We were in Siffin and Sahl bin Hunaif got up and said, "O people! Blame yourselves! We were with the Prophet (ﷺ) on the day of Hudaibiya, and if we had been called to fight, we would have fought. But `Umar bin Al Khatab came and said, 'O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! Aren't we in the right and our opponents in the wrongs' Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, 'Yes.' `Umar said, 'Aren't our killed persons in Paradise and their's in Hell?' He said, 'Yes.' `Umar said, 'Then why should we accept hard terms in matters concerning our religion? Shall we return before Allah judges between us and them?' Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, 'O Ibn Al- Khattab! I am the Messenger of Allah and Allah will never degrade me. Then `Umar went to Abu Bakr and told him the same as he had told the Prophet. On that Abu Bakr said (to `Umar). 'He is the Messenger of Allah and Allah will never degrade him.' Then Surat-al-Fath (i.e. Victory) was revealed and Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) recited it to the end in front of `Umar. On that `Umar asked, 'O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! Was it (i.e. the Hudaibiya Treaty) a victory?' Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Yes".
Jizyah and Mawaada'ah - Sahih al-Bukhari 3182
This narration from Sahl bin Hunaif recounts the profound wisdom of the Treaty of Hudaibiya, demonstrating the Prophet's strategic patience and divine guidance in dealing with opponents even when Muslims held military advantage.
Contextual Analysis
The companions initially perceived the treaty terms as unfavorable, questioning why they should accept apparent concessions while being morally and spiritually superior. Umar's questioning reflects human reasoning, while the Prophet's response shows complete trust in divine wisdom.
Allah's subsequent revelation of Surah al-Fath (Victory) confirmed the treaty as a strategic triumph, teaching Muslims that apparent setbacks can conceal profound victories when undertaken with prophetic guidance.
Scholarly Commentary
Classical scholars explain that this incident establishes the principle of temporary treaties with opponents when strategic interests demand, even while maintaining theological differences. The treaty allowed Islam to spread unopposed and strengthened the Muslim community.
Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani notes that the Prophet's response to Umar emphasizes that divine plans transcend immediate human understanding, and obedience to prophetic command takes precedence over personal judgment, regardless of one's status.
Legal Implications
This hadith provides foundational evidence for the permissibility of temporary peace treaties (mawaada'ah) with non-Muslim entities when beneficial to the Muslim community, establishing that tactical retreats and diplomatic agreements do not constitute religious compromise.
The incident demonstrates that treaties may involve apparent concessions while ultimately serving greater strategic objectives, a principle applied throughout Islamic history in various political contexts.