from the Qurayesh. After some negotiation, the truce of Al-Hudeybiah was signed. For ten years there were to be no hostilities between the parties. The Prophet was to return to Al Madinah without visiting the Ka'bah, but in the following year he might perform the pilgrimage with his comrades. Qurayesh promising to evacuate the city of Mecca for three days to allow his doing so. Deserters from Qurayesh to the Muslims were to be returned, not so deserters from the Muslims to Qurayesh. Any tribe or clan who wished to owe allegiance to either party as allies of the treaty could do so. There were dismay among the Muslims at these terms. They asked one another, "Where is the victory that we were promised?" The truce in fact later proved to be the greatest victory the Muslims ever achieved. It was during the return journey from Hudeybiah that the Surah entitled 'Victory' (Al Fath) was revealed.

Rest in the subsequent blogs...

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