Understanding The Prophet's Life
From Issue: 930 [Read full issue]
Treaty
The Prophet viewed all treaties very seriously. He never broke a promise he gave to anyone, nor would he violate a treaty that had been concluded and witnessed by both parties. For example, a few moments after concluding the ?udaybiyah peace agreement with the Quraysh, a Muslim who was imprisoned and tortured in Makkah arrived and sought refuge with the Muslims. His father was the Quraysh negotiator of the agreement. He demanded that the Muslim, Abu Jandal, should be handed over to him. The Prophet requested him to allow his son to stay with the Muslims. In his appeal to the father, the Prophet said: "The ink has not dried yet on the agreement document." The father adamantly refused. The Prophet consoled Abu Jandal and handed him over to his father, telling him: "It is not right for us in our faith to go back on our pledges." [Ibn Hisham]
The Prophet's strict observance of commitments that he had made under treaties was mirrored by a serious view of any violation of treaties by the other side. Each one of the three Jewish tribes that were party to the Madinah convention was expelled from Madinah when they violated its terms and adopted a hostile attitude.
When the overwhelming majority of the population of Arabia had adopted Islam, it was God's decision to claim the entire Arabian Peninsula as a land of Islam. Therefore, all treaties that did not specify an expiry date were declared abrogated, with a notice of four months to provide the people concerned with some time to determine what they wished to do. The treaties that specified a date of expiry were to run to the end of their terms. The Prophet made the required announcement on the grand day of pilgrimage, so that it would be known to all tribes at the same time. Thus, everyone was clear about their prospects and the options available to them, and they could make their decision with full recognition of the consequences.
Compiled From:
"Muhammad: His Character and Conduct" - Adil Salahi