Mischief by the Infidels of Makkah — Seal of the Prophets Vol. 3
Introduction
In this discourse from The Life & Character of the Seal of the Prophets (Volume 3), Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad (ra) details the historical events and scholarly insights surrounding Mischief by the Infidels of Makkah.
Book Series: The Life & Character of the Seal of the Prophets (Volume 3)
Author: Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad (ra)
Section: IV – The Treaty of Hudaibiyyah & its Magnificent Outcomes
Pages: Book pp. 130–132 (PDF pp. 148–150)
Navigation: Book Table of Contents | « Previous: [An Inspiring Scene of an Assembly of the Holy Prophet (sa)] | Next: [Hadrat ‘Uthman (ra) as an Ambassador of the Muslims] »
Historical Account
At this point, the mention of a related but important occurrence is necessary. When ambassadors from the Quraish began to come one after another, the Holy Prophetsa felt that a wise person on his behalf should also go to the Quraish, who would be able to present the viewpoint of the Muslims sympathetically and with wisdom. A man named Khirāsh bin Umaiyyah, who was from the Khuzā‘ah tribe, i.e., the same tribe from which the first ambassador of the Quraish Budail bin Warqā came, was selected for this purpose. For this mission, the Holy Prophetsa granted Khirāsh his own camel for transport. Khirāsh went to the Quraish, but since this was still the early stages of negotiations and the young men from the Quraish were extremely enraged, a fanatical young man from among the Quraish, ‘Ikrimah bin Abī Jahl, attacked and wounded the camel of Khirāsh. By Arab custom, this meant that they were forcefully stopping his movements. Additionally, this extremist group from among the Quraish desired to attack Khirāsh as well, but the elders intervened and saved his life. He then returned to his camp.
[As-Sīratun-Nabawiyyah, By Abū Muḥammad ‘Abdul-Mālik bin Hishām, p. 685, Amrul- Ḥudaibiyyati Fī Ākhiri Sanati Sittin/Khirāsh-ubnu Umaiyyata Rasūlu Rasūlillāhi Ilā Quraish, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (2001) *Sharḥul-‘Allāmatiz-Zarqānī ‘Alal-Mawāhibil-Ladunniyyah, By Allāmah Shihābuddīn Al-Qusṭalānī, Volume 3, p. 222, Amrul-Ḥudaibiyyah, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (1996)]
The Quraish of Makkah did not suffice at this, rather in the blindness of their rage they also intended that now as the Holy Prophetsa and his companions were so close to Makkah and so very far from Madīnah, an attack should be launched against him, so that he may be harmed as much as possible. For this purpose, they dispatched a party of about 40 to 50 men towards Ḥudaibiyyah and in the veil of negotiations, these people were instructed to circle the Muslim camp and whenever possible, continue injuring the
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Muslims.1 As a matter of fact, from some narrations it is even ascertained that these people were 80 in number and on this occasion, they even conspired to assassinate the Holy Prophetsa.2 However, the Muslims remained vigilant in their place. As such, the secret of this conspiracy of the Quraish was discovered and all of those concerned were arrested.3 The Muslims were very displeased at this action of the people of Makkah, which they committed in the Ashhure-Ḥuram and in the sacred proximity of the Ḥaram at that, but the Holy Prophetsa forgave them and did not allow for it to become an obstacle in the negotiations.4 The Holy Qur’ān has also mentioned this action of the people of Makkah. It states:
ْوَ هُوَ الَّذِي كَفَّ اَيْدِيَهُمْ عَ نكُمْ وَ اَيْدِيَكُمْ عَ نْهُم بِبَطْ نِ مَ كَّةَ مِن بَعْ دِ اَنْ اَظْ فَرَ كُم
ْعَ لَيْهِم
“It was God, Who by His special grace, withheld the hands of the infidels from you in the valley of Makkah and protected you; And when you became dominant and subjugated them, withheld your hands from them.”5
1 *Tārīkhur-Rusuli Wal-Mulūk (Tārīkhuṭ-Ṭabarī), By Abū Ja‘far Muḥammad bin Jarīr Aṭ-Ṭabarī, Volume 3, p. 129, Dhikrul-Aḥdāthillati Kānat Fī Sanati Sittim-Minal-Hijrah/Dhikrul-Khabari ‘An ‘Umratin-Nabiyyisa Allati Ṣaddahul-Mushrikūna Fīhā ‘Anil-Bait, Dārul-Fikr, Beirut, Lebanon, Second Edition (2002)
As-Sīratun-Nabawiyyah, By Abū Muḥammad ‘Abdul-Mālik bin Hishām, p. 685, Amrul- Ḥudaibiyyati Fī Ākhiri Sanati Sittin/Quraishun Tursilul-‘Uyūna Listiṭlā‘i Akhbārin-Nabi, Dārul- Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (2001) 2 Tafsīrul-Qur’ānil-‘Aẓīm (Tafsīru Ibni Kathīr), By ‘Imāduddīn Abul-Fidā’ Ismā‘īl bin ‘Umar Ibni Kathīr, Volume 7, p. 317, Tafsīru Sūratil-Fatḥ, Under verses 20-24, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon (1998) 3 The various narrations of this account differ with one another to some extent. At this place,
without any special investigation, the well-known narration has been adopted. 4 *As-Sīratun-Nabawiyyah, By Abū Muḥammad ‘Abdul-Mālik bin Hishām, p. 685, Amrul- Ḥudaibiyyati Fī Ākhiri Sanati Sittin/Khirāsh-ubnu Umaiyyata Rasūlu Rasūlillāhi Ilā Quraish, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (2001)
*Tārīkhur-Rusuli Wal-Mulūk (Tārīkhuṭ-Ṭabarī), By Abū Ja‘far Muḥammad bin Jarīr Aṭ-Ṭabarī, Volume 3, p. 129, Dhikrul-Aḥdāthillati Kānat Fī Sanati Sittim-Minal-Hijrah/Dhikrul-Khabari ‘An ‘Umratin-Nabiyyisa Allati Ṣaddahul-Mushrikūna Fīhā ‘Anil-Bait, Dārul-Fikr, Beirut, Lebanon, Second Edition (2002)
*Sharḥul-‘Allāmatiz-Zarqānī ‘Alal-Mawāhibil-Ladunniyyah, By Allāmah Shihābuddīn Al-Qusṭalānī, Volume 3, p. 223, Amrul-Ḥudaibiyyah, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (1996) 5 Al-Fatḥ (48:25)
Ḥaḍrat ‘Uthmānra as an Ambassador of the Muslims The Holy Prophetsa saw this mischief of the Quraish and also heard of the state of anger and rage prevalent among the people of Makkah, from Khirāsh bin Umaiyyah. Therefore, in order to cool the Quraish and bring them aright, the Holy Prophetsa intended to send a prominent individual to Makkah who was from among themselves and was from a venerable tribe of the Quraish. Therefore, the Holy Prophetsa said to Ḥaḍrat ‘Umar bin Al-Khaṭṭāb that, “It would be best that you go to Makkah and fulfil the responsibility of an ambassador on behalf of the Muslims.” Ḥaḍrat ‘Umarra said, “O Messenger of Allāh, you know that the people of Makkah are increasing in their enmity towards me and at this time, there is no prominent person from my tribe present in Makkah who possesses influence over the people of Makkah. For this reason, it is my view that in order to ease the road to success, ‘Uthmān bin ‘Affān be chosen to offer this service, whose tribe, the Banū Umaiyyah, are presently very powerful. Furthermore, the people of Makkah cannot dare to act wickedly against ‘Uthmān and there are greater prospects of success.” The Holy Prophetsa was pleased by this proposal and instructed Ḥaḍrat ‘Uthmānra to go to Makkah and inform the Quraish of the peaceful designs of the Muslims and their intent to perform ‘Umrah. The Holy Prophetsa also gave Ḥaḍrat ‘Uthmān a personal letter which was addressed to the chieftains of the Quraish. In this letter, the Holy Prophetsa had expounded the purpose of his journey, and assured the Quraish that their purpose was merely the observance of a worship and that they would peacefully perform the ‘Umrah and return thereafter. The Holy Prophetsa also said to Ḥaḍrat ‘Uthmānra that, “Try to meet the weaker Muslims as well and lift their spirits, and tell them to show a little more patience. For God is soon to open the door of success upon us.”
[Sharḥul-‘Allāmatiz-Zarqānī ‘Alal-Mawāhibil-Ladunniyyah, By Allāmah Shihābuddīn Al-Qusṭalānī, Volume 3, p. 222, Amrul-Ḥudaibiyyah, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (1996)]
Ḥaḍrat ‘Uthmānra went to Makkah with this message, and after meeting Abū Sufyān, who was the Chieftain of Makkah at that time as well as a near relative, Ḥaḍrat ‘Uthmānra was presented before a public gathering. In this meeting, Ḥaḍrat ‘Uthmānra presented a letter sent by the Holy Prophetsa and this letter was also read individually by the chieftains of the Quraish.
Book Series: The Life & Character of the Seal of the Prophets (Volume 3)
Section: IV – The Treaty of Hudaibiyyah & its Magnificent Outcomes | Navigation: « Previous: [An Inspiring Scene of an Assembly of the Holy Prophet (sa)] | Next: [Hadrat ‘Uthman (ra) as an Ambassador of the Muslims] »