The Negotiations of the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah When the Prophet's camel, al-Qaswa, knelt down and refused to move, Quraysh was in a state of extreme confusion. They did not know what to do. They were unable to fight the Muslims, yet they were equally unwilling to allow them to enter Mecca! Khalid ibn al-Walid told them: “They have come as pilgrims, in the state of ihram.” Quraysh replied: “Even if they have come as pilgrims in ihram, they will not enter Mecca against our will!” So what did Quraysh do? They sent for the leaders of the tribes surrounding Mecca, asking them to come and witness that Muhammad had supposedly arrived as an aggressor against the city. Three prominent leaders quickly came: Budayl ibn Warqa', the leader of Khuza'ah. Al-Hulays ibn 'Alqamah, the leader of the Ahabish. 'Urwah ibn Mas'ud al-Thaqafi, the leader of Ta'if. Meanwhile, the Prophet sent one of his companions, Khirash ibn Umayyah, to Quraysh to inform them that he had come to perform Umrah, not to wage war. But as soon as Khirash entered Mecca, Quraysh confronted him and slaughtered the she-camel he was riding. They nearly killed him as well, had the leader of the Ahabish not intervened and prevented them. Khirash returned to the Prophet and told him what had happened. The First Negotiator: Budayl ibn Warqa' Quraysh then said: “Rise, O leader of Khuza'ah, Budayl ibn Warqa', and investigate Muhammad's intentions for us.” The tribe of Khuza'ah included both Muslims and non-Muslims, but their hearts inclined toward the Prophet, regardless of their religion. But why did Quraysh not send one of its own leaders? Because they did not want to appear as though they were seeking peace out of fear of confrontation. Instead, they chose the leader of Khuza'ah to represent them. Budayl set out with several men from his tribe until he reached the Prophet. He sat down and asked: “What has brought you to Mecca, O Muhammad?” The Prophet replied: “As you can see, we are in the state of ihram. We have brought our sacrificial animals with us. We wish to honor this Sacred House and perform tawaf around it, just as the rest of the Arabs do.” Budayl could see that the Prophet was telling the truth. His companions were disheveled and covered in dust, dressed in ihram and raising their voices with the Talbiyah. They clearly appeared to be pilgrims, not aggressors. Budayl wanted to resolve the situation and prevent fighting between the Muslims and Quraysh, so he attempted to intimidate the Prophet. He said: “O Muhammad, I believe you. But your people have unanimously decided that you will not enter Mecca against their will. I left Ka'b ibn Lu'ayy and 'Amir ibn Lu'ayy encamped near the waters of Hudaybiyyah, accompanied by their milking camels and their young. They are prepared to fight you for years, and they will not allow you to enter!” How did the Prophet respond? He said: “We have not come to fight anyone. We have come only to perform Umrah. War has exhausted Quraysh and caused them great suffering. If they wish, I will agree to a truce with them for a specified period, provided they leave me free to deal with the people. And if they wish to embrace what the people have embraced, they may do so. But if they refuse everything except fighting, then, by the One in Whose Hand is my soul, I will fight them for this cause until my neck is severed or Allah brings His command to fulfillment.” In other words, the Prophet was offering Quraysh an opportunity to end the fighting and allow him to invite people to Islam without intimidation or threats. Budayl did not know how to respond. He fell silent. Then he said: “O Muhammad, I will convey your words to them. I am only a messenger between you and them.” He returned to Quraysh and told them everything the Prophet had said. He advised them not to prevent him from reaching the Sacred House, explaining that every Arab had the right to visit it for pilgrimage. Muhammad had come in ihram to perform Umrah, not as a fighter or aggressor, as they claimed. But Quraysh accused Budayl of supporting the Prophet. The Second Negotiator: Al-Hulays ibn 'Alqamah Quraysh decided to send another man. This time, they chose al-Hulays ibn 'Alqamah, the leader of the Ahabish. The Ahabish were a confederation of tribes allied with Quraysh. They were not themselves Quraysh, nor did they belong to a single well-known tribe. Rather, they were a collection of different tribal groups that had united together. They had made an agreement with Quraysh to support them during the pilgrimage season and ensure that people could perform their pilgrimage without being attacked. Quraysh sent al-Hulays with several of his companions. Meanwhile, the Prophet was sitting and watching to see whom Quraysh would send next. When he saw al-Hulays approaching from a distance, he said to his companions: “They have sent you a man who reveres religious worship and sacred rites. Bring the sacrificial animals forward so that he may see them.” As al-Hulays approached, the Muslims brought forward the camels prepared for sacrifice, while the companions welcomed him by raising their voices with the Talbiyah. When al-Hulays saw this, he exclaimed: “Glory be to Allah! These people should never be prevented from reaching the Sacred House!” He immediately returned to Quraysh without even speaking to the Prophet. His reverence for sacred religious rites was so great that what he had witnessed was enough for him. He said to Quraysh: “Woe to you, O Quraysh! Would you prevent people who honor the sacred rites of Allah from reaching His House?! I have seen something that must not be obstructed. These people should not be prevented from reaching the Sacred House!” He began rebuking them and accusing them of harboring unjust suspicions. They replied: “Sit down, al-Hulays! You are merely a Bedouin who knows nothing.” Al-Hulays became furious. He said: “O people of Quraysh! By Allah, this is not what we allied ourselves with you for, nor is it what we agreed upon! Should someone who comes honoring the Sacred House of Allah be prevented from entering it?! By the One in Whose Hand is the soul of al-Hulays, and by the Lord of this House, either you allow Muhammad to proceed with what he has come to do, or I will take my people and withdraw, every last man among us, and stand with Muhammad against you!” This did not mean that al-Hulays intended to embrace Islam. Rather, he meant that he would support the Prophet's right to enter Mecca and perform Umrah, because he considered his request legitimate. When Quraysh saw his reaction, they tried to appease him. They seated him and said: “Do not worry, al-Hulays. There will be negotiations between us and him.” Al-Hulays sat down, but he remained cautious, determined to oppose Quraysh if they prevented the Messenger of God from performing Umrah. The Third Negotiator: 'Urwah ibn Mas'ud al-Thaqafi Quraysh then chose 'Urwah ibn Mas'ud al-Thaqafi, the leader of Ta'if. 'Urwah would later embrace Islam, and his story of martyrdom after the siege of Ta'if is remarkable. The Prophet used to say that he resembled Jesus Christ, peace be upon him. Quraysh asked him: “Will you go to him, 'Urwah?” He replied: “I have seen and heard what happened between you and those whom you sent before me. I am a man who will not accept being accused of disloyalty. You know, O leaders of Quraysh, that you are like parents to me and I am like your son.” His mother was from Quraysh, meaning that they were his maternal relatives, and he would not abandon them to side with Muhammad. He continued: “And you know that I have brought my people here to stand with you.” They replied: “You are not under suspicion.” He said: “Then if I go to him and return with my opinion, I will not accept you opposing me or accusing me of disloyalty.” After some persuasion, they convinced him to go. 'Urwah ibn Mas'ud approached with several men from his tribe until he reached the Messenger of God. He made his camel kneel and then walked toward the Prophet. When the companions recognized him as the leader of Thaqif, and knew that his sympathies lay with Quraysh, they feared that he might attempt to harm the Prophet through treachery. So one of the Prophet's companions, al-Mughirah ibn Shu'bah al-Thaqafi, who was 'Urwah's nephew, stood up. Al-Mughirah put on his helmet, took his sword, and stood beside the Prophet to guard him against any possible treachery. 'Urwah sat down on his knees and asked: “What has brought you here, O Muhammad?” The Prophet replied: “Can you not see, 'Urwah? We are in the state of ihram. We have brought our sacrificial animals, marked and prepared for sacrifice. We are raising our voices with the Talbiyah, our hair disheveled and our bodies covered in dust. We wish only to perform tawaf around this Sacred House, just like the rest of the Arabs.” 'Urwah replied: “O Muhammad, I have left Quraysh fully assembled against you. They swear by Allah that they will never allow you to reach the Sacred House or enter Mecca against their will. They will not accept your entering it this year. If you insist, they will fight you. They have put on their leopard skins in preparation for battle!” This was an expression of their determination and strength. He continued: “You are faced with only two possibilities. Either you destroy your own people—and we have never heard of a man destroying his own kinsmen before you. Or these people whom I see around you will abandon you. For I see no one with you except a rabble of people whose faces and lineages I do not even recognize!” In other words, 'Urwah was suggesting that the people upon whom the Prophet relied were nothing more than an insignificant band of men who would flee and abandon him if Quraysh attacked. The companions were furious at his words. They were prepared to sacrifice their very lives for the Messenger of God, and among them were noble and respected men from both Mecca and Medina. 'Urwah Returns to Quraysh When 'Urwah returned to Quraysh, he addressed them: “O my people! By Allah, I have visited kings. I have visited Caesar, Khosrow, and the Negus. Yet, by Allah, I have never seen anyone whose companions honor him as the companions of Muhammad honor Muhammad! I am giving you sincere advice: leave Muhammad alone and let him proceed with what he has come to do.” They replied: “Sit down, 'Urwah.” But he said: “I will not sit down! I made you promise that you would not accuse me of disloyalty.” They replied: “We are not accusing you of anything. Just sit down and let us continue discussing the matter.” 'Urwah responded: “How much more discussion do you need?! No, by Allah! I will not stand witness to such a disgraceful and shameful farce!” He then rose, gathered his people from Thaqif, and departed for Ta'if. And with his departure, Quraysh's position grew weaker.