Emigration—From Makkah to Madinah

As expected, the Quraysh advanced to prevent the Muslims from entering Makkah. The two parties met at Hudaybiyyah, some eleven kilometres from Makkah. Anxious to avoid hostilities, the Prophet set up camp then and there. He then sent a message to the Quraysh, suggesting a peace treaty between the two sides. He impressed his envoys that they had not come to fight anybody. “We have come as pilgrims. War weakened and caused the Quraysh to suffer great losses. If they wish, I am willing to make a truce with them: they shall not come in between myself and the people during that time. If I emerge supreme, and they so wish, they can accept the religion others have accepted. If I do not emerge supreme, they will have the right to do as they please. If the Quraysh refuse this offer, I will fight with them to support my cause, even at the risk of losing my life. And what God wishes will come to pass.”151 The theme of this message shows that the Prophet was appealing to a soft spot in the Quraysh’s psyche. When the Prophet first commenced his public mission in Makkah, ‘Utbah ibn Rabi’ah came to him on behalf of the Quraysh. When he returned to his people, this is what he had to say to them: Leave this fellow to continue with his work for, God knows, he will never give it up. Do not prevent him from preaching to the Arabs. If he wins them over, then his honour will be your own. If they prevail over him, then, thanks to others, you will be free of him.152