Ruku 448 ع

Commentary:

The swearing of allegiance referred to in the verse took place at Hudaibiyyah under an acacia tree after a report had reached the Holy Prophet that in breach of ambassadorial usage or etiquette his envoy, ‘Uthman, had been killed at Mecca. It was, perhaps, not so much the reported murder of ‘Uthman as the violation of a sacred and time-honoured custom that exhausted the Prophet’s patience. He invited his followers to take a solemn oath at his hand that they would fight the Quraish to the last breath of their lives. The oath came to be known as Bai‘atur-Ridwan, which signified that those lucky people who had taken the oath had obtained God’s pleasure.

The words, "He knew what was in their hearts," mean that God was well conversant with the state of their minds, viz. that they were quite honest and sincere in their oaths and were anxious to vindicate their sincerity with their blood.

What greater proof could there be that "God sent down tranquillity on Muslims," than that, being only about 1500 in number and being far away from home, friendless and surrounded by hostile tribes and faced by a powerful enemy who was entrenched in his citadel, the Muslims were prepared to fight rather than agree to the proposed terms of the Treaty. The expression, "He rewarded them with a victory near at hand" refers to the victory of Khaibar. On his return from Hudaibiyyah the Prophet led an expedition against the Jews of Khaibar (a great hotbed of Jewish intrigue and conspiracy) with those Muslims who were with him at Hudaibiyyah. Judged by worldly standards of political strategy, and in view of the apparently humiliating terms of the Treaty and of the feeling of frustration that some of the Companions felt at those terms, the Holy Prophet should have been a beaten and embittered man, yet God has styled the Treaty "a clear victory" (v. 2), "a grand achievement" (v. 6); "a mighty reward" (v. 11); and "the completion and perfection of His favour on the Prophet" (v. 3). What was it that made this "humiliating" Treaty such a significant event in the annals of Islam? The answer is: Because it opened the floodgates of spiritual and political conquests for Islam. The signing of the Treaty of Hudaibiyyah was immediately followed by the conquest of Khaibar, a Jewish stronghold and a source of great danger and anxiety for Muslims. Besides, the Islamic Republic at Medina came to be recognized as an independent sovereign state, and within the brief space of three or four years the whole of Arabia was at the feet of the Holy Prophet, followed by a chain of victories which culminated in the defeat and destruction of the great and powerful Byzantine and Iranian Empires.

Commentary:

"Great Spoils" may refer to the great gains which the Muslims got as a result of the "near victory" promised in the preceding verse.

The repeated mention in the Surah of the Divine attributes "Mighty," "Wise" and "Powerful over all things" seems to signify that the seemingly humiliating Treaty of Hudaibiyyah proved a source of great power for Muslims, as it had been signed by the Prophet in obedience to God’s command Who is Mighty, Wise and Powerful.

5:12.

Commentary:

"Great Spoils" mentioned here may refer to the great booty which fell into the hands of Muslims in the conquests which followed the victory at Khaibar, in the rest of Arabia and the neighbouring countries, but the words "He has given you this in advance," evidently refer to the spoils gained at Khaibar. The words فعجل لکم ھذہ may also signify the good things of the present life. The words, "has restrained the hands of men from you", mean that the Treaty of Hudaibiyyah had ushered in a period of peace for Muslims.

Commentary:

The verse embodies a prophecy that Muslims will achieve other great victories after the victory of Khaibar.

Commentary:

The verse purports to say that whenever true believers will stand facing disbelievers in battle array, the disbelievers would suffer defeat. The verse may also mean that if fighting had broken out at Hudaibiyyah the disbelievers would certainly have suffered defeat.

17:78; 33:63; 35:44.

Commentary:

The verse means that it has always been the Law of God that truth must ultimately triumph and falsehood suffer defeat; and God’s Law knows no change. This fact is writ large on the face of human history.

Commentary:

The words "after He had given you victory over them," may signify that in view of the circumstances in which the Muslims were then placed and of the far-reaching results it produced, the Treaty of Hudaibiyyah was tantamount to a great victory. The words may also refer to the victories that God had granted to Muslims before they came to Hudaibiyyah—the victory at Badr, the safe return of Muslims and the Holy Prophet to Medina from Uhud after they had been placed in a very dangerous and delicate situation, and the complete frustration of the Meccans in their evil designs to destroy Islam in the Battle of the Ditch when they were repulsed with severe loss, etc. In a sense these were all victories of believers over disbelievers.

8:35; 16:89; 22:26; 43:38.

2:197.

Important Words:

معرة (blame) is derived from عر (‘arra). They say عرت الابل i.e. the camels were or became mangy or scabby. عرہ means, he did to him an abominable thing; he did to him what he disliked; he disgraced him. عرہ بشر means, he aspersed him or charged or upbraided him with evil, or he wronged him. معرة means, a cause of reviling or being reviled; a crime or sin that is noxious like mange or scab; a foul or abominable thing; a cause of grief or vexation; disgrace; annoyance, hurt, harm or injury (Lane & Aqrab).

Commentary:

The verse means that though the Meccans gloated over the terms of the Treaty of Hudaibiyyah which, in their ignorance, they thought were very advantageous to them and humiliating for Muslims, and though the latter feeling that the terms were being forcibly wrung from them were crestfallen and did not know that in reality the terms had laid the foundations of a very prosperous and bright future for Islam, yet God had His own design in not permitting the fight to take place. There was a nucleus of Muslims in Mecca and if the fight had taken place, the Muslim army would have unknowingly killed their own brethren in faith, thereby causing great injury to their own cause, and earning obloquy and opprobrium for themselves. In fact, from whatever angle the Treaty of Hudaibiyyah may be viewed it was indeed a great victory.

9:26.

Important Words:

حمیة (prideful indignation) is inf. noun from حمی which means, he refused to bear or endure or tolerate wrongful treatment. They say حمی عنه او منه i.e. he was ashamed, and he disdained or scorned to do it. حمی علیه means, he was angry with him. حمیة(syn. أنفة and غیرة) means, disdain, scorn or indignation; jealousy; indignation which is the result of a feeling of pride (Lane & Aqrab).

Commentary:

The verse means that against their own tradition and usage that access to, and the circuit of, the Ka‘bah was not to be prevented in the four Sacred Months, the pagans of Mecca, from a false sense of dignity and national pride, had made it a point of honour with them not to allow Muslims to enter Mecca and perform the Lesser Pilgrimage (عمرة). But "Allah sent His tranquillity" upon the Muslims and though they were greatly upset over the seemingly humiliating terms of the Treaty, yet in deference to the command of their noble Master they bore it all with becoming restraint and patient and did not abandon the path of rectitude and righteousness under the most severe provocation. The Companions of the Holy Prophetalone were capable of setting such a noble example.