The True Jihad
The True Jihad
~ 18 ~
worked hard day and night along with his
companions to dig a long trench between him and
his opponents. This trench served as a buffer.
Therefore, when the army of the Quraysh arrived,
they could not attack. So they camped there for
some days. In the end they gave up the idea of
attacking as it was impossible to cross the ditch.
They eventually left Madinah. The digging of this
trench provides an example of opting for a peaceful
course instead of a violent course.
4. The Hudaybiyya peace treaty also provides
another example of this sunnah of the Prophet. At
that time the Prophet and his companions had
wanted to perform the minor pilgrimage (
umrah
) by
entering Makkah. But when they reached
Hudaybiyya, which was nine miles from Makkah,
they were stopped by the Quraysh leaders. They
said that in no event would they allow them to
enter Makkah. This again was a military challenge.
If the Prophet wanted to advance as planned
towards Makkah, an encounter was sure to take
place. Therefore, the Prophet ended his journey at
Hudaybiyya and entered into a peace treaty,
accepting unilaterally the conditions laid down by
