Al-Hudaybiyah: The Gateway to the Clear Victory

Allah the Almighty has honored certain places by mentioning them in the Noble Qur’an — a sign of the honor of those who were present there.

He honored a cave that sheltered a noble Prophet, a cavern that gave refuge to believing youths, and likewise, He honored a tree under which truthful men pledged allegiance.

That very tree, bent in shape, stood in a place known as Al-Hudaybiyah. Beneath its branches, men pledged allegiance to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, and Allah was pleased with them.

This pledge came to be known as Bay‘at al-Ridwan — the Pledge of Satisfaction.

Here is the story…

Location: Al-Hudaybiyah — 24 km west of Al-Masjid Al-Haram, along the road to Jeddah.

It lies outside the Sacred Boundary (al-Haram), just 2 km away from the markers that designate its beginning.

Time: Dhul-Qa‘dah, 6 AH

The Event:

The Prophet ﷺ set out from Madinah intending to perform ‘Umrah, accompanied by his companions. He had seen in a dream that they were performing Tawaf around the Ka‘bah. On their way, they received news that Quraysh intended to block their path and prevent them from entering Makkah. The Muslims prepared for a possible confrontation.

When they reached Thaniyyat al-Murār, the Prophet’s camel knelt and refused to proceed. The Prophet ﷺ said:

“The One who restrained the elephant has restrained her.”

Just as Allah protected His Sacred House on the Day of the Elephant through His Name Al-Jabbār (the Compeller), He would now protect it through His Name As-Salām (the Source of Peace). The Prophet ﷺ would not allow the people of truth to clash with the people of falsehood within its sanctuary.

So, he turned away from the path to Makkah and headed west, settling at the far edge of Al-Hudaybiyah with 1,400 companions.

They camped in a valley with no water, and the people grew thirsty — until pure water miraculously gushed forth from between the blessed fingers of the Prophet ﷺ.

It was a clear sign, and it appeared in Al-Hudaybiyah.

The Prophet ﷺ then sent ‘Uthmān ibn ‘Affān to negotiate with Quraysh and inform them that the Muslims had come in peace, merely to honor the Sacred House — not to wage war.

‘Uthmān’s delay led to a rumor that he had been killed.

The Prophet ﷺ, deeply grieved, called upon the believers to pledge allegiance under the tree — a pledge of loyalty unto death.

One by one, they came forth and pledged — this was Bay‘at al-Ridwan.

The rumor was soon proven false.

A delegate from Quraysh arrived for negotiations, and the result was the Treaty of Al-Hudaybiyah.

It included a ten-year truce, a delay of that year’s ‘Umrah, and a controversial condition: any man who left Quraysh to join the Muslims would be returned, but Quraysh would not be required to return anyone who left the Muslims.

Though the terms seemed unjust to many, Allah — the Most Wise — deemed it a Clear Victory (Fatḥ Mubīn).

In Al-Hudaybiyah, the Companions were tested in their loyalty, obedience, and submission to Allah’s decree — and they passed.

If Allah made Makkah a source of light, and Madinah a stronghold of faith,

then He made Al-Hudaybiyah a place of tranquility and divine pleasure,

and a gateway to the Clear Victory.