The Prophet’s Prediction
After reaching an agreement over the principles of truce, Imam `Al¢ wrote down the written form of the truce beginning with, ‘bismill¡hir-ra¦m¡nir-ra¦¢m (In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful)’. The representative of Quraysh objected to this statement and to the title of ‘ras£l all¡h (the Messenger of God)’ given to the Holy Prophet. It took them a long time to settle this dispute. Finally, the Holy Prophet consented to it after realizing its benefits. While Imam `Al¢ was erasing the statement, the Holy Prophet foretold him, “One day, this will happen to you and you will have to accept.”[1]
This prediction came true when Imam `Al¢ had to erase the title of ‘am¢r al-mu'min¢n (the Commander of the Believers)’ during the truce he had to sign with Mu`¡wiyah immediately after the Battle of ¯iff¢n.[2]
[1] ±abars¢, Majma` al-Bay¡n 9:118; al-Majlis¢, op cit, 20:334, 350.
For further information regarding the °udaybiyah Truce, see A¦mad Miy¡nj¢, Mak¡t¢b al-Ras£l 1:275, 287; Mu¦ammad °am¢dull¡h, Wath¡’iq, pp. 66, 68.
[2] Na¥r ibn Muz¡¦im, Waq`at ¯iff¢n, pp. 508-509; ±abars¢, op cit, pp. 97; Ibn W¡¤i¦, T¡r¢kh al-Ya`q£b¢ 2:179; al-Daynawar¢, al-Akhb¡r al-±iw¡l, pp. 194; Ibn al-Ath¢r, al-K¡mil f¢’l-T¡r¢kh 3:32; °alab¢, op cit, pp. 708.
