Surah Al-Fath (48) — Ayah 1

Surah Al-Fath

This surah was revealed when the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) was returning from Hudaybiyyah. This was in Dhu al-Qa'dah, 6 AH. You (peace and blessings be upon him) set out with fourteen hundred companions for Umrah, and when you reached the place of Hudaybiyyah, the polytheists prevented you from performing Umrah. The story is long; in short, after repeated exchanges of envoys from both sides, a peace and truce agreement was made for ten years. Some of its conditions were not liked by the Muslims, but the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) accepted them in view of the benefits of peace. Later, when the Muslims saw the pleasant effects of the peace, they too became satisfied.

(Ayah 1) ➊ {اِنَّا فَتَحْنَا لَكَ فَتْحًا مُّبِيْنًا:} The word {’’ فَتْحًا ‘‘} apparently suggests that it refers to the conquest of Makkah and the victories that occurred near it, and certainly these words also apply to the conquest of Makkah, but the Companions and the scholars have stated that the reason for its revelation is the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah. Thus, Qatadah narrates that Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) said about {’’ اِنَّا فَتَحْنَا لَكَ فَتْحًا مُّبِيْنًا ‘‘} that it refers to the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah. [ بخاري، التفسیر، سورۃ الفتح : ۴۸۳۴ ] And Bara’ bin Azib (may Allah be pleased with them both) said: "You consider the conquest of Makkah as the victory, and indeed the conquest of Makkah was a victory, but we consider the pledge of Ridwan on the day of Hudaybiyyah as the victory." [ بخاري، المغازي، باب غزوۃ الحدیبیۃ : ۴۱۵۰ ] Zayd bin Aslam narrates from his father that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) was traveling on one of his journeys, and at night Umar bin Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) was also walking with him. Umar bin Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) asked you (peace and blessings be upon him) about something, but you did not answer him. He asked again, but you did not answer. He asked again, but you did not answer. Umar bin Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "Umar! May your mother lose you, you insisted on asking the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) three times, but each time he did not answer you." Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) says, so I moved my camel ahead of the Muslims, fearing that perhaps Qur'an would be revealed about me. After a while, suddenly I heard someone calling my name to call me back. I returned to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), and I was thinking that Qur'an had been revealed about me. I greeted, and you (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [ لَقَدْ أُنْزِلَتْ عَلَيَّ اللَّيْلَةَ سُوْرَةٌ لَهِيَ أَحَبُّ إِلَيَّ مِمَّا طَلَعَتْ عَلَيْهِ الشَّمْسُ، ثُمَّ قَرَأَ : « اِنَّا فَتَحْنَا لَكَ فَتْحًا مُّبِيْنًا »] [ بخاري، المغازي، باب غزوۃ الحدیبیۃ : ۴۱۷۷ ] "Tonight a surah has been revealed to me which is more beloved to me than anything upon which the sun rises." Then you (peace and blessings be upon him) recited: « اِنَّا فَتَحْنَا لَكَ فَتْحًا مُّبِيْنًا » "Indeed, We have given you a clear victory."

At the end of a long hadith narrated from Sahl bin Hunaif (may Allah be pleased with him), it is mentioned that when Surah Al-Fath was revealed to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), he sent a message to Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) and recited Surah Al-Fath to him. He said: [ يَا رَسُوْلَ اللّٰهِ! أَوَ فَتْحٌ هُوَ ؟ ] "O Messenger of Allah! Is this a victory?" You (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [نَعَمْ ] "Yes!" So his heart became happy and he went away. [ مسلم، الجہاد والسیر، باب صلح الحدیبیۃ … : ۱۷۸۵]

➋ The reality is that the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah was a great victory for Islam and the Muslims, because with it the Muslims gained countless benefits. One of them was that the Quraysh acknowledged the existence of the Muslims, which previously they were not willing to accept in any way. Another was that the real strength of the enemy became known, and to what extent they could resist. Another was that the sincere believers and the hypocrites were distinguished, because the hypocrites did not even dare to go out with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), as will be mentioned ahead in {’’ سَيَقُوْلُ لَكَ الْمُخَلَّفُوْنَ‘‘}. Another was that with the establishment of peace in the Arabian Peninsula, the disbelievers and Muslims began to interact with each other. The disbelievers listened to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and the Muslims, saw their character, there were debates and discussions, and the scope of the invitation widened, as a result of which a large number accepted Islam. As a result, at the time of Hudaybiyyah, there were fourteen hundred companions with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), but only two years later, in the year of the conquest of Makkah, you (peace and blessings be upon him) entered Makkah with ten thousand companions in a victorious manner.

➌ In this verse, Allah Almighty has stated the importance of this victory with three types of emphasis: one, to express its greatness, He attributed it to Himself twice with the first-person plural form, one {’’ اِنَّا ‘‘} and the other {’’ فَتَحْنَا لَكَ فَتْحًا مُّبِيْنًا ‘‘}; the second is that He emphasized {’’ فَتَحْنَا ‘‘} with the absolute object {’’ فَتْحًا مُّبِيْنًا ‘‘}; and the third is that He called it {’’ فَتْحًا مُّبِيْنًا ‘‘} (a clear victory), i.e., "Indeed, We have given you a victory, a clear victory."

➍ In {’’ اِنَّا فَتَحْنَا لَكَ ‘‘}, the words {’’ لَكَ ‘‘} (for you) express the honor and dignity of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), by which the Ummah is intended to recognize your value and to be taught obedience and following of you (peace and blessings be upon him).

Indeed (O Prophet), We have given you a clear victory. (1)

1. (O Prophet!) Indeed, We have granted you a clear victory [1].

[1]
The Prophet’s Dream of Performing Tawaf of the Ka’bah:

After the Battle of Ahzab, the notion of Quraysh’s dominance over the Muslims had ended, but the Ka’bah was still under the control of the Quraysh. Since the Muslims had migrated to Madinah, none of them had performed Hajj, Umrah, or Tawaf of the Ka’bah, for which their hearts longed. One day, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ saw in a dream that he was performing Tawaf of the Ka’bah accompanied by many Muslims. Since the dream of a Prophet is revelation,

Departure to Makkah with 1400 Companions:

Therefore, the Prophet ﷺ announced the intention to perform Umrah. Since this journey had no connection with military objectives or spoils, only those noble Companions ؓ accompanied him who intended Umrah solely for the pleasure of Allah. The number of Companions ؓ who were ready to go with the Prophet ﷺ was about fourteen hundred. The disbelievers’ obstruction and readiness for war: The people of Makkah had already received news of the Prophet’s ﷺ arrival, and they made every effort to prevent the Muslims from entering Makkah, as they considered it an insult. According to custom, the people of Makkah could not prevent anyone from performing Tawaf or Umrah. Moreover, it was the month of Dhu’l-Qa’dah, in which, according to the custom of the Arabs, fighting was forbidden. Despite both these factors, the Quraysh of Makkah were ready to fight to prevent the Muslims from entering Makkah. Thus, Khalid bin Walid set out with a military detachment to confront them.

Encampment at Hudaybiyyah:

When the Prophet ﷺ learned of this situation, he made a slight change in the direct route and encamped in the lower region of Makkah at Hudaybiyyah. The Prophet ﷺ tried to explain to the people of Makkah that they had not come to fight but only to perform Umrah, and he showed them the sacrificial animals as well, but they were not even willing to allow the Muslims to enter Makkah. Therefore, they insisted that the Muslims should return.

The Rumor of the Martyrdom of Sayyiduna Uthman ؓ and the Pledge of Ridwan:

During this time, several delegations were exchanged between both parties. The Muslims sent Sayyiduna Uthman ؓ as their envoy, but he was detained there, and a rumor spread that Sayyiduna Uthman ؓ had been martyred. Thus, in connection with the retribution for Uthman, the Prophet ﷺ took a pledge from all the noble Companions ؓ under an acacia tree for fighting to the death. This pledge is known as the Pledge of Ridwan.

The Pledge on Behalf of Sayyiduna Uthman ؓ:

Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar ؓ narrates that if there had been anyone to the people of Makkah more honorable in the sight of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ than Sayyiduna Uthman ؓ, he would have sent him as the envoy. This pledge was taken in the absence of Sayyiduna Uthman ؓ. Therefore, the Prophet ﷺ gestured with his right hand and said, “This is the hand of Uthman,” and struck it on his left hand, saying, “This is the pledge for Uthman.” [بخاری۔ کتاب المناقب۔ باب مناقب عثمان بن عفان] Later, it became known that the news of Sayyiduna Uthman’s ؓ martyrdom was false.

Exchange of Envoys and the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah:

After two or three exchanges of envoys, an agreement was finally reached on the terms of the treaty. These terms appeared humiliating for the Muslims, and especially after the Pledge of Ridwan, they were not willing to accept such terms. Nevertheless, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ accepted these terms, and later Allah declared this treaty a manifest victory. The terms of the treaty were:
1. For the next ten years, the Muslims and the Quraysh would not attack each other and would live in peace and harmony.
2. Tribes were generally permitted to become allies of whichever party they wished.
3. If any Muslim from Makkah reached Madinah without the permission of his guardian, the Muslims would return him, but if any Muslim came to Makkah, he would not be returned.
4. The Muslims would return this time without performing Umrah. Next year, they would come with their swords sheathed, and the city would be vacated for them for three days, during which they would be allowed to stay in Makkah and perform Umrah.

Reasons for Accepting the Terms:

When this Surah was recited to the Muslims, they were astonished and asked each other how such a humiliating treaty could be a manifest victory. This is a detailed discussion, for which this is not the place. We will suffice to mention the reasons for which the Prophet ﷺ accepted such terms without consulting the Muslims and even against their wishes. However, it should be kept in mind that all this happened according to divine revelation and the will of Allah. The reasons are:
1. Since the Prophet ﷺ had migrated to Madinah, the number of his enemies had greatly increased, and for six years they had been living in a state of emergency. The greatest of these enemies were the Quraysh. The Prophet ﷺ wanted to be secure from their side so that he could deal with other enemies in the best manner. Thus, after returning from here, the first thing he did was to subdue Banu Nadir and conquer Khaybar.
2. Due to these emergency conditions, many of the Prophet’s ﷺ missionary programs were being postponed. After this treaty, the Prophet ﷺ sent missionary letters to the surrounding kings.
3. This treaty proved to all of Arabia that the Muslims were truly a peace-loving nation that avoided war as much as possible and, despite having the power to fight, preferred peace and harmony. As a result of this impression, after the treaty, some great chiefs themselves embraced Islam, such as Khalid bin Walid, the Sword of Allah, and Amr bin al-As, the conqueror of Egypt, and others.
4. In the event of war, the destruction of the Muslims present in Makkah was certain. The Noble Quran mentioned this as a reason which had not even occurred to the Muslims.

Sacrifice of Animals:

After the writing of this peace treaty, the Prophet ﷺ ordered the noble Companions ؓ to slaughter their sacrificial animals. But the Companions ؓ were so grieved by this humiliating treaty that none of them stood up at his command. (Perhaps they were waiting for another command from Allah.) During this journey, Sayyidah Umm Salamah ؓ was with the Prophet ﷺ. When the Prophet ﷺ mentioned this situation to her, she advised that he should slaughter his own sacrifice, and then the Companions would themselves slaughter theirs. Accordingly, the Prophet ﷺ slaughtered his sacrifice and shaved his head, so the noble Companions ؓ, following his example, performed their sacrifices, shaved their heads, and removed their ihram and returned to Madinah. [بخاری۔ کتاب الشروط۔ باب الشروط فی الجہاد والمصالحۃ]
Qada Umrah: Then the following year, these same Muslims performed the Qada Umrah. [بخاری۔ کتاب المغازی۔ باب عمرۃ القضاء]
Now, we mention here a few hadiths which present the background of the revelation of this Surah and the state of agitation of the noble Companions ؓ, especially Sayyiduna Umar ؓ:
1. Sayyiduna Anas narrates that ﴿اِنَّا فَتَحْنَا لَكَ فَتْحًا مُّبِيْنًا﴾ refers to the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah. [بخاري۔ كتاب التفسير]
2.
Sayyiduna Umar’s ؓ Restlessness Over the Terms of the Treaty:

Zayd bin Aslam narrates from his father that the Prophet ﷺ was on a journey (Hudaybiyyah), and Sayyiduna Umar ؓ was with him. It was nighttime. Sayyiduna Umar ؓ asked the Prophet ﷺ something, but he did not reply. Sayyiduna Umar ؓ asked again, but still the Prophet ﷺ did not reply. Then (a third time) he asked, but again the Prophet ﷺ did not reply. Finally, Sayyiduna Umar ؓ said to himself: “May your mother weep for you! You asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ three times with humility, but he did not reply even once.” Sayyiduna Umar ؓ says: Then I spurred my camel and went ahead of the people. I feared that now some Quran would be revealed about me. After a short while, I heard the voice of a caller calling me. I became afraid that perhaps some Quran had been revealed about me. Then I came to the Prophet ﷺ and greeted him. The Prophet ﷺ said: “Tonight a Surah has been revealed to me which is more beloved to me than all that upon which the sun shines.” Then he recited this Surah. [حواله ايضاً]
3. Sayyiduna Sahl bin Hunayf says that at the time of the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah, we were with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. When he made peace with the polytheists of Makkah, if we had considered it appropriate to fight, we could have fought. Sayyiduna Umar ؓ came and said to the Prophet ﷺ: “Are we not upon the truth and these (polytheists) upon falsehood? Will not our slain be in Paradise and theirs in Hell?” The Prophet ﷺ replied: “Why not?” Sayyiduna Umar ؓ said: “Then why should we disgrace our religion and return to Madinah like this until Allah decides between us and them?” The Prophet ﷺ replied: “O son of Khattab! I am the Messenger (not you). Allah will never forsake me.” So Sayyiduna Umar ؓ returned in anger, but still found no peace, so he went to Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddiq ؓ and said: “Are we not upon the truth and these polytheists upon falsehood?” Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddiq ؓ replied: “O son of Khattab! The Messenger is he (not you), and Allah will never forsake him.” At that time, Surah al-Fath was revealed. [حواله ايضاً]
4. Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mughaffal ؓ says that on the day Makkah was conquered, the Prophet ﷺ was reciting this Surah repeatedly in a melodious voice. [حواله ايضاً]

How Aspects of Good Emerged from the Humiliating Terms of the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah and the Plight and Plea of Abu Jandal:

From these very humiliating terms of the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah, Allah brought forth many aspects of good. When the Muslims who were kept in Makkah began preaching there and some people embraced Islam, this became a source of great distress for the Quraysh of Makkah. The Muslims who were returned from Madinah established their own settlement on the trade route and harassed the Quraysh’s trade caravans. Among them was Abu Jandal ؓ, the son of Suhayl bin Amr, the third and final envoy of the Quraysh of Makkah, who had already embraced Islam. When the terms of the treaty were being finalized but had not yet been written down, he escaped from the captivity of the people of Makkah and reached the Muslims at Hudaybiyyah, showing them his wounds and pleading not to be handed back to the disbelievers. The Muslims wanted to grant Abu Jandal ؓ asylum because the terms had not yet been written, but his father Suhayl insisted that if Abu Jandal was not returned, there could be no treaty. Eventually, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ advised Abu Jandal to be patient and returned him. Similarly, when Sayyiduna Abu Basir embraced Islam and reached Madinah, the disbelievers sent two men to bring him back to Makkah. The Prophet ﷺ handed Abu Basir over to them. On the way, Abu Basir ؓ killed one of them at an opportune moment, and the other fled to Madinah and related the incident to the Messenger of Allah. Soon after, Abu Basir himself arrived at Madinah and said, “O Messenger of Allah ﷺ, by sending me with them, you have fulfilled your responsibility. Now Allah has delivered me from them.” The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Do not kindle the fire of war.” When Sayyiduna Abu Basir learned that the Prophet ﷺ would not allow him to stay in Madinah, he left and settled on the seashore. Later, Abu Jandal also arrived there, and other new Muslims began heading there instead of Madinah. These people harassed the Quraysh so much that they were forced to annul this condition and allowed that whoever wished to go to Madinah after embracing Islam could do so. In another narration, it is mentioned that the disbelievers requested the Messenger of Allah ﷺ to forbid Abu Basir from such actions, and that whoever wished to go to Madinah after embracing Islam could do so. Accordingly, the Prophet ﷺ forbade Abu Basir from raiding. [كتاب الشروط نيز كتاب المغازي وغيره]