they detested; yet Allah granted you the upper hand over them and brought you back safe, laden with spoils, and fully rewarded. That, then, is the greatest of all victories. Have you forgotten the Day of ʾUḥud, when you were scrambling up the hillside, paying no heed to anyone, while I was calling you from behind you? Have you forgotten the Day of the Confederates, when they came at you from above and from below you?’

The Muslims replied, ‘Allah and His Messenger have spoken the truth. By Allah, O Prophet of Allah, this is indeed the greatest victory.’

Ibn Abī ʿArūbah narrated from Qatādah who said: ‘The Byzantines defeated the Persians as the Muslims were returning from al-Hudaybiyah.’ ʿAqīl transmitted the same report from Ibn Shihāb, from ʿUbayd Allah ibn ʿAbd Allah ibn ʿUtbah ibn Masʿūd.

A celebrated pitched battle had taken place between Byzantium and Persia in which Allah—exalted be He—gave victory to the Byzantines, and the Muslims rejoiced, for the People of the Book had been granted triumph over the Magians.

Al-Mughīrah related from al-Shaʿbī regarding Allah’s words, ‘Indeed, We have granted you a manifest victory’ (al-Fath 1): ‘It refers to the treaty of al-Hudaybiyah. They pledged the Pledge of Acceptance, were given the dates of Khaybar to eat, and the Byzantines overcame the Persians. The believers rejoiced at the fulfilment of Allah’s Book and at the victory of the People of the Book over the Magians.’

Shuʿbah narrated from al-Ḥakam, from ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn Abī Laylā: ‘and He rewarded them with a victory close at hand’ (al-Fath 18) — he said: ‘Khaybar.’ ‘and yet another you were not yet able to achieve’ (al-Fath 21) — he said: ‘Persia and Byzantium.’

Waraqāʾ narrated from Ibn Abī Najīḥ, from Mujāhid, who said: ‘While the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was at al-Hudaybiyah he was shown in a vision that he and his Companions would enter Mecca in security, with heads shaved or hair cut short. When he sacrificed at al-Hudaybiyah they asked, “Where is your vision, O Messenger of Allah?” Thereupon Allah revealed, “Allah has indeed fulfilled the vision for His Messenger in truth…” up to His words, “and He granted, in place of that, a victory near at hand” (al-Fath 27), meaning the sacrifice at al-Hudaybiyah. They then returned and later conquered…’