STEADFASTNESS IN THE FACE OF HARDSHIPS
In the 6th year of Hijrah, the Prophet (Sallallahu 'alaihe wa sallam] along with his companions left for Makkah to perform Umrah. The Qureysh heard of the news and decided to resist his entry into Makkah even as a pilgrim, and so he had to encamp at Hudeybiah. The devoted Sahabah, 1 400 in number, were however determined to enter, even if it involved an open fight; but the Prophet (Sallallahu 'alaihe wa sallam) viewed the matter differently and in spite of the Sahabah's eagerness to fight, entered into a treaty with the Qureysh, accepting their conditions in full.
This one-sided and seemingly ungraceful truce was a very bitter pill for the Sahabah to swallow, but their devotion to the Prophet (Sallallahu 'alaihe wa sallam) would not allow them to demur, and even the most valiant man like Hadhrat Umar (Radhiyallahu anhu) could not but submit to his decision. According to one of the articles of the treaty, converts to Islam during the period of the truce were to be returned, but not so the deserters from Muslims to Qureysh.
Hadhrat Abu Jandal (Radhiyallahu anhu) a Muslim in Makkah, was suffering great persecution at the hands of Qureysh. They kept him constantly in chains. On hearing about the arrival of the Prophet (Sallallahu 'alaihe wa sallam) in Hudeybiah, he escaped somehow and managed to reach the Muslim camp at a time when the truce was about to be signed. His father, Suhail (till then a non-Muslim) was the envoy of Qureysh in the negotiations for the truce. He smote Hadhrat Abu Jandal (Radhiyallahu anhu) on his face and insisted on taking him back to Makkah. The Prophet (Sallallahu 'alaihe wa sallam) represented that, since the truce had not till then been written, its application in Abu Jandal's case was premature. Suhail, however, would not listen to any argument and was not inclined to leave his son with the Muslims even at the personal request of the Prophet (Sallallahu 'alaihe wa sallam), and would have forgone the truce even. Abu Jandal (Radhiyallahu anhu) counting his hardships remonstrated at the top of his voice but, much to the grief of the Sahabah, the Prophet (Sallallah 'alaihe wa sallam) agreed to his return. He however enjoined patience on him saying:
"Do not be distressed, Hadhrat Abu Jandal (Radhiyallahu anhu), Allah will shortly open a way for you."
After the truce was signed and the Prophet (Sallallahu 'alaihe wa sallam) had returned to Madinah, another people of Makkah Muslim Hadhrat Abu Basir (Radhiyallahu anhu) escaped to Madinah and besought the Prophet's (Sallallahu 'alaihe wa sallam) protection. The Prophet (Sallallahu 'alaihe wa sallam) refused to accept his implorations and, in deference to the truce condition, handed him over to the two persons who had been deputed by the Qureysh to claim him. He, however, advised him as he had advised Hadhrat Abu Jandal (Radhiallahu anhu) to be patient and to hope for the help of Allah. When Hadhrat Abu Basir (Radhiyallahu anhu) and his escort were on their way back to Mecca, Hadhrat Abu Basir (Radhiyallahu anhu) said to one of them:
The man was flattered and took it out from the sheath and said:
"Yes it is really very fine, and I have tried it on so many persons. You can have a look at it."
Most foolishly he made over the sword to Abu Basir (Radhiyallaho anho), who immediately 'tried' it on its owner and killed him. The other man took to his heels and reached Madinah to report to the Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam). In the meantime Abu Basir (Radhiyallaho anho) also arrived. He said to the Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam):
"0, Prophet of Allah, you once returned me and absolved yourself of the truce obligations. I had no obligations to fulfil and I managed my escape from them by this trick, as I was afraid of their forcing me to forsake my faith."The Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) remarked: "You are a war-monger. I wish you could be helped."
Hadhrat Abu Basir (Radhiyallahu anhu) came to understand from this that he would be returned to Qureysh again when they demanded him. He therefore left Madinah and fled to a place in the desert on the sea shore. Abu Jandal (Radhiyallahu anhu) also managed his escape and joined him there. More Muslims of Makkah followed, and in a few days quite a small group of such fugitives gathered in the wilderness. They had to undergo untold sufferings in the desert, where there was neither habitation nor vegetation. They, however, being bound by no treaty proved a great nuisance for the Qureysh by dealing blows after blows on their caravans passing that way. This compelled the Qureysh to approach the Prophet (Sallallahu 'alaihe wa sallam) and beseech him to intervene and call the fugitives to Madinah, so that they might be bound by the terms of the treaty like other Muslims, and the caravans might pass in safety. It is said that Hadhrat Abu Basir (Radhiyallahu anhu) was on his deathbed when the letter sent by the Prophet (Sallallahu 'alaihe wa sallam) permitting his return to Madinah reached him. He died while holding the Prophet's (Sallallahu 'alaihe wa sallam) letter in his hand.
No power on the earth can make a person forsake his faith, provided it is a true faith. Moreover, Allah has given an assurance to help those who are genuine Muslims.
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