MUHAMMAD SAW THE MESSENGER OF ISLAM (515 pages, 30/41)
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ritten down. Just as they were about to sign and witness the contract in the presence of elders from both sides, the son of the Qurayshi delegate Suhayl came running up, having escaped his captors. His name was Abu Jandal and he was a dedicated believer, imprisoned by his own father. The fetters on his feet clanked in rhythm with his loud shouts of “Allahu Akbar” as
he ran up to them. He threw himself at the Prophet’s blessed feet, utterly exhausted, kissing them and pleading, “Oh my Prophet , save me! For the love of you I have fled from the torment these heathens are inflicting on me. Just look at me!” With these words he exposed to view the wounds and injuries all over his body, such as no man should be made to suffer. In reality, the Lord Almighty was showing them an example of a believer who, though entangled in the drama of this worldly life, was replete with religious passion.
The Sahaba were overcome with emotions of pity and compassion. But the Qurayshi delegate Suhayl was only further enraged by the deep feelings his son Abu Jandal exhibited towards the Holy Prophet and the noble religion of Islam. “This incident will immediately prove whether you intend to honor the treaty we are about to sign, or not,” he declared. “You will instantly surrender to me my son, Abu Jandal!”
The Prophet answered, “We have decided to sign the contract, but we will make an exception for Abu Jandal. Whoever comes after this, him we will return to you.” Suhayl replied, “In that case the treaty is pointless.” The Prophet then said, “Alright, we will leave Abu Jandal at Hudaybiyah.” But Suhayl insisted obstinately and refused to accept this. Outwardly this treaty was very harsh indeed, but seen with the eye of Muhammad , it contained great good. Therefore, the Holy Prophet finally consented to return Abu Jandal to his father’s hands. This decision completely unsettled the Companions and they became quite agitated. Abu Jandal pleaded with Muhammad , saying, “I throw myself upon your mercy! Will you really deliver me into the hands of the unbelievers although I am a Muslim, oh Rasulullah ? Can you permit them to torment me even worse than before, oh my Prophet ?”
The Holy Prophet then made Abu Jandal sit by his side and asked him, “Oh Abu Jandal, is there any love that you feel for me?” “Of course, my Prophet ,” answered the man. “And what of your love for this religion of Islam?” “For it I would sacrifice everything,” replied Abu Jandal. “It is therefore that I am surrendering you to them, Abu Jandal,” replied the Prophet , “for you will be made to suffer just a little more in the name of Allah for my sake and for the love of Islam, but your Lord has heard your supplication and your soul will no longer feel any of their mistreatment, only your heart will feel some pain. You must know that Allah Almighty has given you great merit for that your tribulation is great.
“The reward for your patience will be vast stations in the Divine Realm. For the
Lord Almighty has linked with your destiny the coming to Islam of hundreds of thousands of non-believers. In a very short time, you will come to understand the underlying wisdom. This treaty will enable us to freely contact a great many people. The sun of Islam will rise and become visible. Whoever sees this sun will become enamored of Islam. At this time, the enemy does not permit us any contacts and we cannot approach the Arab tribesmen because of the false propaganda they have spread about us, but you will be the means for reversing this evil.” Thereupon Abu Jandal answered, “Oh Rasulullah , for your sake, for the sake of this way I am content, even were they to cut me to pieces, bit by bit. As you wish, so let it be,” he said. He was then returned to his father Suhayl, the delegate of Quraysh, and the contract was signed.
Of course, the Companions did not perceive the situation as their Prophet did. ‘Umar, in particular, who was of a very violent nature, could not come to terms with this contract. When Abu Jandal was delivered back into the hands of his enemies, ‘Umar could not keep his composure any longer. He approached the Holy Prophet in a state of blunt rage and asked him these questions, “Are you not the true Prophet of Allah?” “Yes,” Muhammad replied, “I am in truth the Prophet of Allah.” “Is our religion not based on the Truth? Is the path we follow not a true path?” “Yes, it is the Truth,” answered the Prophet . “If that is the case, why then do we acquiesce to so much abasement and humiliation?” The Holy Prophet then said, “Be careful, oh ‘Umar! For I am the Prophet of Allah
, and I cannot disobey my Lord!” With these words the Holy Prophet uttered a warning to ‘Umar, though he expressed this with the characteristic delicacy that was his mark.
He indicated to him indirectly that he was just short of rebelling against the Lord Almighty, thereby preserving him. Had he simply said, “‘Umar, you are on the verge of rebellion”, ‘Umar would have been devastated. ‘Umar went on to say, “Oh my Prophet , did you not say we would reach the Kaba and make Tawaf there, and did you not tell us that Allah would support us?” Rasulullah replied to this, “Yes, indeed, I did say we would make Tawaf, but I did not say that it would be in this year. We will come again.” ‘Umar then left the presence of the Holy Prophet , went to Abu Bakr and said to him, “Oh Abu Bakr, what kind of a treaty is this, which imposes such rigid conditions on us!” Abu Bakr thereupon said, “Oh ‘Umar, there is no need to be upset, for Muhammad is an exalted Prophet. He does aught but what Allah Almighty commands him to do. There is doubtless wisdom in everything he does; only we cannot yet understand it. Be patient.”
The Holy Prophet ordered the Sahaba to begin the sacrifice of the camels they had brought with them. But although the Pride of the Worlds repeated his order thrice, not a single man moved to act on his command, except Abu Bakr as- Siddiq and Ali. All the noble Companions were thinking to themselves, “Perhaps the Holy Prophet will take pity on us and make changes to this treaty.”
These thoughts disturbed the Holy Prophet greatly. In a vexed frame of mind, he proceeded to the camp of his retinue where his estimable wife Umm Salama was staying. When she perceived his state, Umm Salama was quite upset and said to him, “Oh Prophet of Allah ! Never before have I seen you in such a condition! What has happened?” The Holy Prophet answered her, “Oh Umm Salama, the companions who yesterday were ready to die for me, today will not heed my words!”
Umm-al-Mu’minin, the Mother of the Believers Umm Salama then said, with the intention of defending the Sahaba, “Oh no, Rasulullah , it is not because of their unwillingness, it is only because of their inability to understand the true wisdom of this treaty. In particular, that they act as they do because of their sincerity towards you. They are thinking, ‘Now the enemy has prevailed over our noble Prophet and imposed their will on him’. This thought makes them deaf and dumb with anger. They are thinking that perhaps the Prophet will take into account their disapproval and make changes to the treaty. But then, your actions and doings speak louder than your words. Go out to them now and begin to sacrifice the camels, and shave your head. You will see them following suit.”
The Holy Prophet was very pleased with these words of Umm Salama and said, “Do you really think so, Umm Salama?” “Yes, oh my Prophet ,” she said, and the Holy Prophet thereupon arose and went out to the camels. Umm Salama then prayed fervently, “Oh my Lord, do not embarrass me now!” And truly, when the Holy Prophet began to slaughter his camels, all the Companions followed his example and slaughtered their sacrifices as well, thereby emerging from their state of Ihram.
The Pledge of Allegiance, Baiyat-i-Ridwan
Oh Seeker of the Truth! On the occasion of the Truce of Hudaybiyah a very important and deeply meaningful event took place, which became known as the Bi’at-i-Ridwan, the Pledge of Allegiance.
It has already been told how the Holy Prophet had sent ‘Uthman into Mecca to inform the Muslims living there in concealment of their faith of the negotiations
which the Holy Prophet was conducting with the Quraysh in the name of Islam. He was to tell them that before long Islam would openly shine forth in Mecca, giving them glad tidings of the Conquest of Mecca. The reasons for the delay have also been related. Now that the contract was signed, everyone waited for ‘Uthman’s return. A rumor began coursing the camp that ‘Uthman had been martyred. The Holy Prophet was sitting beneath a mastic tree (Pistacia lentiscus) when this rumor reached his ears. He said, “If this is true, I cannot turn back without punishing Quraysh, we will then be obliged to fight them.” He sent a crier to call for all the Muslims to hear: “The Holy Prophet wants all those to come forth who are willing to pledge their lives for the sake of Islam!”
The Sahaba who heard this call all came running to the presence of the Prophet
, saying, “Oh Rasulullah ! We have accepted the God you taught us, we have placed you on our heads as the crown of joy, we are enamored of the religion you have brought us, we are ready to sacrifice our whole existence for Islam! Are you yet in doubt about us?” “No,” replied the Prophet , “it is for another reason: on account of this particular pledge, very special blessings will manifest. I have called on all that will remain steadfast and faithful to come to me now. So, who will stand by me till this affair is ended, who is prepared to give his very life and soul?”
Men and women then gathered in the presence of the Holy Prophet in a spirit of utter love and devotion, and placing their hands beneath the blessed hand of the King of Prophets , they pledged themselves to him: “Oh Rasulullah, we solemnly pledge to die for you and not to turn back. Our whole being belongs to you.” There was only one man among them, the hypocrite Jadd ibn Qays who hid behind his camel in order not to commit himself by this pledge. The Holy Prophet who knew how hugely important this pledge was in the Divine Presence, wished that ‘Uthman might not be deprived of the unfathomable blessings because of his absence. Therefore, he called to his Companions to be his witnesses and said, “Oh my Lord! My left hand shall stand for that of ‘Uthman,” placing his left hand below his right hand. In this way, he let ‘Uthman partake of this pledge of allegiance and of its inherent blessings.
The Eternal Lord speaks of this event, which took place on the worldly stage between His Beloved and his Companions in the revelation of the Holy Quran:
Those who swear fealty to thee swear fealty in truth to God; God’s hand is over their hands. Then whosoever breaks his oath breaks it but to his own hurt; and whoso fulfils his covenant made with God, God will give him a mighty wage.
(Victory, 10)
If one reads attentively, it will appear that the Lord here indicates to His servants that there will remain no trace of deficient existence in His Beloved, but rather that he will become completely immersed in the Lord and established in permanence. However, this interpretation relates to those who have tasted of real faith; as for believers who are yet on the level of imitative faith, they may glean this meaning from this verse: Allah’s Might is above and beyond their powers.
Allah indicates the great good tidings of Divine Pleasure contained in this pledge of Hudaybiyah in this verse:
God was well pleased with the believers when they were swearing fealty to thee under the tree, and He knew what was in their hearts, so He sent down the Sakina (inner peace) upon them, and rewarded them with a nigh victory and many spoils to take; and God is ever All- Mighty, all-Wise. (Victory, 18)
There is yet another subtle lesson to be learnt by the Nation of Muhammad from the Truce of Hudaybiyah. First of all, this treaty teaches us composure in the face of adversity; next, it counsels us to look ahead to the consequences of an action, and finally it indicates that mental power will certainly overcome physical force. As an example, let us say we see something bad. If we go and try to crush it right away it, that may not be very efficient, but if we contain our impulse and are patient, and wait for the right time to deal with the matter, it will be much more effective. All these lessons are contained in the events at Hudaybiyah.
The outcome was as follows:
Gradually, results began to appear from this treaty which outwardly seemed to be a defeat for the Muslims, but which in reality was a victory. For the radiance of the Holy Prophet’s inspired countenance, his prophetic refinement, the compassion and support he dispensed upon all, the unbeliever not excepted, the mercy he showed to his foes, the freedom Islam preached, the abhorrence and banning of idol worship – most of the pagans who witnessed these signs began to direct their hearts towards Islam, and even the ones who were not honored with the destiny of becoming Muslims, became less hopelessly entrenched in their enmity.
In a short while, this peace treaty became a major cause for the spread of Islam, as the unbelievers were now free to mingle with the Muslims. This social intercourse won over people’s minds, so that people came in great numbers and melted down their coarseness in the crucible of the Prophet Muhammad’s
gentle radiance, so that it was turned into subtlety and delicacy. The leaders of the idolaters found themselves increasingly isolated.
This verse was then revealed:
Surely, We have given thee a manifest victory.... (Victory, 1)
The unbelievers who came to visit their relatives who had become followers of the Prophet saw that their condition was excellent and that they did not wish to return. In a very short time, the Muslim ranks swelled and many more accepted Islam than in the year before the treaty of Hudaybiyah.
Khalid ibn-al Walid, the staff general and cavalry commander of the pagan Arab army then turned to Islam. The man who was to become the future conqueror of Syria and to gain the title of “Sayfullah,” the Sword of Allah, became Muslim, and he was a great boon for the Muslims. The leaders of the unbelievers were plunged into despair. Only then did ‘Umar begin to understand the wisdom of the Truce of Hudaybiyah.
One day the Prophet had ‘Umar called and said to him, “‘Umar, once you wished to speak to me in private. Now I wish to see you privately.” ‘Umar then realized his mistake. “Yes, oh my Prophet,” he said, “I have opposed you in many matters, but I always rely on your magnanimity, for you have always answered my roughness with gentle pardon. You wish to remind me of the Truce of Hudaybiyah, is it not so? On that day I railed against you and was insolent, but it was because of my strong faith in you. Yes, I complained to you of you – to whom else could I have taken my complaint? Please forgive my failings, we are people whom you saved but yesterday from the age of ignorance.” The Holy Prophet smiled at ‘Umar’s words and answered him in courteous terms and treated him kindly.
The clause in the treaty of Hudaybiyah concerning the return of those who fled to Madinah applied only to the men, not to the women. On their account the following verse was revealed:
Oh believers! when believing women come to you as emigrants, test them, God knows very well their belief. Then, if you know them to be believers, return them not to the unbelievers. They are not permitted to the unbelievers, nor are the unbelievers permitted to them. Give the unbelievers what they have expended; and there is no fault in you to marry them when you have given them their wages. Do not hold fast to the ties of unbelieving women, and ask what you have expended, and let them ask what they have expended. That is God’s judgment; He
judges between you; and God is All-Knowing, All-Wise. (The Woman Tested, 10)
During this period ‘Utba bin Asid became Muslim in Mecca, and when the mistreatment he suffered from the unbelievers exceeded all limits, he decided to flee from Mecca to Madinah. The Quraysh sent after him two men with the mission of bringing ‘Utba back to Mecca. ‘Utba cried out and pleaded, “Oh Rasulullah ! Do not deliver me into their hands, for I cannot I bear to be among the unbelievers again!” But the Holy Prophet replied, “We cannot break our pact with the Quraysh. You will return for the sake of Islam. Be patient. Allah will surely open a path for you and those like you. For this noble religion you must endure a bit of hardship.” And he prayed to the Lord Almighty, “Oh my Lord God! Make it easy for them and show them a path for salvation!” Then he returned ‘Utba to the envoys of the Quraysh.
On the road, ‘Utba said to the men who were taking him back, “Why is it that you want to inflict cruelty on me? Why don’t you just let me go?” They answered, “You are one of the Muslims. It is a pleasure for us to torment you and cause you to suffer.” They traveled up to the place called Dhul-Hulayfa. ‘Utba thought of ways to free himself from the hands of his merciless captors. He was a very strong man. At a certain point he managed to wrest the sword from the hand of the man who was guarding him, and with a single stroke he severed his head from his trunk, shouting, “Just deserts for him who intended to torment one who only desires to follow the Path of Truth and who bows before no one but Allah!”
The unbeliever’s head rolled in the sand and his friend took to flight. He barely managed to escape from ‘Utba. Somewhat later, ‘Utba came again into the presence of the Holy Prophet , defending himself thus, “Oh my Prophet ! You accorded to the letter of the articles in the treaty you have concluded. I fled to Madinah, they sent men after me to bring me back; they demanded me from you, you delivered me in to their hands, they took me away. Therefore, you are blameless; you have not broken the truce. As for me, after I was handed over, I defended myself and with Divine Help and Succor, I was spared. This has no more to do with the treaty of Hudaybiyah. Will you now not grant me permission to stay in Madinah?”
The Holy Prophet replied, “The treaty stipulates as a necessary requirement that you be returned whenever they demand it. Therefore, I cannot keep you here in Madinah. Go wherever you wish, as long as you leave the city of Madinah.”
‘Utba immediately left the city when the Prophet ordered him to do so, and settled near the coast at a place called al-‘Is. The Muslims remaining in Mecca heard of this, and one by one they began to move north toward al-‘Is. In a short while quite a number of Muslims were gathered at al-‘Is. Even Abu Jandal managed once more to escape from the prison his father kept him in, and he, too, joined ‘Utba at al-‘Is. Before Abu Jandal’s arrival, ‘Utba had been the leader and Imam of the group, but when Abu Jandal arrived, he took over as Imam.
One day they decided that they had sufficient numbers to find a way of joining the Holy Prophet . For in the treaty, the unbelievers had demanded that all fugitives to Madinah must be returned to Mecca. “Now Allah has given us the means for doing away with this clause. We are now a group of some strength, comprising seventy men. Let us therefore resort to harassing the passing caravans of the Quraysh. They will then go to Muhammad of their own accord and beg for this condition to be annulled.” They put their decision into action and began to waylay the Quraysh caravans. It was not long before a delegation of Quraysh came to the Holy Prophet , asking him to cancel the condition concerning the return of the fugitives to the Quraysh. After this, the Prophet wrote ‘Utba a letter, inviting him and his companions to come and stay with him at Madinah.
When this letter arrived, ‘Utba was already very ill, nearly at the point of death. When they told him that the Prophet had sent him a letter, he seemed to come back to life in spite of his grave condition. “Read it to me!” he demanded. The Prophet’s letter was read to him: “The Quraysh have requested that the clause for the return of the fugitives from Mecca to Madinah be annulled. We now invite you and your companions to come and stay with us at Madinah.” ‘Utba thanked Allah and pronounced blessings upon the Holy Prophet , then he said, “Allah has made me the instrument for relieving the Muslims of the worst and heaviest demand of the treaty of Hudaybiyah. Thanks to Him and unending Praise and Glory.” Then, turning to his friends, he said, “Go to the Prophet and give him my Salams, with the expression of my veneration. You have heard for yourselves that he is pleased with me, so be my witnesses in the Presence of Allah Almighty and hurry to Madinah at once.” With that he pressed the letter to his eyes and forehead and passed from this world of woe to the Eternal Abode. Abu Jandal prayed the funeral prayer over him, and after they had buried him at al-‘Is, they departed for Madinah.
After this, the caravan routes of the Quraysh were opened again and caravans traveled along them unmolested.
As mentioned before, this term of the agreement did not apply to the women. There was nothing in the treaty that demanded their return to the unbelievers. In these days Umm Kulthum, the daughter of ‘Uqba, one of the leading Quraysh, became Muslim. Her brothers al-Walid and ‘Umara came and demanded her extradition. The Holy Prophet refused to comply with their demand. Thereafter, the Sahaba who had unbelieving wives who had remained in Mecca divorced themselves from them.
In this way, they evaded the treaty of Hudaybiyah. Some time after this, the Holy Prophet said, “The time has come for the disclosure and spreading of Islam.” For the religion of Islam was never meant to be restricted to one people, one community, or one continent. It was meant as a universal religion, to be spread from one end of the world to the other, and the Imam of Prophets was sent as a messenger of glad tidings and as a Warner, to teach and to make known his message far and wide.
For indeed Islam is a religion of Unity, its monotheism balancing the excesses of idolatrous similitude with Allah’s absolute incomparability. It proclaims the Oneness of Divinity. It values the mind’s reason. Judged by a sound mind, every revealed law proves to have a rational basis. Islam disapproves of idolatry, injustice, hypocrisy, and unbelief, and whoever is inclined towards these things is considered an unbeliever. It forbids the worship of any feeble human creature and discourages men from becoming a tyrant’s knaves. It prevents people from trampling under foot the natural morality of mankind. The observance of the rights of all sentient beings is the most eminent of all God-pleasing acts.
The most preferential status in the community is due to the most reverent towards the Lord Almighty and the most compassionate towards His Creation.
He shall not be questioned as to what He does, but they shall be questioned.
(The Prophets, 23)
This signifies that everyone but Allah Almighty is to be held responsible, whether he is the president or a sheikh, a religious teacher, a scholar or a man of virtue. Everyone will be called to account, according to the teaching of Islam.
Islam rules that the ruler be judged by the same criteria as the slave. All worldly activity is to be hallowed by the intention to strive for the world as if one was never to die, and to work for the afterlife as if one were to die tomorrow. Islam values all knowledge; it prefers the corrupt man of learning to the ignorantly devout worshipper.
Islam demands the Remembrance of Allah (Dhikrullah) to be pronounced not only in words, but demands that the Dhikr be contained in all deeds and states of mind, and its application to all circumstances.
Wealth is acceptable as long as it does no harm to another man. Islam has made the poor man to be the brother of the rich man. Islam teaches us that if a person is amenable to a tyrant, his name will be erased from the slate of Islam. This religion being the religion of love, his name will be written in the book of those who busied themselves with the love of other than Islam, and who were ruled by the opinions of their lower soul. The foundation of disbelief is the exaltation of the base, and the abasement of the high and noble.
Messages to Various Rulers
After the treaty of Hudaybiyah, all these issues were brought out into the open and publicly proclaimed. The Holy Prophet gathered all his Sahaba around him and related to them what had been revealed to him concerning his own noble person:
And We have not sent thee, save as a mercy unto all beings. (The Prophets, 107)
He went on to say, “Now the time has come to proclaim the truth. I am about to send you each with a written message to the kings and lords of the great civilizations of this day and age. But beware from falling into disagreement with one another as did the disciples of Isa.” Then he sent various Sahaba to these kings: Dihya bin Khalifa was sent to the Byzantine Emperor Heraclius; Abdullah bin Hudhafa as-Sahmi to the Khosroes of Iran, Parviz; Hatib ibn Abi Balta’a to the Aziz Muqawqis of Egypt, and ‘Amr ibn Umayya was sent to the Negus of Abyssinia. Salit bin ‘Amr al-Amiri he sent to the ruler of Yamama; and Shuja’ bin Wahb to al-Mundhir al-Ghassani, the lord of Damascus as his messengers and envoys.
At this time the holy verse was revealed:
Alif. Lam. Mim. The Romans have been vanquished in the nearer part of the land; and, after their vanquishing, they shall be the victors in a few years. To God belongs the Command before and after; and on that day the believers shall rejoice in God’s help; God helps whomsoever He will; and He is the All-Mighty, the All-Compassionate.
(The Romans, 1-5)
The Byzantine Emperor Heraclius
According to this Divine statement and indication, in the year that the Holy Prophet indicated, the Byzantine Emperor Heraclius moved out with a great army against Iran and vanquished them. On the occasion of his victory he came to Jerusalem and was greeted there enthusiastically by the people of the city. All the streets were laid out with carpets and strewn with flowers. The Prophet’s
letter happened to reach him just at that time, while he was in Jerusalem. In these days, the Ghassani were under the protectorate of Byzantium. Their chief, al- Mundhir al-Harith of the tribe of Hauran resided at Busra. The Muslim envoy Dihya handed the epistle over to al-Mundhir al-Harith of the Hauran who brought the letter to the Emperor.
The Emperor read the letter, then turned to his retainers and said, “Bring to me some of the Arabs who live in these parts.” For the Emperor wished to gather reliable information concerning the character of Muhammad before he left Syria. So people were sent out to find such persons who had information about Muhammad . It so happened that Abu Sufyan was traveling in business to Ghaza. He and his entourage were invited to an audience before the imperial presence. That day the Emperor ordered his state pavilion to be lavishly adorned and decorated with luxurious trimmings. He seated himself upon the throne, his crown upon his head. The dignitaries of Byzantium, the spiritual heads of the Empire, his bishops and abbots were all assembled round him.
When the Arab merchants entered, the Emperor asked them the following questions: “Is there any one among you who is personally acquainted with the Prophet who has sent me this letter?” Abu Sufyan stepped forward and said, “It is I who am closest to him,” even though he himself had pronounced upon the death of Abu Jahl, “Not to worry, I will put an end to this affair which Muhammad has begun; I will cause his name to be forgotten.” The Emperor then asked him, “I wish to put some questions to you. What kind of a family does this Prophet of yours hale from?” “His family is one of the noble families of Arabia.” “Have there been others in his family who claimed to be a Prophet?” “No!” “From what level of society are the people converting to his religion?” “They are from the lower social classes.” “Are the followers of this religion on the increase?” “Yes, they are increasing.” “Have you ever known this man to tell a lie?” “No, never!” “Have there been any who turned their backs on him and their pledge to him?” “No! However, it is not very long since we have concluded a treaty with him. We shall see whether he sticks to the terms of this treaty or not.”
“Who was victorious and who was defeated in the wars you fought against him?” “Sometimes he won, sometimes we did.” “What does this Prophet teach you?” “He says: the only entity worthy of worship is Allah, who is the master of the creative Word ‘Be’ and it came to be!’, who with His knowledge guides and directs all of Creation and dispenses His wisdom. Him you must worship, and you must know that all of creation exists only through Him and through His
Love alone gains perpetuity. You shall not ascribe to Him any partners, confronting His Divine Person with the claims of your own selfishness. You are to perform ritual prayers,
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ritten down. Just as they were about to sign and witness the contract in the presence of elders from both sides, the son of the Qurayshi delegate Suhayl came running up, having escaped his captors. His name was Abu Jandal and he was a dedicated believer, imprisoned by his own father. The fetters on his feet clanked in rhythm with his loud shouts of “Allahu Akbar” as
he ran up to them. He threw himself at the Prophet’s blessed feet, utterly exhausted, kissing them and pleading, “Oh my Prophet , save me! For the love of you I have fled from the torment these heathens are inflicting on me. Just look at me!” With these words he exposed to view the wounds and injuries all over his body, such as no man should be made to suffer. In reality, the Lord Almighty was showing them an example of a believer who, though entangled in the drama of this worldly life, was replete with religious passion.
The Sahaba were overcome with emotions of pity and compassion. But the Qurayshi delegate Suhayl was only further enraged by the deep feelings his son Abu Jandal exhibited towards the Holy Prophet and the noble religion of Islam. “This incident will immediately prove whether you intend to honor the treaty we are about to sign, or not,” he declared. “You will instantly surrender to me my son, Abu Jandal!”
The Prophet answered, “We have decided to sign the contract, but we will make an exception for Abu Jandal. Whoever comes after this, him we will return to you.” Suhayl replied, “In that case the treaty is pointless.” The Prophet then said, “Alright, we will leave Abu Jandal at Hudaybiyah.” But Suhayl insisted obstinately and refused to accept this. Outwardly this treaty was very harsh indeed, but seen with the eye of Muhammad , it contained great good. Therefore, the Holy Prophet finally consented to return Abu Jandal to his father’s hands. This decision completely unsettled the Companions and they became quite agitated. Abu Jandal pleaded with Muhammad , saying, “I throw myself upon your mercy! Will you really deliver me into the hands of the unbelievers although I am a Muslim, oh Rasulullah ? Can you permit them to torment me even worse than before, oh my Prophet ?”
The Holy Prophet then made Abu Jandal sit by his side and asked him, “Oh Abu Jandal, is there any love that you feel for me?” “Of course, my Prophet ,” answered the man. “And what of your love for this religion of Islam?” “For it I would sacrifice everything,” replied Abu Jandal. “It is therefore that I am surrendering you to them, Abu Jandal,” replied the Prophet , “for you will be made to suffer just a little more in the name of Allah for my sake and for the love of Islam, but your Lord has heard your supplication and your soul will no longer feel any of their mistreatment, only your heart will feel some pain. You must know that Allah Almighty has given you great merit for that your tribulation is great.
“The reward for your patience will be vast stations in the Divine Realm. For the
Lord Almighty has linked with your destiny the coming to Islam of hundreds of thousands of non-believers. In a very short time, you will come to understand the underlying wisdom. This treaty will enable us to freely contact a great many people. The sun of Islam will rise and become visible. Whoever sees this sun will become enamored of Islam. At this time, the enemy does not permit us any contacts and we cannot approach the Arab tribesmen because of the false propaganda they have spread about us, but you will be the means for reversing this evil.” Thereupon Abu Jandal answered, “Oh Rasulullah , for your sake, for the sake of this way I am content, even were they to cut me to pieces, bit by bit. As you wish, so let it be,” he said. He was then returned to his father Suhayl, the delegate of Quraysh, and the contract was signed.
Of course, the Companions did not perceive the situation as their Prophet did. ‘Umar, in particular, who was of a very violent nature, could not come to terms with this contract. When Abu Jandal was delivered back into the hands of his enemies, ‘Umar could not keep his composure any longer. He approached the Holy Prophet in a state of blunt rage and asked him these questions, “Are you not the true Prophet of Allah?” “Yes,” Muhammad replied, “I am in truth the Prophet of Allah.” “Is our religion not based on the Truth? Is the path we follow not a true path?” “Yes, it is the Truth,” answered the Prophet . “If that is the case, why then do we acquiesce to so much abasement and humiliation?” The Holy Prophet then said, “Be careful, oh ‘Umar! For I am the Prophet of Allah
, and I cannot disobey my Lord!” With these words the Holy Prophet uttered a warning to ‘Umar, though he expressed this with the characteristic delicacy that was his mark.
He indicated to him indirectly that he was just short of rebelling against the Lord Almighty, thereby preserving him. Had he simply said, “‘Umar, you are on the verge of rebellion”, ‘Umar would have been devastated. ‘Umar went on to say, “Oh my Prophet , did you not say we would reach the Kaba and make Tawaf there, and did you not tell us that Allah would support us?” Rasulullah replied to this, “Yes, indeed, I did say we would make Tawaf, but I did not say that it would be in this year. We will come again.” ‘Umar then left the presence of the Holy Prophet , went to Abu Bakr and said to him, “Oh Abu Bakr, what kind of a treaty is this, which imposes such rigid conditions on us!” Abu Bakr thereupon said, “Oh ‘Umar, there is no need to be upset, for Muhammad is an exalted Prophet. He does aught but what Allah Almighty commands him to do. There is doubtless wisdom in everything he does; only we cannot yet understand it. Be patient.”
The Holy Prophet ordered the Sahaba to begin the sacrifice of the camels they had brought with them. But although the Pride of the Worlds repeated his order thrice, not a single man moved to act on his command, except Abu Bakr as- Siddiq and Ali. All the noble Companions were thinking to themselves, “Perhaps the Holy Prophet will take pity on us and make changes to this treaty.”
These thoughts disturbed the Holy Prophet greatly. In a vexed frame of mind, he proceeded to the camp of his retinue where his estimable wife Umm Salama was staying. When she perceived his state, Umm Salama was quite upset and said to him, “Oh Prophet of Allah ! Never before have I seen you in such a condition! What has happened?” The Holy Prophet answered her, “Oh Umm Salama, the companions who yesterday were ready to die for me, today will not heed my words!”
Umm-al-Mu’minin, the Mother of the Believers Umm Salama then said, with the intention of defending the Sahaba, “Oh no, Rasulullah , it is not because of their unwillingness, it is only because of their inability to understand the true wisdom of this treaty. In particular, that they act as they do because of their sincerity towards you. They are thinking, ‘Now the enemy has prevailed over our noble Prophet and imposed their will on him’. This thought makes them deaf and dumb with anger. They are thinking that perhaps the Prophet will take into account their disapproval and make changes to the treaty. But then, your actions and doings speak louder than your words. Go out to them now and begin to sacrifice the camels, and shave your head. You will see them following suit.”
The Holy Prophet was very pleased with these words of Umm Salama and said, “Do you really think so, Umm Salama?” “Yes, oh my Prophet ,” she said, and the Holy Prophet thereupon arose and went out to the camels. Umm Salama then prayed fervently, “Oh my Lord, do not embarrass me now!” And truly, when the Holy Prophet began to slaughter his camels, all the Companions followed his example and slaughtered their sacrifices as well, thereby emerging from their state of Ihram.
The Pledge of Allegiance, Baiyat-i-Ridwan
Oh Seeker of the Truth! On the occasion of the Truce of Hudaybiyah a very important and deeply meaningful event took place, which became known as the Bi’at-i-Ridwan, the Pledge of Allegiance.
It has already been told how the Holy Prophet had sent ‘Uthman into Mecca to inform the Muslims living there in concealment of their faith of the negotiations
which the Holy Prophet was conducting with the Quraysh in the name of Islam. He was to tell them that before long Islam would openly shine forth in Mecca, giving them glad tidings of the Conquest of Mecca. The reasons for the delay have also been related. Now that the contract was signed, everyone waited for ‘Uthman’s return. A rumor began coursing the camp that ‘Uthman had been martyred. The Holy Prophet was sitting beneath a mastic tree (Pistacia lentiscus) when this rumor reached his ears. He said, “If this is true, I cannot turn back without punishing Quraysh, we will then be obliged to fight them.” He sent a crier to call for all the Muslims to hear: “The Holy Prophet wants all those to come forth who are willing to pledge their lives for the sake of Islam!”
The Sahaba who heard this call all came running to the presence of the Prophet
, saying, “Oh Rasulullah ! We have accepted the God you taught us, we have placed you on our heads as the crown of joy, we are enamored of the religion you have brought us, we are ready to sacrifice our whole existence for Islam! Are you yet in doubt about us?” “No,” replied the Prophet , “it is for another reason: on account of this particular pledge, very special blessings will manifest. I have called on all that will remain steadfast and faithful to come to me now. So, who will stand by me till this affair is ended, who is prepared to give his very life and soul?”
Men and women then gathered in the presence of the Holy Prophet in a spirit of utter love and devotion, and placing their hands beneath the blessed hand of the King of Prophets , they pledged themselves to him: “Oh Rasulullah, we solemnly pledge to die for you and not to turn back. Our whole being belongs to you.” There was only one man among them, the hypocrite Jadd ibn Qays who hid behind his camel in order not to commit himself by this pledge. The Holy Prophet who knew how hugely important this pledge was in the Divine Presence, wished that ‘Uthman might not be deprived of the unfathomable blessings because of his absence. Therefore, he called to his Companions to be his witnesses and said, “Oh my Lord! My left hand shall stand for that of ‘Uthman,” placing his left hand below his right hand. In this way, he let ‘Uthman partake of this pledge of allegiance and of its inherent blessings.
The Eternal Lord speaks of this event, which took place on the worldly stage between His Beloved and his Companions in the revelation of the Holy Quran:
Those who swear fealty to thee swear fealty in truth to God; God’s hand is over their hands. Then whosoever breaks his oath breaks it but to his own hurt; and whoso fulfils his covenant made with God, God will give him a mighty wage.
(Victory, 10)
If one reads attentively, it will appear that the Lord here indicates to His servants that there will remain no trace of deficient existence in His Beloved, but rather that he will become completely immersed in the Lord and established in permanence. However, this interpretation relates to those who have tasted of real faith; as for believers who are yet on the level of imitative faith, they may glean this meaning from this verse: Allah’s Might is above and beyond their powers.
Allah indicates the great good tidings of Divine Pleasure contained in this pledge of Hudaybiyah in this verse:
God was well pleased with the believers when they were swearing fealty to thee under the tree, and He knew what was in their hearts, so He sent down the Sakina (inner peace) upon them, and rewarded them with a nigh victory and many spoils to take; and God is ever All- Mighty, all-Wise. (Victory, 18)
There is yet another subtle lesson to be learnt by the Nation of Muhammad from the Truce of Hudaybiyah. First of all, this treaty teaches us composure in the face of adversity; next, it counsels us to look ahead to the consequences of an action, and finally it indicates that mental power will certainly overcome physical force. As an example, let us say we see something bad. If we go and try to crush it right away it, that may not be very efficient, but if we contain our impulse and are patient, and wait for the right time to deal with the matter, it will be much more effective. All these lessons are contained in the events at Hudaybiyah.
The outcome was as follows:
Gradually, results began to appear from this treaty which outwardly seemed to be a defeat for the Muslims, but which in reality was a victory. For the radiance of the Holy Prophet’s inspired countenance, his prophetic refinement, the compassion and support he dispensed upon all, the unbeliever not excepted, the mercy he showed to his foes, the freedom Islam preached, the abhorrence and banning of idol worship – most of the pagans who witnessed these signs began to direct their hearts towards Islam, and even the ones who were not honored with the destiny of becoming Muslims, became less hopelessly entrenched in their enmity.
In a short while, this peace treaty became a major cause for the spread of Islam, as the unbelievers were now free to mingle with the Muslims. This social intercourse won over people’s minds, so that people came in great numbers and melted down their coarseness in the crucible of the Prophet Muhammad’s
gentle radiance, so that it was turned into subtlety and delicacy. The leaders of the idolaters found themselves increasingly isolated.
This verse was then revealed:
Surely, We have given thee a manifest victory.... (Victory, 1)
The unbelievers who came to visit their relatives who had become followers of the Prophet saw that their condition was excellent and that they did not wish to return. In a very short time, the Muslim ranks swelled and many more accepted Islam than in the year before the treaty of Hudaybiyah.
Khalid ibn-al Walid, the staff general and cavalry commander of the pagan Arab army then turned to Islam. The man who was to become the future conqueror of Syria and to gain the title of “Sayfullah,” the Sword of Allah, became Muslim, and he was a great boon for the Muslims. The leaders of the unbelievers were plunged into despair. Only then did ‘Umar begin to understand the wisdom of the Truce of Hudaybiyah.
One day the Prophet had ‘Umar called and said to him, “‘Umar, once you wished to speak to me in private. Now I wish to see you privately.” ‘Umar then realized his mistake. “Yes, oh my Prophet,” he said, “I have opposed you in many matters, but I always rely on your magnanimity, for you have always answered my roughness with gentle pardon. You wish to remind me of the Truce of Hudaybiyah, is it not so? On that day I railed against you and was insolent, but it was because of my strong faith in you. Yes, I complained to you of you – to whom else could I have taken my complaint? Please forgive my failings, we are people whom you saved but yesterday from the age of ignorance.” The Holy Prophet smiled at ‘Umar’s words and answered him in courteous terms and treated him kindly.
The clause in the treaty of Hudaybiyah concerning the return of those who fled to Madinah applied only to the men, not to the women. On their account the following verse was revealed:
Oh believers! when believing women come to you as emigrants, test them, God knows very well their belief. Then, if you know them to be believers, return them not to the unbelievers. They are not permitted to the unbelievers, nor are the unbelievers permitted to them. Give the unbelievers what they have expended; and there is no fault in you to marry them when you have given them their wages. Do not hold fast to the ties of unbelieving women, and ask what you have expended, and let them ask what they have expended. That is God’s judgment; He
judges between you; and God is All-Knowing, All-Wise. (The Woman Tested, 10)
During this period ‘Utba bin Asid became Muslim in Mecca, and when the mistreatment he suffered from the unbelievers exceeded all limits, he decided to flee from Mecca to Madinah. The Quraysh sent after him two men with the mission of bringing ‘Utba back to Mecca. ‘Utba cried out and pleaded, “Oh Rasulullah ! Do not deliver me into their hands, for I cannot I bear to be among the unbelievers again!” But the Holy Prophet replied, “We cannot break our pact with the Quraysh. You will return for the sake of Islam. Be patient. Allah will surely open a path for you and those like you. For this noble religion you must endure a bit of hardship.” And he prayed to the Lord Almighty, “Oh my Lord God! Make it easy for them and show them a path for salvation!” Then he returned ‘Utba to the envoys of the Quraysh.
On the road, ‘Utba said to the men who were taking him back, “Why is it that you want to inflict cruelty on me? Why don’t you just let me go?” They answered, “You are one of the Muslims. It is a pleasure for us to torment you and cause you to suffer.” They traveled up to the place called Dhul-Hulayfa. ‘Utba thought of ways to free himself from the hands of his merciless captors. He was a very strong man. At a certain point he managed to wrest the sword from the hand of the man who was guarding him, and with a single stroke he severed his head from his trunk, shouting, “Just deserts for him who intended to torment one who only desires to follow the Path of Truth and who bows before no one but Allah!”
The unbeliever’s head rolled in the sand and his friend took to flight. He barely managed to escape from ‘Utba. Somewhat later, ‘Utba came again into the presence of the Holy Prophet , defending himself thus, “Oh my Prophet ! You accorded to the letter of the articles in the treaty you have concluded. I fled to Madinah, they sent men after me to bring me back; they demanded me from you, you delivered me in to their hands, they took me away. Therefore, you are blameless; you have not broken the truce. As for me, after I was handed over, I defended myself and with Divine Help and Succor, I was spared. This has no more to do with the treaty of Hudaybiyah. Will you now not grant me permission to stay in Madinah?”
The Holy Prophet replied, “The treaty stipulates as a necessary requirement that you be returned whenever they demand it. Therefore, I cannot keep you here in Madinah. Go wherever you wish, as long as you leave the city of Madinah.”
‘Utba immediately left the city when the Prophet ordered him to do so, and settled near the coast at a place called al-‘Is. The Muslims remaining in Mecca heard of this, and one by one they began to move north toward al-‘Is. In a short while quite a number of Muslims were gathered at al-‘Is. Even Abu Jandal managed once more to escape from the prison his father kept him in, and he, too, joined ‘Utba at al-‘Is. Before Abu Jandal’s arrival, ‘Utba had been the leader and Imam of the group, but when Abu Jandal arrived, he took over as Imam.
One day they decided that they had sufficient numbers to find a way of joining the Holy Prophet . For in the treaty, the unbelievers had demanded that all fugitives to Madinah must be returned to Mecca. “Now Allah has given us the means for doing away with this clause. We are now a group of some strength, comprising seventy men. Let us therefore resort to harassing the passing caravans of the Quraysh. They will then go to Muhammad of their own accord and beg for this condition to be annulled.” They put their decision into action and began to waylay the Quraysh caravans. It was not long before a delegation of Quraysh came to the Holy Prophet , asking him to cancel the condition concerning the return of the fugitives to the Quraysh. After this, the Prophet wrote ‘Utba a letter, inviting him and his companions to come and stay with him at Madinah.
When this letter arrived, ‘Utba was already very ill, nearly at the point of death. When they told him that the Prophet had sent him a letter, he seemed to come back to life in spite of his grave condition. “Read it to me!” he demanded. The Prophet’s letter was read to him: “The Quraysh have requested that the clause for the return of the fugitives from Mecca to Madinah be annulled. We now invite you and your companions to come and stay with us at Madinah.” ‘Utba thanked Allah and pronounced blessings upon the Holy Prophet , then he said, “Allah has made me the instrument for relieving the Muslims of the worst and heaviest demand of the treaty of Hudaybiyah. Thanks to Him and unending Praise and Glory.” Then, turning to his friends, he said, “Go to the Prophet and give him my Salams, with the expression of my veneration. You have heard for yourselves that he is pleased with me, so be my witnesses in the Presence of Allah Almighty and hurry to Madinah at once.” With that he pressed the letter to his eyes and forehead and passed from this world of woe to the Eternal Abode. Abu Jandal prayed the funeral prayer over him, and after they had buried him at al-‘Is, they departed for Madinah.
After this, the caravan routes of the Quraysh were opened again and caravans traveled along them unmolested.
As mentioned before, this term of the agreement did not apply to the women. There was nothing in the treaty that demanded their return to the unbelievers. In these days Umm Kulthum, the daughter of ‘Uqba, one of the leading Quraysh, became Muslim. Her brothers al-Walid and ‘Umara came and demanded her extradition. The Holy Prophet refused to comply with their demand. Thereafter, the Sahaba who had unbelieving wives who had remained in Mecca divorced themselves from them.
In this way, they evaded the treaty of Hudaybiyah. Some time after this, the Holy Prophet said, “The time has come for the disclosure and spreading of Islam.” For the religion of Islam was never meant to be restricted to one people, one community, or one continent. It was meant as a universal religion, to be spread from one end of the world to the other, and the Imam of Prophets was sent as a messenger of glad tidings and as a Warner, to teach and to make known his message far and wide.
For indeed Islam is a religion of Unity, its monotheism balancing the excesses of idolatrous similitude with Allah’s absolute incomparability. It proclaims the Oneness of Divinity. It values the mind’s reason. Judged by a sound mind, every revealed law proves to have a rational basis. Islam disapproves of idolatry, injustice, hypocrisy, and unbelief, and whoever is inclined towards these things is considered an unbeliever. It forbids the worship of any feeble human creature and discourages men from becoming a tyrant’s knaves. It prevents people from trampling under foot the natural morality of mankind. The observance of the rights of all sentient beings is the most eminent of all God-pleasing acts.
The most preferential status in the community is due to the most reverent towards the Lord Almighty and the most compassionate towards His Creation.
He shall not be questioned as to what He does, but they shall be questioned.
(The Prophets, 23)
This signifies that everyone but Allah Almighty is to be held responsible, whether he is the president or a sheikh, a religious teacher, a scholar or a man of virtue. Everyone will be called to account, according to the teaching of Islam.
Islam rules that the ruler be judged by the same criteria as the slave. All worldly activity is to be hallowed by the intention to strive for the world as if one was never to die, and to work for the afterlife as if one were to die tomorrow. Islam values all knowledge; it prefers the corrupt man of learning to the ignorantly devout worshipper.
Islam demands the Remembrance of Allah (Dhikrullah) to be pronounced not only in words, but demands that the Dhikr be contained in all deeds and states of mind, and its application to all circumstances.
Wealth is acceptable as long as it does no harm to another man. Islam has made the poor man to be the brother of the rich man. Islam teaches us that if a person is amenable to a tyrant, his name will be erased from the slate of Islam. This religion being the religion of love, his name will be written in the book of those who busied themselves with the love of other than Islam, and who were ruled by the opinions of their lower soul. The foundation of disbelief is the exaltation of the base, and the abasement of the high and noble.
Messages to Various Rulers
After the treaty of Hudaybiyah, all these issues were brought out into the open and publicly proclaimed. The Holy Prophet gathered all his Sahaba around him and related to them what had been revealed to him concerning his own noble person:
And We have not sent thee, save as a mercy unto all beings. (The Prophets, 107)
He went on to say, “Now the time has come to proclaim the truth. I am about to send you each with a written message to the kings and lords of the great civilizations of this day and age. But beware from falling into disagreement with one another as did the disciples of Isa.” Then he sent various Sahaba to these kings: Dihya bin Khalifa was sent to the Byzantine Emperor Heraclius; Abdullah bin Hudhafa as-Sahmi to the Khosroes of Iran, Parviz; Hatib ibn Abi Balta’a to the Aziz Muqawqis of Egypt, and ‘Amr ibn Umayya was sent to the Negus of Abyssinia. Salit bin ‘Amr al-Amiri he sent to the ruler of Yamama; and Shuja’ bin Wahb to al-Mundhir al-Ghassani, the lord of Damascus as his messengers and envoys.
At this time the holy verse was revealed:
Alif. Lam. Mim. The Romans have been vanquished in the nearer part of the land; and, after their vanquishing, they shall be the victors in a few years. To God belongs the Command before and after; and on that day the believers shall rejoice in God’s help; God helps whomsoever He will; and He is the All-Mighty, the All-Compassionate.
(The Romans, 1-5)
The Byzantine Emperor Heraclius
According to this Divine statement and indication, in the year that the Holy Prophet indicated, the Byzantine Emperor Heraclius moved out with a great army against Iran and vanquished them. On the occasion of his victory he came to Jerusalem and was greeted there enthusiastically by the people of the city. All the streets were laid out with carpets and strewn with flowers. The Prophet’s
letter happened to reach him just at that time, while he was in Jerusalem. In these days, the Ghassani were under the protectorate of Byzantium. Their chief, al- Mundhir al-Harith of the tribe of Hauran resided at Busra. The Muslim envoy Dihya handed the epistle over to al-Mundhir al-Harith of the Hauran who brought the letter to the Emperor.
The Emperor read the letter, then turned to his retainers and said, “Bring to me some of the Arabs who live in these parts.” For the Emperor wished to gather reliable information concerning the character of Muhammad before he left Syria. So people were sent out to find such persons who had information about Muhammad . It so happened that Abu Sufyan was traveling in business to Ghaza. He and his entourage were invited to an audience before the imperial presence. That day the Emperor ordered his state pavilion to be lavishly adorned and decorated with luxurious trimmings. He seated himself upon the throne, his crown upon his head. The dignitaries of Byzantium, the spiritual heads of the Empire, his bishops and abbots were all assembled round him.
When the Arab merchants entered, the Emperor asked them the following questions: “Is there any one among you who is personally acquainted with the Prophet who has sent me this letter?” Abu Sufyan stepped forward and said, “It is I who am closest to him,” even though he himself had pronounced upon the death of Abu Jahl, “Not to worry, I will put an end to this affair which Muhammad has begun; I will cause his name to be forgotten.” The Emperor then asked him, “I wish to put some questions to you. What kind of a family does this Prophet of yours hale from?” “His family is one of the noble families of Arabia.” “Have there been others in his family who claimed to be a Prophet?” “No!” “From what level of society are the people converting to his religion?” “They are from the lower social classes.” “Are the followers of this religion on the increase?” “Yes, they are increasing.” “Have you ever known this man to tell a lie?” “No, never!” “Have there been any who turned their backs on him and their pledge to him?” “No! However, it is not very long since we have concluded a treaty with him. We shall see whether he sticks to the terms of this treaty or not.”
“Who was victorious and who was defeated in the wars you fought against him?” “Sometimes he won, sometimes we did.” “What does this Prophet teach you?” “He says: the only entity worthy of worship is Allah, who is the master of the creative Word ‘Be’ and it came to be!’, who with His knowledge guides and directs all of Creation and dispenses His wisdom. Him you must worship, and you must know that all of creation exists only through Him and through His
Love alone gains perpetuity. You shall not ascribe to Him any partners, confronting His Divine Person with the claims of your own selfishness. You are to perform ritual prayers,
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