Treaty of Hudaibiyyah (Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad Sahib’s (ra) Narration)
“Two copies of this agreement were transcribed and as witnesses, many prominent members from both sides put down their signatures. From the Muslims were Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra), Hazrat Umar (ra), Hazrat Uthma (ra), Abdur-Rahman (ra) bin Auf, Saad (ra) bin Abi Waqas and Abu Ubaidah (ra). After the agreement had been concluded, Suhail bin Amr took one copy of the agreement and returned to Mecca, while the other copy remained with the Holy Prophet (sa).”
(Sirat Khatamun-Nabiyyin, Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad (ra), p. 769)
Regarding the return journey from Hudaibiyah, it is written in Sirat Khatamun-Nabiyyin:
“After making his sacrifice, the Holy Prophet (sa) ordered the return to Medina. At the time, it had been a little under 20 days since the Holy Prophet (sa) had arrived in Hudaibiyah. During his return journey, when the Holy Prophet (sa) reached Qura al-Ghamim near Usfan”; Usfan is situated 103 kilometres from Mecca and Qura al-Ghamim is a valley situated eight miles from Usfan; “and it was night, the Holy Prophet (sa) made an announcement and gathered all the companions. He said:
“‘This night, a chapter has been revealed to me, and it is dearer to me than all the things of this world. It is as follows:
اِنَّا فَتَحْنَا لَكَ فَتْحًا مُبِيْنًا لِّيَغْفِرَ لَكَ اللّٰهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِكَ وَمَا تَأَخَّرَ وَيُتِمَّ نِعْمَتَهٗ عَلَيْكَ وَيَهْدِيَكَ صِرَاطًا مُّسْتَقِيْمًاا وَّيَنْصُرَكَ اللّٰهُ نَصْرًا عَزِيْزًا
“These are verses 2-4 of Surah al-Fath, and it continues; the 28th verse is as follows:
لَقَدْ صَدَقَ اللّٰهُ رَسُوْلَهُ الرُّؤْيَا بِالْحَقِّ لَتَدْخُلُنَّ الْمَسْجِدَ الْحَرَامَ إِنْ شَآءَاللّٰهُ اٰمِنِيْنَ مُحَلِّقِيْنَ رُءُوْسَكُمْ وَمُقَصِّرِيْنَ لَا تَخَافُوْنَ
“‘O Messenger, we have indeed given thee a magnificent victory, so that we may begin for you an era, wherein the veil of forgiveness shall cover up thy shortcomings, past and future, and that He may complete His favour upon thee and may guide thee on the straight path of success. And indeed, Allah shall help thee with a mighty help […] The truth is that God indeed fulfilled the vision for His Messenger. For now, God willing, you shall enter the sacred house in a state of security, some of you having their heads shaven and others having their hair cut short, and you shall have no fear.’
“In other words, ‘If you were to have entered Mecca this year, it would not have been an entry of security; it would have been an entry of war and bloodshed. However, in the vision, God had shown an entry of security and it is for this reason that as a result of the agreement this year, a state of security has been devised. Now, in accordance with the vision shown by God, you shall soon enter the Sacred Mosque in a state of security.’ Indeed, it so happened.
“When the Holy Prophet (sa) recited these verses to the companions, since the hearts of a few companions still felt the bitterness of the Treaty of Hudaibiyah, they became surprised thinking that although they were returning in failure, but yet God was giving them good wishes on their victory. Some hasty companions even said, ‘Is it a victory that we are returning whilst being deprived of performing tawaf around the Baitullah?’ When these words reached the Holy Prophet (sa), he expressed great displeasure. In a brief but powerful speech he said:
‘This is an absurd objection because if you reflect it shall become evident that the Treaty of Hudaibiyah is truly a momentous victory. The Quraish who were bent on war, have themselves forsaken war and settled a peace treaty with us, and have promised to open the doors of Mecca to us the following year. Safeguarded from the mischief of the Quraish, we are now returning in peace and security, whilst receiving the fragrance of our future victory. Therefore, indeed, this is a grand victory. Have you all forgotten how this very tribe, the Quraish, launched onslaughts of war against you in Uhud and Ahzab? This earth, with all its vastness, became straitened for you and your eyes were petrified, and you trembled in fear. Today, however, this very Quraish is settling a treaty of peace and security with you.’
“The companions responded, ‘O Messenger (sa) of Allah! We have understood, we have understood. We cannot reach your farsightedness, but now we have understood that this treaty truly is a momentous victory for us.’
“Prior to this address of the Holy Prophet (sa), Hazrat Umar (ra) was also in a state of extreme apprehension. Therefore, he himself related that on the return from Hudaibiyah, when the Holy Prophet (sa) was journeying at night, he presented himself before him, and whilst addressing the Holy Prophet (sa), desired to say something to him. The Holy Prophet (sa), however, remained silent. He addressed him a second and third time, but the Holy Prophet (sa) remained silent as before. He was greatly hurt by this silence of the Holy Prophet (sa). Hence, he moved ahead of the entire body of the Muslims telling himself that, ‘O Umar, you have been ruined! You addressed the Holy Prophet (sa) three times, but the Messenger (sa) of Allah did not respond.’ He began to feel deeply apprehensive about what the matter was? He began to feel afraid that a Quranic verse may have been revealed in his connection. It had hardly been a moment, when a man called out his name and said, ‘The Messenger (sa) of Allah has summoned Umar bin Al-Khattab!’ He said to himself, ‘I am sure that a Quranic verse has been revealed about me.’ Therefore, perturbed, he hurriedly presented himself before the Holy Prophet (sa) and upon greeting him with salutations of peace, he came to his side. The Holy Prophet (sa) said, ‘At this time, such a surah has been revealed to me, which is more dear to me than all the things of this world.’ Then the Holy Prophet (sa) recited the verses of Surah al-Fath. Hazrat Umar (ra) asked, ‘O Messenger (sa) of Allah! Is this treaty really a victory for Islam?’ The Holy Prophet (sa) said, ‘Yes, verily this is our victory.’ Upon this, Hazrat Umar (ra) found satisfaction and remained silent and the Holy Prophet (sa) returned to Medina.”
(Sirat Khatamun-Nabiyyin, Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad (ra), pp. 770-772) (Farhang-e-Sirat, p. 200, 243)