chieftains in the person of Al-As Ibn Wayel purchased the whole of it but paid nothing in
return. Because of this, Zabid approached several influential Quraysh leaders but none of
them agreed to confront Al-As Ibn Wayel. Having been turned down by those that he had
previously asked for help, Zabid called upon the people of Makkah exhorting every bold and
fair-minded young man to come to his rescue. At last, many of them, moved by embarrass-
ment, assembled in the house of ‘Abdullah Ibn Jad’an who entertained everyone that came
to his house. Thereafter, they formed a pact, in the name of Allah, for repression of acts of
lawlessness and restoration of justice to the weak and the oppressed within the walls of
Makkah. The covenant was called Hilful-Fudul wherein all its members finally approached
Al-As Ibn Wayel and forced him to return the merchandise of Zabid. (Ibn Hisham, Vol. I,
pp.257-59).
Muhammed (r) had been one of the prominent movers of the pact and he always made it
a point to express his satisfaction over the execution of this agreement. Once he remarked:
“I had a hand in making such an arrangement in the house of ‘Abdullah Ibn Jad’an to which
if I were invited again to help even after the advent of Islam, I would have undoubtedly
participated once more”. Through such Hilful Fudul, they had agreed to restore upon every-
one what is due of him and to protect the weak from the exploits and manipulations of the
oppressors.”