The Wisdom of Seizing Opportunities

THE WISDOM OF SEIZING OPPORTUNITIES T he Treaty of Hudaybiyyah in Islamic history is a great example of collective wisdom. Although the Quraysh of Makkah fiercely opposed the message of the Prophet Muhammad from the very beginning there were some among them who wanted to avoid a direct confrontation with him. Instead, they wanted to divert his attention toward other Arab tribes. The Prophet made wise use of this mindset to his advantage. Among the chiefs of Makkah, one prominent leader was Utbah ibn Rabi‘ah. Before the Hijrah, the Quraysh once sent him as their representative to the Prophet (). A detailed account of this meeting is found in the books of seerah (biography). After his conversation with the Prophet, Utbah returned and said to the Quraysh: “O people of Quraysh, accept my proposal. Do not interfere between this man and what he is pursuing; instead, withdraw from him. If the Arab tribes deal with him, you will be spared any involvement. And if he prevails over them, then his rule will be your rule, and his honour will be your honour.” (Sirah Ibn Hisham, Vol. 1, p. 294) Similarly, after the Hijrah, when the Quraysh set out to fight the Prophet at Badr, they consulted among themselves along the way. At that time, Utbah spoke on behalf of one group of the Quraysh and said: