The Manifest Opening (victory)

In the sixth year of migration, the Messenger (peace be upon him) headed, with one thousand and forty hundred of his Companions, toward Makkah in a peaceful religious campaign. That expedition meant to be for performing `Umrah (the lesser pilgirmage), but Quraysh prevented him and engaged in negotiation with Muslims which resulted in signing a temporary peace treaty that would last for ten years known as "Al-Hudaybiyah Peace Treaty" named after the place where the two parties held the agreement.

Muslims did not enter Makkah for `Umrah as they hoped. The treaty included some articles which hold, outwardly, prejudice for Muslims. The Companions felt sadness and bitterness. While they were about to reach Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah, Surat Al Fath was revealed. The beginning of the Surah contained two strange Ayahs; the first two Ayahs read as follows: "Verily, We have given you (O Muhammad) a manifest victory. (1) That Allah may forgive you your sins of the past and the future, and complete His Favour on you, and guide you on the Straight Path; (2) And that Allah may help you with strong help. (3)" [Surat Al Fath: 1- 3].

Allah (may He be Exalted) called Al Hudaybiyah Peace Treaty "as victory," but rather a manifest victory and promise the Prophet (peace be upon him) with a dear victory, and between Fath (triumph) and victory there is forgiveness for sins, completion of the favor, and guidance for the Prophet.

Why is it a victory, but rather "a manifest victory"?

This precision in the miraculous divine statement refers to the first opening that Muslims created in the besiege which surrounded them by Quraysh and the allied Arab tribes.

Short time before this peace agreement was signed, Muslims were surrounded in Al Madinah Al Munawwarah by the Confederates. During that time, Muslims feared to go out to answer the call of nature, but today, they became a recognized entity by Quraysh, negotiating with them and signing treaties with them, and this is part of the meanings of victory.

The retraction of Qurayshi from smugness and singularity will be the circulating news among Arabs, hence the status of Islam and Muslims will grew bigger in their eyes. The most important significance of victory, from my point of view, lies in the agreed upon turce, ceasing fight, and establishing peace in the Arabian Peninsula. This treaty opened the door for Da`wah (call to Islam) to address minds, touch the hearts, and reinforce faith.

What is better than the removal of fear and threat, spreading freedom, and giving the chance for dialog and discussion?

Indeed, it is "a manifest victory" because the climate which the treaty produced was the most suitable for Islamic Call that adopts arguments and persuasion to open the hearts prior to lands. Historians have mentioned that the number of those who converted to Islam during the two years of reconciliation was greater than the total number of those who embraced it since the Prophetic Mission! "The Treaty of Al Hudaybiyah" created a clear opening in the wall through which people saw light and accepted it willingly without any compulsion.

From the benefits of the Treaty that two persons from the leaders of Quraysh: Khalid ibn Al Walid and `Amr ibn Al `As embraced Islam and became good Muslims. That gave a divinely power to the religion of Allah (may He be Exalted) and to the Islamic line. Thereafter, they contributed to the religion of Allah greatly in away that is not hidden from anyone.

From the meaning of this victory also is: the the Prophet's dedication to the internal front which the Jews always filled with all kinds of conspiring and betrayal; the last of which is their alliance with the Confederates (the external enemy) although they are citizens from Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah by virtue of this document. The Prophet (peace be upon him) evacuated them from Khaybar, put off their danger, and put an end to their continuous hostility. That wise prophetic procedure affected the hypocrites badly who were the traditional allies of the Jews, therefore, their voices became lower in Medina and their status had dwindled.

From the meanings of that victory is: Muslims sent expeditions to far areas in the Arabian Peninsula such as Yemen, Najd, and Al Balqa'. The Messenger (peace be upon him) received the Arab delegates from different areas in the Peninsula and that was not available before Al Hudaybiyah.

Hence, it was a real victory that Allah provided for the believers soon before the expected final victory, therefore, the word "victory" was repeated three times in the same Surah: "Verily, we have given you (O Muhammad, peace be upon him) a manifest victory." [Surat Al Fath: 1]. "and He sent down As-Sakinah (calmness and tranquillity) upon them, and He rewarded them with a near victory." [Surat Al Fath: 18]. "He knew what you knew not, and He granted besides that a near victory." [Surat Al Fath: 27].

What should we learn from that "victory" which was mentioned in the beginning of the Surah, in its middle, and at its end?

It is loaded by educational method which is enough to guide the Du`ah (callers to Allah) and those who work for Islam to the best way of Da`wah (calling to Allah) by seeking the Fiqh of good health, spreading its literature and meanings, and spreading it on wider scale so that the hard evidence could knock at the sealed ears and knock at the hearts east and west. The hard evidence will argue, discuss, provide, and draw people near to the true religion of Allah. This needs deep faith as the faith of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with him) and understanding like their precise understanding. Today, Muslims are in dire need to the method of "the manifest victory" and causing qualitative transition to spread freedom and opens new local and international horizons for Da`wah to convey the facts of Islam through modern technological means which opens for Da`wah the gates of minds and homes, forums and sites, newspapers and satellite channels, and so on.

We should let everyone know that the mission of Muslims is not to kill others nor expose themselves to killing without need. However, it is the explanation of civilian and spiritual beauties of Islam and contributing —with these beauties— to save humanity from error and from the surrounding dangers because humanity is away from the values of truth, goodness, justice, and equalities. Let everyone know that Islam is not a political or militarily overthrow, but it is a mental overturning and a long upbringing that bursts the good energies of human beings, and lies down the necessary ethical disciplines to prevent disorder, aggression, and tyranny.

It is not hidden from anyone that Muslims today are the victim of multi-dimensional aggression in which the Western political and informational systems exert effort to usurp their rights, distort their image, and play with their future just because they heed to their religious distinction and refuse to melt in the cupel of the financial globalization, but there is no other way for those Muslims but to adopt the Da`wah method which enables them to convey the voice of Islam and its real bright image that is full of loving for good to all humanity and desire to cooperate for the sake of the meanings of truth, morals, financial and spirtual sublimity. This is the manifest victory which we hope to be repeated modernly taking into account the merits of the first victory.

Opening is the opposite of closing; it is a valuable chance for people, minds, and qualifications to be set free from their chains to the intellectual vastness and positive interaction. As for victory, it is the opposite of defeat, and it will not be achieved without victory, exactly as the beginning of Surat "Al Fath" indicated.

It is a manifest method that will not miss, by the will of Allah. The opening of Makkah and turning it from the capital of polytheism to a capital of monotheism is the greatest victory which had not taken place but after the Treaty of Al Hudaybiyyah.