Muhammad a Prophet For all Humanity
5. Lessons of the Prophet’s Life
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Muslims, who were few in number at that time, and
not even equipped for battle. There they were,
stranded 250 miles from home, right on the border
of enemy territory. It was a perfect opportunity for
the Quraysh to unleash a savage onslaught on the
Muslims, and give full vent to their antagonism.
They did everything they could to provoke the
Muslims into starting a fight, but the Prophet
ignored every provocation; he scrupulously
avoided falling into their trap.
The situation was so grave that Abu Bakr was the
only one of the companions not to feel that, in
accepting humiliating peace terms, they had
bowed before the aggressor. They were even more
astonished when a verse of the Qur’an was
revealed which referred to the agreement as an
“obvious victory.” “What kind of victory is this?”
one of them protested. “We have been prevented
from visiting the House of God. Our camels for
sacrifice have not been allowed to proceed. God’s
Prophet has been forced to turn back from
Hudaybiyyah. Two of our persecuted brethren,
Abu Jandal and Abu Basir, have been handed over
to their persecutors ... “ Yet it was this humiliating
