Muhammad: Seal of the Prophets — Page 358
MUHAMMAD : SEAL OF THE PROPHETS 358 of the Meccans and breathing the fragrance of further victories. Thus, this is a great victory. Have you forgotten Uhud and Ahzab when Quraish invaded you, and the earth, despite its vast expanse, was straitened for you, and your eyes became distracted, an d your hearts rose up to your throats? Today the same Quraish have made a treaty of peace with you. ’ Upon this the Companions submitted, ‘Messenger of Allah, we now understand and realize the truth. Our vision is limited, and we do not see as far as you ar e able to see. We now realize that this treaty is indeed a great victory for us. ’ Thereafter, the Holy Prophet and his company returned safely to Medina. Sir William Muir’s appraisal of the Treaty of Hudaibiyya is expressed thus ( Life of Muhammad, p. 360): The people, led by the Vision to anticipate an unopposed visit to the Ka’aba, were crestfallen at the abortive result of their long journey. But, in truth, a great step had been gained by Muhammad. His political status, as an equal and independent Power, w as acknowledged by the Treaty: The ten years’ truce would afford opportunity and time for the new religion to expand, and to force its claims upon the conviction of Quraish; while conquest, material as well as spiritual, might be pursued on every other sid e. The stipulation that no one under the protection of a guardian should leave Quraish without his guardian’s consent, though unpopular at Medina, was in accordance with the principles of Arabian society; and the Prophet had sufficient confidence in the lo yalty of his own people and the superior attraction of Islam, to fear no ill effect from the counter clause that none should