Muhammad a Prophet For all Humanity
12. Emigration—From Makkah to Madinah
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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 it upon his envoys that they had
not come to fight anybody. “We have come as
pilgrims. War has 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, which 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 in support
of my cause, even at the risk of losing my life.
And what God wishes will come to pass.”
I3
The theme of this message shows that the Prophet
was appealing to a soft spot in the Quraysh’s own
psyche. When the Prophet first commenced his
public mission in Makkah, ‘Utbah ibn Rabi’ah came
