The Surah 48 of the Qur’an was revealed to the Prophet just after the Treaty of Hudaibiyah, declaring that treaty as a manifest victory.
“(O Prophet)! surely, We have granted you a clear victory so that Allah may forgive you your shortcomings, whether earlier or later, and may complete His favours upon you and guide you to the Straight Way, and that Allah may bestow upon you a mighty help. He it is Who bestowed inner peace on the hearts of the believers so that they may grow yet more firm in their faith. To Allah belongs the legions of the heavens and the earth; Allah is All-Knowing, Most Wise (He did this) to admit the believers, both men and women, to ‘Gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein they shall abide, and to efface their evil deeds from them. That, in Allah’s sight, is the triumph. (He also did this) to chastise the hypocrites, both men and women, and those who associate others in His Divinity, both men and women, and who harbour evil thoughts about Allah. They shall be afflicted with misfortune; Allah is wroth with them. He has laid His curse upon them and has prepared for them Hell. What an evil end! To Allah belong the legions of the heavens and the earth. Allah is Most Mighty, Most Wise. (O Prophet), We have sent you forth as a witness, as a bearer of good news, and as a warner so that you may all believe in Allah and His Messenger, and support him, and revere him, and celebrate Allah’s glory, morning and evening. Those who swore faithfulness to you, (O Prophet), in fact swore faithfulness to Allah. The Hand of Allah is above their hands. So whoever breaks his covenant breaks it to his own hurt; and whoever fulfils the covenant that he made with Allah, He will bestow on him a great reward” (The Qur’an 48:1-10).
This whole Surah is a manifestation of the glories of Allah. It begins with the declaration that the Treaty of Hudaibiyah was a clear victory. Many followers of the Prophet had reservation about the terms of the treaty but this pronouncement by Allah made it obvious that He has granted success. And through this process Allah has forgiven all shortcomings of the past and future. Particularly this immunity from errors of the future actions and events is a special favour for Prophet Muhammad (may Allah bless and grant him peace).
In continuation of the protection from past and future actions and events, Allah announced the grant of “completing His favours” on him. It was a clear declaration of all the favours bestowed upon the Prophet in his life-span in this world and those promised hereafter. These favours included the victory of Makkah and Ta’ef, the spread of his message all around Arab world and initiation of this message beyond the Arab world. Commentators of the Qur’an opined that this grant of favours by Allah extended to the true followers of the Prophet: the companions of the Prophet and future generation of believers. The manifestation of this divine favour for every person treading the right way as shown by the Prophet may take many forms like successes in ventures, satisfaction and tranquillity/inner peace of the heart (sakinah), contentment (sabr) despite adversaries and finally rewards hereafter.
Allah described the functions, characteristics and qualities of the Prophet “as a witness, as a bearer of good news, and as a warner.” He will bear witness to the fact that he conveyed the message he was assigned to by Allah. Some experts have opined that he will also testify before the Lord for the faiths adopted by his followers. He was assigned by Allah to inform the people about the good tidings waiting for them if they followed the right path shown by him. Similarly, his function was to inform everyone the consequence of ignoring and disobeying the message brought by him.
In view of the positions and functions of the Prophet, Allah has commanded believers to “… believe in Allah and His Messenger, and support him, and revere him, and celebrate Allah’s glory, morning and evening.” Some commentators of the Qur’an have opined that this verse required the believers to support, revere and celebrate the glory of Allah. However, other commentators said that support and reverence for the Prophet and the glorification for Allah is meant here.
Allah, in recognition of the desired faith and behaviour of His servants, is pleased so much that their actions are fully owned by Him, “those who swore faithfulness to you, (O Prophet), in fact swore faithfulness to Allah. The Hand of Allah is above their hands.” The scenario described here is that of swearing at the hands of the Prophet by his companions at a particular charged moment in Hudaibiyah. This is a high point of acknowledgement that swearing faithfulness to the Prophet holding his hands had the sanction of Allah. Obedience to the Prophet is tantamount to obedience to Allah.
Allah assured total protection to Prophet Muhammad, may Allah bless and grant him peace, from the harm of the people. He was asked to convey the message from the Lord fearlessly in totality.
“O Messenger! Convey everything revealed to you from your Lord. If you do not, then you have not delivered His message. Allah will certainly protect you from the people. Indeed, Allah does not guide the people who disbelieve” (The Qur’an 5:67). This assurance was expressed in other verses of the Qur’an too. “And recall how those who disbelieved schemed against you to take you captive, or kill you, or drive you away. They schemed and Allah did also scheme. Allah is the best of those who scheme” (The Qur’an 8:30). The Qur’an further said, “It will matter little if you do not help the Prophet, for Allah surely helped him” (The Qur’an 9:400.
The disbelievers in Makkah plotted to kill him but failed miserably. The Prophet, in the night when the enemies surrounded his house with weapons to attack and kill the moment he came out, did come out and passed their nearby without them getting an inkling. He along with his companion hid in a cave. The enemies came nearby but could not find him. Allah bestowed sakinah (tranquillity of heart) to him. Further, the story of Suraqa bin Malik is well known and described in hadith and seerah books while describing the migration of the Prophet from Makkah to Madinah. All these events demonstrate the protection granted by Allah to the Prophet.