Observation

This was a compulsory question answered by most of the candidates wrongly. This appeared the most difficult question to many of the candidates. The question technically tested the candidates’ knowledge on the treaty of Hudaybiyyah. They failed because they lacked adequate understanding of the question.  To get a good mark, candidates were expected to mention the following points:

1. Critically viewed, the treaty of Hudaybiyyah appeared to be a disadvantage to the Muslims.
2. The Muslims could neither perform Hajj nor visit their native city that year.
3. The terms initially appeared to be distasteful to the Muslims.
4. However, the Prophet (S.A.W.), a man of peace accepted it.
5. The treaty ultimately turned out to be an advantage to the Muslims.
6. A year later, the Prophet (S.A.W.) was accompanied by 10,000 Muslims compared to 1,400 of the previous year for ‘Umrah.
7. The Prophet (S.A.W.) scored a great diplomatic triumph from this agreement.
8. By this treaty the Quraysh, for the first time, recognised the political status of the Prophet (S.A.W.) and the religion of Islam.
9. The Quraysh’s recognition of Muslim ʿUmmah raised their prestige in the eyes of other Arabs.
10. The cessation of the Quraysh hostilities for ten years facilitated the spread of Islam to other parts of Arabia.
11. The prophet (S.A.W.) utilized the time afforded by the treaty to send emissaries to the various empires at the time.
12. The treaty exposed the aggressive nature and intolerance of the Quraysh.
13. Two years later after the treaty, the Quraysh violated the terms of the agreement.
14. The tribe of BanūBakr attacked a Muslim family of BanūKhuzāʿah putting a large number of them to death.
15. The injured Khuzāʿah, an ally presented their grievances against the Quraysh to the Prophet (S.A.W.) and sought his help in the matter.
16. The prophet (S.A.W.) instructed the Quraysh to compensate the aggrieved party but they refused.
17. The prophet (S.A.W.) had no option than to take up arms to redress the grievances of the injured.
18. The prophet (S.A.W.) then advanced towards Makkah with a contingent of 14,000 Muslims
19. This led to the bloodless conquest of Makkah in 630 C.E.
20. Thus, the cities of Makkah and Madinah became peaceful.
21. Personalities such as ’Amr b. ‘Āṣ, Khālid b. Wālid and many others accepted Islam after the treaty.
22. After the treaty, the Prophet (S.A.W.) received Qur’ān 48verses 27-29 as a victory for Islam.
23. It indicates that Islam was not spread merely by sword, but by other means such as wisdom.
24. It facilitated the performance of Hajj in the subsequent years.
25. It served as a security for the Prophet (S.A.W.) and his follo