Dream of the Holy Prophet(sa) & the Journey to Ḥudaibiyyah

We have seen that shortly after the Holy Prophet(sa) migrated from Makkah to Madīnah, Allāh changed the Qiblah of the Muslims from Jerusalem to the Baitullāh. Along with this alteration of the Qiblah, Allāh also instructed the Holy Prophet(sa) to set his concentration towards Makkah and not to forget that Makkah was the religious centre of Islām, which should come under Muslim control as soon as possible.1 Due to these injunctions, the Holy Prophet(sa) would constantly think about Makkah and since it was their homeland, naturally the Holy Prophet(sa) and his Muhājirīn companions had a special love for it. Moreover, it so happened that during those days, the Holy Prophet(sa) saw a dream that he was performing Ṭawāf of the Baitullāh along with his companions.2 At that time the month of Dhū Qa‘dah was near, which even in the era of the Jāhiliyyah was considered to be amongst those four blessed months wherein all forms of war and conflict was prohibited. On the one hand the Holy Prophet(sa) saw this dream and on the other, the time was also such that the course of war would come to a halt and peace and safety would prevail throughout the whole of Arabia. Although these were not the days of Ḥajj,3 and until now Ḥajj in Islām had not been officially ordained either, but Ṭawāf could be performed around the Ka‘bah at any time. Therefore, upon seeing this dream, the Holy Prophet(sa) instructed his companions to prepare for ‘Umrah. ‘Umrah, was as if a lesser Ḥajj, wherein various rites of the Ḥajj were left out and only Ṭawāf of the Baitullāh and an animal sacrifice would suffice. Furthermore, unlike the Ḥajj, there was no specified time of the year for the ‘Umrah either. This worship could be performed any time of the year. On this occasion, the Holy Prophet(sa) also announced to the companions that since this journey was free from any intentions of violent confrontation, rather, it was merely for the purpose of performing peaceful religious worship, the Muslims should not take their weapons along with them. Albeit, as per the custom of Arabia, swords could be kept in their sheaths in the manner of a wayfarer. The Holy Prophet(sa) also encouraged the Bedouin people in the surrounding areas of Madīnah who were apparently with the Muslims, to participate in the performance of the worship of ‘Umrah. Unfortunately, very few, i.e., except for a nominal number of people, these so called Bedouin Muslims of weak faith, who lived in the close proximity of Madīnah, held back from setting out with the Holy Prophet(sa). It was their idea that although the Muslims had no other intentions than that of ‘Umrah, the Quraish would stop the Muslims either way and so a state of confrontation would arise. Furthermore, they thought that since this confrontation would erupt close to Makkah and far from Madīnah, for this reason, no Muslims would be able to return alive.4 In any case, the Holy Prophet(sa) departed from Madīnah on a Monday morning in the beginning of Dhū Qa‘dah 6 A.H. with a group of just over 1400 companions. During this journey, Ḥaḍrat Ummi Salmah(ra), the honourable wife of the Holy Prophet(sa), rode alongside the Holy Prophet(sa). Numailah bin ‘Abdullāh was appointed the Amīr of Madīnah and ‘Abdullāh bin Ummi Maktūm who was a blind man, was appointed Imāmuṣ-Ṣalāt.5

When the Holy Prophet(sa) reached Dhul-Ḥalīfah, which is situated approximately 6 miles from Madīnah en-route to Makkah6, he ordered everyone to stop. After offering the Ẓuhr prayer, he instructed that the sacrificial camels which equalled 70 in number, be marked and that the companions assume the special attire of the pilgrims known as Iḥrām. The Holy Prophet(sa) also assumed the Iḥrām himself as well.7 Then, in order to ensure that the Quraish were not up to mischief, the Holy Prophet(sa) sent ahead a messenger named Busr bin Sufyān from the Khuzā‘ah tribe, who lived near Makkah and slowly proceeded towards Makkah.8 Moreover, as further caution the Holy Prophet(sa) appointed a cavalry of 20 riders under the command of ‘Abbād bin Bishr, to travel ahead of the larger body of Muslims.9 After a journey of a few days, when the Holy Prophet(sa) neared a place called ‘Usfān, which is situated at approximately two day’s journey on the road to Makkah, the messenger of the Holy Prophet(sa) informed him that that Quraish were furious and firmly determined to stop him10 to the extent that in the expression of their rage and barbarity, they had put on cheetah skins and were fully bent on war, in order to stop the Muslims in all instances. It was also ascertained that the Quraish had sent forth a cavalry unit of a few daring riders under the command of Khālid bin Walīd who had not yet become Muslim, and that this cavalry had reached near the Muslims and that ‘Ikrimah bin Abī Jahl was also a part of it. When the Holy Prophet(sa) heard this news, he instructed the companions to divert from the known route to Makkah and proceed from the right in order to prevent conflict. So, the Muslims began to move forward from a very difficult and burdensome route near the coast.11

Following this new route, when the Holy Prophet(sa) neared Ḥudaibiyyah, which is one day’s journey, i.e., only nine miles from Makkah12 (whereas the valley of Makkah starts from the pass of Ḥudaibiyyah), the camel of the Holy Prophet(sa) which was known by the name of Al-Qaṣwā’ and had accompanied the Holy Prophet(sa) in many Ghazwāt, suddenly stretched out her feet and sat down. Despite many attempts to stand her up, she would not move. The companions said, “Perhaps she is tired,” but the Holy Prophet(sa) said, “Nay, Nay, she has not tired, nor is it in her nature to tire out and sit in this manner. The truth is, that the same Supreme Being Who prevented the elephant of the Aṣḥābul-Fīl from proceeding to Makkah, has also stopped this camel as well. Therefore, I swear by God, that I shall accept whatever the Quraish of Makkah ask of me for the respect of the Ḥaram.” After this, the Holy Prophet(sa) called out to his camel to stand and by the power of God, this time, it stood up immediately and prepared to move forward. Upon this, the Holy Prophet(sa) took her to the far corner of the valley of Ḥudaibiyyah and settling her near a water well, he dismounted his camel. It is here, that upon the instruction of the Holy Prophet(sa), the companions set up camp.13