Hazrat Umar Farooq — Page 15
The Holy Prophet said, “I am the Messenger of Allah, and know what He desires. I cannot go against it and He alone is my Helper. ” Hadhrat Umar was still not satisfied and asked, “Did you not tell us that we would perform the circuit of the Ka`bah?” “Indeed I did” said the Holy Prophet, “but did I also say that it would happen this very year? God did foretell that we would perform the circuit in peace, so wait. You will, God willing, certainly enter Makkah and perform the circuits of the Ka ‘ bah. ” Hadhrat Umar realised his mistake and sought forgiveness from God Almighty for his momentary weakness. Some other Companions asked why they had agreed to send a person, who had accepted Islam and reached Madinah, back to his guardian in Makkah without obtaining the same condition for a Muslim who had relinquished his faith and went to Makkah. The Holy Prophet explained, “Everybody who becomes a Muslim is bound to propagate Islam wherever he happens to be. On the other hand a person who gives up Islam is of no use to us. It is better he should go elsewhere. ” This reply of the Holy Prophet satisfied all those who doubted the wisdom of the course adopted by the Holy Prophet. Moreover the agreement also tells us that the punishment for apostasy is not death, as some Muslim scholars believe. Had death been prescribed, as the punishment for apostasy, the Holy Prophet should have insisted that those who have abdicated Islam should be returned so that they could be punished accordingly. During the course of the journey back from Hudaibiyah the chapter of the Holy Quran called AL FATH was revealed to the Holy Prophet. AL FATH means ‘The Victory’. This chapter comprised the glad tidings: “Surely We have granted thee a clear victory so that Allah may cover up for thee, thy shortcomings, past and future and that He may complete His Favour upon thee, and may guide thee on a right path. And that Allah may help thee with a mighty help. ” (Ch 48: 2-4) “Surely Allah has indeed fulfilled for His Messenger the vision. You will certainly enter the Sacred Mosque, if Allah so wills, in security, some having their heads shaven, and others having their hair cut short and you will have no fear. ” (Ch: 48: 28) Hadhrat Umar asked the Holy Prophet, “Messenger of Allah! is this treaty truly the victory of Islam?” The Holy Prophet responded, “Most certainly this is a victory for us. ” It was indeed a great victory as there was a pact between Muslims and Makkans not to engage in a battle for ten years. The Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, and the Muslims devoted their full attention towards conveying the message of Islam as widely as possible. Thus Islam began to spread rapidly in the greater part of Arabia. The rate of progress can be estimated from the fact that while the number of Muslims present with the Holy Prophet were fifteen hundred at the time of the Treaty of Hudaibyah, the number had risen to ten thousand two years later, on the occasion of the Fall of Makkah. 15