The Concept of Jihad in Islam

4. The Treaty of Hudaybiyyah is also an example of this policy of the Prophet. The Prophet and his companions wanted to enter Makkah and perform the Umrah or minor pilgrimage, but they were stopped by the leaders of Makkah at a place called Hudaybiyyah and were told to go back to Madinah. The Quraysh said that they would not allow them to enter Makkah at any cost. This was, in other words, a challenge to war on the part of the Quraysh. Had the Prophet proceeded towards Makkah by his plan of performing the Umrah, it was inevitable that armed confrontation with the Quraysh would have broken out. However, he ended his journey at Hudaybiyyah. There, he entered into a peace treaty with the Quraysh by unilaterally accepting all their conditions, and then he returned to Madinah. This is yet another clear example of the Prophet choosing a peaceful method over a violent one. 5. This same Sunnah or practice of the Prophet was also exemplified in the victory over Makkah. On this occasion, he was accompanied by ten thousand devoted companions. They could undoubtedly have successfully fought the Quraysh. However,