Route to al-Hudaybiyyah

Stops

1. Madinah: departure point

   The Prophet ﷺ set out from Madinah with about fourteen hundred companions, intending to visit the Kaaba and perform umrah. The sira stresses that the group came for umrah, not for war.

2. Dhu l-Hulaifa (entering ihram)

   Here the Muslims entered ihram. Dhu l-Hulaifa is the miqat (the point for entering ihram) for the people of Madinah; the sira reports that the Prophet ﷺ marked the sacrificial animals here.

3. al-Hudaybiyyah: pledge and treaty

   The Quraysh prevented the Muslims from entering Makkah, and a rumour spread that Uthman had been killed. The Prophet ﷺ received the pledge of his companions under a tree (Bay'at ar-Ridwan). A treaty followed whose terms seemed hard to the Muslims at first.

   Revelation

   ۞ لَّقَدْ رَضِىَ ٱللَّهُ عَنِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِذْ يُبَايِعُونَكَ تَحْتَ ٱلشَّجَرَةِ فَعَلِمَ مَا فِى قُلُوبِهِمْ فَأَنزَلَ ٱلسَّكِينَةَ عَلَيْهِمْ وَأَثَٰبَهُمْ فَتْحًا قَرِيبًا

   Quran 48:18–18

   Meaning translation (AI-assisted), not the Quran text itself

   God was pleased with the believers when they pledged allegiance to you under the tree. He knew what was in their hearts, sent down tranquility upon them, and rewarded them with a near victory.

   At al-Hudaybiyyah, after the Quraysh blocked entry and a rumour about Uthman spread, the Prophet ﷺ received the pledge of his companions under a tree. The verse speaks of God's pleasure with those who pledged and of His knowledge of their hearts (Ibn Kathir).

   • Tafsir Ibn Kathir 48:18
   • Sahih al-Bukhari 4154

   HadithSahih

   Sahih al-Bukhari 2731

   Meaning summary

   Umar recounts how he objected to the terms of the Treaty of al-Hudaybiyyah by putting his questions to the Prophet ﷺ and to Abu Bakr, and gives their answers; he adds that he later performed many good deeds in expiation for those questions.

   The terms of the treaty felt hard to the Muslims and the discussion at al-Hudaybiyyah. The hadith also places this unease in context: the meaning of the treaty became clear later.

   • sunnah.com/bukhari:2731

4. Return road: revelation of Surat al-Fath

   On the way back from al-Hudaybiyyah, Surat al-Fath was revealed to the Prophet ﷺ, describing the treaty as a clear victory. The reports name different places (Kura' al-Ghamim, Dajnan or the area of al-Juhfah).

   Revelation

   بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ إِنَّا فَتَحْنَا لَكَ فَتْحًا مُّبِينًا

   Quran 48:1–1

   Meaning translation (AI-assisted), not the Quran text itself

   Indeed, We have granted you a clear victory.

   Revealed on the return from al-Hudaybiyyah during a night journey. Exegetes and hadith report that the verse calls the treaty a 'clear victory' (Ibn Kathir).

   • Tafsir Ibn Kathir 48:1
   • Sahih al-Bukhari 4177

   HadithSahih

   Sahih al-Bukhari 4177

   Meaning summary

   Zaid ibn Aslam reports from his father: the Prophet ﷺ was travelling at night with Umar beside him. Umar asked him something, but the Prophet ﷺ did not answer; afterwards the revelation of Surat al-Fath is described.

   The night journey on the return from al-Hudaybiyyah. The hadith relates that the meaning of Umar's question became clear with the revelation of the surah.

   • sunnah.com/bukhari:4177