The Truce of Hudaybiah & Story of Hadhrat Abu Jandal
and Hadhrat Abu Basir
In the 6th year of Hijrah, Nabi SAW along with his Sahaabah left for Makkah to perform Umrah. The Quraish heard of the news and decided to resist his entry into Makkah even as a pilgrim, so he had to encamp at Hudaybiah. The devoted Sahabah, 1 400 in number, were however determined to enter even if it involved an open fight. Nabi SAW viewed the matter differently and in spite of the Sahabah's eagerness to fight, he entered into a treaty with the Quraish, accepting their conditions in full.
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| The well of Hudaibiyah believe use by sahabah during the stalled in Hudaibiyah. |
This one-sided and seemingly ungraceful truce was a very bitter pill for the Sahabah to swallow, but their devotion to Nabi SAW would not allow them to object and even the most valiant man like Hadhrat Umar RA had to 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 to the Quraish, but deserters from Muslims to Quraish will not be returned to the Muslims. Hadhrat Abu Jandal RA, a Muslim in Makkah, was suffering great persecution at the hands of the Quraish.
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| The steadfastness of Abu Jandal and Abu Basir in upholding their iman. |
They kept him constantly in chains. On hearing about the arrival of Nabi SAW in Hudaybiah, he somehow escaped 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 Quraish in the negotiations for the truce. He smote Hadhrat Abu Jandal on his face and insisted on taking him back to Makkah. Nabi SAW said that, since the truce had not been written till then, its application in Abu Jandal's case was premature.
However, Suhail would not listen to any argument and was not prepared to leave his son with the Muslims even at the personal request of Nabi SAW and would have even forgone the truce. Abu Jandal , describing his hardships, protested at the top of his voice but much to the grief of the Sahabah, Nabi SAW agreed to his return.
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| The Remnant of the original site of Hudaibiyah Mosque, later improved by the Ottmaniah Caliphate. Abandoned after the Saudis built the current Mosque. |
However, he enjoined patience on him saying: "Oh! Abu Jandal , do not be distressed, Allah will shortly open a way for you." After the truce was signed and Nabi SAW had returned to Madinah, another Makkan Muslim Hadhrat Abu Basir escaped to Madinah and besought Nabi’s SAW protection. Nabi SAW refused to accept his request and in accordance to the truce condition, handed him over to the two persons who had been sent by the Quraish to claim him.
However, he advised him as he had advised Hadhrat Abu Jandal to be patient and to hope for the help of Allah . When Hadhrat Abu Basir and his escort were on their way back to Makkah, Hadhrat Abu Basir said to one of them: "Friend, your sword is extremely fine." The man was flattered and took it out from its 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." He most foolishly made over the sword to Abu Basir , who immediately used it on its owner and killed him.
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| The present Mosque of Hudaibiyah built by the Saudis. |
The other man took to his heels and reached Madinah to report to Nabi SAW. In the meantime Abu Basir also arrived. He said to Nabi "Oh, Nabi 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 Deen." Nabi SAW remarked: "You are a war-monger. I wish you could be helped."
Hadhrat Abu Basir understood from this that he would be returned to the Quraish again when they demanded him. Therefore, he left Madinah and fled to a place in the desert on the sea shore. Abu Jandal also managed to escape and joined him there. More Muslims of Makkah 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.
However, being bound by no treaty, they proved a great nuisance to the Quraish by dealing blows after blows on their caravans passing that way. This forced the Quraish to approach Nabi SAW and request 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 was on his death bed when the letter sent by Nabi SAW permitting his return to Madinah reached him. He died while holding Nabi SAW letter in his hand. No power on the earth can make a person give up his faith, provided it is a true faith. Moreover, Allah has promised to help those who are genuine Muslims.
