Epic Conquest of Khaybar Visualized by AI - Ali's Heroic Fight! - O Messenger | Ep. 9
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Four companions were specially chosen by the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). Dihya Al-Kalbi, Hatib ibn Abi Balta'a, Amir ibn Umayya, and Abdullah ibn Hudhafa. Each of them was about to set out with a letter in hand. But who were these letters written to? To the rulers of the major powers of the time. The Byzantine Emperor, the King of Abyssinia, the Ruler of Egypt, and the Kisra (King) of Persia. Each letter was written specifically for its own recipient, inviting them to Islam. He even had a signet ring made and used it to seal all the letters. This video series is based on hundreds of references from reliable Islamic sources.
All AI visuals were prepared in consultation with qualified Muslim scholars and are in line with Islamic guidelines. It was around the beginning of 629. Seven years had passed since the Hijra (migration). The Messenger of Allah's mission was to spread the message of Islam to the entire world. Because he was not a prophet sent only to the Quraysh or to Arabia; he was sent to all of humanity. So the letters were written and the companions appointed as envoys set out to deliver them. To the Byzantine Empire, the Messenger of Allah sent Dihya Al-Kalbi. Welcome to the palace. When he arrived, he was welcomed by the governor and then taken before Emperor Heraclius.
The Emperor received the letter and ordered it to be read out loud. "Let us hear it." As he listened, he started remembering what was written in their holy books. They had given the good news of a prophet who would come in the future and described his qualities. And now, someone who claimed prophethood had sent him a letter. Could this be the one they were waiting for? This really made him think deeply. "Please rest. You must be tired from the journey." Then he did two important things. First, he wrote a letter to his close friend, the Patriarch of Byzantium, Daghatir al-Usquf. He trusted his advice, so he explained the situation to him and asked for his opinion.
And second, he ordered his men: "Go and check if there is anyone here from the tribe of this man who claims to be a prophet." Soon after, the Patriarch sent his response. But what did he write? We'll get to that in a moment. But first, let's look at the Emperor's conversation with a familiar name, Abu Sufyan. Yes, Abu Sufyan happened to be in the region for trade. When soldiers saw him in the marketplace, they brought him to the Emperor along with his friends. They were taken to the church of Ilya. Heraclius then called them to the court. "Your Majesty." He had all the senior Roman officials and religious leaders around him.
The Emperor asked: "Which of you is closer in lineage to that man who claims to be a prophet?" "I am the closest relative to him." "Bring him close to me, and make his friends stand behind him. I'm going to ask him some questions about that man. If he lies to me, you must immediately expose him." With this move, Abu Sufyan would not be able to lie. Then Heraclius started asking him questions. "What is his family status among you?" "He belongs to a noble family among us." "Have you ever accused him of lying before?" "No." "Who follows him?
The nobles or the poor?" "The poor and the weak follow him." "Are his followers increasing or decreasing?" "They are increasing." Abu Sufyan could not understand the reason behind these questions, but each of them had a purpose. "Have you ever gone to war against him?" "Yes, we have." "What was the outcome?" "Sometimes he won, and sometimes we won." "What does he command you to do?" "He commands us to worship Allah alone and not associate any partner with Him. He forbids us from worshipping what our ancestors used to worship. He commands us to pray, to speak the truth, to be chaste, and to keep good ties with our relatives." "All the things you have described are the qualities of a prophet.
If what you say is true, he will soon rule the ground beneath my feet. I already knew that a prophet would appear, but I never expected him to be from your people." And that is exactly what would happen. Heraclius was now certain that the prophet foretold in the Gospel and the Torah was Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). When he finished speaking, voices began to rise in the room. The senior officials started talking among themselves, and the noise grew louder and louder. Abu Sufyan and his friends were quickly taken outside.
"This matter has become so big, that even the Roman Emperor is afraid of him." Heraclius would later accept Islam, but fearing that his throne would be shaken, he would keep his faith hidden. But what happened to the letter that he sent to his friend the Patriarch? The answer had come. In his letter, Daghatir wrote that the Messenger of Allah was truly a prophet. The Emperor then asked Dihya to go to the Patriarch too and invite him to Islam. The Patriarch's response and what he would go through were truly shocking. "Go back to your Prophet, convey my greetings, and tell him that I believe there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.
And I bear witness that Jesus is the servant of Allah." Then the Patriarch went to his room, removed his black garment, and put on his white ceremonial robe. He took his staff and stood before the people who had gathered in the church. It was now time to announce the truth. "O Romans! We have received a letter from a prophet named Ahmad. In it, he invited us to believe in Allah, the Most High. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and that Ahmad is His servant and Messenger." Upon hearing this, the crowd went mad with rage. "How is this possible?! You abandoned the religion of your forefathers!" They rushed at Daghatir and beat him until he was martyred. May Allah have mercy on him.
Another ruler who was sent a letter was the King of Abyssinia, Najashi. Amir ibn Umayya delivered it. If you remember, when the Muslims had made that difficult journey to Abyssinia, Najashi had welcomed them with great kindness. "You are completely safe in my land." He took the letter sent by the Messenger of Allah, placed it over his eyes as a sign of respect, kissed it, and raised it to his forehead. Then he instructed one of his men to read it out loud. After listening to the letter, he stepped down from his throne, sat humbly on the ground, and recited the Shahada (testimony of faith).
"Ashhadu an la ilaha illa Allah, wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan Rasulullah (I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah). If it were possible for me to go to him, I certainly would." The envoy, Amir ibn Umayya, had one more request. "I want you to send the Muslims who are still living in Abyssinia to Medina." Najashi would never have the chance to see the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), but for years, he had hosted those who had seen him. And now, he was sending them home to reunite with him. The ruler of Persia, Kisra Parvez, had also received a letter from the Messenger of Allah.
Abdullah ibn Hudhafa arrived in Persia and personally delivered the Prophet's invitation to Islam to Kisra. Kisra had his scribe read it. "Bismillah ir-Rahman ir-Rahim. In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate. From Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah, to Khosrow, leader of the Persians." Kisra suddenly became furious and didn't even let him finish reading the letter. "Look at this! This man, who is nothing more than my subject, my slave, dares to write to me a letter and even puts his name before mine!" Saying this, he tore the letter to pieces.
When this news reached the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), he raised his hands and prayed to Allah to tear them, meaning him and his kingdom, all into pieces. Allah would accept His Messenger's dua (supplication), and not long after, Kisra Parvez would be stabbed and killed by his own son, Shirwayh. Torn to pieces just like the letter. The Prophet (peace be upon him) had even foretold the exact month and day he would be killed, and it happened exactly as he said. As for his empire, it was torn apart by Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas during the Caliphate of Umar (may Allah be pleased with him). The envoy chosen to go to Egypt was Hatib ibn Abi Balta'a.
He set out to deliver the Prophet's letter to the ruler, Muqawqis. Since Muqawqis was in Alexandria at the time, Hatib met him there and presented the letter. "Bismillah ir-Rahman ir-Rahim. From Muhammad, the servant and Messenger of Allah, to Muqawqis, the leader of the Copts. Peace be upon those who follow guidance. Now then, I invite you to Islam. Accept Islam and you will be safe, and Allah will double your reward. But if you reject this invitation, then the sin of the Copts will be upon you. Say: 'O People of the Book!
Let us come to a common word between us and you: That we will not worship except Allah, and not associate anything with Him, and not take one another as lords beside Allah. But if they turn away, then say: Bear witness that we are Muslims.'" After the letter was read, Muqawqis showed great hospitality to the envoy, Hatib ibn Abi Balta'a. But he didn't say anything at that moment. Later that night, he called for Hatib to his presence. After a long and detailed conversation, Muqawqis said: "I knew that another prophet would come. But I assumed he would emerge from Sham (the Levant), because most of the earlier prophets had appeared from there.
However, I also found in the scriptures that the final prophet would arise in Arabia, a land of hardship and poverty. We found his attributes written in the Book of Allah. And this is the exact time for him to appear. But the Copts won't listen to me if I tell them to follow him, and I cannot bear to abandon my throne. That prophet will rule over many lands, and after him, his companions will come all the way to our city squares and settle here. They will ultimately defeat the people here." He lost sight of the fact that the rewards of the Hereafter were both endless and far better.
In Surah Al-Qasas, Allah reminds us that everything we have has actually been granted by Him and says: "And whatever things you have been given is no more than an enjoyment and adornment of this worldly life. But what is with Allah is far better and more lasting. So will you not then use your reason?" So, the letters had been sent to the rulers, and the struggle to spread Islam's message to new lands would continue. However, suitable conditions for these courageous moves were not obtained easily. Behind it was a treaty that required great patience: The Treaty of Hudaybiyyah that was signed with the polytheists of Mecca. It was about eight to ten months before the letters were sent.
Everything began with a dream. That night, the Messenger of Allah had a dream that would deeply impact all of Medina. In his dream, he was visiting the Kaaba with his companions, and they were completely safe. They had gone to Mecca together. In the morning, when the Prophet (peace be upon him) shared his dream with his companions, they felt an indescribable joy. "Hey! Have you heard? The Messenger of Allah has seen a dream! In his dream, we were performing Umrah (lesser pilgrimage) in Mecca! Safely!" But why did just a dream have such a huge impact? Because the dreams of prophets are a form of revelation. So this was seen as something that would definitely happen.
And everyone started dreaming of going back to Mecca. After six long years of separation, they would finally be able to return to Mecca and visit the House of Allah. Preparations began immediately. On a Monday, 1,400 Muslims set out from Medina with great excitement. They took with them 70 sacrificial camels and only the swords that travelers used for protection. Their intention was not war, but to perform Umrah. Even from a distance, it had to be clear that they had no intention of fighting. Just imagine, they were heading towards the very people they had been at war with for six years, without any preparations for battle. What incredible courage!
Like all good virtues, their courage came from their faith. When they reached the area of Dhul-Hulayfah, they prayed Dhuhr. After the prayer, the Messenger of Allah put on two pieces of white cloth, made his intention for Umrah, and entered Ihram (sacred state). Then he began reciting the Talbiyah. "Labbayk Allahumma Labbayk (Here I am, O Allah, here I am)." The companions joined him with the same enthusiasm. They were getting closer and closer to Mecca. Their excitement was at its peak. In the meantime, this news reached the Quraysh. When they heard that 1,400 Muslims were on their way to Mecca, they panicked. "Have you heard? The Muslims are coming toward Mecca! 1,400 of them!
How can this be?" "But they are not armed. We do not understand why they are coming." "Then we must act. Act immediately! Whatever their reason, we cannot allow this." The Mushrikun (polytheists) sensed that this wasn't about war. It was something different. But regardless, they decided not to let the Muslims enter Mecca. So they formed a 200-man cavalry unit under the command of Khalid ibn Walid. When the Messenger of Allah learned about the preparations of Quraysh, he changed his route. He was planning to enter Mecca by another path. But there was one thing standing in his way: his camel, Qaswa. Remember, at the end of the Hijra to Medina, she had sat down in a field and refused to move.
And now, as they neared the border of Mecca, she sat down again. No matter how hard they tried to get her up, they failed. The companions were frustrated, and they said: "Al-Qaswa has become stubborn." The Messenger of Allah replied: "She has not become stubborn, for stubbornness is not her habit. Rather, she is being prevented by the One who prevented the Elephant." Meaning Abraha's elephant that was trying to reach the Kaaba. "There is wisdom in whatever Allah directs His creation to, and there is good in whatever He holds them back from." Then they set up camp by a well in the area called Hudaybiyyah. Their homeland, their memories, their homes, and loved ones were so close now.
But there was one question on everyone's mind: "When will we be allowed to enter Mecca?" "I do not know. Yet the Messenger of Allah knows best." When the idolaters learned about the situation, they immediately set up a camp near the Muslims. Now envoys would start going back and forth between the two sides. The first envoy from the Muslims went to the Quraysh and said that they had come only for Umrah and that the Messenger of Allah wanted to make a treaty. The Mushrikun rejected this offer. However, Budayl ibn Warqa, a man from the Quraysh, found the offer reasonable and came to meet the Messenger of Allah.
He said: "O Muhammad, the Quraysh will wage war against you and will prevent you from visiting the Kaaba." The Messenger of Allah told him that they only came to perform Umrah. Then he said: "Indeed, war has consumed the Quraysh. If they wish, we can negotiate peace. But now, let them step aside and not stand between me and the House of Allah. Let us perform our Umrah and offer our sacrifices." Envoys kept going back and forth, but they couldn't reach an agreement. Finally, the Messenger of Allah decided to send Uthman ibn Affan as the envoy. Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) was a respected figure in Mecca, and he also had relatives there, making him the most suitable person for this.
"I have come to explain the intention of the Messenger of Allah and to invite you to peace and to Islam." "Go and tell the one who sent you that he will never enter Mecca or do Tawaf (circumambulation) around the Kaaba. But if you want, you can perform Tawaf." Uthman had not seen the Kaaba for 13 long years. In the sixth year of prophethood, he had migrated to Abyssinia, and after the Hijra, he had returned to the Prophet (peace be upon him) in Medina. Despite this, his answer was clear: "No. If the Messenger of Allah is not allowed to perform Tawaf, then neither will I." This answer made the Mushrikun really angry, and they decided to hold Uthman captive in Mecca.
Three days had passed since Uthman left. Yet there was still no news from him. Then a rumor began to spread among the Muslims: "Uthman has been killed!" They couldn't just stand and do nothing. The Messenger of Allah had only one choice left: to avenge the death of Uthman. He gathered the companions to receive a pledge of allegiance from them. They were going to swear an oath to fight by his side, no matter what. Even though they had no preparation for battle, every single one of them came forward, and holding the Prophet's hand, they made a pledge.
"We will fight the Quraysh until death and never run away from the enemy." This heroic event would be known in Islamic history as the Pledge of Ridwan (Pledge of Satisfaction). Only one person remained who hadn't given the pledge. That was Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him), whose fate was still unknown. The Messenger of Allah raised his right hand and said, "This is my hand." Then he raised his left hand and said, "And this is Uthman's hand." And then he placed his right hand over his left hand. After that, he turned to the Muslims and said: "Be my witnesses. This pledge is on behalf of Uthman." This fueled the excitement of the companions even more. "We must release Uthman!
Or Muhammad's men will attack Mecca!" When the Quraysh heard about the Muslims' oath to avenge Uthman, they got scared and quickly released him. His return brought great joy to all the Muslims, especially to the Messenger of Allah. Seeing him alive and well brought peace and relief to everyone's hearts. Facing this firm stance, the Mushrikun were forced to back down. They decided to send Suhayl to the Messenger of Allah to make peace. When Rasulullah saw him, he said: "The one coming is Suhayl. Now your matter has become easy." Whenever Quraysh wants peace, they always send this man. Quraysh is thinking of nothing but an agreement now.
Suhayl came before the Prophet (peace be upon him) and said: "O Muhammad, I have come on behalf of Quraysh to make an agreement with you." This was what Rasulullah wanted all along too, so he accepted the offer. Then Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) was called to write down the terms of the treaty. Rasulullah instructed him: "O Ali, write 'Bismillah ir-Rahman ir-Rahim'. Suhayl immediately objected and said: "I have never heard this phrase and I do not know what 'Ar-Rahman' means. The one we know and we use in our agreements is 'Bismikallahumma' (In your name, O Allah). Write that instead." The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "'Bismikallahumma' is also good." And it was written that way.
Then Rasulullah said: "O Ali, write: 'These are the terms of the peace agreed upon by Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah, and Suhayl ibn Amr.'" Suhayl objected again. "By Allah, if we accepted you were the Messenger of Allah, we would not have prevented you from visiting the Kaaba, nor would we have fought you. Instead, write 'Muhammad ibn Abdullah'." Rasulullah accepted this too and said: "O Ali, erase it and write 'Muhammad ibn Abdullah'." Ali froze in shock. The other companions were also very disturbed by the situation. Ali said: "By Allah, I can never erase the title 'Messenger of Allah'. I cannot bring myself to do it." Rasulullah asked where it was written.
When Ali showed him, he erased the title "Messenger of Allah" with his own hand and told Ali to write "Muhammad ibn Abdullah" instead. Things were not going well. But the companions faced the real shock with the first article of the treaty. "The Muslims will return this year without entering Mecca. They will perform Umrah next year. But they will not enter carrying weapons except swords in their sheaths. And their stay will be limited to only three days." When the Messenger of Allah agreed to this, there was a huge disappointment. No one could understand it.
Then the second article was written: "The two sides will not fight each other for ten years." Third article: "If someone from Medina leaves their religion and returns to Mecca, they will not be returned to the Muslims. However, if someone from Mecca becomes Muslim, they will be returned to Quraysh." This was very heavy for the Muslims. The companions said: "SubhanAllah (Glory be to Allah)! How can we return our brother to the Mushrikun after he comes to us as a Muslim?" Rasulullah (peace be upon him), who wanted peace despite everything, replied: "Yes. If someone leaves us to go to them, may Allah keep him far from us.
As for those that will come to us from them, whom we will send back, surely Allah knows all of them. He will certainly create relief and a way out for them." Four: "The Arab tribes will be free to make alliances with whichever side they want." And the treaty continued with other similar terms. And on top of these heavy conditions, something happened that made their disappointment even worse. The treaty was written, but it was not signed yet. At that moment, a man dragging his feet in chains fell among the Muslims. This was Abu Jandal, the son of the Quraysh envoy, Suhayl. His father had kept him imprisoned for four years just because he had accepted Islam.
He somehow managed to escape and with great difficulty, he reached the Muslims. He came to the Messenger of Allah to seek protection from his father's oppression and torture. He was crying out: "Help me, O Muslims!" When he saw this scene, Suhayl's face turned red with rage. He said: "O Muhammad! This is the very first term of our treaty. I want my son back." Rasulullah did not want to give Abu Jandal back. He tried to convince Suhayl. He reminded him that the treaty had not been signed yet and asked him not to apply that term to his son. But Suhayl firmly refused.
"I will never sign the treaty unless I get my son back." At that moment, Abu Jandal cried out in a heartbreaking voice: "O Muslims! Will you return me to the Mushrikun after I have come to you as a Muslim? Don't you see how much I have suffered?" The Prophet (peace be upon him) looked at Abu Jandal and with a sad voice, he said: "Be patient a little longer. Bear the injustice you face a little longer. Expect the rewards of these hardships from Allah. Allah will surely create relief and open a way out for you and for the other helpless Muslims." "We cannot break the promise we gave them." With these comforting words, he gave Abu Jandal back to his father.
He was actually giving the good news of a coming freedom. A way out for Abu Jandal and all the other oppressed Muslims in Mecca. It was such a way that it would make the Mushrikun regret that specific term they put in the treaty. And that is when the first fruits of the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah would be seen. At first glance, the terms appeared to be completely against the Muslims. However, the Messenger of Allah could already see the great victories that would follow this peace. But the companions were deeply disappointed. They just couldn't understand why these heavy terms had been accepted.
Until that day, Rasulullah (peace be upon him) had often consulted his companions and listened to their opinions. But interestingly, he did not consult anyone that day, even though no one agreed with him. He knew that Allah's plan was different and it had to be done in this way. It was now time to come out of Ihram and return to Medina. The Messenger of Allah ordered the companions to shave their heads and slaughter their animals. Normally, the companions would race each other to obey his commands. But this time, it was the exact opposite. Even though the Prophet repeated the order three times, no one stood up. Rasulullah (peace be upon him) didn't know what to do.
He went to the tent of his wife Umm Salama and told her what happened. Umm Salama (may Allah be pleased with her) gave him an idea. She said: "O Messenger of Allah, if you want them to follow your order, go out and don't say a word to anyone. Slaughter your animal and call your barber to shave your head. When the companions see this, they will follow you." Rasulullah (peace be upon him) accepted this advice. He slaughtered his animal and shaved his head. And when the companions saw this, they did the same. A little later, a wind came and carried their cut hair towards the Kaaba.
The companions felt that Allah, who does not cause even a single breeze to blow by accident, was actually giving them comfort. So they took this as a sign that their intended Umrah was accepted. In fact, the companions' reluctance was not out of disobedience, of course. So what was the reason behind it? They were waiting, hoping that a revelation might come and change the Prophet's decision. After all, they had seen instances where Allah warned or corrected His Messenger in the Quran. They held back only because they thought a new revelation might come. But as soon as the Prophet (peace be upon him) came out of Ihram, they started to exit Ihram too. It was now time to return to Medina.
They had started their journey with great joy, but now, they were returning in sorrow. They were tense and deeply sad. They desperately needed something to lift their morale. And that is when their Lord sent the good news they had been longing for and cleared away all their uncertainty and despair. Suddenly, signs of revelation began to appear on the Messenger of Allah. And the entire Surah of Surat Al-Fath was revealed at once. "Indeed, We have granted you a clear victory. Indeed, Allah has fulfilled His Messenger's vision in truth. You will certainly enter Masjid Al-Haram in safety, if Allah wills, with your heads shaved and hair shortened, without fear.
He knew what you did not know, so He granted you a near victory before this." Umar asked: "O Messenger of Allah, is this treaty really a victory?" He replied: "Yes, by Allah, it is indeed a victory." These words brought great relief to the hearts of the companions. But they would only be able to understand how this would turn into a victory in time. All they could do now was to wait and see. After a long journey, they returned to Medina. The Messenger of Allah had signed an agreement with the people of Mecca not to fight for 10 years. Hudaybiyyah was initially seen as a defeat for Islam. But on the contrary, it was about to lead to completely unexpected results.
Results that neither the Quraysh had hoped for, nor the Muslims could have imagined. The Quraysh would soon regret this treaty and want to cancel one of its terms. Step by step, everything was going to happen exactly according to Allah's plan. Unexpected enemies, unexpected victories. Which victory do you think is greater? Victory by the sword or victory by the pen? Even though the one achieved by the sword is more difficult, the one by the pen is far greater. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) knew this. And that is why he accepted that treaty. Hudaybiyyah would become one of the greatest victories in history won by the pen.
In a short time, the true seeds of victory hidden behind the agreement would begin to grow. And the first of them was Abu Basir, who escaped from Mecca to Medina. But he had no idea that this escape would become a way out not just for himself, but for dozens of other Muslims as well. Abu Basir was from the tribe of Thaqif. He was a brave man who accepted Islam at a young age. When he could no longer bear the harsh conditions in Mecca, he found a way to escape and set out for Medina to join his brothers. But the idolaters had no intention of letting him go. Three days later, Quraysh sent two men to bring Abu Basir back.
They came to the Messenger of Allah and said: "We remind you of the treaty you signed with us." And then they demanded his return. Due to their agreement, the Messenger of Allah had to give Abu Basir back. He said to him: "O Abu Basir, you know that we have made a treaty with the Quraysh and given them our word. In our religion, we cannot break our promise. Allah will surely create relief and open a way out for you and other helpless Muslims who are stuck among the Mushrikun." Abu Basir asked: "O Messenger of Allah, are you giving me back to the Mushrikun so that they can torture me and force me out of my religion?" Just imagine that desperation. But there was nothing to be done.
So what did the Messenger of Allah say? "You go. Allah will surely create a way out for you and others like you." Then he handed him over to the men who came. The two men sent by the Quraysh took Abu Basir and set out for Medina. But Abu Basir had no intention of giving up or going back to Mecca. When they reached Dhul-Hulayfah, they stopped to rest. Abu Basir was constantly watching for a chance to escape. First, he decided to gain their trust by acting friendly. So he started chatting with them.
He said to one of them: "I think that sword of yours is quite sharp." "Yes, it is very sharp." Then Abu Basir asked very calmly: "Can I take a look at it?" "Sure, have a look." Abu Basir had just found the perfect opportunity. As soon as he snatched the sword, he attacked the man and killed him. Seeing this, the other man fled back to Medina as fast as he could. He went straight to the Messenger of Allah and said: "My friend has been killed, and I was almost killed too!" While he was there, Abu Basir arrived as well. He said: "O Messenger of Allah, you kept your word by handing me over to them, and now, Allah has saved me from them." Rasulullah said: "This man is a spark for war.
If he had a few men with him, there is almost nothing he could not do." But still, Abu Basir could not settle in Medina because of the treaty. So he left and settled in the valley of Ish, on the road from Mecca to Sham. This place became his new refuge. When the Muslims who were imprisoned in Mecca and the ones hiding their faith heard about this, they began to escape one by one and gathered around Abu Basir. And the first of them was Abu Jandal. Remember him? He was the son of Suhayl ibn Amr. After the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah was signed, he had come to the Messenger of Allah but had to be given back to the Mushrikun. And now, he had found a way to escape once again.
And when he learned about Abu Basir's location, he went to join him. In a short time, their numbers reached 70. And when others from nearby tribes joined them, they reached 300. In this way, Abu Basir had gathered a powerful force around him. The Quraysh used to imprison and torture them in their own lands. But now, Abu Basir and his men were determined to make the Mushrikun regret their decision. For the Quraysh, the trade caravans they sent to Sham were extremely important. And the camp of Abu Basir and his men was exactly on that road. They began to cut off the trade route and raid Quraysh's caravans. With their attacks, they started to weaken the idolaters.
The Quraysh had brought this trouble on themselves with their own hands. They had reached a point where they could no longer handle Abu Basir's men. If they had not put that condition that said "You will send back any man who comes to you from us" in the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah, such a group would never have formed. Here, the first fruits of the agreement, which seemed to be completely against the Muslims, were starting to be gained. As for the people in Medina, no one wanted to return to Mecca. Since the treaty was signed, there had been no conflict between them and Mecca. Things were quiet for a while. But the Quraysh was not the only enemy. The Jews also posed a great danger.
After they were driven out of Medina, they gathered in Khaybar. If you recall, they had rallied the Arab tribes, marched them on Medina, and caused the Battle of the Trench. The Jews were encouraging each other to attack Medina and giving speeches to motivate one another. The Messenger of Allah received news of some activity in Khaybar. So he sent some of his companions to gather information. The Jews were preparing for war. Each day, Khaybar was becoming a threat that would soon be too difficult to handle. This danger had to be ended once and for all. If the Quraysh were still a threat to the Muslims, this situation would be much more difficult to deal with.
And so, through his incredible plan, Allah had shown that dream to His Messenger and directed him to Umrah. And in the end, the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah was signed. And that reduced the number of enemies from two to one. The Muslims could now march on Khaybar. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) decided to set out and ordered his companions to prepare immediately. The Muslim army gathered at once. Their numbers reached 1,600, including 200 horsemen. These were only the ones setting out from Medina with the Prophet (peace be upon him). Later, another 400 people from the Daws tribe would join them. And among them was the renowned Abu Huraira. It was the seventh year of the Hijra.
The banner of the Muslim army was carried by Ali (may Allah be pleased with him), and Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) was leading the right wing of the army. Then they reached a place called Raji and camped there. This was a strategic point between Khaybar and the Ghatafan territory. There was a reason why Rasulullah chose that location. The Jews of Khaybar had asked the Ghatafan for help, and they had accepted. They had promised that when necessary, they would come and fight the Muslim army from inside the forts of Khaybar. The Prophet (peace be upon him) had learned of this situation. And to prevent this aid, he made an offer to the Ghatafan.
If they agreed not to help the Jews, they would receive the date harvest of Khaybar for one year after the conquest. But they refused. So by stationing his army there, the Messenger of Allah blocked any help that could come from Ghatafan to the Jews. Then Rasulullah advanced with his army from Raji towards Khaybar. When he arrived, it was nighttime. Since it was not his custom to attack at night, he waited until the morning. After sunrise, completely unaware, the Jews came out of their forts to go to their fields. But when they saw the Muslim army right in front of them, they were stunned. They shouted: "Muhammad and his army!" And fled back in panic to take shelter in their forts.
Most of them never even imagined that the Prophet (peace be upon him) would lay siege to them. After all, their forts were strong, they had many men, and they had plenty of weapons. They assumed that Rasulullah would never dare to siege such a well-fortified place. But things did not go the way they had imagined at all. Rasulullah first offered them to accept Islam. If they refused, they would have to pay a tax to the Muslims. And he declared that if peace was not reached through one of these two ways, then there would be war. The Jews of Khaybar went back inside to talk among themselves. But a short while later, they started shooting arrows at the Muslims. They had rejected the offer.
All the Jewish soldiers gathered in Natat, their strongest fort. And they moved their belongings and families to other forts. A Jewish army of 10,000 was raining down arrows on just 1,600 companions. Around 50 Mujahideen were wounded that day. Every morning, the Prophet (peace be upon him) and the Mujahideen would go up to the high ground near the Natat fort and fight the Jews until evening. And in the evening, they would return to Raji. During this time, Rasulullah (peace be upon him) was struck by a severe headache. And because of this, he could not command the army for two days. He first put Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) in charge and sent him to fight the Jews.
But the conquest did not happen. The next day, he gave the banner to Umar (may Allah be pleased with him). But the victory was not granted to him either. This gave courage to the Jews. So they opened their gates and started fighting face to face. The battle continued like this until evening. But no matter how hard the Muslims tried, they could not achieve a result. One day during the siege, the Messenger of Allah said: "Tomorrow, I will give the banner to a man whom Allah and His Messenger love, and who loves Allah and His Messenger. Allah will grant his victory through him." A wave of curiosity spread among the companions. Everyone started wondering.
"Who will be given this honor?" After all, who wouldn't want to receive such praise? Dozens of companions spent that night with this hope and desire. Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) would later say: "I never wished to take command as much as I did on that day." After the Fajr prayer, Rasulullah (peace be upon him) ordered the banner to be brought. All eyes were fixed on the banner in his hand. Ears were waiting for the words he would say. The Messenger of Allah asked: "Where is Ali?" The conqueror was now clear. However, at that time, Ali was suffering from an eye infection and could not even open his eyes.
The companions said: "O Messenger of Allah, his eyes are hurting." Despite this, Rasulullah (peace be upon him) said: "Call him anyway. Tell him to come." Hearing the news, Ali came to the Prophet with the help of the companions. When Rasulullah made dua to Allah, his painful eyes were healed instantly. From that day on, Ali never suffered from any eye pain again. Rasulullah (peace be upon him) also made this dua: "O Allah, remove the hardship of heat and cold from him." Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) later said: "From that day on, I was never bothered by heat or cold." He would often be seen wearing winter clothes in summer and summer clothes in winter.
The Messenger of Allah handed the banner to Ali and put an armored shirt on him. Then he ordered: "Fight until Allah grants you the conquest. And do not turn back." Ali took the banner and moved forward. After going for a while, he asked the Prophet (peace be upon him): "O Messenger of Allah, for what purpose shall I fight them?" The answer was clear: "Fight them until they testify that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. Advance calmly until you reach their forts. Then invite them to Islam. If they accept, inform them of their obligations.
By Allah, if a single person is guided by Allah through you, it is better for you than a herd of red camels." Meaning, better than the most precious wealth. These words also showed the true purpose of Islamic conquests. The only goal was to deliver the message of Islam and save people's eternal lives. Ali began to advance heroically in front of the Mujahideen. When he reached the walls of Natat fort, he planted the banner in the ground. He told them about Islam and invited them to become Muslims. "O people of the Book! Enter the religion of Islam and you will be saved." But the Jews did not accept. They came out of their forts to fight. At that moment, a loud call was heard.
"I am the man who brings down even roaring lions with sword and spear!" Everyone turned where the voice came from. And what they saw was an imposing, fearsome warrior wearing two layers of armor and carrying two swords. This was Marhab, who was known as the bravest of the Jews of Khaybar. He had heard that his brother had been killed. So he came out of the fort with his soldiers. He was trying to put fear into the Muslims and looking for someone to fight. Then another voice was heard. "I am the one whose mother named him Haydar! I am like the majestic lions of the forest! I will not let you live! I will bring you down!" This was Ali (may Allah be pleased with him).
The banner bearer of the Muslim army. The two came face to face. Ali was fighting with the sword of the Prophet (peace be upon him). After a while, he struck such a powerful blow that it shattered Marhab's shield and his two-layered helmet. The same blow went even deeper and killed him instantly. When the Jews saw the terrifying end of their strongest warrior, their hearts were filled with fear. This is exactly where the course of events would change. Seeing this scene, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) gave the good news to the Mujahideen. "Rejoice! The conquest of Khaybar has now become easy." After this, the Muslims advanced on the enemy with great courage.
The companions fought their way to the fort gates. At that moment, a Jewish soldier struck Ali's shield with his sword and knocked it out of his hand. Ali looked around and saw the fort gate. Witnesses of that day say that Ali ripped off the massive gate and used it as a shield. Seeing their men fall one after another, the Jews began to run away in terror, without even looking back. Rasulullah's words had come true. Allah had granted the Muslims the conquest through the hands of Ali (may Allah be pleased with him). The interesting thing is, when this fear took hold of the Jewish army of 10,000, they haven't even lost a hundred men yet.
While the companions were longing for martyrdom, the Jews were trying to run away from death in fear. Both sides believed that their religion was true. But the Jews were deeply attached to this worldly life. In the Quran, Allah addressed them through His Messenger like this: "Say: 'If the home of the Hereafter with Allah is for you alone and not the other people, then wish for death if what you say is true.' But they will never wish for that because of what their hands have done. And Allah is fully aware of the wrongdoers. You will surely find them clinging to life more eagerly than any other people. Even more than polytheists. Each one of them wishes to live a thousand years.
But even if they were to live that long, it would not save them from the punishment. And Allah is All-Seeing of what they do." Chasing the fleeing enemy soldiers, Ali and the Mujahideen entered the Natat fort. But they found no one except children there. They did not touch them. The Jewish soldiers had abandoned Natat. Then the Mujahideen headed towards Na'im fort and conquered it as well. Following that, Sa'b ibn Mu'adh fort surrendered too. Seeing their forts fall one by one during the long siege, the Jews were left with no choice but to ask for peace. It was actually too late for such a request. Yet the Messenger of Allah accepted it.
Their lives were spared, and they were allowed to leave Khaybar with their families. And each family could take one camel load of their belongings. Just as they were preparing to leave, they came to the Messenger of Allah with a proposal. "O Abul-Qasim! Your people are not familiar with these lands, and we know how to get the best harvest. Why don't we agree to divide the crops between us?" Rasulullah and the companions could not stay in Khaybar. Also, looking after that land was not possible for them. For this reason, the Prophet (peace be upon him) accepted their offer and allowed the Jews to stay in Khaybar. On the condition of sharing half of the harvest every year.
However, the Prophet (peace be upon him) could end this agreement whenever he wanted. Because it wasn't clear what they might do in the future. This condition was there to prevent them from doing anything wrong. Every year at harvest time, the Messenger of Allah would send Abdullah ibn Rawaha to Khaybar. Abdullah would divide the crops in half and then he would let the Jews choose. And say: "Take whichever half you want." Seeing this fairness, the Jews would say: "It is this justice that keeps the heavens and the earth standing." Even so, they remained faithful to this agreement for only about 12 years.
During the caliphate of Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), they caused trouble and broke the treaty. And so, they were eventually expelled from Khaybar. Khaybar was now conquered, and the agreement was made. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) had gone to rest with his companions. But a Jewish woman named Zainab made a treacherous plan. She was going to try to poison the Messenger of Allah. She roasted a sheep and poisoned every part of it with a powerful poison. Then she brought it to them. The companions all sat down together to eat. The Messenger of Allah took a piece from the shoulder of the sheep, said "Bismillah ir-Rahman ir-Rahim" and put it to his mouth.
But as soon as he tasted it, he immediately took it out and said: "Take your hands away! The meat has told me that it is poisoned!" The companions quickly pulled their hands back from the food. But one of them had already swallowed a piece of the meat. Bishr ibn Bara turned purple and he was martyred. The woman who did this, Zainab, was caught and brought to the Prophet (peace be upon him). Rasulullah asked why she had done this. She replied: "I said to myself: 'If he is truly a prophet, Allah will inform him. But if he is not a prophet, this poison will kill him, and so we will be rid of him.'" Rasulullah would always forgive people who wronged him personally.
According to one narration, he forgave the woman. According to another, she was killed. Scholars explain what happened in this way: Rasulullah forgave her for what she did to him. But because Bishr was martyred, he left the decision to his family. And they chose to use their right of Qisas (equal retaliation), and the woman was executed. While the Prophet (peace be upon him) was still in Khaybar, something happened that brought him great joy. Led by Ja'far ibn Abi Talib, the Muslims who had migrated to Abyssinia arrived. If you remember, the Messenger of Allah had asked Najashi to send them back.
The Messenger of Allah was so pleased that he said: "I don't know which of these two things I should be happy about. The conquest of Khaybar, or the arrival of Ja'far?" It is a pleasure doing business with you. With the conquest of Khaybar, Medina was filled with abundance and blessings. "Get your fresh dates here!" But in Mecca, it was the exact opposite. A serious famine had broke out, and each day, they were getting poorer and poorer. "We're almost there." These were the people who had tortured the companions for years, forced them out of their homes, and starved them to the point of tying stones to their stomachs. And now, they were in this desperate situation.
In the Quran, Allah said to His Messenger: "We have sent you only as a mercy to the worlds." Rasulullah's heart was so full of compassion that he could not bear the situation of the Quraysh, who were his relatives. So he sent plenty of food and provisions to Mecca. He showed mercy even to his enemies. Although some Mushrikun did not want to accept this help, Abu Sufyan took these supplies and gave them to the poor. He said: "My nephew sent this. May Allah reward him." Among the gifts, there were also Medina dates for Abu Sufyan. The Prophet's help to his relatives had planted seeds of faith in their hearts. And in time, these seeds would sprout and take root.
A year had passed since the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah. And that long-awaited day had finally come. It was time for the Umrah al-Qada. If you remember, the companions had to turn back without entering Mecca, without even seeing the Kaaba. The Umrah they couldn't perform that day was going to happen now. After seven long years, they would finally reunite with their homeland and do Tawaf around the Kaaba. The Messenger of Allah told his companions to prepare for Umrah. When everything was ready, Rasulullah set out for Mecca with 2,000 companions and 70 camels to sacrifice. When Rasulullah reached Dhul-Hulayfah, about 10 kilometers outside Medina, he entered Ihram. Then the companions followed him.
And everyone was now dressed in white. And with one loud voice, all of them began to recite the Talbiyah. "Labbayk Allahumma Labbayk (Here I am, O Allah, here I am)." "Labbayk la sharika laka labbayk (Here I am, You have no partner, here I am)." The leaders of Quraysh had left Mecca and gone up to the mountains to avoid seeing the happiness of the Prophet and the companions. They could not bear to see the Kaaba as the center of Islam. The Messenger of Allah entered Mecca on his camel Qaswa, followed by the companions. Some of the Mushrikun men, along with women and children, were watching them from Dar al-Nadwa. When the Messenger of Allah entered the Kaaba, he uncovered his right shoulder.
Then he said to his companions: "May Allah have mercy on the man who show these Mushrikun their strength and energy today." The idolaters were watching the companions from behind and were amazed at their powerful stance. Because rumors had spread that the Muslims had become weak and fallen ill with fever after going to Medina. And this was how Rasulullah gave his answer. All the rituals of Umrah were fulfilled. Then the Messenger of Allah shaved his head and came out of Ihram. And the companions did the same. And so, the dream that the Prophet (peace be upon him) had seen exactly a year ago came true. For this Umrah visit, a tent was set up for the Prophet (peace be upon him).
When the companions stayed in the tents around him for three days. At prayer times, they gathered at the Kaaba and prayed in congregation. During this time, they visited their relatives and told them about Islam through their words and behavior. They were setting an example for everyone with their attitudes and actions. During these three days, they were trying to conquer Mecca from within. For many of the Quraysh, hatred, anger, and prejudice towards their old friends had started to disappear. Everyone longed to have a warm talk with an old friend. Material swords were put in their sheaths, and the spiritual sword of the Quran came out.
Since the peace began, it was that sword that carried out the Jihad. And it seemed to be working. Once again, the Quraysh questioned everything they believed in and their stubbornness towards Islam. Three memorable days had passed. And it was now time to leave. With the order of Rasulullah (peace be upon him), everyone prepared for the journey back, gathered their belongings, and set out for Medina. It's very hard to even imagine how painful that separation must have been. They were not the only ones feeling the pain of separation. It had been one or two years since Abu Basir settled in the valley of Ish.
During this time, the damage his group caused the Meccans had really exhausted the Mushrikun. They realized that they could not stop the Muslims in this way. And besides, not even a single person came from Medina to Mecca saying "I have left Islam". So this condition had gained them nothing. They were very sure of themselves at the time. But just as everyone had a plan, Allah had His own plan. The Quraysh did not know what to do anymore. So they sent an envoy with a letter to the Messenger of Allah.
It said: "For the sake of Allah and our family ties, please send word to Abu Basir and his friends that, from now on, whoever comes to you in Medina is safe and secure, he will not be sent back." Rasulullah accepted this request and sent a letter to Abu Basir, inviting him and his brothers to Medina. But Abu Basir was seriously ill at that time. When the Prophet's letter reached him, he was taking his last breaths. His eyes filled with tears. With his weak hands, he took the letter and rubbed it over his face and eyes. He was filled with longing to reunite with the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). But he passed away before he could even finish reading the letter.
His meeting with Rasulullah was left for Jannah. He had escaped from Mecca only to practice his religion. He had fulfilled his duty in this world and set out for his true home, the Hereafter. Abu Jandal and the other Muslims prayed his funeral prayer and buried him. Then they built a Masjid there so that his grave would not be forgotten. Then Abu Jandal and his friends went to Medina to the Prophet (peace be upon him). What did the ayah say about the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah? A clear victory. And it truly was. But this was just the beginning. The Quraysh were going to lose their men one by one. Their strongest men, the ones they least expected, would join the ranks of Islam.
Hudaybiyyah was the key to a great victory. And those names would become the keys to many victories to come. And finally, that blessed day was drawing near. Mecca would be liberated. The years of longing would come to an end. And the Muslims of Mecca would return to their homes. Are you ready to witness one of the greatest victories of Islam? The conquest of Mecca with many emotional scenes awaits us in the next episode. Stay tuned. "Allahu Akbar. Allahu Akbar." "Allahu Akbar. Allahu Akbar."
All AI visuals were prepared in consultation with qualified Muslim scholars and are in line with Islamic guidelines. It was around the beginning of 629. Seven years had passed since the Hijra (migration). The Messenger of Allah's mission was to spread the message of Islam to the entire world. Because he was not a prophet sent only to the Quraysh or to Arabia; he was sent to all of humanity. So the letters were written and the companions appointed as envoys set out to deliver them. To the Byzantine Empire, the Messenger of Allah sent Dihya Al-Kalbi. Welcome to the palace. When he arrived, he was welcomed by the governor and then taken before Emperor Heraclius.
The Emperor received the letter and ordered it to be read out loud. "Let us hear it." As he listened, he started remembering what was written in their holy books. They had given the good news of a prophet who would come in the future and described his qualities. And now, someone who claimed prophethood had sent him a letter. Could this be the one they were waiting for? This really made him think deeply. "Please rest. You must be tired from the journey." Then he did two important things. First, he wrote a letter to his close friend, the Patriarch of Byzantium, Daghatir al-Usquf. He trusted his advice, so he explained the situation to him and asked for his opinion.
And second, he ordered his men: "Go and check if there is anyone here from the tribe of this man who claims to be a prophet." Soon after, the Patriarch sent his response. But what did he write? We'll get to that in a moment. But first, let's look at the Emperor's conversation with a familiar name, Abu Sufyan. Yes, Abu Sufyan happened to be in the region for trade. When soldiers saw him in the marketplace, they brought him to the Emperor along with his friends. They were taken to the church of Ilya. Heraclius then called them to the court. "Your Majesty." He had all the senior Roman officials and religious leaders around him.
The Emperor asked: "Which of you is closer in lineage to that man who claims to be a prophet?" "I am the closest relative to him." "Bring him close to me, and make his friends stand behind him. I'm going to ask him some questions about that man. If he lies to me, you must immediately expose him." With this move, Abu Sufyan would not be able to lie. Then Heraclius started asking him questions. "What is his family status among you?" "He belongs to a noble family among us." "Have you ever accused him of lying before?" "No." "Who follows him?
The nobles or the poor?" "The poor and the weak follow him." "Are his followers increasing or decreasing?" "They are increasing." Abu Sufyan could not understand the reason behind these questions, but each of them had a purpose. "Have you ever gone to war against him?" "Yes, we have." "What was the outcome?" "Sometimes he won, and sometimes we won." "What does he command you to do?" "He commands us to worship Allah alone and not associate any partner with Him. He forbids us from worshipping what our ancestors used to worship. He commands us to pray, to speak the truth, to be chaste, and to keep good ties with our relatives." "All the things you have described are the qualities of a prophet.
If what you say is true, he will soon rule the ground beneath my feet. I already knew that a prophet would appear, but I never expected him to be from your people." And that is exactly what would happen. Heraclius was now certain that the prophet foretold in the Gospel and the Torah was Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). When he finished speaking, voices began to rise in the room. The senior officials started talking among themselves, and the noise grew louder and louder. Abu Sufyan and his friends were quickly taken outside.
"This matter has become so big, that even the Roman Emperor is afraid of him." Heraclius would later accept Islam, but fearing that his throne would be shaken, he would keep his faith hidden. But what happened to the letter that he sent to his friend the Patriarch? The answer had come. In his letter, Daghatir wrote that the Messenger of Allah was truly a prophet. The Emperor then asked Dihya to go to the Patriarch too and invite him to Islam. The Patriarch's response and what he would go through were truly shocking. "Go back to your Prophet, convey my greetings, and tell him that I believe there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.
And I bear witness that Jesus is the servant of Allah." Then the Patriarch went to his room, removed his black garment, and put on his white ceremonial robe. He took his staff and stood before the people who had gathered in the church. It was now time to announce the truth. "O Romans! We have received a letter from a prophet named Ahmad. In it, he invited us to believe in Allah, the Most High. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and that Ahmad is His servant and Messenger." Upon hearing this, the crowd went mad with rage. "How is this possible?! You abandoned the religion of your forefathers!" They rushed at Daghatir and beat him until he was martyred. May Allah have mercy on him.
Another ruler who was sent a letter was the King of Abyssinia, Najashi. Amir ibn Umayya delivered it. If you remember, when the Muslims had made that difficult journey to Abyssinia, Najashi had welcomed them with great kindness. "You are completely safe in my land." He took the letter sent by the Messenger of Allah, placed it over his eyes as a sign of respect, kissed it, and raised it to his forehead. Then he instructed one of his men to read it out loud. After listening to the letter, he stepped down from his throne, sat humbly on the ground, and recited the Shahada (testimony of faith).
"Ashhadu an la ilaha illa Allah, wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan Rasulullah (I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah). If it were possible for me to go to him, I certainly would." The envoy, Amir ibn Umayya, had one more request. "I want you to send the Muslims who are still living in Abyssinia to Medina." Najashi would never have the chance to see the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), but for years, he had hosted those who had seen him. And now, he was sending them home to reunite with him. The ruler of Persia, Kisra Parvez, had also received a letter from the Messenger of Allah.
Abdullah ibn Hudhafa arrived in Persia and personally delivered the Prophet's invitation to Islam to Kisra. Kisra had his scribe read it. "Bismillah ir-Rahman ir-Rahim. In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate. From Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah, to Khosrow, leader of the Persians." Kisra suddenly became furious and didn't even let him finish reading the letter. "Look at this! This man, who is nothing more than my subject, my slave, dares to write to me a letter and even puts his name before mine!" Saying this, he tore the letter to pieces.
When this news reached the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), he raised his hands and prayed to Allah to tear them, meaning him and his kingdom, all into pieces. Allah would accept His Messenger's dua (supplication), and not long after, Kisra Parvez would be stabbed and killed by his own son, Shirwayh. Torn to pieces just like the letter. The Prophet (peace be upon him) had even foretold the exact month and day he would be killed, and it happened exactly as he said. As for his empire, it was torn apart by Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas during the Caliphate of Umar (may Allah be pleased with him). The envoy chosen to go to Egypt was Hatib ibn Abi Balta'a.
He set out to deliver the Prophet's letter to the ruler, Muqawqis. Since Muqawqis was in Alexandria at the time, Hatib met him there and presented the letter. "Bismillah ir-Rahman ir-Rahim. From Muhammad, the servant and Messenger of Allah, to Muqawqis, the leader of the Copts. Peace be upon those who follow guidance. Now then, I invite you to Islam. Accept Islam and you will be safe, and Allah will double your reward. But if you reject this invitation, then the sin of the Copts will be upon you. Say: 'O People of the Book!
Let us come to a common word between us and you: That we will not worship except Allah, and not associate anything with Him, and not take one another as lords beside Allah. But if they turn away, then say: Bear witness that we are Muslims.'" After the letter was read, Muqawqis showed great hospitality to the envoy, Hatib ibn Abi Balta'a. But he didn't say anything at that moment. Later that night, he called for Hatib to his presence. After a long and detailed conversation, Muqawqis said: "I knew that another prophet would come. But I assumed he would emerge from Sham (the Levant), because most of the earlier prophets had appeared from there.
However, I also found in the scriptures that the final prophet would arise in Arabia, a land of hardship and poverty. We found his attributes written in the Book of Allah. And this is the exact time for him to appear. But the Copts won't listen to me if I tell them to follow him, and I cannot bear to abandon my throne. That prophet will rule over many lands, and after him, his companions will come all the way to our city squares and settle here. They will ultimately defeat the people here." He lost sight of the fact that the rewards of the Hereafter were both endless and far better.
In Surah Al-Qasas, Allah reminds us that everything we have has actually been granted by Him and says: "And whatever things you have been given is no more than an enjoyment and adornment of this worldly life. But what is with Allah is far better and more lasting. So will you not then use your reason?" So, the letters had been sent to the rulers, and the struggle to spread Islam's message to new lands would continue. However, suitable conditions for these courageous moves were not obtained easily. Behind it was a treaty that required great patience: The Treaty of Hudaybiyyah that was signed with the polytheists of Mecca. It was about eight to ten months before the letters were sent.
Everything began with a dream. That night, the Messenger of Allah had a dream that would deeply impact all of Medina. In his dream, he was visiting the Kaaba with his companions, and they were completely safe. They had gone to Mecca together. In the morning, when the Prophet (peace be upon him) shared his dream with his companions, they felt an indescribable joy. "Hey! Have you heard? The Messenger of Allah has seen a dream! In his dream, we were performing Umrah (lesser pilgrimage) in Mecca! Safely!" But why did just a dream have such a huge impact? Because the dreams of prophets are a form of revelation. So this was seen as something that would definitely happen.
And everyone started dreaming of going back to Mecca. After six long years of separation, they would finally be able to return to Mecca and visit the House of Allah. Preparations began immediately. On a Monday, 1,400 Muslims set out from Medina with great excitement. They took with them 70 sacrificial camels and only the swords that travelers used for protection. Their intention was not war, but to perform Umrah. Even from a distance, it had to be clear that they had no intention of fighting. Just imagine, they were heading towards the very people they had been at war with for six years, without any preparations for battle. What incredible courage!
Like all good virtues, their courage came from their faith. When they reached the area of Dhul-Hulayfah, they prayed Dhuhr. After the prayer, the Messenger of Allah put on two pieces of white cloth, made his intention for Umrah, and entered Ihram (sacred state). Then he began reciting the Talbiyah. "Labbayk Allahumma Labbayk (Here I am, O Allah, here I am)." The companions joined him with the same enthusiasm. They were getting closer and closer to Mecca. Their excitement was at its peak. In the meantime, this news reached the Quraysh. When they heard that 1,400 Muslims were on their way to Mecca, they panicked. "Have you heard? The Muslims are coming toward Mecca! 1,400 of them!
How can this be?" "But they are not armed. We do not understand why they are coming." "Then we must act. Act immediately! Whatever their reason, we cannot allow this." The Mushrikun (polytheists) sensed that this wasn't about war. It was something different. But regardless, they decided not to let the Muslims enter Mecca. So they formed a 200-man cavalry unit under the command of Khalid ibn Walid. When the Messenger of Allah learned about the preparations of Quraysh, he changed his route. He was planning to enter Mecca by another path. But there was one thing standing in his way: his camel, Qaswa. Remember, at the end of the Hijra to Medina, she had sat down in a field and refused to move.
And now, as they neared the border of Mecca, she sat down again. No matter how hard they tried to get her up, they failed. The companions were frustrated, and they said: "Al-Qaswa has become stubborn." The Messenger of Allah replied: "She has not become stubborn, for stubbornness is not her habit. Rather, she is being prevented by the One who prevented the Elephant." Meaning Abraha's elephant that was trying to reach the Kaaba. "There is wisdom in whatever Allah directs His creation to, and there is good in whatever He holds them back from." Then they set up camp by a well in the area called Hudaybiyyah. Their homeland, their memories, their homes, and loved ones were so close now.
But there was one question on everyone's mind: "When will we be allowed to enter Mecca?" "I do not know. Yet the Messenger of Allah knows best." When the idolaters learned about the situation, they immediately set up a camp near the Muslims. Now envoys would start going back and forth between the two sides. The first envoy from the Muslims went to the Quraysh and said that they had come only for Umrah and that the Messenger of Allah wanted to make a treaty. The Mushrikun rejected this offer. However, Budayl ibn Warqa, a man from the Quraysh, found the offer reasonable and came to meet the Messenger of Allah.
He said: "O Muhammad, the Quraysh will wage war against you and will prevent you from visiting the Kaaba." The Messenger of Allah told him that they only came to perform Umrah. Then he said: "Indeed, war has consumed the Quraysh. If they wish, we can negotiate peace. But now, let them step aside and not stand between me and the House of Allah. Let us perform our Umrah and offer our sacrifices." Envoys kept going back and forth, but they couldn't reach an agreement. Finally, the Messenger of Allah decided to send Uthman ibn Affan as the envoy. Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) was a respected figure in Mecca, and he also had relatives there, making him the most suitable person for this.
"I have come to explain the intention of the Messenger of Allah and to invite you to peace and to Islam." "Go and tell the one who sent you that he will never enter Mecca or do Tawaf (circumambulation) around the Kaaba. But if you want, you can perform Tawaf." Uthman had not seen the Kaaba for 13 long years. In the sixth year of prophethood, he had migrated to Abyssinia, and after the Hijra, he had returned to the Prophet (peace be upon him) in Medina. Despite this, his answer was clear: "No. If the Messenger of Allah is not allowed to perform Tawaf, then neither will I." This answer made the Mushrikun really angry, and they decided to hold Uthman captive in Mecca.
Three days had passed since Uthman left. Yet there was still no news from him. Then a rumor began to spread among the Muslims: "Uthman has been killed!" They couldn't just stand and do nothing. The Messenger of Allah had only one choice left: to avenge the death of Uthman. He gathered the companions to receive a pledge of allegiance from them. They were going to swear an oath to fight by his side, no matter what. Even though they had no preparation for battle, every single one of them came forward, and holding the Prophet's hand, they made a pledge.
"We will fight the Quraysh until death and never run away from the enemy." This heroic event would be known in Islamic history as the Pledge of Ridwan (Pledge of Satisfaction). Only one person remained who hadn't given the pledge. That was Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him), whose fate was still unknown. The Messenger of Allah raised his right hand and said, "This is my hand." Then he raised his left hand and said, "And this is Uthman's hand." And then he placed his right hand over his left hand. After that, he turned to the Muslims and said: "Be my witnesses. This pledge is on behalf of Uthman." This fueled the excitement of the companions even more. "We must release Uthman!
Or Muhammad's men will attack Mecca!" When the Quraysh heard about the Muslims' oath to avenge Uthman, they got scared and quickly released him. His return brought great joy to all the Muslims, especially to the Messenger of Allah. Seeing him alive and well brought peace and relief to everyone's hearts. Facing this firm stance, the Mushrikun were forced to back down. They decided to send Suhayl to the Messenger of Allah to make peace. When Rasulullah saw him, he said: "The one coming is Suhayl. Now your matter has become easy." Whenever Quraysh wants peace, they always send this man. Quraysh is thinking of nothing but an agreement now.
Suhayl came before the Prophet (peace be upon him) and said: "O Muhammad, I have come on behalf of Quraysh to make an agreement with you." This was what Rasulullah wanted all along too, so he accepted the offer. Then Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) was called to write down the terms of the treaty. Rasulullah instructed him: "O Ali, write 'Bismillah ir-Rahman ir-Rahim'. Suhayl immediately objected and said: "I have never heard this phrase and I do not know what 'Ar-Rahman' means. The one we know and we use in our agreements is 'Bismikallahumma' (In your name, O Allah). Write that instead." The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "'Bismikallahumma' is also good." And it was written that way.
Then Rasulullah said: "O Ali, write: 'These are the terms of the peace agreed upon by Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah, and Suhayl ibn Amr.'" Suhayl objected again. "By Allah, if we accepted you were the Messenger of Allah, we would not have prevented you from visiting the Kaaba, nor would we have fought you. Instead, write 'Muhammad ibn Abdullah'." Rasulullah accepted this too and said: "O Ali, erase it and write 'Muhammad ibn Abdullah'." Ali froze in shock. The other companions were also very disturbed by the situation. Ali said: "By Allah, I can never erase the title 'Messenger of Allah'. I cannot bring myself to do it." Rasulullah asked where it was written.
When Ali showed him, he erased the title "Messenger of Allah" with his own hand and told Ali to write "Muhammad ibn Abdullah" instead. Things were not going well. But the companions faced the real shock with the first article of the treaty. "The Muslims will return this year without entering Mecca. They will perform Umrah next year. But they will not enter carrying weapons except swords in their sheaths. And their stay will be limited to only three days." When the Messenger of Allah agreed to this, there was a huge disappointment. No one could understand it.
Then the second article was written: "The two sides will not fight each other for ten years." Third article: "If someone from Medina leaves their religion and returns to Mecca, they will not be returned to the Muslims. However, if someone from Mecca becomes Muslim, they will be returned to Quraysh." This was very heavy for the Muslims. The companions said: "SubhanAllah (Glory be to Allah)! How can we return our brother to the Mushrikun after he comes to us as a Muslim?" Rasulullah (peace be upon him), who wanted peace despite everything, replied: "Yes. If someone leaves us to go to them, may Allah keep him far from us.
As for those that will come to us from them, whom we will send back, surely Allah knows all of them. He will certainly create relief and a way out for them." Four: "The Arab tribes will be free to make alliances with whichever side they want." And the treaty continued with other similar terms. And on top of these heavy conditions, something happened that made their disappointment even worse. The treaty was written, but it was not signed yet. At that moment, a man dragging his feet in chains fell among the Muslims. This was Abu Jandal, the son of the Quraysh envoy, Suhayl. His father had kept him imprisoned for four years just because he had accepted Islam.
He somehow managed to escape and with great difficulty, he reached the Muslims. He came to the Messenger of Allah to seek protection from his father's oppression and torture. He was crying out: "Help me, O Muslims!" When he saw this scene, Suhayl's face turned red with rage. He said: "O Muhammad! This is the very first term of our treaty. I want my son back." Rasulullah did not want to give Abu Jandal back. He tried to convince Suhayl. He reminded him that the treaty had not been signed yet and asked him not to apply that term to his son. But Suhayl firmly refused.
"I will never sign the treaty unless I get my son back." At that moment, Abu Jandal cried out in a heartbreaking voice: "O Muslims! Will you return me to the Mushrikun after I have come to you as a Muslim? Don't you see how much I have suffered?" The Prophet (peace be upon him) looked at Abu Jandal and with a sad voice, he said: "Be patient a little longer. Bear the injustice you face a little longer. Expect the rewards of these hardships from Allah. Allah will surely create relief and open a way out for you and for the other helpless Muslims." "We cannot break the promise we gave them." With these comforting words, he gave Abu Jandal back to his father.
He was actually giving the good news of a coming freedom. A way out for Abu Jandal and all the other oppressed Muslims in Mecca. It was such a way that it would make the Mushrikun regret that specific term they put in the treaty. And that is when the first fruits of the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah would be seen. At first glance, the terms appeared to be completely against the Muslims. However, the Messenger of Allah could already see the great victories that would follow this peace. But the companions were deeply disappointed. They just couldn't understand why these heavy terms had been accepted.
Until that day, Rasulullah (peace be upon him) had often consulted his companions and listened to their opinions. But interestingly, he did not consult anyone that day, even though no one agreed with him. He knew that Allah's plan was different and it had to be done in this way. It was now time to come out of Ihram and return to Medina. The Messenger of Allah ordered the companions to shave their heads and slaughter their animals. Normally, the companions would race each other to obey his commands. But this time, it was the exact opposite. Even though the Prophet repeated the order three times, no one stood up. Rasulullah (peace be upon him) didn't know what to do.
He went to the tent of his wife Umm Salama and told her what happened. Umm Salama (may Allah be pleased with her) gave him an idea. She said: "O Messenger of Allah, if you want them to follow your order, go out and don't say a word to anyone. Slaughter your animal and call your barber to shave your head. When the companions see this, they will follow you." Rasulullah (peace be upon him) accepted this advice. He slaughtered his animal and shaved his head. And when the companions saw this, they did the same. A little later, a wind came and carried their cut hair towards the Kaaba.
The companions felt that Allah, who does not cause even a single breeze to blow by accident, was actually giving them comfort. So they took this as a sign that their intended Umrah was accepted. In fact, the companions' reluctance was not out of disobedience, of course. So what was the reason behind it? They were waiting, hoping that a revelation might come and change the Prophet's decision. After all, they had seen instances where Allah warned or corrected His Messenger in the Quran. They held back only because they thought a new revelation might come. But as soon as the Prophet (peace be upon him) came out of Ihram, they started to exit Ihram too. It was now time to return to Medina.
They had started their journey with great joy, but now, they were returning in sorrow. They were tense and deeply sad. They desperately needed something to lift their morale. And that is when their Lord sent the good news they had been longing for and cleared away all their uncertainty and despair. Suddenly, signs of revelation began to appear on the Messenger of Allah. And the entire Surah of Surat Al-Fath was revealed at once. "Indeed, We have granted you a clear victory. Indeed, Allah has fulfilled His Messenger's vision in truth. You will certainly enter Masjid Al-Haram in safety, if Allah wills, with your heads shaved and hair shortened, without fear.
He knew what you did not know, so He granted you a near victory before this." Umar asked: "O Messenger of Allah, is this treaty really a victory?" He replied: "Yes, by Allah, it is indeed a victory." These words brought great relief to the hearts of the companions. But they would only be able to understand how this would turn into a victory in time. All they could do now was to wait and see. After a long journey, they returned to Medina. The Messenger of Allah had signed an agreement with the people of Mecca not to fight for 10 years. Hudaybiyyah was initially seen as a defeat for Islam. But on the contrary, it was about to lead to completely unexpected results.
Results that neither the Quraysh had hoped for, nor the Muslims could have imagined. The Quraysh would soon regret this treaty and want to cancel one of its terms. Step by step, everything was going to happen exactly according to Allah's plan. Unexpected enemies, unexpected victories. Which victory do you think is greater? Victory by the sword or victory by the pen? Even though the one achieved by the sword is more difficult, the one by the pen is far greater. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) knew this. And that is why he accepted that treaty. Hudaybiyyah would become one of the greatest victories in history won by the pen.
In a short time, the true seeds of victory hidden behind the agreement would begin to grow. And the first of them was Abu Basir, who escaped from Mecca to Medina. But he had no idea that this escape would become a way out not just for himself, but for dozens of other Muslims as well. Abu Basir was from the tribe of Thaqif. He was a brave man who accepted Islam at a young age. When he could no longer bear the harsh conditions in Mecca, he found a way to escape and set out for Medina to join his brothers. But the idolaters had no intention of letting him go. Three days later, Quraysh sent two men to bring Abu Basir back.
They came to the Messenger of Allah and said: "We remind you of the treaty you signed with us." And then they demanded his return. Due to their agreement, the Messenger of Allah had to give Abu Basir back. He said to him: "O Abu Basir, you know that we have made a treaty with the Quraysh and given them our word. In our religion, we cannot break our promise. Allah will surely create relief and open a way out for you and other helpless Muslims who are stuck among the Mushrikun." Abu Basir asked: "O Messenger of Allah, are you giving me back to the Mushrikun so that they can torture me and force me out of my religion?" Just imagine that desperation. But there was nothing to be done.
So what did the Messenger of Allah say? "You go. Allah will surely create a way out for you and others like you." Then he handed him over to the men who came. The two men sent by the Quraysh took Abu Basir and set out for Medina. But Abu Basir had no intention of giving up or going back to Mecca. When they reached Dhul-Hulayfah, they stopped to rest. Abu Basir was constantly watching for a chance to escape. First, he decided to gain their trust by acting friendly. So he started chatting with them.
He said to one of them: "I think that sword of yours is quite sharp." "Yes, it is very sharp." Then Abu Basir asked very calmly: "Can I take a look at it?" "Sure, have a look." Abu Basir had just found the perfect opportunity. As soon as he snatched the sword, he attacked the man and killed him. Seeing this, the other man fled back to Medina as fast as he could. He went straight to the Messenger of Allah and said: "My friend has been killed, and I was almost killed too!" While he was there, Abu Basir arrived as well. He said: "O Messenger of Allah, you kept your word by handing me over to them, and now, Allah has saved me from them." Rasulullah said: "This man is a spark for war.
If he had a few men with him, there is almost nothing he could not do." But still, Abu Basir could not settle in Medina because of the treaty. So he left and settled in the valley of Ish, on the road from Mecca to Sham. This place became his new refuge. When the Muslims who were imprisoned in Mecca and the ones hiding their faith heard about this, they began to escape one by one and gathered around Abu Basir. And the first of them was Abu Jandal. Remember him? He was the son of Suhayl ibn Amr. After the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah was signed, he had come to the Messenger of Allah but had to be given back to the Mushrikun. And now, he had found a way to escape once again.
And when he learned about Abu Basir's location, he went to join him. In a short time, their numbers reached 70. And when others from nearby tribes joined them, they reached 300. In this way, Abu Basir had gathered a powerful force around him. The Quraysh used to imprison and torture them in their own lands. But now, Abu Basir and his men were determined to make the Mushrikun regret their decision. For the Quraysh, the trade caravans they sent to Sham were extremely important. And the camp of Abu Basir and his men was exactly on that road. They began to cut off the trade route and raid Quraysh's caravans. With their attacks, they started to weaken the idolaters.
The Quraysh had brought this trouble on themselves with their own hands. They had reached a point where they could no longer handle Abu Basir's men. If they had not put that condition that said "You will send back any man who comes to you from us" in the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah, such a group would never have formed. Here, the first fruits of the agreement, which seemed to be completely against the Muslims, were starting to be gained. As for the people in Medina, no one wanted to return to Mecca. Since the treaty was signed, there had been no conflict between them and Mecca. Things were quiet for a while. But the Quraysh was not the only enemy. The Jews also posed a great danger.
After they were driven out of Medina, they gathered in Khaybar. If you recall, they had rallied the Arab tribes, marched them on Medina, and caused the Battle of the Trench. The Jews were encouraging each other to attack Medina and giving speeches to motivate one another. The Messenger of Allah received news of some activity in Khaybar. So he sent some of his companions to gather information. The Jews were preparing for war. Each day, Khaybar was becoming a threat that would soon be too difficult to handle. This danger had to be ended once and for all. If the Quraysh were still a threat to the Muslims, this situation would be much more difficult to deal with.
And so, through his incredible plan, Allah had shown that dream to His Messenger and directed him to Umrah. And in the end, the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah was signed. And that reduced the number of enemies from two to one. The Muslims could now march on Khaybar. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) decided to set out and ordered his companions to prepare immediately. The Muslim army gathered at once. Their numbers reached 1,600, including 200 horsemen. These were only the ones setting out from Medina with the Prophet (peace be upon him). Later, another 400 people from the Daws tribe would join them. And among them was the renowned Abu Huraira. It was the seventh year of the Hijra.
The banner of the Muslim army was carried by Ali (may Allah be pleased with him), and Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) was leading the right wing of the army. Then they reached a place called Raji and camped there. This was a strategic point between Khaybar and the Ghatafan territory. There was a reason why Rasulullah chose that location. The Jews of Khaybar had asked the Ghatafan for help, and they had accepted. They had promised that when necessary, they would come and fight the Muslim army from inside the forts of Khaybar. The Prophet (peace be upon him) had learned of this situation. And to prevent this aid, he made an offer to the Ghatafan.
If they agreed not to help the Jews, they would receive the date harvest of Khaybar for one year after the conquest. But they refused. So by stationing his army there, the Messenger of Allah blocked any help that could come from Ghatafan to the Jews. Then Rasulullah advanced with his army from Raji towards Khaybar. When he arrived, it was nighttime. Since it was not his custom to attack at night, he waited until the morning. After sunrise, completely unaware, the Jews came out of their forts to go to their fields. But when they saw the Muslim army right in front of them, they were stunned. They shouted: "Muhammad and his army!" And fled back in panic to take shelter in their forts.
Most of them never even imagined that the Prophet (peace be upon him) would lay siege to them. After all, their forts were strong, they had many men, and they had plenty of weapons. They assumed that Rasulullah would never dare to siege such a well-fortified place. But things did not go the way they had imagined at all. Rasulullah first offered them to accept Islam. If they refused, they would have to pay a tax to the Muslims. And he declared that if peace was not reached through one of these two ways, then there would be war. The Jews of Khaybar went back inside to talk among themselves. But a short while later, they started shooting arrows at the Muslims. They had rejected the offer.
All the Jewish soldiers gathered in Natat, their strongest fort. And they moved their belongings and families to other forts. A Jewish army of 10,000 was raining down arrows on just 1,600 companions. Around 50 Mujahideen were wounded that day. Every morning, the Prophet (peace be upon him) and the Mujahideen would go up to the high ground near the Natat fort and fight the Jews until evening. And in the evening, they would return to Raji. During this time, Rasulullah (peace be upon him) was struck by a severe headache. And because of this, he could not command the army for two days. He first put Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) in charge and sent him to fight the Jews.
But the conquest did not happen. The next day, he gave the banner to Umar (may Allah be pleased with him). But the victory was not granted to him either. This gave courage to the Jews. So they opened their gates and started fighting face to face. The battle continued like this until evening. But no matter how hard the Muslims tried, they could not achieve a result. One day during the siege, the Messenger of Allah said: "Tomorrow, I will give the banner to a man whom Allah and His Messenger love, and who loves Allah and His Messenger. Allah will grant his victory through him." A wave of curiosity spread among the companions. Everyone started wondering.
"Who will be given this honor?" After all, who wouldn't want to receive such praise? Dozens of companions spent that night with this hope and desire. Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) would later say: "I never wished to take command as much as I did on that day." After the Fajr prayer, Rasulullah (peace be upon him) ordered the banner to be brought. All eyes were fixed on the banner in his hand. Ears were waiting for the words he would say. The Messenger of Allah asked: "Where is Ali?" The conqueror was now clear. However, at that time, Ali was suffering from an eye infection and could not even open his eyes.
The companions said: "O Messenger of Allah, his eyes are hurting." Despite this, Rasulullah (peace be upon him) said: "Call him anyway. Tell him to come." Hearing the news, Ali came to the Prophet with the help of the companions. When Rasulullah made dua to Allah, his painful eyes were healed instantly. From that day on, Ali never suffered from any eye pain again. Rasulullah (peace be upon him) also made this dua: "O Allah, remove the hardship of heat and cold from him." Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) later said: "From that day on, I was never bothered by heat or cold." He would often be seen wearing winter clothes in summer and summer clothes in winter.
The Messenger of Allah handed the banner to Ali and put an armored shirt on him. Then he ordered: "Fight until Allah grants you the conquest. And do not turn back." Ali took the banner and moved forward. After going for a while, he asked the Prophet (peace be upon him): "O Messenger of Allah, for what purpose shall I fight them?" The answer was clear: "Fight them until they testify that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. Advance calmly until you reach their forts. Then invite them to Islam. If they accept, inform them of their obligations.
By Allah, if a single person is guided by Allah through you, it is better for you than a herd of red camels." Meaning, better than the most precious wealth. These words also showed the true purpose of Islamic conquests. The only goal was to deliver the message of Islam and save people's eternal lives. Ali began to advance heroically in front of the Mujahideen. When he reached the walls of Natat fort, he planted the banner in the ground. He told them about Islam and invited them to become Muslims. "O people of the Book! Enter the religion of Islam and you will be saved." But the Jews did not accept. They came out of their forts to fight. At that moment, a loud call was heard.
"I am the man who brings down even roaring lions with sword and spear!" Everyone turned where the voice came from. And what they saw was an imposing, fearsome warrior wearing two layers of armor and carrying two swords. This was Marhab, who was known as the bravest of the Jews of Khaybar. He had heard that his brother had been killed. So he came out of the fort with his soldiers. He was trying to put fear into the Muslims and looking for someone to fight. Then another voice was heard. "I am the one whose mother named him Haydar! I am like the majestic lions of the forest! I will not let you live! I will bring you down!" This was Ali (may Allah be pleased with him).
The banner bearer of the Muslim army. The two came face to face. Ali was fighting with the sword of the Prophet (peace be upon him). After a while, he struck such a powerful blow that it shattered Marhab's shield and his two-layered helmet. The same blow went even deeper and killed him instantly. When the Jews saw the terrifying end of their strongest warrior, their hearts were filled with fear. This is exactly where the course of events would change. Seeing this scene, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) gave the good news to the Mujahideen. "Rejoice! The conquest of Khaybar has now become easy." After this, the Muslims advanced on the enemy with great courage.
The companions fought their way to the fort gates. At that moment, a Jewish soldier struck Ali's shield with his sword and knocked it out of his hand. Ali looked around and saw the fort gate. Witnesses of that day say that Ali ripped off the massive gate and used it as a shield. Seeing their men fall one after another, the Jews began to run away in terror, without even looking back. Rasulullah's words had come true. Allah had granted the Muslims the conquest through the hands of Ali (may Allah be pleased with him). The interesting thing is, when this fear took hold of the Jewish army of 10,000, they haven't even lost a hundred men yet.
While the companions were longing for martyrdom, the Jews were trying to run away from death in fear. Both sides believed that their religion was true. But the Jews were deeply attached to this worldly life. In the Quran, Allah addressed them through His Messenger like this: "Say: 'If the home of the Hereafter with Allah is for you alone and not the other people, then wish for death if what you say is true.' But they will never wish for that because of what their hands have done. And Allah is fully aware of the wrongdoers. You will surely find them clinging to life more eagerly than any other people. Even more than polytheists. Each one of them wishes to live a thousand years.
But even if they were to live that long, it would not save them from the punishment. And Allah is All-Seeing of what they do." Chasing the fleeing enemy soldiers, Ali and the Mujahideen entered the Natat fort. But they found no one except children there. They did not touch them. The Jewish soldiers had abandoned Natat. Then the Mujahideen headed towards Na'im fort and conquered it as well. Following that, Sa'b ibn Mu'adh fort surrendered too. Seeing their forts fall one by one during the long siege, the Jews were left with no choice but to ask for peace. It was actually too late for such a request. Yet the Messenger of Allah accepted it.
Their lives were spared, and they were allowed to leave Khaybar with their families. And each family could take one camel load of their belongings. Just as they were preparing to leave, they came to the Messenger of Allah with a proposal. "O Abul-Qasim! Your people are not familiar with these lands, and we know how to get the best harvest. Why don't we agree to divide the crops between us?" Rasulullah and the companions could not stay in Khaybar. Also, looking after that land was not possible for them. For this reason, the Prophet (peace be upon him) accepted their offer and allowed the Jews to stay in Khaybar. On the condition of sharing half of the harvest every year.
However, the Prophet (peace be upon him) could end this agreement whenever he wanted. Because it wasn't clear what they might do in the future. This condition was there to prevent them from doing anything wrong. Every year at harvest time, the Messenger of Allah would send Abdullah ibn Rawaha to Khaybar. Abdullah would divide the crops in half and then he would let the Jews choose. And say: "Take whichever half you want." Seeing this fairness, the Jews would say: "It is this justice that keeps the heavens and the earth standing." Even so, they remained faithful to this agreement for only about 12 years.
During the caliphate of Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), they caused trouble and broke the treaty. And so, they were eventually expelled from Khaybar. Khaybar was now conquered, and the agreement was made. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) had gone to rest with his companions. But a Jewish woman named Zainab made a treacherous plan. She was going to try to poison the Messenger of Allah. She roasted a sheep and poisoned every part of it with a powerful poison. Then she brought it to them. The companions all sat down together to eat. The Messenger of Allah took a piece from the shoulder of the sheep, said "Bismillah ir-Rahman ir-Rahim" and put it to his mouth.
But as soon as he tasted it, he immediately took it out and said: "Take your hands away! The meat has told me that it is poisoned!" The companions quickly pulled their hands back from the food. But one of them had already swallowed a piece of the meat. Bishr ibn Bara turned purple and he was martyred. The woman who did this, Zainab, was caught and brought to the Prophet (peace be upon him). Rasulullah asked why she had done this. She replied: "I said to myself: 'If he is truly a prophet, Allah will inform him. But if he is not a prophet, this poison will kill him, and so we will be rid of him.'" Rasulullah would always forgive people who wronged him personally.
According to one narration, he forgave the woman. According to another, she was killed. Scholars explain what happened in this way: Rasulullah forgave her for what she did to him. But because Bishr was martyred, he left the decision to his family. And they chose to use their right of Qisas (equal retaliation), and the woman was executed. While the Prophet (peace be upon him) was still in Khaybar, something happened that brought him great joy. Led by Ja'far ibn Abi Talib, the Muslims who had migrated to Abyssinia arrived. If you remember, the Messenger of Allah had asked Najashi to send them back.
The Messenger of Allah was so pleased that he said: "I don't know which of these two things I should be happy about. The conquest of Khaybar, or the arrival of Ja'far?" It is a pleasure doing business with you. With the conquest of Khaybar, Medina was filled with abundance and blessings. "Get your fresh dates here!" But in Mecca, it was the exact opposite. A serious famine had broke out, and each day, they were getting poorer and poorer. "We're almost there." These were the people who had tortured the companions for years, forced them out of their homes, and starved them to the point of tying stones to their stomachs. And now, they were in this desperate situation.
In the Quran, Allah said to His Messenger: "We have sent you only as a mercy to the worlds." Rasulullah's heart was so full of compassion that he could not bear the situation of the Quraysh, who were his relatives. So he sent plenty of food and provisions to Mecca. He showed mercy even to his enemies. Although some Mushrikun did not want to accept this help, Abu Sufyan took these supplies and gave them to the poor. He said: "My nephew sent this. May Allah reward him." Among the gifts, there were also Medina dates for Abu Sufyan. The Prophet's help to his relatives had planted seeds of faith in their hearts. And in time, these seeds would sprout and take root.
A year had passed since the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah. And that long-awaited day had finally come. It was time for the Umrah al-Qada. If you remember, the companions had to turn back without entering Mecca, without even seeing the Kaaba. The Umrah they couldn't perform that day was going to happen now. After seven long years, they would finally reunite with their homeland and do Tawaf around the Kaaba. The Messenger of Allah told his companions to prepare for Umrah. When everything was ready, Rasulullah set out for Mecca with 2,000 companions and 70 camels to sacrifice. When Rasulullah reached Dhul-Hulayfah, about 10 kilometers outside Medina, he entered Ihram. Then the companions followed him.
And everyone was now dressed in white. And with one loud voice, all of them began to recite the Talbiyah. "Labbayk Allahumma Labbayk (Here I am, O Allah, here I am)." "Labbayk la sharika laka labbayk (Here I am, You have no partner, here I am)." The leaders of Quraysh had left Mecca and gone up to the mountains to avoid seeing the happiness of the Prophet and the companions. They could not bear to see the Kaaba as the center of Islam. The Messenger of Allah entered Mecca on his camel Qaswa, followed by the companions. Some of the Mushrikun men, along with women and children, were watching them from Dar al-Nadwa. When the Messenger of Allah entered the Kaaba, he uncovered his right shoulder.
Then he said to his companions: "May Allah have mercy on the man who show these Mushrikun their strength and energy today." The idolaters were watching the companions from behind and were amazed at their powerful stance. Because rumors had spread that the Muslims had become weak and fallen ill with fever after going to Medina. And this was how Rasulullah gave his answer. All the rituals of Umrah were fulfilled. Then the Messenger of Allah shaved his head and came out of Ihram. And the companions did the same. And so, the dream that the Prophet (peace be upon him) had seen exactly a year ago came true. For this Umrah visit, a tent was set up for the Prophet (peace be upon him).
When the companions stayed in the tents around him for three days. At prayer times, they gathered at the Kaaba and prayed in congregation. During this time, they visited their relatives and told them about Islam through their words and behavior. They were setting an example for everyone with their attitudes and actions. During these three days, they were trying to conquer Mecca from within. For many of the Quraysh, hatred, anger, and prejudice towards their old friends had started to disappear. Everyone longed to have a warm talk with an old friend. Material swords were put in their sheaths, and the spiritual sword of the Quran came out.
Since the peace began, it was that sword that carried out the Jihad. And it seemed to be working. Once again, the Quraysh questioned everything they believed in and their stubbornness towards Islam. Three memorable days had passed. And it was now time to leave. With the order of Rasulullah (peace be upon him), everyone prepared for the journey back, gathered their belongings, and set out for Medina. It's very hard to even imagine how painful that separation must have been. They were not the only ones feeling the pain of separation. It had been one or two years since Abu Basir settled in the valley of Ish.
During this time, the damage his group caused the Meccans had really exhausted the Mushrikun. They realized that they could not stop the Muslims in this way. And besides, not even a single person came from Medina to Mecca saying "I have left Islam". So this condition had gained them nothing. They were very sure of themselves at the time. But just as everyone had a plan, Allah had His own plan. The Quraysh did not know what to do anymore. So they sent an envoy with a letter to the Messenger of Allah.
It said: "For the sake of Allah and our family ties, please send word to Abu Basir and his friends that, from now on, whoever comes to you in Medina is safe and secure, he will not be sent back." Rasulullah accepted this request and sent a letter to Abu Basir, inviting him and his brothers to Medina. But Abu Basir was seriously ill at that time. When the Prophet's letter reached him, he was taking his last breaths. His eyes filled with tears. With his weak hands, he took the letter and rubbed it over his face and eyes. He was filled with longing to reunite with the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). But he passed away before he could even finish reading the letter.
His meeting with Rasulullah was left for Jannah. He had escaped from Mecca only to practice his religion. He had fulfilled his duty in this world and set out for his true home, the Hereafter. Abu Jandal and the other Muslims prayed his funeral prayer and buried him. Then they built a Masjid there so that his grave would not be forgotten. Then Abu Jandal and his friends went to Medina to the Prophet (peace be upon him). What did the ayah say about the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah? A clear victory. And it truly was. But this was just the beginning. The Quraysh were going to lose their men one by one. Their strongest men, the ones they least expected, would join the ranks of Islam.
Hudaybiyyah was the key to a great victory. And those names would become the keys to many victories to come. And finally, that blessed day was drawing near. Mecca would be liberated. The years of longing would come to an end. And the Muslims of Mecca would return to their homes. Are you ready to witness one of the greatest victories of Islam? The conquest of Mecca with many emotional scenes awaits us in the next episode. Stay tuned. "Allahu Akbar. Allahu Akbar." "Allahu Akbar. Allahu Akbar."