Treaty of Hudaybiyyah: Lessons, Main Points, and Summary

The treaty of Hudaybiyyah also known as Sulah Hudaibiya was one of the events that took place during the initial stages of Islam.

It was a treaty between Madina, represented by Prophet Muhammad PBUH, and Makkah, the Quraish tribe, in 628 (as per Islamic date, Dhu Al Qudah 1st AH).

This treaty helped to resolve the conflict between two cities, Makkah and Madinah, ensuring a 10-year peace clause which Muhammad PBUH’s followers authorized to come back following years in peaceful pilgrimage, which is also known as The First Pilgrimage of Islam.

In 628, Prophet Muhammad PBUH and 1,400 other Muslims went to Makkah to perform Umrah, without carrying arms and to respect the treaty of Hudaybiah between Makkah and Madinah. They were dressed as pilgrims having sacrificial animals along with them, hoping the Quraish tribe would give them a warm welcome.

Muslims were in Ihram, meaning there was no sign of arms.

Prophet Muhammad PBUH, with his fellow Muslims, camped outside Makkah. Later, Prophet Muhammad PBUH met Makkan emissaries who restricted the pilgrims from entering Makkah.

After long negotiations, both parties decided to resolve the matter without any war but with diplomacy. It was the time when the Treaty of Hudaybiah was founded. And it was Ali (RA) who wrote it for Prophet Muhammad PBUH. Prophet Muhammad PBUH signed the treaty himself.

Role of Umar (RA) in Treaty Hudaybiyyah

After Prophet Muhammad PBUH signed the treaty, most pilgrims objected to Muhammad PBUH signing some points that went in favor of the Quraish tribe. Before leaving for Makkah, Umar RA asked Prophet Muhammad PBUH to carry arms as it isn’t safe to visit Makkah without arms.

Who Broke The Treaty of Hudaybiyyah?

Right two years after the treaty, polytheists of Makkah violated the first article of the Treaty (abandoning the war) because the Banu Khuza’a tribe was allied with Muslims and Banu Bakr was with Quraish, but during a battle between the two in 8/629-630, some men from Quraish’s tribe killed some men of Banu Khuza’a. This was the breaking of the Hudaybiyya treaty.

They went to apologize to Abu Sufyan to Prophet Muhammad PBUH, but his apology was not accepted, then Prophet SAWW gathered a great army and moved towards Makkah to expand Islam.

Conditions/Terms of the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah

• There should be peace between the Muslims and the Quraish for 10 years.
• The Muslims will return to Madinah without performing Umrah this year.
• The Muslims should be able to perform Umrah the following year with a stay of three days in Makkah.
• The Muslims will only be armed with Swords, and those swords will be hidden underneath sheaths.
• The Muslims living in Makkah can stay in Makkah, but if any Muslim wishes to come to Madinah, it should not be stopped.
• If a person migrates to Madina, they can be returned. If a person migrates to Makkah, they can not be returned.
• Tribes of Arabia are free to take any side they want.

Lessons from the Treaty of Hudaibiya

Huddaybiyyah is still very important in Islam. After signing this treaty, Quraish no longer thought Prophet Muhammad was a Rebel from Makkah. Quraish also accepted Madinah as the Islamic state.

This shows that one should work with diplomacy, not with war. This treaty helped Islam to flourish in the Arabic peninsula.

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