The Ri¤w¡n Allegiance
Ultimately, the Holy Prophet sent `Uthm¡n ibn `Aff¡n to explain to Quraysh the Holy Prophet’s aims. It took long for `Uthm¡n to return. Rumors had it that he was killed.[1] Now, the Holy Prophet asked his men to gather under a tree to convene an allegiance for perseverance.[2] After this ceremony, it turned out that the rumor of `Uthm¡n’s death was not true. Since this allegiance was held under a tree and God was pleased with the believers who participated in it, this pledge of allegiance was called Ri¤w¡n (Pleasure) Allegiance or the Pledge of the Tree.[3]
The °udaybiyah Truce
After the fruitless return of `Uthm¡n, Suhayl ibn `Amr was sent to the Holy Prophet on the part of Quraysh for negotiation. He specified as a pre-condition of a conclusion of a truce that Muslims would not perform `Umrah that year.[4] This negotiation terminated in the convention of the famous °udaybiyah Truce that contained the following paragraphs:
(1) The two parties agree on ten-year ceasefire, protection of people’s security, refraining from molesting one another.
(2) Mu¦ammad and Muslims should not enter Mecca that year. The next year, Quraysh would leave Mecca for three days during which Muslims would enter there to perform `Umrah on condition that each Muslim could carry one sword only.[5]
(3) If an individual from Quraysh joins Mu¦ammad without his father’s consent, Mu¦ammad shall send him back to Mecca; but if one of Mu¦ammad’s followers joins Quraysh, he will never be sent back.
(4) Every tribe is free to enter into treaties with Mu¦ammad or Quraysh.[6]
(5) No party will betray the other or enter in a truce with the other party’s enemy and no party will practice any act of aggression against the other.
(6) Following the faith of Islam is free in Mecca and nobody is persecuted because of his belief.[7]
(7) Anyone of Mu¦ammad’s followers who enters Mecca for °ajj or `Umrah or for trade shall have his or her life and property protected.[8]
[1] al-Magh¡z¢ 2:602.
[2] Ibn Hush¡m, op cit, pp. 330; ±abar¢, op cit, pp. 78; Ibn Sa`d, op cit, pp. 97, 99; al-Bul¡dhar¢, Ans¡b al-Ashr¡f 1:350; ±abars¢, I`l¡m al-War¡, pp. 96.
[3] The Holy Qur'¡n reads, “Certainly Allah was well pleased with the believers when they swore allegiance to you under the tree, and He knew what was in their hearts, so He sent down tranquility on them and rewarded them with a near victory. (48:18)”
[4] ±abar¢, op cit, pp. 78; Ibn Hush¡m, op cit, pp. 331.
[5] On the basis of this paragraph, the Holy Prophet and Muslims had to perform the `Umrah ceremony in the seventh year of Hegira. It is thus called `Umrat al-Qa¤¡'.
[6] The tribe of Khuz¡`ah announced paid homage to the Muslims; while Ban£-Bakr convened a contract with Quraysh.
[7] ±abars¢, op cit, pp. 97; al-Bul¡dhar¢, op cit, pp. 350-351; Ibn Hush¡m, op cit, pp. 332; ±abars¢, I`l¡m al-War¡, pp. 97; al-Majlis¢, Bi¦¡r al-Anw¡r 20:352; and see Al-±abaq¡t al-Kubr¡ 2:97, 101, 102.
[8] ±abars¢, I`l¡m al-War¡, pp. 97; °alab¢, al-S¢rah al-°alabiyyah, 2:77; al-Majlis¢, Bi¦¡r al-Anw¡r 20:350, 352.
