Steadfastness in the face of hardships---The Truce of Hudeybiah and Story of Hadhrat Abu Jandal and Hadhrat Abu Basir (Radhiyallaho anhuma)

It is really very hard for the Muslims of to-day to imagine, and much less to endure or even to attempt to endure, the hardships that were borne by the Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) and his illustrious companions in the path of Allah. Books of history are full of stories of their sufferings. It is a pity that we are so indifferent to those events and our knowledge is so poor in this regard. I open this chapter with a story about the Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) himself to get the blessings of Allah, which are sure to attend his auspicious mention. '



The Truce of Hudeybiah and Story of Hadhrat Abu Jandal and Hadhrat Abu Basir (Radhiyallaho anhuma) 


 In the 6th year of Hijrah, the Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) along with his companions left for Mecca to perform Umrah. The Qureysh heard of the news and decided to resist his entry into Mecca even as a pilgrim, and so he had to encamp at Hudeybiah. The devoted Sahabah, 1400 in number, were however determined to enter, even if it involved an open fight; but the Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) viewed the matter differently and in spite of the Sahabah's eagerness to fight, entered into a treaty with the Qureysh, accepting their conditions in full.

This one-sided and seemingly ungraceful truce was a very bitter pill for the Sahabah to swallow, but their devotion to the Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) would not allow them to demur, and even the most valiant man like Hadhrat Umar (Radhiyallaho anho) could not but submit to his decision. According to one of the articles of the treaty, converts to Islam during the period of the truce were to be returned but not so the deserters from Muslims to Qureysh.

Hadhrat Abu Jandal (Radhiyallaho anho) a Muslim in Mecca, was suffering great persecution at the hands of  Qureysh. They kept him constantly in chains. On hearing about the arrival of the Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe  wasallam) in Hudeybiah, he escaped somehow and managed to reach the Muslim camp at a time when the  truce was about to be signed. His father, Suhail (till then a non-Muslim) was the envoy of Qureysh in the negotiations for the truce. He smote Hadhrat Abu Jandal (Radhiyallaho anho) on his face and insisted on  taking him back to Mecca. The Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) represented that, since the truce had not  till then been written, its application in Abu jandals case was premature. Suhail, however, would not listen to  any argument and was not inclined to leave his sons with the Muslims even at the personal request of the  Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam), and would have forgone the truce even. Abu Jandal (Radhiyallahoanho) counting his hardships remonstrated at the top of his voice but much to the grief of the Sahaba, the
Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) agreed to his return. He however enjoined on him patience, saying:

Do not be distressed, Hadhrat Abu Jandal (Radhiyallaho anho); Allah will soon open a way for you.

After the truce was signed and the Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) had returned to Madinah, another Makkan Muslim Hazrat Abu Baseer (RA) escaped to Madinah and besought the Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam)‟s protection. The Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) refused to accept his implorations and in deference to the truce condition, handed him over to the two persons who had been deputed by the Quraish to claim him. He however advised him to be patient just as he had advised Hadhrat Abu Jandal (Radhiyallaho anho) and to hope for the help of Allah. When Hazrat Abu Baseer (RA) and his escort were on their way back to Maakkah, Hazrat Abu Baseer (RA) said to one of them,

“Your sword is extremely fine”

The man was flattered and took it out of the sheath and said,

“Yes it is really fine. I have tried it on so many people, you can have a look at it”

Most foolishly he made the sword over to Hazrat Abu Baseer (RA), who immediately „tried‟ on its owner
and killed him. The other man took to his heels and reached Madinah to report to Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam). In the meantime Hazrat Abu Baseer (RA) also arrived and said to the Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe
wasallam),

“O Prophet of Allah (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam), you once retruned me and absolved yourself of the truce obligations. I had no obligations to fulfil and I managed to escape through my trick as I was afraid of their forcing me to forsake my faith”

Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) remarked,

“You are a war-monger, I wish you could be helped”

Hazrat Abu Baseer (RA) came to understand from this that he would be returned to Quraish when they demanded him. He therefore left Madinah and fled to a place in the desert on the seashore. Hadhrat Abu Jandal (Radhiyallaho anho) also managed to escape and joined him there. More Muslims from Makkah followed and in a few days quite a number of fugitives had gathered in the wilderness. They had to undergo untold sufferings in the Desert as there was no habitation or vegetation. They however bound by no treaty proved to be nuisance for Quraish dealing blows after blows on their caravans passing by. This compelled the Quraish to beseech the Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) to call the fugitives back to Madinah, so that they may be bond by the same terms of the treaty. It is said that Hazrat Abu Baseer (RA) was on his deathbed when the letter of Prophet of Allah (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) reached him and died holding the Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam)‟s letter in his hand.

No power on earth can make a person forsake his faith, provided it is true faith. Moreover Allah had given assurance to help those who are true Muslims.