Episode Summary
In the 6th year of Hijra, the Prophet (saw) led a group of 1,400 Sahaba toward Makkah with the sole intention of performing Umrah. This episode details the strategic demonstrations of peace made by the Muslims, the miraculous provision of water at Hudaybiyyah, and the series of failed diplomatic encounters with the Quraysh. The narrative culminates in the profound 'Bayatun Ridhwan' (Oath of Pleasure) under a tree, where the Sahaba pledged their lives to the Prophet (saw) following a false rumor of Uthman ibn Affan’s assassination.
Key Highlights
- 1,400 Sahaba set out for Makkah in Dhul Qa’da with no weapons of war, wearing ihram and bringing 70 camels for sacrifice to demonstrate peaceful intent.
- The Prophet's camel, Al-Qaswa, sat down at the outskirts of Makkah; the Prophet declared she was restrained by the same Power that stopped the elephants decades prior.
- A miracle of water occurred when the Prophet (saw) gave an arrow to a Sahabi to plant in a dry, abandoned well, causing water to bubble to the surface for the entire camp.
- Urwah ibn Mas’ud observed the Sahaba’s unparalleled devotion, noting they would collect the Prophet's wudu water and never let his hair touch the ground.
- The Prophet (saw) demonstrated radical mercy by releasing 40-50 Makkan warriors who were captured after attempting to provoke a fight with the Muslim camp.
- Uthman ibn Affan was sent as an emissary and famously refused to perform tawaaf around the Ka’bah until the Prophet (saw) could do so first.
- The Bayatun Ridhwan was taken under a tree after a rumor spread that Uthman had been killed, with Allah revealing His pleasure with those who gave the oath.
Comprehensive Analysis
1. The Intent of Peace and Worship
In Dhul Qa’da of the 6th year AH, the Prophet (saw) announced his longing to visit the House of Allah after six years of exile. He gathered 1,400 Sahaba—primarily Muhajireen and Ansar—and commanded them to enter the state of ihram right from Madinah to strategically signal to all of Arabia that they were coming only for worship, not for war. They brought 70 camels for sacrifice and carried no artillery or stockpiles of weaponry.
2. The Standoff at Usfaan and the Alternate Route
Upon reaching Usfaan, the Prophet was informed that the Quraysh had donned leopard skins—a traditional sign of bloodlust and intent to fight—and had dispatched a cavalry under Khalid ibn Walid to block the path. To avoid unnecessary bloodshed, the Prophet (saw) asked for a volunteer to lead them through a difficult, rocky alternate route. During this arduous march, the Sahaba engaged in continuous dhikr and repentance, which the Prophet (saw) contrasted with the failures of previous nations.
3. The Miracle at Hudaybiyyah
When the army reached the outskirts of Makkah, the Prophet’s camel suddenly sat down and refused to move. The Prophet (saw) recognized this as divine intervention, stating that the One who stopped the elephants of Abrahah was now stopping his camel to facilitate a plan for reconciliation. The camp lacked a water source, but the Prophet (saw) performed a miracle: he handed an arrow to a Sahabi (either Najiya ibn Jundun or Al-Barrah ibn Azib), who planted it in a dry well, causing water to miraculously rise to the surface.
4. Diplomatic Tensions and Makkan Arrogance
Several emissaries visited the Muslim camp, including Budayl ibn Warqah and Al-Hulays ibn Alqama. While these leaders were convinced of the Prophet’s peaceful intent, the Quraysh responded with arrogance and ridicule, even attacking the Prophet’s personal messenger, Khirash ibn Umayyah. Despite these provocations—including an attempted ambush by 40-50 Makkan warriors—the Prophet (saw) forgave and released his attackers to prove his commitment to peace.
5. Urwah ibn Mas’ud and the Devotion of the Sahaba
The Quraysh sent the noble Urwah ibn Mas’ud to negotiate. Urwah attempted to intimidate the Prophet (saw), even reaching for his beard in an informal manner, only to be rebuffed by Mughira ibn Shu’aba. Upon returning to Makkah, Urwah gave a staggering assessment: he had visited the courts of the Roman and Persian Emperors but had never seen subjects show as much loyalty and reverence as the Sahaba showed to Muhammad (saw), noting that they would never abandon him.
6. The Rumor of Uthman and Bayatun Ridhwan
When Uthman ibn Affan was sent into Makkah to negotiate, he was detained by the Quraysh. A rumor reached the camp that he had been assassinated. In response, the Prophet (saw) sat under the shade of a tree and took an oath of allegiance from all 1,400 Muslims to stand firm and not flee the battlefield. This event, known as Bayatun Ridhwan, was so significant that Allah revealed verses in Surat Al-Fath expressing His divine pleasure with those who participated. Shortly after the oath, Uthman returned safely, and the Quraysh dispatched Suhayl ibn Amr to finalize a treaty.