THE RESULTS OF THE TREATIES SIGNED WITH MUSHRIKS:

Prophet made treaties with his adjacent and distant neighbors in order to fulfill various goals. The examination of the treaties of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) leads us to the following the results:

1. The Prophet had assured peace in Medina and established it as a secure city. Muslims along with Jews and mushriks provided the defense of Medina mutually; thus the city became a location representing solidarity and unity against outside forces.
2. Good neighbor relations and terms of mutual aid were adopted. The treaties, which were signed with the neighbors, provided Muslims with secure passage though their neighbors’ lands for the purposes of trade and battle.
3. The treaties made with the neighbors opened the trade routes and provided an opportunity for the continuation of trade activities. On the other hand, the trade of Meccan mushriks was restricted.
4. The treaties signed with mushrik tribes eliminated the polytheistic belief in Arabia and the authority of the Quraish tribe. Consequently, the treaties made by the Prophet with mushriks during the first years led Meccan mushriks in the sixth year of Hijrah to search for peace in Hudaybiyah.
5. These treaties ensured peace in Arabia. The traditions of ignorance were eliminated and dangers to Muslims prevented. Friendship was assured, and the superiority of Islam laid the foundation for invitations.

Prophet Muhammad’s twenty-three years of peace attempts, the bad intentions of the mushriks against the goodwill of the Muslims, their denial of Allah and not observing the belief system of Islam and the ongoing risk of idolatry for the Muslims led to the revelation of Surah Al-Tawba. As a consequence, these revelations clearly declared the stand to be taken against mushriks. The following are the provisions announced to mushriks after this period.

1. No mushrik shall ever enter the Kaaba from this year on.
2. No one shall ever circumambulate the Kaaba nude.
3. No one other than the believers shall enter heaven.
4. The treaties between mushriks and Muslims shall continue until their durations are complete.
5. A four month grace period shall be granted regarding the treaties lacking specific durations and for the mushriks who did not conclude a treaty.

In this context, Surah Al-Tawba signified an ultimatum ending the treaties signed with mushriks, and it was decided that by no means was an agreement to be made. The mushriks were either going to accept Islam or leave Arabia in four months, or else war would be waged against them. The ultimatum, which was announced to the mushriks, assured them that there was no other way than to accept the growth of Islam. As a result, a year later, the number of Muslims attending the Prophet’s Farewell Pilgrimage had reached hundreds of thousands.

“Remove mushriks from the Arabian Peninsula” was an order given by the Prophet just before his demise. It was fulfilled during the caliphate (period of Islamic ruling after the death of the Prophet) of Abu Bakr.