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Mohamad Mostafa Nassar
Twitter:@NassarMohamadMR

On Sa’d ibn Mua’dh’s visit to Mecca to do Umrah, the Quraysh declared war against the Muslims!

Sahih al-Bukhari:

“Sa`d bin Mu`adh came to Mecca with the intention of performing `Umra, and stayed at the house of Umaiya bin Khalaf Abi Safwan, for Umaiya himself used to stay at Sa`d’s house when he passed by Medina on his way to Sham.

Umaiya said to Sa`d, “Will you wait till midday when the people are (at their homes), then you may go and perform the Tawaf round the Ka`ba?” So, while Sa`d was going around the Ka`ba, Abu Jahl came and asked, “Who is that who is performing Tawaf?” Sa`d replied, “I am Sa`d.”

Abu Jahl said, “Are you circumambulating the Ka`ba safely although you have given refuge to Muhammad and his companions?” Sa`d said, “Yes,” and they started quarreling. Umaiya said to Sa`d, “Don’t shout at Abi-l-Hakam (i.e. Abu Jahl), for he is chief of the valley (of Mecca).” Sa`d then said (to Abu Jahl). ‘By Allah, if you prevent me from performing the Tawaf of the Ka`ba, I will spoil your trade with Sham.” Umaiya kept on saying to Sa`d, “Don’t raise your voice.” and kept on taking hold of him.

Sa`d became furious and said, (to Umaiya), “Be away from me, for I have heard Muhammad saying that he will kill you.” Umaiiya said, “Will he kill me?” Sa`d said, “Yes,.” Umaiya said, “By Allah! When Muhammad says a thing, he never tells a lie.” Umaiya went to his wife and said to her, “Do you know what my brother from Yathrib (i.e. Medina) has said to me?” She said, “What has he said?” He said,

“He claims that he has heard Muhammad claiming that he will kill me.” She said, By Allah! Muhammad never tells a lie.” So when the DISBELIEVERS STARTED TO PROCEED for Badr (Battle) and DECLARED WAR war (against the Muslims), his wife said to him, “Don’t you remember what your brother from Yathrib told you?” Umaiya decided not to go but Abu Jahl said to him, “You are from the nobles of the valley (of Mecca), so you should accompany us for a day or two.” He went with them and thus Allah got him killed.” (Sahih al-Bukhari volume 4, Book 56, Hadith 826)

This is an interesting narration. We have already highlighted Sa’d Ibn Mu’adh’s account in which he went to Mecca for the lesser pilgrimage (Umrah) and was confronted by Abu Jahl questioning him on why he gave safe haven to Muslims in Medina (Click here: ‘Sa’d Ibn Mu’adh’s Lesser Pilgrimage (Umrah) To Makkah’) something Abu Jahl and the hostile Quraysh hated a lot.

He was threatened by Abu Jahl and hadn’t it been for Umaya he would have been killed there and then. Sa’d’s response to Abu Jahl was that, if he were to do that, their trading caravan business through Medina will come to end. This shows that when Muslims lived in Medina, Quraysh’s caravan business wasn’t touched until war was declared on the Muslims.

Notice, the report does not say “Muslims declared war”, but that the Quraysh declared war against the Muslims first. This shows that the declaration of war as well as the hostility was not started by the Muslims but by the Quraysh leaders. And thus it led to the Muslims, 1400 years ago, to defend their community.

Read also: Did Quraysh Persecute Muslims When They Fled To Madinah?

This shows once again that the myth propagated by some that the Muslims started a war against the Quraysh is nothing but a fictitious claim which has no historical backing.

Note: Umaiya was one of those who used to persecute Muslims and even tortured a number of companions of the Prophet (p) just because they believed in the faith of Islam, that there is no God but One God. He was one of those who never abstained from doing evil to innocent people and thus Muhammad (p) wished him killed to stop him from persecuting innocent people. You can read about Umaiya bin Khalaf in the following article. Umaya used to persecute innocent people 1400 years ago: Umaiya Bin Khalaf Abi Safwan Persecuted Muslims.