any one from amongst the followers of Muhammad return to the Quraish, the
same shall be sent back; providedon the part of the Quraishthat Muhammad
and his followers retire from us this year without entering the city. In the
coming year he may visit Mecca, he and his followers, for three days when we
shall retire. But they may not enter it with any weapons, save those of the
traveller, namely, to each a sheathed sword.' 1
At first the Muslims were disappointed and felt that their object in coming
had not been gained, 2 but Muhammad soon produced a revelation to
show how wrong that view of it was, and what benefits would be derived from this
treaty of Hudaibiya. Standing on his camel, he gave what he declared to be God's
message, beginning with the words:
Verily, we have won for thee an undoubted victory. Sura Al-Fath (xlviii) 1.
3