Pledge of Ridwan and Surah al-Fath
This chapter covers the pledge under the tree at Hudaybiyyah, the believers’ readiness after the rumour about Uthman رضي الله عنه, Allah’s pleasure with those who pledged, the revelation of Surah al-Fath, and why Hudaybiyyah became one of the greatest openings in the Seerah.
Where This Chapter Fits
During Hudaybiyyah, Uthman ibn Affan رضي الله عنه was sent into Makkah to speak with Quraysh. When a rumour spread that he had been harmed, the Prophet ﷺ gathered the believers for a serious pledge.
Hudaybiyyah
The Muslims came for Umrah, but Quraysh blocked them from entering Makkah.
The pledge under the tree
The believers pledged loyalty and readiness to the Prophet ﷺ.
Letters to rulers
After Hudaybiyyah, the message of Islam expanded beyond Arabia with new clarity.
Uthman رضي الله عنه Is Sent to Makkah
At Hudaybiyyah, the Prophet ﷺ wanted Quraysh to understand that the Muslims had come for Umrah, not battle. Uthman ibn Affan رضي الله عنه was sent into Makkah because he had honour and connections there.
He spoke with Quraysh while the believers waited outside Makkah. A rumour then spread that Uthman رضي الله عنه had been harmed. This rumour changed the mood at Hudaybiyyah immediately.
If the rumour had been true, it would have meant that Quraysh had violated the safety of an envoy. The Prophet ﷺ gathered the believers for a pledge of loyalty and readiness.
Sahih al-Bukhari 2731; Sahih al-Bukhari 2732; Seerah reportsObedience to the Messenger ﷺ
مَّن يُطِعِ الرَّسُولَ فَقَدْ أَطَاعَ اللَّهَ
Meaning: “Whoever obeys the Messenger has obeyed Allah.”
Qur'an 4:80The Pledge Under the Tree
The believers gathered around the Prophet ﷺ and pledged under a tree. This pledge became known as Bay'at al-Ridwan, the Pledge of Ridwan, because Allah revealed His pleasure with the believers who pledged.
The pledge showed their readiness to stand with the Messenger ﷺ at a moment of uncertainty. They had come in ihram for Umrah, but if Quraysh had harmed Uthman رضي الله عنه, they were ready to face what came next.
Authentic reports describe the pledge under the tree and the great honour of those who took part in it.
Qur'an 48:18; Sahih al-Bukhari 4153; Sahih Muslim 1856Allah Was Pleased with the Believers
لَّقَدْ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِذْ يُبَايِعُونَكَ تَحْتَ الشَّجَرَةِ
Meaning: “Allah was certainly pleased with the believers when they pledged allegiance to you under the tree.”
Qur'an 48:18Allah knew what was in their hearts
The Qur'an says Allah knew what was in the hearts of those believers, sent tranquillity upon them, and rewarded them with a near victory.
This teaches that Allah sees the inner state behind a pledge. It was not merely hands placed in loyalty. It was hearts ready to stand with the Messenger ﷺ.
Qur'an 48:18Tranquillity after fear
Hudaybiyyah had confusion, rumours, difficult treaty terms, and delayed Umrah. Yet Allah sent sakinah, tranquillity, into the hearts of the believers.
Sakinah does not mean the situation looked easy. It means Allah steadied hearts while the road still looked hard.
Qur'an 48:4; Qur'an 48:18Tranquillity and Near Victory
فَعَلِمَ مَا فِي قُلُوبِهِمْ فَأَنزَلَ السَّكِينَةَ عَلَيْهِمْ وَأَثَابَهُمْ فَتْحًا قَرِيبًا
Meaning: “He knew what was in their hearts, so He sent tranquillity upon them and rewarded them with a near victory.”
Qur'an 48:18Uthman رضي الله عنه Was Not Forgotten
Uthman رضي الله عنه was away in Makkah during the pledge. Reports mention that the Prophet ﷺ placed one of his own hands for Uthman رضي الله عنه, honouring him in the pledge while he was absent on the Prophet’s ﷺ mission.
This detail shows the Prophet’s ﷺ loyalty to Uthman رضي الله عنه. His absence was not absence from obedience; it was service.
Uthman رضي الله عنه returned safely, and the pledge remained one of the greatest honours for those present at Hudaybiyyah.
Sahih al-Bukhari 3698; Jami' at-Tirmidhi 3706; Seerah reportsThe Hand of Allah Above Their Hands
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يُبَايِعُونَكَ إِنَّمَا يُبَايِعُونَ اللَّهَ يَدُ اللَّهِ فَوْقَ أَيْدِيهِمْ
Meaning: “Indeed, those who pledge allegiance to you are only pledging allegiance to Allah. The Hand of Allah is above their hands.”
Qur'an 48:10The Treaty Still Went Ahead
After the pledge, Uthman رضي الله عنه returned safely and negotiations continued. The treaty terms still felt heavy to many Companions, but the pledge had already revealed the believers’ truthfulness.
The final agreement meant the Muslims would return that year without Umrah, then come the following year. What seemed like delay became a road to recognition, safety, dawah, and a wider opening.
Surah al-Fath came down connected to this event, declaring a clear victory.
Sahih al-Bukhari 2731; Sahih al-Bukhari 2732; Qur'an 48:1A Clear Victory
إِنَّا فَتَحْنَا لَكَ فَتْحًا مُّبِينًا
Meaning: “Indeed, We have given you a clear victory.”
Qur'an 48:1Uthman رضي الله عنه
A rumour about him triggered a moment of serious pledge and readiness.
Under the tree
The believers pledged to stand with the Prophet ﷺ in uncertainty.
Allah was pleased
The Qur'an records Allah’s pleasure with those who pledged.
Surah al-Fath: Victory Before People Saw It
Surah al-Fath taught the believers to read Hudaybiyyah through revelation, not only through emotion. Many eyes saw delay. Revelation named victory.
The surah spoke of forgiveness, completion of favour, guidance, tranquillity, Allah’s armies, the pledge, the true dream, and the promise of future entry into the Sacred Mosque.
It also described the Companions around the Prophet ﷺ with beautiful qualities: firm against hostile opposition, merciful among themselves, bowing, prostrating, seeking Allah’s favour and pleasure.
Qur'an 48:1-29He Guides You to a Straight Path
وَيَهْدِيَكَ صِرَاطًا مُّسْتَقِيمًا
Meaning: “And He guides you to a straight path.”
Qur'an 48:2He Supports You with Mighty Support
وَيَنصُرَكَ اللَّهُ نَصْرًا عَزِيزًا
Meaning: “And Allah supports you with mighty support.”
Qur'an 48:3The Honour of the People of the Tree
Authentic reports mention the great virtue of those who pledged under the tree. They were people whom Allah praised in revelation.
The exact number is reported with slight variation in narrations, commonly around fourteen hundred. The important point is the Qur'anic honour: Allah was pleased with them, knew what was in their hearts, and sent tranquillity upon them.
This honour should be held with love and respect. They were not ordinary names in a crowd. They were believers whose loyalty was written into Qur'an.
Qur'an 48:18; Sahih al-Bukhari 4154; Sahih Muslim 1856; Sahih Muslim 2496The Companions Around the Prophet ﷺ
مُّحَمَّدٌ رَّسُولُ اللَّهِ ۚ وَالَّذِينَ مَعَهُ أَشِدَّاءُ عَلَى الْكُفَّارِ رُحَمَاءُ بَيْنَهُمْ
Meaning: “Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, and those with him are firm against the disbelievers, merciful among themselves.”
Qur'an 48:29Why the Pledge Matters
The Pledge of Ridwan matters because it shows faith before the outcome was visible. The believers did not pledge after victory appeared. They pledged in uncertainty, while standing outside Makkah, unable to complete Umrah that year.
It also shows that Allah measures hearts. He knew what was inside them and recorded His pleasure in Qur'an.
Hudaybiyyah and Ridwan together teach that obedience, restraint, courage, and patience can open more than swords alone.
Dua for Acceptance
رَبَّنَا تَقَبَّلْ مِنَّا ۖ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ
Meaning: “Our Lord, accept from us. Indeed, You are the Hearing, the Knowing.”
Qur'an 2:127Do not separate it from Hudaybiyyah
The pledge happened inside the treaty crisis and explains the hearts of the believers.
Keep Allah’s pleasure central
The name Ridwan comes from Allah’s pleasure with those who pledged.
Keep Surah al-Fath central
The surah teaches believers how to understand victory through revelation.
What This Stage Led To
After Hudaybiyyah and the Pledge of Ridwan, the message of Islam gained space to spread. The next chapter covers the Prophet’s ﷺ letters to rulers.
Uthman رضي الله عنه entered Makkah
He was sent to clarify the Prophet’s ﷺ peaceful intention for Umrah.
The believers pledged under the tree
They showed readiness and loyalty when a serious rumour spread.
Surah al-Fath named the victory
Allah taught the believers that Hudaybiyyah was a clear opening.
Letters to Rulers
The Prophet ﷺ called rulers beyond Arabia to Islam after the treaty opened space for dawah.
References Used in This Chapter
Major claims are tied to Qur'an, authentic hadith, or named Seerah reports.
- Qur'an 48:1-29: Surah al-Fath and its central explanation of Hudaybiyyah, the pledge, tranquillity, and victory.
- Qur'an 48:1: Allah calling the outcome a clear victory.
- Qur'an 48:4: tranquillity sent into believing hearts.
- Qur'an 48:10: pledge to the Prophet ﷺ described as pledge to Allah.
- Qur'an 48:18: Allah’s pleasure with those who pledged under the tree.
- Qur'an 48:27: the true dream of entering the Sacred Mosque.
- Qur'an 48:29: description of the Prophet ﷺ and the believers with him.
- Qur'an 4:80 and Qur'an 2:127: obedience to the Messenger ﷺ and dua for acceptance.
- Sahih al-Bukhari 2731 and Sahih al-Bukhari 2732: Hudaybiyyah context, negotiations, and connected sequence.
- Sahih al-Bukhari 4153, Sahih al-Bukhari 4154, Sahih Muslim 1856, and Sahih Muslim 2496: reports connected to the pledge under the tree and the virtue of its people.
- Sahih al-Bukhari 3698 and Jami' at-Tirmidhi 3706: Uthman رضي الله عنه and the Prophet’s ﷺ hand representing him in the pledge, with wording handled carefully.
- Seerah reports: the rumour about Uthman رضي الله عنه, the tree setting, and the wider Hudaybiyyah sequence are recorded in early Seerah and Maghazi works such as Ibn Hisham’s Al-Sirah al-Nabawiyyah, Ibn Sa'd’s Al-Tabaqat al-Kubra, and early Maghazi reports.
- Content note: this page focuses on the pledge and Surah al-Fath; the treaty terms themselves are covered in the previous Hudaybiyyah chapter.