Bayah al-Ridwan, Treaty of Hudaybiyah and the Prophet’s ﷺ Invitation to the Kings of the World

BAYAH al-Ridwan

After reaching Hudaybiyah, the Final Messenger of Allah صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم saw that the disbelievers of Quraysh were ready for a war with their army, whereas, he صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم and his companions were in the state of Ihram. He صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم, therefore, thought it to be appropriate to hold peace talks with them. For this task, he صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم sent Sayyiduna Uthman al-Ghani رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ to Makkah.

So Sayyiduna Uthman رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ went to Makkah and invited the disbelievers of Quraysh to make a peace treaty. The disbelievers said that we allow you to perform the Tawaf of the Ka’bah, and the Sai of Safa and Marwah, but we would not let Muhammad (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم) enter the Ka’bah at all.

Sayyiduna Uthman رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ said: “I will never perform ‘Umrah without the Final Messenger of Allah صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم.” The situation worsened and the disbelievers stopped him in Makkah.

This rumour spread in Hudaybiyah that the disbelievers of Quraysh have martyred Sayyiduna Uthman رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ. When this news reached the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم, he صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم said: “It is fard to take revenge for the blood of Uthman.”

Having said this, he صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم sat under a tree and said to the blessed companions’ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُم: “Pledge allegiance on my hand that you will remain loyal to me until your last breath.” All the companions pledged allegiance to him by taking this oath. This is the very same allegiance that is known as “Bay’ah al-Ridwan” in the history of Islam.

This tree and the allegiance pledged under it have been mentioned at two places in the Holy Quran—verse no. 7 of Surah al-Ma’idah, and in many verses of Surah al-Fath. After this pledge of allegiance, it was found out that the news of Sayyiduna Uthman’s رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ martyrdom was a false rumour. He was alive and perfectly fine.

TREATY OF HUDAYBIYAH AND ITS CAUSES

The Final Messenger of Allah صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم and his companions set out with the intention of performing ‘Umrah. For this reason, they also had sacrificial animals with them; but the disbelievers took oaths that they would not let the Muslims reach the blessed Ka’bah until they were alive.

When Sayyiduna Uthman al-Ghani رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ took the message of the peace treaty from the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم to Makkah, Quraysh also sent some people to him for talks, but nothing could be settled. Then Quraysh sent Suhail Bin ‘Amr to set the conditions of the peace treaty, as a result of which, the Treaty of Hudaybiyah was formed. Some conditions of this treaty are as follows:

1.     The Muslims shall return without performing ‘Umrah this year.

2.     They can come for ‘Umrah next year, but they shall stay in Makkah for only three days.

3.     There will be no fighting for the next ten years.

4.     Arab tribes may have a friendship treaty with whichever tribe they want.

5.     If any Muslim from Makkah goes to Madinah, it will be necessary to return him.

This peace treaty has been referred to as “Fath Mubeen” (a clear victory) in the Holy Quran. Outwardly, this treaty was against the Muslims, but the events occurring afterwards showed that this treaty became a key factor to the later achievements.

Kings Invited to ISLAM

After the Treaty of Hudaybiyah, peace prevailed everywhere. Since the Final Messenger of Allah صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم is the Prophet for the entire universe, hence, he صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم intended to spread the message of Islam all over the world. Therefore, he صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم sent letters to different kings through envoys. Its summary is as follows:

Name of the envoy	City/Country	King/Ameer	Reaction and Result
Sayyiduna Dihyah Kalbi	Bayt al-Muqaddas	Hiraql (Caesar of Rome)	He accepted Islam’s veracity, but remained deprived of reciting the Kalimah due to his greed for the kingdom.¹
Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Huzafah	Tesfoon	Kisra (Khusro Pervaiz)	Tore the letter; his son murdered him; his rule ended during the caliphate of Sayyiduna Umar رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ.²
Sayyiduna ‘Amr bin Umayyah	Aksoom	Ash’amah Najjashi	Showed great respect to the letter and embraced Islam.³
Sayyiduna Haatib bin Abi Balta’a	Alexandria	Muqawqas (King of Egypt)	Showed great respect to the letter, but did not embrace Islam; sent precious gifts to the Beloved Prophet.⁴

Referance:

¹ Bukhari, chapter 6, vol. 1, p. 12, Hadith 7, summarised

² Subul-al-Huda war-rashad, vol. 11, p. 362, summarised

³ Subul-al-Huda war-rashad, vol. 11, p. 365, summarised

⁴ Subul-al-Huda war-rashad, vol. 11, p. 348-349, summarised

Name of the envoy	City/Country	King/Ameer	Reaction and Result
Sayyiduna ‘Ala bin Hadrami	Bahrain	Mundhir bin Saawa	Showed great respect to the letter and embraced Islam with majority of the people of his nation.¹
Sayyiduna ‘Amr bin ‘Aas	Oman	Two sons of Julandi—Jafar and ‘Abd	Showed great respect to the letter; both of them embraced Islam.²
Sayyiduna Sulayt bin ‘Amr	Yamamah	Hauza bin Ali	Showed great respect to the letter; also respected the envoy, but conditioned his acceptance of Islam upon being given rulership, which was not accepted.³
Sayyiduna Shuja’ bin Wahb	Ghutah (Damascus)	Harith bin Abi Shamir Ghasani	This arrogant person became angry after reading the letter and ordered his army to be ready, resulting in the battles like “The Battle of Mu’tah” and “The Battle of Tabuk” taking place.⁴

Referance:

¹ Sharh al-Zurqaani ‘Ala-Al-Mawahib, vol. 5, pp. 34-36, summarised

² Subul-ul-Huda war-rashad, vol. 5, pp. 37-43, selected

³ Madarij-un-Nubuwwah, vol. 2, p. 228-229, summarised

⁴ Subul-ul-Huda war-rashad, vol. 11, pp. 358-359, summarised | Seerat-e-Mustafa, p. 373