The Prophet peace be and blessings upon him resumed in dictating the clause; “The agreement is made that the Quraysh shall not obstruct the
passage of Muslims to the House of God and shall allow them to circumambulate it.”
Suhayl again raised an objection; ‘I fear the Arabs would say that we have been too lenient to you in making this agreement. You can visit the K’aba next year.”
The Prophet peace be and blessings upon him agreed to include the clause in the agreement.
Suhayl then bravely suggested, “If one of us joins you, he shall be returned to us even if he professes your
religion.”
The Muslims were irked saying, “What? How can we return a man who seeks our shelter and approval as a Muslim?
The deliberation was still going on when Abu Jandal b. Suhayl appeared in chains. He had escaped from Makkah and had come to the Prophet peace be and blessings upon him by a rugged, rocky track
between the passes still weighed down in fetters.
Suhayl lost no time to assert, “Muhammed, this is the first man I demand from you under the Treaty.”
The Prophet peace be and blessings upon him replied, “But the Treaty is still being written and has not become final.”
Suhayl was irritated. He cried in a huff, “If it is so, then I am not prepared to make any agreement with you.”
The Prophet peace be and blessings upon him begged again, “Let him go for my sake.” But Suhayl refused. He said, “I will not allow him to go
even for your sake.”
Now, the Prophet peace be and blessings upon him replied, “Then do as you please.” Suhayl was still growling at the mouth when he retorted, “I can do nothing.”
Grieved to hear it, Abu Jandal said plaintively, “I have come as a Muslim to you, and I am being returned again to the polytheists. Do you not see what they are doing to me?” Abu Jandal had been put to severe torture for the sake of his faith.
(Zad al‐Ma’ad, Vol. I, p. 383;Al‐ Bukhaari, Bab as‐ Shurut fil‐Jihad).
The Prophet peace be and blessings upon him returned Abu Jandal as demanded by his father.
The treaty concluded between the Muslim and the Quraysh assured that both the parties would observe a ten‐year truce so that men might live in peace and that no party would lift its hand against the other during the specified period. Another condition of the Treaty was that
if anyone from the Quraysh came over to the Prophet peace be and blessings upon him without obtaining the permission of his guardian he
would be returned to them, but if anyone of those with the Prophet peace be and blessings upon him escaped to the Quraysh, they would not be bound to return him. Yet another provision stipulated that any clan that wished to enter a bond and security with the Prophet peace be and blessings upon him, would be permitted to do so. Likewise, any
tribe could resort to a similar agreement with the Quraysh.
(Ibn Hisham, Vol. II, pp. 317‐18).
FAITH PUT TO TRIAL
The terms of the agreement and the obligation to return without performing ‘Umra reduced the Muslims to the most profound depression. It seemed incredible to them how the Messenger of God peace be and blessings upon him had agreed to those biased stipulations. So dismayed were they that ‘Umar went as far as speaking his mind out. He went to Abu Bakr and asked him, “Had the Prophet peace be and blessings upon him not told us that we would travel to the house of God and go round it?”
“Yes”, replied Abu Bakr looking calmly at the sorrowful face of his friend, “But did he tell you that you would go to the House of God and go around it this very year?”
(Al‐ Bukhaari).
Having concluded the treaty, the Prophet peace be and blessings upon him sacrificed the animals and had his head shaved. The Muslims sat
dejected for they were feeling beaten and crushed at not being able to visit Makkah and circumambulate the Ka'bah at such a time, but when they saw the Prophet peace be and blessings upon him performing the rites, they rushed to follow him in sacrificing the animals and shaving their heads.
(Zad al‐Ma’ad, Vol. I, p. 383).
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