Suhayl ibn Amr (RA)
Early Role of Suhayl ibn Amr:
Suhayl ibn Amr was a famous person among the Quraysh and he was their spokesperson.
Peace Treaty of Hudaybiyyah:
Suhyal ibn Amr played an important role in the peace agreement at Hudaybiyah.
At the end of the sixth year after the Hijrah, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and around fourteen hundred of his companions left Madinah for Makkah to perform Umrah.
The Quraysh learnt about this and immediately prepared to fight the Muslims, and they all agreed they would never allow the Muslims to enter Makkah.
Rumour About Uthman ibn Affan:
After the Quraysh unsuccessfully sent a few delegates to negotiate with the Muslims, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ asked Umar ibn al-Khattab to go to Makkah to negotiate with the leaders of the Quraysh.
Umar replied: they hate me! They will not want to negotiate with me so send someone who will be a better negotiator than me.
Umar suggested to the Prophet to send Uthman ibn Affan as he was very well respected by the Quraysh.
Uthman ibn Affan then entered Makkah and the Quraysh were respectful towards him and offered to let him make tawaf around the Kabah but Uthman rejected and said: I will not do it without Muhammad.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and his companions were worried because Uthman had not returned from Makkah and he was gone for quite a while.
A rumour then started that the Quraysh had killed Uthman ibn Affan.
Pledge of Allegiance at Hudaybiyyah:
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ took a pledge of allegiance with his fourteen hundred companions that they would go and fight the Quraysh for what they did to Uthman ibn Affan.
However, after taking this pledge, the Muslims received information that the rumour turned out to be false.
Suhayl ibn Amr Sent by the Quraysh:
After this pledge at Hudaybiyyah, the Quraysh sent Suhayl ibn Amr to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to negotiate with him and persuade the Prophet to return to Madinah without entering Makkah.
When the Prophet saw Suhayl approaching, he said: the people want reconciliation, that is why they have sent this man.
The negotiations between the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and Suhayl ibn Amr continued for a while until finally an agreement was reached in principle.
Agreement in Writing:
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ then called Ali ibn Abi Talib to write down the terms of the treaty: The Prophet said, write: Bismillahi-r Rahmani-r Rahim.
Suhayl then said: I don’t know this (phrase). Write instead ‘Bismika Allahumma’, meaning: In Your name, O Allah.’
The Prophet allowed this and instructed Ali to write ‘Bismika Allahumma.’
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ told Ali: Write: ‘This is what has been agreed between Muhammad the Messenger of Allah and Suhayl ibn Amr.
Suhayl ibn Amr then refused this and said: If I had testified that you were indeed the Messenger of Allah, I would not be fighting you. Write instead your name and the name of your father.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ agreed to this again and he told Ali ibn Abi Talib to write: This is what has been agreed upon by Muhammad the son of Abdullah and Suhayl ibn Amr.
Agreement with the Quraysh:
The Muslims and the Quraysh agreed to stop the war for ten years so that the residents of Makkah and Madinah would be allowed to enjoy freedom and would refrain from harming one another.
As well as this, it was agreed that whoever among the Quraysh comes to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ without the permission of his wali (legal guardian), the Prophet would have to send him back to the Quraysh.
However as part of the agreement, if any of the Muslims came back to the Quraysh, they did not have to send them back to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
Conquest of Makkah:
In the eighth year after the Hijrah, the Quraysh broke the terms of the treaty and because of this, they were forced to surrender to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
Respite from the Prophet:
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ asked the leaders of the Quraysh: O people of the Quraysh! What do you think I will do with you?
Suhayl ibn Amr replied: We think you will treat us well, noble brother, son of a noble brother.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ smiled and said: ‘Idhhabu… wa antum at-tulaqaa.’ Meaning: Go, for you are free.
Acceptance of Islam:
After this incident, Suhayl ibn Amr, one of the most respected people within the Quraysh, accepted Islam.
Suhayl ibn Amr After Islam:
After Suhayl ibn Amr became a Muslim, he was well-renowned for his kindness, generosity, frequent prayers, fasting and for his recitation of the Quran.
After the Prophet’s Death:
When the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ passed away, Abu Bakr addressed the Muslims and said: Whoever worships Muhammad, Muhammad is dead. And whoever worships Allah, Allah is indeed Living and will never die.
In Makkah, Suhayl ibn Amr called the Muslims together and affirmed that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was indeed the Messenger of Allah and that he did not pass away until he fulfilled his mission and conveyed the message of Islam completely.
Suhayl ibn Amr then reminded the Muslims that it was the responsibility of every believer to remain committed to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ even after his death, by following his Sunnah.
The Fulfillment of the Prophet’s Words About Suhayl ibn Amr:
After hearing what Suhayl ibn Amr’ had to say, Umar ibn al-Khattab remembered the words of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
When Suhayl ibn Amr was captured at the Battle of Badr, Umar ibn al-Khattab wanted to pull out Suhayl’s teeth but the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ told him: Leave them, for one day perhaps they would bring you joy.
Suhayl’s Vow of Devotion:
When Suhayl became a Muslim, he made a promise to himself to dedicate his life to the worship of Allah.
From Idols Worship to Worshipping Allah:
With the Quraysh, he had spent a large amount of time worshipping their idols, but now he was with the believers, praying and fasting.
Suhayl ibn Amr in the Muslim Army:
Suhayl ibn Amr also participated in battle, fighting with the Muslim army in their battles against the Persians.
Most notably, he participated in the Battle of Yarmuk against the Byzantines.
Suhayl ibn Amr’s Death in Madinah:
Suhayl ibn Amr had great love and admiration for the city of Makkah. Despite this, he refused to return to the city after Muslims were victorious in Syria.
Suhayl ibn Amr said: I heard the Messenger of Allah say: The going forth of any of you in the path of Allah for an hour is better for him than his life’s work in his household.
Suhayl ibn Amr said: I shall be a murabit in the path of Allah (holy man) till I die and I shall not return to Makkah.
Suhayl ibn Amr remained true to his pledge until the day he died and he passed away in Palestine in the village of ‘Amawas (near Jerusalem).