The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) – Volume III — Page 151
IV - Treaty of Ḥudaibiyyah & its Magnificent Outcomes 151 perspective quickly proved truthful, because it had not been long since the Holy Prophet’s sa arrival back in Madīnah, when a man named Abū Baṣīr ‘Utbah bin Usaid Thaqafī, who was a resident of Makkah, and was an ally of the Banū Ẓuhrah, became Muslim, and escaped from the Quraish and fled to Madīnah. The Quraish of Makkah sent two men in his pursuit and implored the Holy Prophet sa to hand Abū Baṣīr over, as per the conditions of the agreement. The Holy Prophet sa summoned Abū Baṣīr and ordered him to go back. Abū Baṣīr lamented, “I am a Muslim, these people shall give me grief in Makkah and shall coerce me to denounce Islām. ” The Holy Prophet sa said, “We are bound by the agreement and cannot keep you here. If you are patient for the sake of God, He will open a way for you. We are constrained by the treaty and cannot act in offense to the agreement. ” Helpless, Abū Baṣīr left to return with these people but was extremely terrified that upon reaching Makkah, many cruelties would be inflicted upon him and that he would be compelled to hide a blessing like Islām, rather, due to oppression and persecution, perhaps wash his hands of it all together. Therefore, when this party reached Dhul-Ḥalīfah, which is situated at a few miles from Madīnah en-route to Makkah, finding the right opportunity, he managed to kill one of his attendants, who was also the leader of that party. He was about to take aim at the next, but he fled for his life in such a manner that he reached Madīnah even before Abū Baṣīr. 1 Behind him, Abū Baṣīr also reached Madīnah. When this person reached Madīnah, the Holy Prophet sa was in the Mosque. Upon seeing his fearful state, the Holy Prophet sa said, “It seems as if he has been afflicted by some fear or terror. ” Panting for breathe and trembling, he said to the Holy Prophet sa , “My companion has been killed and I am also as if in the mouth of death. ” When the Holy Prophet sa heard of this occurrence, he consoled him. Meanwhile, clutching a sword in hand, Abū Baṣīr also reached there and as soon as he arrived he began to say to the Holy Prophet sa , “O Messenger of Allāh! You handed me over to the Quraish and now your duty has been fulfilled. However, God has granted me deliverance from a cruel people and now you have no responsibility over me. ” The Holy Prophet sa spontaneously said: ٌ وَیْل ُ اُمِّه ٖ مِسْعَر َ حَرْب ٍ لَو ْ كَان َ لَه ٗ اَحَد 1 The fact that he fled to Madīnah instead of in the other direction towards Makkah demonstrates that in his heart, he was sure that Madīnah was a safe place for him and that the Holy Prophet sa would protect him in any case, and that the treaty would never be broken.