Period 13 of 18
Hudaybiyyah, the Letters to the Kings and Khaybar
A peace treaty opened the way for Islam to spread, and the Prophet ﷺ wrote to the rulers of the region.
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The treaty of Hudaybiyyah
In Dhu al-Qa'dah 6 AH (March 628 CE) the Prophet ﷺ set out for Umrah in a state of ihram, with about 1,400 companions, as Jabir رضي الله عنه said, carrying only the sheathed swords of travellers. Quraysh barred the way, and the sides negotiated at Hudaybiyyah. Al-Miswar and Marwan reported the terms: Quraysh would send back any Muslim who came to the Prophet ﷺ without permission, but Muslims would not send back those who joined Quraysh, and the Muslims would perform Umrah the next year for three days. Ali رضي الله عنه refused to erase “the Messenger of Allah” from the text. Many companions were dismayed, but Allah revealed: “Indeed, We have given you a clear conquest” (48:1).
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Letters to the rulers
After the treaty brought a calmer period, the Prophet ﷺ wrote to rulers, as Anas رضي الله عنه said, to Kisra, Qaysar, the Negus and others, calling them to Allah. Ibn Abbas رضي الله عنهما reported that his letter was carried to Heraclius by Dihyah al-Kalbi رضي الله عنه. Heraclius questioned Abu Sufyan, then still a leader of Quraysh, about the Prophet's character and followers, and said that if it were true, he would one day rule where he stood. Kisra tore up the letter, and the Prophet ﷺ prayed that his kingdom would be torn apart. The sirah books record that some rulers replied courteously and others rejected the message.
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Khaybar
In Muharram 7 AH (about May 628 CE) the Prophet ﷺ marched against Khaybar, the stronghold north of Madinah from which Jewish tribes had worked against the Muslims. Sahl ibn Sa'd رضي الله عنه reported that he said: “Tomorrow I will give the banner to a man through whose hands Allah will grant victory, who loves Allah and His Messenger,” and he gave it to Ali رضي الله عنه. Afterward the Prophet ﷺ left the people of Khaybar on the land for half the produce. Abu Hurayrah رضي الله عنه reported that a poisoned sheep was offered to him; Abu Musa رضي الله عنه said that he and Ja'far's group arrived from Abyssinia when Khaybar was conquered.
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The Umrah of the following year, and Mu'tah
In Dhu al-Qa'dah 7 AH the Muslims performed the Umrah agreed at Hudaybiyyah. Al-Bara' رضي الله عنه said that the Prophet ﷺ stayed three days in Makkah and then left. In Jumada al-Awwal 8 AH (September 629 CE) he sent an army to Mu'tah on the Syrian border, naming Zayd ibn Harithah as commander, then Ja'far ibn Abi Talib, then Abdullah ibn Rawahah, and all three were killed. Ibn Umar رضي الله عنهما reported this order of command, and Anas رضي الله عنه reported the Prophet ﷺ informing the people of their deaths with his eyes streaming with tears, and that the banner was then taken by “a sword among the swords of Allah,” Khalid ibn al-Walid رضي الله عنه.
How the sources are used
Sources are chosen in this order: the Quran first, then the hadith collections of al-Bukhari and Muslim, and then other collections such as al-Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, an-Nasa'i, Ibn Majah and Malik. The sirah books, mainly Ibn Ishaq as transmitted by Ibn Hisham, are used only for details not found in the hadith, and these are marked as “recorded in the sirah books.” Dates in the Christian era are approximate, and hadith numbers follow the hadith library of this website.
Hadith numbers follow the hadith library on this site, and each source opens its hadith there. Details that are not in the hadith collections are marked as coming from the sirah books.
General information for learning, not a fatwa. For your own situation, ask a qualified scholar.