Allah^-SWT was pleased with those who took b'ait at Hudaibiyah under a tree, acknowledging their spirit of sacrifice. This is because He^-SWT was aware of their sincerity and as a reward sent down tranquillity upon them.

 

The Tree of B'ait-e-Ridhwan

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It was a shady acacia tree under which the Holy Prophet^-SW took bait on death. Driven by the emotions of sanctity, people later took to offering Salat there. However, Hadhrat Sa`eed bin Mussayab^-RAU disclosed that his parents were among those who had taken the b'ait under that tree, but even they could not find it on a subsequent visit. So People seem to be propping on guesswork and this likely idol was ordered to be uprooted by Hadhrat Umar^-RAU.

 

What is Thawab (Reward)?

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Again the reality of this word is being described here, like it was done for the participants of Badr. Thawab in fact is synonymous to Allah^-SWT‘s Pleasure, which gives the capacity to constantly persevere on piety in practical life. The righteous scholars agree that all the Companions^-RAU with the Holy Prophet^-SW at Hudaibiyah shall certainly enjoy the Divine Pleasure forever. They were blessed with peace of mind and temporal bounties in the form of victory at Khyber immediately after Hudaibiyah whereby they got large booty, weapons and other goods. This not only augmented their combat power but also dealt a crushing blow to the enemies.

 

Khyber

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Khyber was a province comprising many citadels, valleys, orchards and townships. On return from Hudaibiyah, the Holy Prophet^-SW stayed for ten or twenty days in Madinah before leaving for Khyber, on Muharram, the 7th A.H. In the following month Khyber was taken. The prophecy of this victory had prompted some to join in as mentioned earlier, but exceptions were only a few. This was because Allaah^-SWT had decreed the victory and the booty as rewards for the steadfast at Hudaibiyah. He^-SWT could have given victory over Makkah right away, but deferred it out of His^-SWT Wisdom.

 

Allah^-SWT also promised the believers a number of victories and lots of booty because of their sincere devotion to the Holy Prophet^-SW at Hudaibiyah. This included the Conquest of Makkah and subsequent victories over the Romans and the Persians as well as other nations across the globe. Allaah^-SWT restrained the enemy at Khyber, and despite being mighty they could not put up a fight commensurate to their military prowess. At the other end of the valley were the Banu Ghatfän having defence treaty with the Jews of Khyber, yet they failed to show up despite preparations. They were over powered by the fear of an attack on their settlements in their absence. This indeed was a demonstration of Allah^-SWT‘s succour witnessed by the believers to facilitate the path of guidance for them.

 

Promotion in Grades

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Being already on the right path, their spiritual grades were raised whereby they attained stations not enjoyed before. Such are the effects of Thawab in this temporal life. The Conquest of Makkah was beyond the control of the believers but it was not so for Almighty Allah^-SWT, Potent over everything. Even if there had been a battle at Hudaibiyah the infidels would have been put to flight, finding no helper or supporter as the causes of their defeat existed, (as will be discussed later). This is Allah^-SWT‘s Way and He^-SWT does not alter it. And He^-SWT is so Absolute that He^-SWT denied infidels the ability to attack the believers at Hudaibiyah. At the same time He^-SWT also did not let the believers slay the infidels, which could trigger the war, though they held some of them as prisoners.

 

The Causes which could lead to the Defeat of Infidels

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The first and the foremost cause was infidelity. They were on the wrong track, and falsehood is destined to lose when it encounters the Truth. In other words, if the infidels enjoy superiority today it is because of our neglect in adhering to the Truth. Secondly, they were hindering admission into the Sacred Precincts and had, in the process, prevented the offerings from reaching the appointed place. All these causes would have led to their defeat. But the deferment in the Conquest of Makkah was by His^-SWT Infinite Wisdom. He^-SWT knew that defeat at Khyber would shatter the might of the Jews, arch supporters of the Makkans, who had excelled them in hostility towards the believers. And that an assault on Makkah at this stage would jeopardise the safety of many believing men and women who had not been able to migrate for some reason. Any harm to them would not only aggrieve the believers later but would also draw adverse comments from the infidels for not sparing their own people.

 

Companions^-RAU not Innocent but Protected

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Though such harm was not a sin being unintentional, yet it would have aggrieved the believers and given the infidels a chance to be sarcastic. Allaah^-SWT protected them against any such killing. The scholars agree that only the Prophets^-AS are innocent while the Companions^-RAU enjoy His Protection. A conformity to them makes the accomplished Aulia' eligible for this blessing. The illustrious Shaikh Allah Yar Khan^-RUA would often recount incidents whereby Allaah^-SWT protected him. And Allaah^-SWT favours whoever He^-SWT pleases.

 

Believers' Company may Spare the Non believers from Worldly Doom

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It was the presence of Muslims in Makkah that spared the polytheists from Divine punishment. It proves that living with the noble even benefits the infidels and protects them in this world, whereas a believer benefits both here as well as in the Akhirah. The infidels also qualified for a humiliating punishment because of their stupid spite and conceit. They hindered the path of His^-SWT Final Prophet^-SW, a grave transgression indeed.

 

The Status of the Companions^-RAU

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Allah^-SWT testifies that He^-SWT inspired the Companions^-RAU to be firm on piety, truth and justice. Ironically, some false sects raise objections about their honesty and credibility. Some quasi intellectuals do not even hesitate to criticise and sit on judgement on their decisions. Such behaviour is nothing but blatant wickedness. The fact is that all of them enjoy grace and Divine protection. Even those who follow them in letter and spirit, that is, the accomplished Aulia' also share this blessing. Any imputation against those present in B'ait-e-Ridhwan for instance, Hadhrat 'Uthman^-RAU, whom the Holy Prophet^-SW himself represented in this ba’it by placing his one hand over the other, is outrightly absurd. May Allaah^-SWT guide all to the straight path! He^-SWT is a witness to the fact that the Companions^-RAU were worthy of the word of Truth and they deserved it, and Allaah^-SWT is well Aware of everything.