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THE SECOND STAGE
A NEW PHASE OF ISLAMIC ACTION
Al-Hudaibiyah Truce marked a new phase in the process of Islamic action and life of the Muslims.
Quraish, a bitter enemy of Islam, now withdraws from the war arena and embraces a peaceful
settlement with the Muslims, thus the third support of a tripartite enemy (Quraish, Ghatfan and the
Jews) is broken, and being the holder of the banner of paganism in Arabia, the other pagans’
aggressive feelings towards Islam considerably subsided. Ghatfan Tribe no longer constituted any
remarkable threat, and their provocative deeds were mainly Jewish-instigated actions. The Jews,
after being banished from Madinah, resorted to Khaibar to change it into a hot bed of intrigues
against the Prophet (Peace be upon him). There, they used to hatch their plots, ignite the fire of
dissension and allure the Arabs living in the vicinity of Madinah to join them with the aim of
exterminating the new Islamic state, or at least inflict heavy losses on the Muslims. The Prophet
(Peace be upon him), not heedless of their devilish schemes, placed a decisive war with them as a
first priority on his agenda shortly after the endorsement of the above-mentioned treaty. The treaty
of Hudaibiyah allowed the Muslims to intensify their Islamic career and double up their ceaseless
efforts in propagating their
Da‘wah
, and consequently give this sort of action preponderance over
the military activities. Hence, we deem it imperative to divide this post-treaty stage into two
sections:
1. Ceaseless peaceful efforts in propagating the Islamic
Da‘wah
(Call) and initiating a sort of
correspondence with kings and princes of the neighbouring political entities.
2. Military activities.
THE PROPHET'S PLANS TO SPREAD THE MESSAGE OF ISLAM BEYOND ARABIA
Late in the six year A.H., on his return from Hudaibiyah, the Prophet (Peace be upon him) decided
to send messages to the kings beyond Arabia calling them to Islam. In order to authenticate the
credentials of his envoys, a silver seal was made in which were graven the words: “
Muhammad the
Messenger of Allâh
” in the following formation:
ãÍãÏ
ÑÓÜÜæá
Çááå
Envoys were chosen on the basis of their experience and knowledge, and sent on their errands in
Muharram in the year 7 A.H., a few days before heading for Khaibar.
1.A Deputation to Abyssinia (Ethiopia):
Negus, king of Abyssinia (Ethiopia), his name was Ashama bin Al-Abjar, received the Prophet’s
message, despatched by Amr bin Omaiyah Ad-Damari, which At-Tabari referred to, either late in the
sixth year or early in the seventh year A.H. Deep scrutiny into the letter shows that it w as not the
one sent after Al-Hudaibiyah event. Wording of the letter rather indicates that it was sent to that
king when Ja‘far and his companions emigrated to Abyssinia (Ethiopia) during the Makkan period.
One of its sentences read “I have despatched my cousin, Ja‘far with a group of Muslims, to you. Do
be generous towards them and give up haughtiness.”
Al-Baihaqi, on the authority of Ibn Ishaq, gave the following narration of the Prophet’s letter sent to
Negus:
“This letter is sent from Muhammad, the Prophet to Negus Al-Ashama, the king of Abyssinia
(Ethiopia).
Peace be upon him who follows true guidance and believes in Allâh and His Messenger. I bear
witness that there is no god but Allâh Alone with no associate, He has taken neither a wife nor a
son, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. I call you unto the fold of Islam; if you
embrace Islam, you will find safety,
·
“Say [O Muhammad (Peace be upon him)]: ‘O people of the Scripture (Jews and
Christians), come to a word that is just between us and you, that we worship none but
Allâh, and that we associate no partners with Him, and that none of us shall take others as
lords besides Allâh.’ Then, if they turn away, say: ‘Bear witness that we are Muslims.’ ”
[3:64]
Should you reject this invitation, then you will be held responsible for all the evils of the Christians
of your people.”
Dr. Hameedullah (Paris), a reliable verifier, has adduced a version of the above letter disclosed only
a short time ago and identical to Ibn Al-Qaiyim’s narration. Dr. Hameedullah exerted painstaking
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