Treaty of Hudaybiyah; Diplomacy of the Prophet for Medina-Mecca Harmony

 

Treaty of Hudaybiyah; Diplomacy of the Prophet for Medina-Mecca Harmony

At the end of 628 or the 6th year of hijriyah, the position of the prophet Muhammad in Medina was getting stronger as a leader. However, considering that the Prophet was still labeled as an enemy of Mecca by the Quraysh, he could not freely travel to Mecca. However, there were some groups of the Quraysh who were lenient, tired of war. There is even a growing opinion that if Mecca can make peace with its enemy (Medina) it will be very profitable in terms of commerce (Taufik Adnan Amal, 2013).

Hearing these conditions, the prophet took the initiative to visit Mecca for Umrah. He took his followers with him to Medina that same year, 628 AD. Some sources say that the Prophet's entourage at that time numbered 1400 people, although there are also mentions of 1300, 1600 and 1800. When the group approached Mecca, the Quraysh army came out and intended to block it. Hearing the news, the prophet decided to stop and camp in the Hudaibiyah area. The Prophet avoided clashes by sending Uthman bin Affan as a Muslim delegation to negotiate.

When there was no news about Utsman, there were rumors that Utsman was killed there. Responding to that, the prophet gathered his followers and asked them to swear allegiance to fight the Quraysh. Hearing that, the Quraysh released Uthman. Not only that, they also agreed to negotiate. The Prophet himself was present in the consultation by appointing Ali bin Abi Talib as the secretary of the Muslim delegation. While the delegation from Quraysh was led by Suhail bin Amr. After going through a long and tense discussion and negotiation process, both sides finally agreed and signed a peace agreement known as the Hudaibiyah Agreement, in the month of Dzulqodah in the sixth year of the Hijri (628 AD). Hudaibiyah is taken as the name of the agreement, referring to the place where the agreement was signed.

The content of the Hudaibiyah Agreement is as follows:

Both sides agreed to a ceasefire

Anyone from the Quraish who does not have the permission of his guardian to cross over to the Prophet's side, then he must be returned to them.

Whoever from the followers of the Messenger of God crosses over to the Quraysh side, he will not be returned to the Messenger of God.

Anyone from the Arab community outside of the agreement to enter into an alliance with the Messenger of Allah is allowed, and anyone from the Arab community outside of the agreement to enter into an alliance with the Quraish is allowed.

The Prophet and the Muslims had to return to Medina with the stipulation that they would return to Mecca the following year on the condition that they stayed for three days in Mecca and that the weapon they could carry was a sheathed sword.

After the signing of the agreement, the prophet smelled the disappointment of some of the companions over the strategy of struggle through the agreement which was described as losing before fighting. One of the consequences is that Muslims have to postpone their Umrah until the next year. The Prophet himself realized that the consequences of his strategy could trigger disillusionment and division among Muslims themselves. In the midst of this situation, the word of Allah came down in Surah al-Fath verses 1-3, " Indeed, We have opened a clear victory for you.Because God will grant you forgiveness for your past and future sins, and will complete His blessings upon you and guide you to a straight path. And God will help you with strong help ".

Immediately the Prophet conveyed the verse to Umar bin Khattab and the companions who from the beginning did not accept the agreement one hundred percent. Therefore when hearing the verse, Umar bin Khattab directly asked the prophet Muhammad, "O Messenger of Allah, is the agreement a victory?". He firmly answered "Yes". It was only then that Umar bin Khattab and his companions accepted the Hudaibiyah agreement to be obeyed.

A year passed after the agreement, the Muslims of Medina got the freedom to perform Hajj and Umrah in Mecca. That means a diplomatic victory that confirms the recognition of the right to Islam in the Arabian peninsula, without being pressured by war or violence. Not only that, this agreement has opened access for Muslims to develop Islamic religious symbols without pressure from the Quraysh.