The Manifest Victory
By that time, Sayyiduna ‘Ali رضي الله عنه had already written the words according to the instruction of the Prophet ﷺ. Therefore, the Prophet ﷺ said to him:
«“Erase it.”»
(Meaning: erase the words “Messenger of Allah.”)
Sayyiduna ‘Ali رضي الله عنه said:
«“I can never erase it.”»
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ then said to him:
«“Show me. Where are these words written?”»
Sayyiduna ‘Ali رضي الله عنه showed the words to the Prophet ﷺ.
The Prophet ﷺ erased them himself with his blessed hand.
After that, he instructed Sayyiduna ‘Ali رضي الله عنه to write:
«“This is the agreement upon which Muhammad ibn ‘Abdullah has made peace with Suhayl ibn ‘Amr.”»
After this, the Prophet ﷺ said:
«“By Allah! I am the Messenger of Allah, even if you continue to deny me, and I am Muhammad ibn ‘Abdullah.”»
Abu Jandal رضي الله عنه Arrives
The treaty was still being written when, suddenly, a Muslim, Abu Jandal ibn Suhayl رضي الله عنه, arrived there, dragging his shackles.
The polytheists had imprisoned him.
His crime was that he had accepted Islam.
They had told him:
«“Either leave Islam or remain in prison.”»
This Abu Jandal رضي الله عنه was the son of the very same Suhayl ibn ‘Amr who was negotiating the treaty.
He had somehow managed to escape from imprisonment and had reached this place so that he could be freed from this oppression.
When all the Muslims saw him, they became extremely happy and began congratulating him for escaping and saving his life.
But as soon as Suhayl saw his son, he suddenly stood up and struck him hard across the face.
It has also been narrated that he beat him with a stick.
The Muslims began to weep upon seeing his condition.
Suhayl then grabbed him by the collar and said to the Prophet ﷺ:
«“O Muhammad! This is the first Muslim who has come to us from our side. According to this treaty, you must return him to us, because this agreement has already been written.”»
Hearing this, the Prophet ﷺ said:
«“All right, take him.”»
Upon this, Abu Jandal رضي الله عنه cried out in distress:
«“Will you send me back to these polytheists?”»
Abu Jandal رضي الله عنه had suffered severe persecution because he had accepted Islam.
Therefore, everyone became deeply distressed by this situation.
On this occasion, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to him:
«“O Abu Jandal! Be patient and exercise self-control. Allah Almighty will create ease and relief for you and for other Muslims like you. We have already made an agreement with the Quraysh. According to this agreement, we are bound to send you back. We have given them a pledge in the name of Allah, so we will not violate it.”»
Tears came into the eyes of the Muslims.
They became extremely restless.
Even a person like ‘Umar رضي الله عنه began to weep.
But because of the treaty, everyone was bound by its terms.
In this way, Abu Jandal رضي الله عنه was sent back.
Abu Jandal’s Family
Abu Jandal’s actual name was ‘As.
Abu Jandal was his kunyah.
He had a brother named ‘Abdullah ibn Suhayl, who had accepted Islam even before him.
‘Abdullah ibn Suhayl رضي الله عنه had accepted Islam in the following manner:
He had come to the battlefield of Badr with the polytheists to fight against the Muslims.
However, as soon as he reached the battlefield of Badr, he abandoned the side of the disbelievers and joined the ranks of the Muslims.
Banu Khuza‘ah Become Allies
After this treaty, the people of Banu Khuza‘ah joined the Prophet ﷺ as a friendly tribe.
In other words, they became allies of the Muslims.
When the treaty had been written, important representatives from both sides signed it as witnesses.
After completing the treaty, the Prophet ﷺ ordered that his head be shaved and that the sacrificial animals be slaughtered.
Rather, the Prophet ﷺ first had his head shaved and offered the sacrifice, and then all the Muslims did the same.
Surah al-Fath Is Revealed
When the Muslims departed from this place to return, Surah al-Fath was revealed to the Prophet ﷺ.
In this Surah, Allah Almighty gave the glad tidings:
«“Indeed, We have granted you a clear victory, and Allah’s blessing upon you is going to be completed.”»
The Miracle of Food
During the journey, at one point the food ran out.
The Companions رضي الله عنهم informed the Prophet ﷺ of this.
The Prophet ﷺ ordered that a sheet be spread out.
Then he instructed:
«“Whoever has whatever food remains with him, let him place it on this sheet.”»
The Companions رضي الله عنهم did exactly that.
The Prophet ﷺ supplicated to Allah.
Then he instructed everyone:
«“Fill your own containers from this sheet.”»
Accordingly, everyone filled his container.
They ate until they were completely satisfied, yet the food remained just as it had been before.
On this occasion, the Prophet ﷺ smiled and said:
«“I bear witness that there is no deity except Allah, and that I am the Messenger of Allah. By Allah, whoever appears before Allah Almighty with these two testimonies will be protected from Hell.”»
The Glad Tidings of the Treaty
When Surah al-Fath was revealed to the Prophet ﷺ, Jibril عليه السلام said:
«“O Messenger of Allah! May this victory be blessed for you.”»
The Companions رضي الله عنهم also congratulated the Prophet ﷺ.
Abu Bakr as-Siddiq رضي الله عنه said:
«“There has been no victory for the Muslims in Islam greater than the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah.”»
In other words, it was such a great victory, even though at the time the treaty was being written, people could not understand its true reality at all.
The Transformation of Suhayl ibn ‘Amr
Suhayl ibn ‘Amr, who had negotiated and written this treaty, later accepted Islam.
During the occasion of the Farewell Hajj, he was seen standing at the place where the sacrifices were being offered.
He was presenting sacrificial animals to the Prophet ﷺ, and the Prophet ﷺ was slaughtering them with his blessed hand.
After this, Suhayl ibn ‘Amr رضي الله عنه called a barber to shave the head of the Prophet ﷺ.
At that time, a remarkable scene was witnessed:
Whenever even a single hair fell from the blessed head of the Prophet ﷺ, Suhayl ibn ‘Amr رضي الله عنه would place it against his eyes.
Just imagine how tremendous a change had taken place in him.
At the time of the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah, he had become furious merely at the words “Messenger of Allah” being written.
And now, he was placing the blessed hairs of the Prophet ﷺ against his eyes.
Wine Becomes Forbidden
In that same year, the sixth year after Hijrah, wine became forbidden.
When the command came, people broke the containers in which wine was stored, and wine could be seen flowing through the drains like rainwater.