The battle is one that is described in the Qur’ān itself. Allah the Exalted describes it as fat-hu-m-mubeen – the absolute victory. Such a peace treaty was a rarity at the time and some Companions even had objections to this. Yet a brief analysis of the background and the resultant peace which went entirely in favour of the Muslims, would show that this was indeed a victory as described by Allah in Surah al-Fath.
A brief run-up of the events would help us understand this treaty in a much better way.
In 6 H. the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be to him) along with his companions set out to perform Haj. They were stopped in the environs of Makkah by a group of horsemen led by Khalid bin Waleed informing the Prophet that the Makkans were not ready to let him enter the city.
A treaty was signed by the Muslims and the Makkans represented by Sohail bin Amr. There were three main clauses of this treaty:
1. The Muslims would perform Haj the next year.
2. They will enter Makkah without any weapons save swords in their scabbards.
3. If any Muslim enters Makkah, he will not be returned. But if a Makkan enters Madinah, he will have to be returned.
It was specifically the third clause that was objectionable to the Muslims.
This clause was later cancelled in course of a series of events. The peace treaty was to extend for a period of ten years in which neither side would attack the other.
This treaty proved wholly advantageous to the Muslims. It became a period of consolidation for the Muslims. The Muslims were able to propagate Islam without any hindrance by the Makkans’ nefarious activities. The message of Islam spread (through letters in this case) to Yemen, Egypt, Rome, Persia and other far off places.
All these plus points justified it to be the fathu-m-mubeen that Allah the Exalted describes it in the Qur’ān.
There are several lessons that can be inferred from this treaty:
1. How much ever disadvantageous it may have seemed to the Muslims, it eventually turned out to be a major victory for them. This teaches us that even if there are a few negative points, a peace treaty should never be turned down keeping in view the greater cause of spreading the message of Islam.
2. Patience was one of the hallmarks of the Prophet. Yet again he taught us this practically by preferring to perform Haj next year and sign a peace treaty rather than opting for a war.
3. Islam also teaches us peace. The Prophet taught us this practically once again by signing the treaty peacefully.
In this age of ours, where Muslim nations are not able to give a head to head challenge to the western nations, it would be a wise idea to sign such treaties with them and take their help in areas such as technology to stand on their own feet.
This treaty also has a strong under-factor.
The Muslims are enjoined in Surah al-Taubah not to break their peace treaties nor do it in an unduly fashion.
The Muslims are supposed to respect peace treaties and fulfil its conditions to their best. This is in strong contrast to other nations who break and forge treaties at will.
This treaty should serve as a model for all and for all times to come.