The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) – Volume III — Page 135
IV - Treaty of Ḥudaibiyyah & its Magnificent Outcomes 135 revealed tranquility upon their hearts, and rewarded them with a near victory at hand. ” 1 The companions would also refer to this Bai‘at with great pride and love and many of them would often tell those who came later that, “You consider the Conquest of Makkah to be the victory, but we consider the Bai‘at- e-Riḍwān to be the actual victory. 2 There is no doubt that along with its details, this Bai‘at was a magnificently great victory, not only because it opened the door to future victories but also because the spirit of sacrifice in Islām, which was the central point of the religion of Muḥammad sa , was manifested in a most magnificent manner. Furthermore, these devotees of Islām showed by their actions that they were prepared to bargain with life and death in every field for the sake of their messenger and the truth he had brought. This is why, whilst referring to the Bai‘at-e-Riḍwān, the honourable companions would say, “This Bai‘at was an oath to death. In other words, it was a Bai‘at of the oath that every Muslim would sacrifice his life for the sake of Islām and its glory, but would not retreat. ” 3 Moreover, another salient feature of this Bai‘at was that this oath and agreement was not merely a verbal declaration in a state of temporary emotion. Quite the contrary, it was the voice from the depths of hearts, behind which the full power of the Muslims was united upon a single focus. When the Quraish received news of this Bai‘at , they became fearful and not only did they release Ḥaḍrat ‘Uthmān ra and his companions, 4 but also informed their messengers to settle an agreement with the Muslims, however possible. However, one condition was to be secured, that instead of this year, the Muslims should perform ‘Umrah the following year. Either way, they should be made to return home immediately. 5 On the other hand, the Holy Prophet sa had already pledged that he would not do anything to disgrace the honour of 1 Al-Fatḥ (48:19) 2 Ṣaḥīḥul-Bukhārī, Kitābul-Maghāzī, Bābu Ghazwatil-Hudaibiyyah, Ḥadīth No. 4172 3 Ṣaḥīḥul-Bukhārī, Kitābul-Maghāzī, Bābu Ghazwatil-Hudaibiyyah, Ḥadīth No. 4169 4 Sharḥul-‘Allāmatiz-Zarqānī ‘Alal-Mawāhibil-Ladunniyyah, By Allāmah Shihābuddīn Al-Qusṭalānī, Volume 3, pp. 225-226, Amrul-Ḥudaibiyyah, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (1996) 5 * As-Sīratun-Nabawiyyah, By Abū Muḥammad ‘Abdul-Mālik bin Hishām, p. 686, Amrul- Ḥudaibiyyati Fī Ākhiri Sanati Sittin/Amrul-Hudnah, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (2001) * Tārīkhur-Rusuli Wal-Mulūk (Tārīkhuṭ-Ṭabarī), By Abū Ja‘far Muḥammad bin Jarīr Aṭ-Ṭabarī, Volume 3, p. 131, Dhikrul-Aḥdāthillati Kānat Fī Sanati Sittim-Minal-Hijrah/Dhikrul-Khabari ‘An ‘Umratin-Nabiyyi sa Allati Ṣaddahul-Mushrikūna Fīhā ‘Anil-Bait, Dārul-Fikr, Beirut, Lebanon, Second Edition (2002)