The Conquest of Mecca (Part I)

The treaty of Hudaibiya is considered a conquest in the course of the struggle between Quraish and the Meccans on the one hand, and the Prophet (p) and his Muslim companions on the other hand. That is because the Prophet (p) was able to impose the treaty on Quraish and this emphasizes that the struggle has reached a stage of a balance of force that ended the phase in which Quraish had the upper hand. Quraish tried to stop the Prophet (p) from entering Mecca to circumambulate around the Kaaba since it was afraid that the Arabs would no longer fear it and thus it started to search for a solution that preserves its dignity. Therefore, it signed the Hudaibiya treaty under some conditions: Muslims would go back that year without entering Mecca. The following year they would come for three days and stay in Mecca in order to perform Umrah.

Another condition was that there would be no war for ten years and this reveals that the balance of force shifted towards the Muslims especially that the Prophet (p.) was planning to open Mecca by a show of force and not war.

The Hudaibiya Treaty

During the six years following the Hegira, the polytheists prevented the Prophet (p) and the Muslims from entering Mecca even in the Haram months. On the 6^{th year of Hegira, in the month of Zul Kaada, the
Prophet (p) decided to go to Mecca for performing Umrah and put on Ihram
for that purpose. His companions (Muhajireen, Ansar and some Arab
followers) accompanied him. He wanted to people to know that he did not
want to fight, but he came to Mecca only to visit the Holy Kaaba and
perform the religious rites… He (p) expressed that by saying: "Woe to
Quraish, their hostility is undoing them. What if they left the issue
between me and the tribes. If the Arabs defeat me then it would fulfill
what they wanted to happen. And if Allah gives me the victory then the
people of Mecca would be able to enter Islam safely without being touched
and if they did not want to enter Islam then they can fight me while they
are strong; what does Quraish think. I make a pledge to Allah that I will
continue struggling (jihad) in this issue which Allah has sent me with
until Allah gives me the victory or I lose my neck."}

At that time, Quraish set a trap for the Prophet (p) on the way to Mecca so that he had to pass through a very rugged road in order to be safe from their trap.

When the Prophet (p) felt secure, Badil Bin Warkaa Al-Khouzaii, a man of Banu Khouzaa came to him and asked him about the reason of his coming. The Prophet (p) answered that he does not want war, but he came only to visit the Sacred House of Allah and glorify it. Banu-Khuzaa told Quraish what the Prophet (p) told them, but Quraish promised to prevent him (p) from entering Mecca.

The Muslims as well as the polytheists of Banu Khouzzaa allied with the Prophet (p) and they kept on trying to reconcile between him (p) and Banu Quraish, but instead of dealing positively with the Prophet's (p) envoy, Quraish tried to kill him, but Al-Ahabish prevented them from doing so, and then he was released.

Quraish sent fifty men and ordered them to draw close to the Prophet's (p) camp in order to kill any of his companions, but the Muslims captured all of them and then the Prophet (p) released them although they had thrown stones and arrows at his (p) soldiers.

In spite of all that, the Prophet (p) continued to try to enter to Mecca peacefully. He sent to Mecca Othman Bin Affan, but Quraish imprisoned him. The Prophet (p) and the Muslims were told that Othman was killed, so the Prophet said: "We will not leave until we fight those people."

Therefore, the Prophet (p) called upon the people to pay him homage which led to Al-Radwan homage (Baiaa). Besides, none of the Muslims deserted the Prophet (p) except Al-Jaddou Bin Kais, the brother of Bani Salma. At that time, Jabir bin Abdallah came to the Prophet (p) and told him that Othman was not killed….

After that, Bnau Quraish sent Sohail Bin Amro, the brother of Bnai Amir Bin Loaay to the Prophet (p) asking him (p) to reconcile with Quraish. After negotiations, both parties agreed that he (p) would go back that year without entering Mecca. The following year he (p) would come for three days and stay in Mecca in order to perform Umrah.

It is written in the text of the treaty that: This is what Muhammad b.Abdallah has agreed with Suhayl b. Amr: they have agreed to lay aside war for ten years during which men can be safe and refrain from hostilities on condition that if anyone of those with Quraish comes to Muhammad without the permission of his guardian he will return him to them; and if anyone of those with Muhammad comes to Quraish they will not return him to him. We will not show enmity to one another and there shall be no secret reservation of bad faith….

While the Prophet (p) was heading to Medina, Surat Al-Fatih was revealed to him (P) Verily We have granted thee a manifest Victory. One of his (p) companions asked him (p): "O apostle of Allah, is it a victory?" The Prophet (p) replied, "By Him in whose hand is my soul, it is surely a victory."

The Manifest Victory

The Holy Quran expressed this reconciliation as a manifest victory in which Allah, the Most Exalted said: Verily We have granted thee a manifest Victory. That was because Allah has opened the polytheists' hearts to accept to make a balanced reconciliation with the Prophet (p) and Muslims. This reconciliation gave the Muslims time to engage wholly in planning for opening Mecca when they have the opportunity for that. In this way, the Muslims were given the chance to become stronger. That is because signing any treaty between the two parties represented an admission that both parties were equal in force, since Al-Hudaibiya reconciliation indicated that Quraish recognized that Islam is a new force.