The truce of Al-Hudaybiyah

It has been narrated on the authority of al-Bara' b. 'Azib who said: 'Ali b. Abu Talib penned the treaty between Prophet ﷺ and the polytheists on the Day of Hudaibiya. He wrote: This is what Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah, has settled. They (the polytheists) said: Do not write words" the Messenger of Allah". If we knew that you were the Messenger of Allah, we would not fight against you. The Prophet ﷺ said to 'Ali: Strike out these words. He (Ali) said: I am not going to strike them out. So the Prophet ﷺ struck them out with his own hand. The narrator said that the conditions upon which the two sides had agreed included that the Muslims would enter Mecca (next year) and would stay there for three days, and that they would not enter bearing arms except in their sheaths or bolsters.

حَدَّثَنِي عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُعَاذٍ الْعَنْبَرِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ الْبَرَاءَ بْنَ عَازِبٍ، يَقُولُ كَتَبَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ الصُّلْحَ بَيْنَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ وَبَيْنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ يَوْمَ الْحُدَيْبِيَةِ فَكَتَبَ " هَذَا مَا كَاتَبَ عَلَيْهِ مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ" . فَقَالُوا لاَ تَكْتُبْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ فَلَوْ نَعْلَمُ أَنَّكَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ لَمْ نُقَاتِلْكَ . فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ لِعَلِيٍّ " امْحُهُ " . فَقَالَ مَا أَنَا بِالَّذِي أَمْحَاهُ . فَمَحَاهُ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ بِيَدِهِ قَالَ وَكَانَ فِيمَا اشْتَرَطُوا أَنْ يَدْخُلُوا مَكَّةَ فَيُقِيمُوا بِهَا ثَلاَثًا وَلاَ يَدْخُلُهَا بِسِلاَحٍ إِلاَّ جُلُبَّانَ السِّلاَحِ . قُلْتُ لأَبِي إِسْحَاقَ وَمَا جُلُبَّانُ السِّلاَحِ قَالَ الْقِرَابُ وَمَا فِيهِ .

It has been narrated on the authority of Abu Ishaq, who heard Bars' b. Azib say: When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ made peace with the people of Hudaibiya, 'Ali drew up the agreement between them, and so he wrote: Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah. (This is followed by the same wording as we have in the previous tradition except the omission of the words: This is what he has settled.)

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، وَابْنُ، بَشَّارٍ قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ الْبَرَاءَ بْنَ عَازِبٍ، يَقُولُ لَمَّا صَالَحَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَهْلَ الْحُدَيْبِيَةِ كَتَبَ عَلِيٌّ كِتَابًا بَيْنَهُمْ قَالَ فَكَتَبَ " مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ " ثُمَّ ذَكَرَ بِنَحْوِ حَدِيثِ مُعَاذٍ غَيْرَ أَنَّهُ لَمْ يَذْكُرْ فِي الْحَدِيثِ " هَذَا مَا كَاتَبَ عَلَيْهِ " .

It has been narrated on the authority of Bara' who said: When the Prophet ﷺ was checked from going to the Ka'ba, the people of Mecca made peace with him'on the condition that he would (be allowed to) enter Mecca (next year) and stay there for three days, that he would not enter (the city) except with swords in their sheaths and arms encased in their covers, that he would not take eway with him anyone from its dwellers, nor would he prevent anyone from those with him to stay on in Mecca (if he so desired). He said to 'Ali: Write down the terms settled between us. (So 'Ali wrote): In the name of Allah, most Gracious and most Merciful. This is what Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah, has settled (with the Meccans), The polytheists said to him: If we knew that thou art the Messenger of of Allah, we would follow you. But write: Muhammad b. 'Abdullah. So he told 'Ali to strike out these words. 'Ali said: No, by Allah, I will not strike them out. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: Show me their place (on the parchment). So he ('Ali) showed him their place and he (the Holy Prophet) struck them out;
and 'Ali wrote: Ibn 'Abdullah. (According to the terms of the treaty, next year) Prophet ﷺ stayed there for three days When it was the third day, they said to 'Ali: This is the last day according to the terms of your companion. So tell him to leave. 'Ali informed the Prophet ﷺ accordingly. He said: Yes, and left (the city). Ibn Janab in his version of the tradition used:" we would swear allegiance to you" instead of" we would follow you".

حَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ الْحَنْظَلِيُّ، وَأَحْمَدُ بْنُ جَنَابٍ الْمِصِّيصِيُّ، جَمِيعًا عَنْ عِيسَى بْنِ يُونُسَ، - وَاللَّفْظُ لإِسْحَاقَ - أَخْبَرَنَا عِيسَى بْنُ يُونُسَ، أَخْبَرَنَا زَكَرِيَّاءُ، عَنْ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ، عَنِ الْبَرَاءِ، قَالَ لَمَّا أُحْصِرَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ عِنْدَ الْبَيْتِ صَالَحَهُ أَهْلُ مَكَّةَ عَلَى أَنْ يَدْخُلَهَا فَيُقِيمَ بِهَا ثَلاَثًا وَلاَ يَدْخُلَهَا إِلاَّ بِجُلُبَّانِ السِّلاَحِ السَّيْفِ وَقِرَابِهِ . وَلاَ يَخْرُجَ بِأَحَدٍ مَعَهُ مِنْ أَهْلِهَا وَلاَ يَمْنَعَ أَحَدًا يَمْكُثُ بِهَا مِمَّنْ كَانَ مَعَهُ . قَالَ لِعَلِيٍّ " اكْتُبِ الشَّرْطَ بَيْنَنَا بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ هَذَا مَا قَاضَى عَلَيْهِ مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ " . فَقَالَ لَهُ الْمُشْرِكُونَ لَوْ نَعْلَمُ أَنَّكَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ تَابَعْنَاكَ وَلَكِنِ اكْتُبْ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ . فَأَمَرَ عَلِيًّا أَنْ يَمْحَاهَا فَقَالَ عَلِيٌّ لاَ وَاللَّهِ لاَ أَمْحَاهَا . فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ " أَرِنِي مَكَانَهَا " . فَأَرَاهُ مَكَانَهَا فَمَحَاهَا وَكَتَبَ " ابْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ " . فَأَقَامَ بِهَا ثَلاَثَةَ أَيَّامٍ فَلَمَّا أَنْ كَانَ يَوْمُ الثَّالِثِ قَالُوا لِعَلِيٍّ هَذَا آخِرُ يَوْمٍ مِنْ شَرْطِ صَاحِبِكَ فَأْمُرْهُ فَلْيَخْرُجْ . فَأَخْبَرَهُ بِذَلِكَ فَقَالَ " نَعَمْ " . فَخَرَجَ . وَقَالَ ابْنُ جَنَابٍ فِي رِوَايَتِهِ مَكَانَ تَابَعْنَاكَ بَايَعْنَاكَ .

It has been narrated on the authority of Anas that the Quraish made peace with the Prophet ﷺ. Among them was Suhail b. Amr. The Prophet ﷺ said to 'Ali: Write" In the name of Allah, most Gracious and most Merciful." Suhail said: As for" Bismillah," we do not know what is meant by" Bismillah-ir-Rahman-ir-Rahim" (In the name of Allah most Gracious and most Merciful). But write what we understand, i. e. Bi ismika allahumma (in thy name. O Allah). Then, the Prophet ﷺ said: Write:" From Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah." They said: If we knew that thou welt the Messenger of Allah, we would follow you. Therefore, write your name and the name of your father. So Prophet ﷺ said: Write" From Muhammad b. 'Abdullah." They laid the condition on the Prophet ﷺ that anyone who joined them from the Muslims, the Meccans would not return him, and anyone who joined you (the Muslims) from them, you would send him back to them. The Companions said: Messenger of Allah, should we write this? He said: Yes. One who goes away from us to join them-may Allah keep him away! and one who comes to join us from them (and is sent back) Allah will provide him relief and a way of escape.

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا عَفَّانُ، حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ سَلَمَةَ، عَنْ ثَابِتٍ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ، أَنَّ قُرَيْشًا، صَالَحُوا النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فِيهِمْ سُهَيْلُ بْنُ عَمْرٍو فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ لِعَلِيٍّ " اكْتُبْ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ " . قَالَ سُهَيْلٌ أَمَّا بِاسْمِ اللَّهِ فَمَا نَدْرِي مَا بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ وَلَكِنِ اكْتُبْ مَا نَعْرِفُ بِاسْمِكَ اللَّهُمَّ فَقَالَ " اكْتُبْ مِنْ مُحَمَّدٍ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ " . قَالُوا لَوْ عَلِمْنَا أَنَّكَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ لاَتَّبَعْنَاكَ وَلَكِنِ اكْتُبِ اسْمَكَ وَاسْمَ أَبِيكَ . فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ " اكْتُبْ مِنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ " . فَاشْتَرَطُوا عَلَى النَّبِيِّ ﷺ أَنَّ مَنْ جَاءَ مِنْكُمْ لَمْ نَرُدَّهُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَمَنْ جَاءَكُمْ مِنَّا رَدَدْتُمُوهُ عَلَيْنَا فَقَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَنَكْتُبُ هَذَا قَالَ " نَعَمْ إِنَّهُ مَنْ ذَهَبَ مِنَّا إِلَيْهِمْ فَأَبْعَدَهُ اللَّهُ وَمَنْ جَاءَنَا مِنْهُمْ سَيَجْعَلُ اللَّهُ لَهُ فَرَجًا وَمَخْرَجًا " .

It has been narrated on the authority of Abu Wa'il who said: Sahal b. Hunaif stood up on the Day of Siffin and said: O ye people, blame yourselves (for want of discretion) ;
we were with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ on the Day of Hudaibiya. If we had thought it fit to fight, we could fight. This was in the truce between the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and the polytheists. Umar b. Khattab came, approached the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and said: Messenger of Allah, aren't we fighting for truth and they for falsehood? He replied: By all means. He asked: Are not those killed from our side in Paradise and those killed. from their side in the Fire? He replied: Yes. He said: Then why should we put a blot upon our religion and return, while Allah has not decided the issue between them and ourselves? He said: Son of Khattab, I am the Messenger of Allah. Allah will never ruin me. (The narrator said): Umar went away, but he could not contain himself with rage. So he approached Abu Bakr and said: 'Abu Bakr, aren't we fighting for truth and they for falsehood? He replied: Yes. He asked: Aren't those killed from our side in Paradise and those killed from their side in the Fire? He replied: Why not? He (then) said: Why should we then disgrace our religion and return while God has not yet decided the issue between them and ourselves? Abu Bakr said: Son of Khattab, verily, he is the Messenger of Allah, and Allah will never ruin him. (The narrator continued): At this (a Sura of) the Qur'an (giving glad tidings of the victory) was revealed to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. He sent for Umar and made him read it. He asked: Is (this truce) a victory? He (the Messenger of Allah) replied: Yes. At this Umar was pleased, and returned.

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ نُمَيْرٍ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ نُمَيْرٍ، - وَتَقَارَبَا فِي اللَّفْظِ - حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ بْنُ سِيَاهٍ، حَدَّثَنَا حَبِيبُ بْنُ أَبِي ثَابِتٍ، عَنْ أَبِي وَائِلٍ، قَالَ قَامَ سَهْلُ بْنُ حُنَيْفٍ يَوْمَ صِفِّينَ فَقَالَ أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اتَّهِمُوا أَنْفُسَكُمْ لَقَدْ كُنَّا مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَوْمَ الْحُدَيْبِيَةِ وَلَوْ نَرَى قِتَالاً لَقَاتَلْنَا وَذَلِكَ فِي الصُّلْحِ الَّذِي كَانَ بَيْنَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَبَيْنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ فَجَاءَ عُمَرُ بْنُ الْخَطَّابِ فَأَتَى رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَلَسْنَا عَلَى حَقٍّ وَهُمْ عَلَى بَاطِلٍ قَالَ " بَلَى " . قَالَ أَلَيْسَ قَتْلاَنَا فِي الْجَنَّةِ وَقَتْلاَهُمْ فِي النَّارِ قَالَ " بَلَى " . قَالَ فَفِيمَ نُعْطِي الدَّنِيَّةَ فِي دِينِنَا وَنَرْجِعُ وَلَمَّا يَحْكُمِ اللَّهُ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَهُمْ فَقَالَ " يَا ابْنَ الْخَطَّابِ إِنِّي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ وَلَنْ يُضَيِّعَنِي اللَّهُ أَبَدًا " . قَالَ فَانْطَلَقَ عُمَرُ فَلَمْ يَصْبِرْ مُتَغَيِّظًا فَأَتَى أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَقَالَ يَا أَبَا بَكْرٍ أَلَسْنَا عَلَى حَقٍّ وَهُمْ عَلَى بَاطِلٍ قَالَ بَلَى . قَالَ أَلَيْسَ قَتْلاَنَا فِي الْجَنَّةِ وَقَتْلاَهُمْ فِي النَّارِ قَالَ بَلَى . قَالَ فَعَلاَمَ نُعْطِي الدَّنِيَّةَ فِي دِينِنَا وَنَرْجِعُ وَلَمَّا يَحْكُمِ اللَّهُ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَهُمْ فَقَالَ يَا ابْنَ الْخَطَّابِ إِنَّهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ وَلَنْ يُضَيِّعَهُ اللَّهُ أَبَدًا . قَالَ فَنَزَلَ الْقُرْآنُ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ بِالْفَتْحِ فَأَرْسَلَ إِلَى عُمَرَ فَأَقْرَأَهُ إِيَّاهُ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَوَفَتْحٌ هُوَ قَالَ " نَعَمْ " . فَطَابَتْ نَفْسُهُ وَرَجَعَ .

It has been narrated on the authority of Shaqiq who said: I heard Sahl b. Hunaif say at Siffin: O ye people, find fault with your (own) discretion. By Allah, on the Day of Abu Jandal (i. e. the day of Hudaibiya), I thought to myself that, if I could, I would reverse the order of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ (the terms of the truce being unpalatable). By Allah, we have never hung our swords on our shoulders in any situation whatsoever except when they made easy for us to realise the goal envisaged by us, but this battle of yours (seems to be an exception). Ibn Numair (in his version) did not mention the words:" In any situatina whatsoever"

وَحَدَّثَنَا أَبُو كُرَيْبٍ، مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْعَلاَءِ وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ نُمَيْرٍ قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ شَقِيقٍ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ سَهْلَ بْنَ حُنَيْفٍ، يَقُولُ بِصِفِّينَ أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اتَّهِمُوا رَأْيَكُمْ وَاللَّهِ لَقَدْ رَأَيْتُنِي يَوْمَ أَبِي جَنْدَلٍ وَلَوْ أَنِّي أَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ أَرُدَّ أَمْرَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ لَرَدَدْتُهُ وَاللَّهِ مَا وَضَعْنَا سُيُوفَنَا عَلَى عَوَاتِقِنَا إِلَى أَمْرٍ قَطُّ إِلاَّ أَسْهَلْنَ بِنَا إِلَى أَمْرٍ نَعْرِفُهُ إِلاَّ أَمْرَكُمْ هَذَا . لَمْ يَذْكُرِ ابْنُ نُمَيْرٍ إِلَى أَمْرٍ قَطُّ .

The same tradition has been narrated through a different chain of transmitters on the authority of A'mash. This version contains the words: Ila amrin yofzi'una instead of Ila amrin na'rifuhu.

وَحَدَّثَنَاهُ عُثْمَانُ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، وَإِسْحَاقُ، جَمِيعًا عَنْ جَرِيرٍ، ح وَحَدَّثَنِي أَبُو سَعِيدٍ، الأَشَجُّ حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ، كِلاَهُمَا عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ . وَفِي حَدِيثِهِمَا إِلَى أَمْرٍ يُفْظِعُنَا.

It has been narrated through a different chain of transmitters on the authority of Abu Wa'il who said: I heard Sahl b. Hunaif say at Siffin: Blame (the hollowness) of your views about your religion. I thought to myself on the day of Abu Jandal that if I could turn down the order of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, I would. The situation was so difficult that if we mended it at one place, it was rent at another.

وَحَدَّثَنِي إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ الْجَوْهَرِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو أُسَامَةَ، عَنْ مَالِكِ بْنِ مِغْوَلٍ، عَنْ أَبِي حَصِينٍ، عَنْ أَبِي وَائِلٍ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ سَهْلَ بْنَ حُنَيْفٍ، بِصِفِّينَ يَقُولُ اتَّهِمُوا رَأْيَكُمْ عَلَى دِينِكُمْ فَلَقَدْ رَأَيْتُنِي يَوْمَ أَبِي جَنْدَلٍ وَلَوْ أَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ أَرُدَّ أَمْرَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ - مَا فَتَحْنَا مِنْهُ فِي خُصْمٍ إِلاَّ انْفَجَرَ عَلَيْنَا مِنْهُ خُصْمٌ .

It has been narrated on the authority of Anas b. Malik who said: When they (Companions of the Holy Prophet) were overwhelmed with grief and distress on his return from Hudaibiya where he had slaughtered his sacrificial beasts (not being allowed to proceed to Mecca), the Qur'anic verse: Inna fatahna... laka fathan mobinan to fauzan 'aziman, was revealed to him. (At this) he said: On me has descended a verse that is dearer to me than the whole world.

وَحَدَّثَنَا نَصْرُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ الْجَهْضَمِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا خَالِدُ بْنُ الْحَارِثِ، حَدَّثَنَا سَعِيدُ بْنُ أَبِي، عَرُوبَةَ عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، أَنَّ أَنَسَ بْنَ مَالِكٍ، حَدَّثَهُمْ قَالَ لَمَّا نَزَلَتْ { إِنَّا فَتَحْنَا لَكَ فَتْحًا مُبِينًا * لِيَغْفِرَ لَكَ اللَّهُ} إِلَى قَوْلِهِ { فَوْزًا عَظِيمًا} مَرْجِعَهُ مِنَ الْحُدَيْبِيَةِ وَهُمْ يُخَالِطُهُمُ الْحُزْنُ وَالْكَآبَةُ وَقَدْ نَحَرَ الْهَدْىَ بِالْحُدَيْبِيَةِ فَقَالَ " لَقَدْ أُنْزِلَتْ عَلَىَّ آيَةٌ هِيَ أَحَبُّ إِلَىَّ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا جَمِيعًا " .