Introduction to the Study of The Holy Quran — Page 180
180 man, or one whose father is alive, if he goes to Muhammad without permission from his father or guardian, will be returned to his father or guardian. But should anyone go to the Quraysh, he will not be returned. This year Muhammad will go back without entering Mecca. But next year he and his followers can enter Mecca, spend three days and perform the circuit. During these three days the Quraysh will withdraw to the surrounding hills. When Muhammad and his followers enter into Mecca, they will be unarmed except for the sheathed swords which wayfarers in Arabia always have with them. 210 Two interesting things happened during the signing of this peace. After the terms had been settled the Prophet started to dictate the agreement and said, "In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful. " Suhayl objected and said, "Allah we know and believe in, but what is this ‘the Gracious and the Merciful?' This agreement is between two parties. Therefore the religious beliefs of both parties will have to be respected. " The Prophet agreed at once and said to his scribe, "Only write, 'In the name of Allah'. " The Prophet then proceeded to dictate the terms of the agreement. The opening sentence was, 'These are the conditions of peace between the people of Mecca and Muhammad, the Prophet of God'. Suhayl objected again, and said, "If we thought you a Prophet of God, we would not have fought you. " The Prophet accepted this objection also. Instead of Muhammad, the Prophet of God, he proposed Muhammad son of ‘Abdullah. As the Prophet was agreeing to everything the Meccans proposed, the Companions felt agitated over the humiliation. Their blood began to boil, and ‘Umar, the most excited of them all, went to the Prophet and asked, "O Prophet of God, are we not in the right?" "Yes," said the Prophet, "we are in the right. " "And were we not told by God that we would perform the circuit of the Ka‘bah?" asked ‘Umar. " Yes," said the Prophet. "Then why this agreement and why these humiliating terms?" "True," said the Prophet, "God did foretell that we would perform the circuit in peace but He did not say when. I did judge as though it was going to be this year. But I could be wrong. Must it be this year?" ‘Umar was silenced. Then other Companions raised their objections. Some of them asked why they had agreed to restore to his father or guardian a young man who should turn Muslim, without obtaining the same condition for a Muslim who should turn over or happen to go to the Meccans. The Prophet explained there was no harm in this. "Everybody who becomes a Muslim," he said, "does so because he accepts the beliefs and practices inculcated by Islam. He does not become a Muslim in order to join a party and to adopt its customs. Such a man will propagate the Message of Islam wherever he goes, and serve as an instrument for the spread of Islam. But a man who gives up Islam is