The Treaty of Hudaibiyah and Hazrat Umar’s (ra) Role

In regard to the role of Hazrat Umar (ra) on the occasion of the Treaty of Hudaibiyah it is written that the Holy Prophet (sa) called for Hazrat Umar (ra) in order to send him to the elders of Quraish and inform them as to why the Holy Prophet (sa) was travelling to Mecca. Upon this, Hazrat Umar (ra) submitted, “O Messenger (sa) of Allah! I fear for my life because of what the Quriash may do for they are well aware of my opposition towards them and how strictly I deal with them. Moreover, there is no one from among my tribe, the Banu Adiyy who is present in Mecca, who can grant me protection.”

Hence, Hazrat Umar (ra) expressed slight hesitance. And according to another narration, Hazrat Umar (ra) submitted, “O Messenger (sa) of Allah! If you wish, I will go to them.” However, the Holy Prophet (sa) did not say anything. Hazrat Umar (ra) then again submitted, “I shall inform you of an individual, who is held in greater esteem than me in the eyes of the Quraish that is Hazrat Uthman bin Affanra.” Upon this the Holy Prophet (sa) called for Hazrat Uthma (ra) and sent him to Abu Sufyan and other elders of the Quraish, so that he could inform them that the Holy Prophet (sa) was not coming with the intention to fight. Rather, he was simply coming for the purpose of performing the pilgrimage of the Ka‘bah and to honour its sanctity.

(Ibn Hisham, Sirat Ibn Hisham [Beirut, Lebanon: Dar al-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, 2001], p. 685) (Mustafa Abd al-Wahid, Subul al-Huda wa al-Rashad fi Sirat Khair al-Ibad, Vol. 5, Fi Ghazwat al-Hudaibiyah [Beirut, Lebanon: Dar al-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, 1993], p. 46)

The details of this incident have been mentioned with reference to Hazrat Uthman (ra).

Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad Sahib (ra) has written:

“While the conditions of the treaty were being drawn up, Abu Jandal, the son of Suhail bin Amr, who was the ambassador of the Quraish, found a way to this assembly suddenly, stumbling in fetters and handcuffs. This young man had been imprisoned by the people of Mecca on his becoming a Muslim and had subjected him to severe torment.

“When he came to know that the Holy Prophet (sa) had come so close to Mecca, somehow, he escaped the imprisonment of the Quraish and still tied in his fetters, he managed to stagger to Hudaibiyah. Incidentally, he reached there at a time when his father was stipulating the condition: ‘Every man who comes to the Muslims from the people of Mecca, even if he be a Muslim, shall be returned.’ Abu Jandal threw himself before the Muslims and very painfully cried, ‘O ye Muslims! I am being subjected to this torment, merely on account of my having accepted Islam! Save me for the sake of God!’ Upon the sight of this, the Muslims began to toss in agony, but Suhail also remained obstinate and said to the Holy Prophet (sa), ‘As per this treaty, this is the first demand I make to you, that you return Abu Jandal to me.’ The Holy Prophet (sa) said, ‘The treaty has yet to be finalised’” for the negotiations are ongoing and nothing has been finalised.

“Upon this, Suhail said, ‘If you do not return him to me, consider this treaty dissolved.’ In order to settle the matter, the Holy Prophet (sa) said, ‘Let it go and grant Abu Jandal to us as an act of favour and kindness.’ Suhail said, ‘No, never.’ The Holy Prophet (sa) said, ‘Suhail! Do not be obstinate! Listen to me on this.’ Suhail said, ‘I cannot accept this in any case.’ Upon this, Abu Jandal cried out once again, ‘O ye Muslims! Shall your Muslim brother be sent back to the idolaters after having suffered such severe torment?’ It is strange to note that at the time, Abu Jandal did not appeal to the Holy Prophet (sa), rather, he appealed to the common Muslims. Perhaps this was because he knew that irrespective of how much pain the Holy Prophet (sa) held in his heart, he would never allow for the treaty to be detrimentally affected. However, he expected that the rest of the Muslims, perhaps in their indignation at the time, would find a way to justify his freedom, as the clauses of the treaty were still being transcribed. Despite this and irrespective of how emotional the Muslims were, it was impossible for them to take a stance against the wish of the Holy Prophet (sa). The Holy Prophet (sa) remained silent for some time, and then painfully said, ‘O Abu Jandal! Be patient. Look towards God, for it is He who shall indeed arrange for your deliverance and for your weak Muslim brothers. At this time, we are bound by our circumstances because we have already settled an agreement with the people of Mecca and we cannot act in violation of this treaty.’

The Muslims were witnessing this scene and in religious indignation, their eyes became gorged with rage, but out of respect, they remained silent before the Holy Prophet (sa). Finally, Hazrat Umar (ra) could bear it no more. He came to the Holy Prophet (sa) and enquired in a trembling voice, ‘Are you not the truthful Messenger of Allah?’ The Holy Prophet (sa) said, ‘Yes, indeed I am.’ Umar (ra) responded, ‘Are we not upon the truth and our enemy upon falsehood?’ The Holy Prophet (sa) responded, ‘Yes, indeed it is so.’ Umar (ra) said, ‘Why then should we bear this humiliation in the matter of our true religion?’

“Upon seeing this state of Hazrat Umar (ra), the Holy Prophet (sa) concisely said, ‘Look hither Umar! I am the Messenger of God. I understand the will of God and I cannot act against it and it is He Who shall be my Helper.’ But the indignation in the mood of Hazrat Umar (ra) was growing, moment by moment. He began to say, ‘Did you not say that we would perform tawaf around the Ka‘bah?’ The Holy Prophet (sa) said, ‘Yes, indeed, I did, but did I also say that this tawaf would definitely be this year?’ Umar (ra) said, ‘No, you did not.’ The Holy Prophet (sa) responded, ‘Then be patient. God-willing, you shall indeed enter Mecca and perform tawaf of the Ka‘bah.’ However, in this state of emotion, Hazrat Umar (ra) was not satisfied. Nonetheless, due to the extraordinary awe of the Holy Prophet (sa), Hazrat Umar (ra) left and came to Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra). In his emotion, he asked the same question again, and Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) also responded in the same way as the Holy Prophet (sa). However, Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) also advised him, ‘O Umar (ra), look hither! Control yourself. Do not allow for your grip to loosen from the rope of Allah’s Messenger (sa). By God, this man, in whose hand we have given our own is without a doubt, truthful.’ Hazrat Umar (ra) said that at the time because of his emotion he said such things, but later he felt exceedingly repentant. Moreover, in order to wash away the effects of this weakness as a form of repentance, he performed many voluntary acts as an expiation. In other words, he gave charity, fasted, offered voluntary Salat and even freed numerous slaves, so that this blemish of weakness could be cleansed.’”

(Sirat Khatamun-Nabiyyin, Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad (ra), pp. 766-768)