The Treaty of Hudaybiyyah and the incidents of Hadhrat Abu Jandal & Abu Baseer رضي الله عنهم

Rasoolullah صلى الله على وسلم left for Umrah in the year 6 A.H., but when the kuffaar of Makkah heard about this, they regarded it to be an insult to allow the Muslims into Makkah. They therefore opposed the Muslims, who halted at a place called Hudaybiyyah. The Sahabah رضي الله عنهم who always regarded it to be their honour to give their lives for Rasoolullah صلى الله على وسلم got ready for battle with the Kuffar, but Rasoolullah صلى الله على وسلم did not intend fighting in the interests of the Kuffaar. He rather entered into negotiations for a peace treaty. Despite the fact that the Muslims were ready to fight, Rasoolullah صلى الله على وسلم made great concessions in favour of the Kuffaar an accepted all the terms that they made. Although the Sahabah رضي الله عنم found it difficult to submit to the kuffar in this manner, they were still obedient to Rasoolullah صلى الله على وسلم and would submit to anything that pleased him. Even Sahabah as brave and courageous as Hadhrat Umar رضي الله عنه were forced to give in.

Stated amongst the clauses of the treaty was the condition that any Kaafir who became Muslim and migrated to Madinah would be returned to the Kuffaar in Makkah. On the other hand any Muslim defecting to the Kuffaar would not have to be returned to the Muslims.
The treaty had not yet been concluded when a Sahabi by the name of Hadhrat Abu Jandal رضي الله عنه came to the Muslims still fettered in chains. He had been brutally tortured by the Kuffaar in Makkah and had managed to escape and had come to the Muslims in Hudaybiyyah in the hope that he would finally be released from his misery. His father was Suhayl bin Amr, who was not yet a Muslim then and accepted Islaam only after Makkah was conquered. Suhayl happened to be the person negotiating the peace treaty on behalf of the Kuffaar when Abu Jandal رضي الله عنه arrived there. Suhayl slapped his son on the face and insisted that he be taken back to Makkah.

“But we have not yet concluded the treaty,” said Rasoolullah صلى الله على وسلم. Suhayl bin Amr adamantly refused. Rasoolullah صلى الله على وسلم said, “at least leave him just to me.” However, Suhayl still refused. Hadhrat Abu Jandal رضي الله عنه addressed the Muslims saying, “O gathering of Muslims! Why should I be returned to the Mushrikeen when I have come as a Muslim? Have you not seen how I have suffered?” only Allah Ta'aala knew what went through the hearts of the Muslims at that time. Rasoolullah صلى الله على وسلم consoled Hadhrat Abu Jandal رضي الله عنه and advised him to exercise patience. Rasoolullah صلى الله على وسلم also added, “Allah will soon open up a way for you.”

After the incident at Hudaybiyyah, Rasoolullah صلى الله على وسلم returned to Madinah where a Muslim from the Quraysh called Abu Baseer رضي الله عنه came to him. However, the Quraysh had dispatched two men to Madinah to get him back. Rasoolullah therefore handed him over to the two men. “But I have become a Muslim,” Hadhrat Abu Baseer رضي الله عنه pleaded, “Will you send me back into their clutches?” Rasoolullah صلى الله على وسلم also advised him to exercise patience and added, “Allah will soon open up a way for you.”

The two men then left with him. On the way, Hadhrat Abu Baseer رضي الله عنه said to one of them, “I see that you have an extremely fine sword.” The man drew the sword from the sheath and said boastfully, “O Yes! It is fine indeed. I have tried it many times.” In his negligence, the man handed it over to Abu Baseer رضي الله عنه, who immediately 'tried' it on him, killing him instantly.

Seeing that he was next, the other person dashed for Madinah and came running into the Masjid saying, “My companion is dead and I am next.” Following close behind was Hadhrat Abu Baseer رضي الله عنه, who said, “O Rasoolullah صلى الله على وسلم! Allah Ta'ala has absolved you of your responsibility when you returned me. I have no pledge to fulfil with them and have done this because they wanted to remove me from my Deen.” Rasoolullah صلى الله على وسلم said, “ this man is a true war-monger. If only there was someone who could assist him in some way.” Hadhrat Abu Baseer رضي الله عنه understood from this that Rasoolullah صلى الله على وسلم would return him should a person be sent for him again. He therefore left Madinah and settled along the coast.

The Quraysh had heard about the incident and so did Hadhrat Abu Jandal رضي الله عنه, who managed to escape from the Quraysh and secretly joined Abu Baseer رضي الله عنه. Thereafter, every man who accepted Islaam and left the Quraysh joined up with Hadhrat Abu Baseer رضي الله عنه until they grew into a large group. They settled in the wilderness where there was no vegetation and no food. Only Allah Ta'ala knows what hardships they were forced to endure there.

They, however, managed to silence the oppressors from whom they had fled and launched attacks on every caravan of the Quraysh that passed their way. The Quraysh eventually (grew weary and) sent a message to Rasoolullah صلى الله على وسلم , imploring him in the name of Allah Ta'ala and by the family ties they shared that he should call this group to Madinah. In this way, they could also be bound by the clauses of the treaty and would allow a safe passage for caravans. (They also added that whoever came to Rasoolullah صلى الله على وسلم from Makkah, as a Muslim afterwards would be left in peace without having to return to Makkah.)

Rasoolullah صلى الله على وسلم then sent a letter, calling them to Madinah. It is written that Rasoolullah صلى الله على وسلم letter reached the group when Hadhrat Abu Baseer رضي الله عنه was on his deathbed. He then passed away with the letter in his hand.
May Allah Ta'ala be pleased with him and make him pleased.

Note: When a person is steadfast in his religion, even the mightiest of powers will be unable to shift him, provided that his religion is the true Deen. Allah Ta'ala's promised assistance will always be with him if he is a true Muslim.
(Taken from Fazail e Aa'maal)

Meaning of Names:
Abu Jandal - One  who defeats the enemies
Abu Baseer - One who can see better