Koran Curious - A Guide for Infidels and Believers by C.J. Werleman Page A

which Muhammad receives from his companions”), made Muhammad believe he could take Mecca without bloodshed, thus beginning his peace offensive.
    With one thousand followers dressed in long white robes, Muhammad approached Mecca during the hajj of 628. Mostly unarmed, as pilgrims were forbidden to carry weapons during the religious holiday, the Muslims would be at the mercy of the Quraysh. Sure enough, his long time adversaries received word of his approaching and they sent out a patrol to attack him before he reached the outskirts of the city. Muhammad evaded them, however, and took refuge with a Bedouin tribe in Hudaybiyyah. Camped there for three days, Muhammad waited developments. The Quraysh chieftains were surprised and impressed by Muhammad’s non-violent actions and they offered him a ten-year peace treaty. This meant Muslims could travel to the shrine and Kaaba whenever they chose, and it meant the Muslims and Meccans could never attack one another. Although a majority of the Muslims wanted to enact violent retribution against their long time provocateurs, and they had the might to do it, Muhammad’s gesture to sign a peace accord won him even more followers throughout the land, thus ensuring Islam was well and truly an unstoppable force.
    The influx of new followers did little to comfort the disgruntlement of the old followers, however, as they took this treaty to be a backhanded slap across the face. They had lost brothers, sons and fathers during the military campaigns against Mecca, and they believed this treaty dishonored their memories. More importantly, however, the treaty prevented the Muslims from engaging in their prime business activity, the raiding of caravans. Muhammad’s treaty effectively put an immediate end to this enterprise. The prophet sensed he was facing a mutiny of sorts, and thus he addressed them with what he said had been another recitation from the angel. The following verse is found in Sura 48:
    We have bestowed upon you (O Messenger) a great victory.
     
    “ Whereby GOD forgives your past sins, as well as future sins, and perfects His blessings upon you, and guides you in a straight path. Additionally, GOD will support you with an unwavering support. He is the One who places contentment into the hearts of believers to augment more faith, in addition to their faith. To GOD belongs all forces of the heavens and the earth. GOD is Omniscient, Most Wise. He will certainly admit the believing men and women into gardens with flowing streams, wherein they abide forever. He will remit their sins. This is, in the sight of GOD, a great triumph.
     
    And He will requite the hypocrite men and women and the idol worshipping men and women, for they have harbored evil thoughts about GOD. Their evil will backfire against them. For GOD is angry with them, condemns them, and has prepared for them Gehenna. What a miserable destiny!
     
    To GOD belongs all the forces in the heavens and the earth. GOD is Almighty, Most Wise. We have sent you as a witness, a bearer of good news, and a warner. That you people may believe in GOD and His messenger, and reverence Him, and observe Him, and glorify Him, day and night.” (Koran 48:2-9)
     
    This recitation was sufficient to lift the spirits of his weary warriors, and they returned to Medina exultant in the belief that God was looking out for Muhammad, and that the prophet was correctly relaying the Lord’s orders. Ten weeks later in Medina, Muhammad would further buoy his follower’s spirits in announcing he had drawn up a plan to attack the Jewish settlement of Khaybar. Muhammad took a force of 1,000 men, which seemed a paltry number given that they would be facing up to 10,000 enemy soldiers and fortified walls. Muhammad believed a small and mobile infantry would allow the Muslims to hit and run in small platoons in somewhat of a guerilla style engagement. Khaybar’s strength was also its weakness, however. It was a fortified city but was a series of hamlets