Among the entire scenario of Al-Hudaibiyah the most sensitive hour was the incident of the Bay‘at Ar-Ridwan. If we go through each and every incident and analyse the decisions taken by Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be to him) during Al-Hudaibiyah, this event was exactly opposite to both the purpose and the intention of the caravan. The companions of the Prophet had no preparation at all for fighting, mentally as well as physically, before the call of the Prophet for taking vow to fight till the last moment. What was the mental condition of the companions of the Prophet? To understand the difficult situation, which provided ground for the oath and also the significance of Bay‘at Ar-Ridwan, we have to walk down history lane, finding out the very lessons of the Bay‘at Ar-Ridwan. It is very important for those who are working for the cause of Islam in the present age.
BACKGROUND OF BAY‘AT AR-RIDWAN
The Muslims had been barred from access to the House of Allah for the last six years. At the same time, they wanted to establish their right of reviving the mission of Prophet Abraham, which they had taken upon themselves and to pray in the House of God. So they restlessly looked forward to the opportunity of visiting the Ka’abah. Then it was revealed to the Prophet, of course in a dream, to go for Umrah. He immediately began preparations to perform the Umrah in the war-prohibited month. Fourteen hundred companions voluntarily accompanied him.
The Quraish now faced a dilemma; for, if they attacked the Prophet’s caravans, they would be violating the sanctity of the war-prohibited month, especially when the Prophet had declared his peaceful intention and was unarmed and carrying sacrificial animals. And if they made no resistance, it would be said that they became afraid of the Prophet’s strength and had given him way due to this fear. At this crucial time their chief Abu Sufian was also on tour outside Makkah. Yet they began preparations for war and collected their allied clans together.
The first to make the move for peace was the chief of the Khuza’a clan, Budail bin Warqa, who had come to the Prophet to know his intention. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be to him) explained to him his objective which was not hostile. On his return Budail explained to the Quraish that hasty action was not wise and the Prophet who was coming with peaceful intention should not be resisted. Then the people of Makkah sent the leader of Ahabish, Hulais bin Alqama, to negotiate with the Prophet and when he saw the herd of sacrificial animals moving around he was much impressed and on his return clearly told the Quraish that it was not proper to resist those who were coming on pilgrimage.
Then the Quraish sent Urwa bin Masud Saqafi, who told the Prophet that he would not gain anything if he destroyed his own community, for these homeless people whom he had collected around him would soon disperse leaving him alone. Because of this impertinence, Abu Bakr became very angry and rebuked him. The Prophet again explained his viewpoint to Urwa, who returned so much impressed that he told the Quraish that they could not succeed against the Prophet as the devotion and love of his people for him was such as had not been found even in the courts of the greatest of monarchs.
To move further for negotiations, the Prophet sent Kharash bin Umayya to the Quraish but the Quraish killed the camel on which he was riding and Kharash saved his life with difficulty. Then Usman was sent. In the meanwhile a group of Quraish militants attacked the Muslims but they were arrested and brought before the Prophet who set them free. Usman was detained by the Quraish. The Muslims were greatly worried about Usman. Meanwhile the news came that Usman had been killed. The Prophet then summoned his companions and accepted their pledge that they would not return without fighting the enemy under all conditions.
This pledge goes by the name of Bay‘at Ar-Ridwan (a Covenant of Felicity). The first men to take the pledge were Abu Sinan Al-Asadi and Salamah bin Al-Akwa‘, who gave a solemn promise to die in the cause of Truth three times, at the front of the army, in the middle and in the rear. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be to him) caught his left hand on behalf of ‘Uthman. This covenant was sworn under a tree, with Umar holding the Prophet’s hand and Ma‘qil bin Yasar holding a branch of the tree up.
HOW THE PROPHET TRIED TO AVOID BLOODSHED
The entire intention of the Prophet was to perform Umrah peacefully. The Prophet tried through all possible ways to avoid any clash with the Quraish. When the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be to him) came to know that a group of two hundreds soldiers led by Khalid–Bin-Walid was approaching to attack the Muslim caravan, immediately he turned the way from the main highway which directly goes to Makkah and took a very difficult hilly road.
While a group of Quraish soldiers had been arrested and brought to him, the Prophet set them free. Another group of attackers was also captured but again he released them. Thus the Prophet sent the message of peace several times, at first by the local clan’s leader and then by discussing with the ambassador of Quraish. Though Kharash bin Umyya returned from the eve of death, the Prophet again dared to send Usman for negotiation.
After a long time when the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be to him) was communicated that Usman had been killed then the entire situation changed all of a sudden. He summoned his companions to take oath for fighting till their last breath. This oath under a tree pleased Allah the Exalted greatly. The noble Qur’ān has referred to this pledge in the following words: “Indeed, Allah was pleased with the believers when they gave their Bai‘a (pledge) to you [O Muhammad] under the tree.” [48:18]
LESSONS WE CAN LEARN
After studying the entire sequences of the Bay‘at Ar-Ridwan, the first thing which should learn is that there is no scope for a believer to compromise with the core beliefs (Aqidah) and when he will decide to achieve any intermediate goal, he should treat with the opponent in such a manner so that the ultimate goal and the core beliefs not be affected. To establish peace, the believers may go through all the possible ways which are not prohibited in Islam. Changing the way or retreat for strategic reason is permitted in Islam. However, to propose first for a treaty to the enemy on behalf of Islam is not allowed.
The position of a representative of a country or an organisation or an individual is exactly the same to that of the chief of the country or the organisation; to respect, insult or kill him is equal to do the same with the chief. So to kill the representative of any country means to wage a war against the concerned country. Such a situation to propose for a treaty or come backward is actually to surrender to the falsehood.
Another important lesson is that the disbelievers left the intention of attack only when they came to know that the Muslims had taken an unbreakable oath to fight with them. In other words, when the believers prepared for sacrifice their lives for the truth, Allah’s help came only thereafter. He helped the believers by changing the intention of disbelievers. So the condition for getting the help of Allah is submitting everything, the wealth and the life, to the cause of Allah.
Her is the proof that the Prophet had no knowledge of the ‘unseen matters’ until Allah makes him known. The rumour of Usman’s death teaches us that if the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be to him) were ‘Aalimul-Ghaib’ (having the knowledge of unseen matters), he would have never called his companions for the pledge to fight.
Another important thing is that through this decisive situation the belief and commitment of the believers was judged several times. To find out true devotees, such a critical situation proves helpful.
The last important thing one should learn is that the ultimate purpose of Islamic movement is to establish the dignity of Islam, or to put in other words, to die in the way of Allah should be the ultimate desire. Allah states this clearly in the Qur’ān: “Those who swore fealty to you (O prophet), in fact swore fealty to Allah. The Hand of Allah is above their hands. So whoever breaks his covenant breaks it to his own hurt and whosoever fulfils the covenant that he made with Allah, He will bestow on him a great reward.” (Al-Qur’ān; 48:10)