TREATY WITH QURAISH
(Truce of Hudaibiyah)Then, in the sixth year of the Hijrah, the peace of Hudaibiyah was signed between the
Prophet (r) and the Quraysh on the following terms.
- They agreed to suspend war for ten years during which time people will keep the peace
and will not obstruct others. The Quraysh will not wage war against the Muslims nor help
others against them, but will remain neutral in case of Muslims fighting a third party. - There will be no secret stealing and misappropriation.
- Whoever wants to enter into a pact with Muhammed (r) and conclude a treaty with him
can do so. And whoever wants to enter into a pact with the Quraysh and conclude a treaty
with them can do so. - Whoever comes to Muhammed (r) without permission of his guardian will be returned
and whoever comes to the Quraysh from the companions of the Prophet (r) will not be
returned. - Muhammed (r) will go back this year with his companions and will enter the Ka'bah next
year with his companions. He will stay there for three days and he will not enter with arms
except the arms carried by travelers—swords in sheaths.
There is not a single example where Muhammed (r) made a treaty and then broke it. He
made treaties to establish peace in the country, for his main aim was peace. It was Quraysh
who first forced him to leave his hometown and then began war preparations against him.
Likewise, he was the one who took the initiative in forming a confederation between the
Jews and the Ansar against foreign invaders in order to insure peaceful existence between
all the people in the city. The Jews were the first to break the terms of the agreement. And
then, when Muhammed (r) reminded them of their mutual obligations they insulted him
and behaved insolently.
Another thing to remember in such agreements is that when the other party proves trea-
cherous (8:58) or violates the terms of the agreement (9:7-8), then it must be openly thrown
back to them and made clear to them that there is no longer a state of peace. According to
the verse, if you want to break a treaty for the reasons mentioned above, then you must
"throw their treaty openly before them." It is thus "unlawful to make a unilateral decision to
terminate an agreement, even if the Muslims feel that the other party is not observing the
terms strictly and properly, or if they are afraid that the other party will turn treacherous at
the first opportunity." Therefore it forbids them to treat the other party in a way that im-
plies that there has been no treaty with them at all. On the other hand, this verse binds the