THE HOLY PROPHET’S DESIRE FOR PEACE (MAKKAH CONQUEST)
ATTEMPT OF ABU SUFYAAN (To renew the treaty of Hudaibiyah)
Thus, he hastily set off for Madina and firstly went to the house of his daughter (and blessed wife of RasoolAllah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam), Sayyidah Umme Habiba (Radiyallahu Anha). As he was about to sit down upon a mat, he saw her rushing to pick it up and prevent him from sitting on it. A mystified Abu Sufyaan asked, “O my daughter! Do you think the mat unworthy for me to sit on, or do you think me unworthy to sit on the mat?” The Mother of the Faithful replied, “This is the mat of RasoolAllah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) and you are an impure mushrik. I cannot bear that you, in your state of: being a mushrik, defile this sacred mat of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) by sitting on it.” Abu Sufyaan became embarrassed upon hearing this and miserably left her home. He proceeded to RasoolAllah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) and explained his reason for coming, yet the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) gave no reply. He then moved towards “Hadrat Abu Bakr, Umar and Ali (Radiyallahu Anhuma)” who answered him by saying, We cannot do anything about your predicament.” Sayyidah Fathima (Radiyallahu Anha), and Imam Hassan (Radiyallahu Anhu), were also present with Hadrat Ali (Radiyallahu Anhu), when Abu Sufyaan had approached him. Seeing them, he humbly submitted, O Ali (Radiyallahu Anhu)” you are a very merciful person. I’ve come to Madina to accomplish a task and do not wish to leave the city with it incomplete. I need you to mediate between us adn Muhammad. “He replied, “Abu Sufyaan! We do not dare interfere with the intention and action of RasoolAllah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam).” Disappointed at his answer, Abu Sufyaan then truned to Sayyidah Fathima Zahra (Radiyallahu Anha), and said, “If this five-year-old son of yours, Hassan, has to say, ‘I’ve made a truce between these two factions’, he will become known as the leader of the Arabs from today onwards.” Sayyidah Fathima (Radiyallahu Anhu) bluntly answered, “What opinion do children have in such matters?” Thus, Abu Sufyaan finally turned to Hazrat Ali (Radiyallahu Anhu) one last attempt and said, “This is a very desperate situation. Tell me a way to solve it.” The Sahaabi answered, “I can’t give a positive consultation regarding this. However, you are the leader of the Banu Kanaanah tribe. You should publicly announce to the Muslims that you’ve renewed the Treaty of Hudaibiyah by yourself.” Abu Sufyaan then asked as to whether this announcement shall bring any beneficial result, to which Hadrat Ali (Radiyallahu Anhu), replied, “An agreement cannot be initiated by just one party, but you have no other choice.” Thus, Abu Sufyaan left for Musjidun-Nabawee and loudly announced, “I have… renewed the Treaty of Hudaibiyah.” The Muslims, however, did not answer and payed no attention to him.
He then left the city and went to Makkah, where he was asked concerning what had transpired. After being told of the events the Quraish asked, “When you had announced that you’d renewed the Treaty of Hudaibiyah, did Muhammad accept it?” He replied, “No.” Thus the Quraish then said, “You’ve accomplished nothing. This is no truce, and we shouldn’t rest peacefully as it’s a signal for war.” (Zarqaani, Vol.2, Pg.292-3).
RasoolAllah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) thereafter ordered the Sahaabah and his haleef tribes to prepare themselves for war and instructed Sayyidah Aisha (Radiyallahu Anha) to arrange his weapons; not telling any tribe or Sahaabi of whom they were going to fight with. This even included Hadrat Abu Bakr Siddique (Radiyallahu Anhu) who went to Hadrat Aisha’s (Radiyallahu Anha) home, saw her removing the weapons and armoury for war and asked, “Has RasoolAllah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) ordered so?” She replied, “Yes!” Hadrat Abu Bakr (Radiyallahu Anhu), then further asked, “Do you know of where with and with whom he intends fighting with?” She replied, “By Allah (Subhan Wa Taala) ! I don’t know anything!” (Zarqaani, Vol. 2, Pg. 291)
In this manner, Sayyiduna RasoolAllah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) very secretively prepared for war, so that the Kuffaar of Makkah could not know that they were going to be attacked.
