An Example of Noble Character

MERCY TO THE WORLDS At the time of the treaty, it appeared that the Prophet of Islam was returning without achieving his goal. On the return journey to Madinah, when chapter 48 was revealed, someone remarked, “This was no victory—they stopped us from entering the Sacred Mosque.” To this, the Prophet of Islam replied, “Rather, it is the greatest of all victories.” (See: Al-Jami’ li Ahkam al-Quran, Vol. 16, p. 260) The Companion Al-Bara ibn Azib later told people that while they considered the conquest of Makkah to be a victory, the Prophet’s companions saw Hudaybiyyah as the true victory. (Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith No. 4150) Ibn Shihab al-Zuhri (58–124 AH), one of the foundational figures in Islamic scholarship after the companions—especially in Hadith and early Islamic history—stated that in Islam, the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah holds the status of the greatest victory. (AlSirah al-Nabawiyyah by Ibn Kathir, Vol. 3, p. 324) All of this makes it clear that the remarkable success of the Prophet of Islam and his companions was rooted in the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah. Islam’s journey to its greatest success passed through this event. Therefore, it is correct to say that for Muslims today to reach a similar level of success, they must adopt the Hudaybiyyah approach. So, what is the Hudaybiyyah approach? It is, in essence, the greatest form of sacrifice. The proof lies in the fact that even a group as dedicated as the Prophet’s companions initially hesitated in accepting it. These were the same companions who had no hesitation in sacrificing their lives at Badr and Uhud. But at Hudaybiyyah, when the Prophet of Islam