An Invitation to Peace

An Invitation to Peace
Hudaybiyah, a place on the road from Jeddah about twelve miles from
Makkah, the Prophet gave the order to stop.
In the face of the Makkans’ refusal to allow the Muslims to enter
Makkah, word was sent to the Quraysh to inform them that they had
come with the intention of pilgrimage and therefore bore no arms. The
Quraysh responded by sending ‘Urwah ibn Mas‘ud al-Thaqafi, a clever
diplomat, to the Prophet to make negotiations. Finally, the Prophet
and the Quraysh agreed on a treaty. This was to be known as the Treaty
of Hudaybiyah.
The terms of this treaty, however, seemed very one-sided towards the
Quraysh: the Prophet and believers were to return back to Madinah
now and would be allowed to make the pilgrimage in the following
year when they would be allowed into Makkah for three days without
arms. Also stipulated was a truce for ten years in which time any tribe
or person would be free to join either party (the Muslims or the
Quraysh) or make an alliance with it, except those who were subjects
or dependents of the Quraysh and who defected from paganism to
Islam. They would have to be returned back to the Quraysh by the
Muslims.
The apparent unfairness of the situation was very heavy on the
Muslims. Having to return without performing the pilgrimage was bad
enough, but to accept such terms seemed a bitter blow. It was objected
to in the Muslim camp. It shocked some among them such as ‘Umar,
who went so far as to question God’s Messenger about it. the Prophet
began the return journey with a dazed and bewildered group of
believers.
It is while spirits were at this all-time low that God revealed this
perplexing verse:
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