The Truce of Hudaybiyah and Story of Abu Jandal and Abu Basir
In 6 hijri, Rasulullah (sallallahu Alaihi wasallam) along with his sahabah left for Makkah to perform the “Umra” journey to Makkah. The Quraysh heard of the news and decided to stop his entry into Makkah even as a pilgrim, and so he had to camp at Hudaybiyah.The devoted sahabah, 1400 in number, however, wanted to enter, even if it involved an open fight; but Rasulullah ( sallallahu alaihi wasallam) viewed the matter differently and , in spite of the sahabah’s eagerness to fight, entered into a treaty with the Quraysh, accepting their conditions in full.
This one sided and seemingly ungraceful truce was a very bitter pill for the sahabah to swallow, but their devotion to Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) would not allow them to differ, and even such a brave man as Umar (radiyallahu anhu) could not but submit to his decision. According to one of the articles of the treaty, persons embracing Islam during he period of the truce were to be returned, but not so the deserters for the Muslims to the Quraysh.
Abu Jandal (radiyallahu anhu), a Muslim in Makkah, was suffering great persecution at the hand of the Quraysh. They kept him constantly in chains. On hearing about the arrival of Rasulallah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) in Hudaybiyah, he escaped somehow and managed to reach the Muslims camp at a time when the truce was about to be signed. His father, Suhayl (till then a non-Muslim) was the envoy of the Quraysh in the negotiations for the truce. He slapped Abu Jandal (radiyallahu anhu) on his face and insisted on taking him back to Makkah. Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said that, since the truce had not till then been written, it did not apply to Abu Jandal’s case. Suhayl, however, would not listen to any arguments and was not inclined to leave his son with the Muslims, even at the personal request of Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam and would have forgone the truce even. Abu Jandal (radiyaalhu anhu) recounting his hardships complained at the top of his voice but, much to the grief of the sahabah , the Rasul (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) agreed to his return. He however enjoined patience on him saying: “Do not lose hope, Abu Jandal, Allah ta’ala will shortly open a way out for you.”
After the truce was signed and Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) had returned to Madinah, another Makkah Muslim Abu Basir (radiyallahu anhu) escaped to Madinah and sought Rasulullah’s protection. Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) refused to accept his request and, in deference to the truce conditions, handed him over to the two persons who had been sent by the Quraysh to claim him. He, however, advised him as he had advised Abu Jandal (radiyallah anhu) to be patient and to wait for the help of Allah ta’ala. When Abu Basir and his escort were on their way back to Makkah, Abu Basir (radiyallah anhu) said to one of them: “Friend, your sword is very fine.” The man was flattered and took it out from the sheath and said: “Yes, it is really very fine, and I have tried it on so many persons. You can have look at it.”
Most foolishly he gave the sword to Abu Basir (radiyallahu anhu), who immediately tried it on its owner and killed him. The other man ran away and reached Madinah to complain to Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam). In the meantime Abu Basir (radiyallah anhu) also arrive. He said to Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) ” O Rasul of Allah ta’ala, you returned me once and fulfilled the conditions of the peace pact. I had no obligations and I managed my escape from them by this trick, as I was afraid of their forcing me to leave Islam.”
Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said: “He is a war monger. I wish he could be helped.” Abu Basir (radiyallahu anhu) understood from this that he would be returned to the Quraysh again when they demand him. He, therefore, left Madinah and fled to a place in the desert on the seashore. Abu Jandal (radiyallahu anhu) also managed to escape and joined him there. More Muslims of Makkah followed and, in a few days, quite a small group of such sahabah gathered in the wilderness. They had to undergo untold sufferings in the desert, where there was neither habitation nor vegetation. They, however, being bound by no treaty proved a great nuisance for the Quraysh by dealing blow after blow on their caravans pasing that way. This compelled the Quraysh to approach Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) and request him to intervene and call them to Madinah, so that they might be bound by the terms of the treaty, like other Muslims, and the caravans might pass in safety. It is said Abu Basir (radiyallahu anhu) was on his death-bed when the letter sent by Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) permitting their return to Madinah reached them. He died while holding Rasulullah’s letter in his hand.
Note: No power on earth can make a person give up his faith, provided it is a true faith. Moreover, Allah ta’ala has given an assurance to help those who are true Muslims.
Note: No power on earth can make a person give up his faith, provided it is a true faith. Moreover, Allah ta’ala has given an assurance to help those who are true Muslims.