The Companions would ask Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, and one another about even the slightest uncertainty arising from his words and reports. An example occurred at Hudaybiyyah, when the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, made peace with the polytheists of Mecca on condition that he return that year with the Companions who had accompanied him to perform the lesser pilgrimage. He had received their pledge of divine approval beneath the tree. They were among the foremost early believers and numbered more than 1,400. He agreed with the polytheists that he would return with them that year and send back to the polytheists anyone who came to him as a believer seeking to emigrate, whereas the polytheists would not return anyone who went over to them as an apostate.

They also refused to have the peace treaty begin with “In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy,” or to have it state, “This is what Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah, has agreed to,” and other such things.

The point is that many of the Companions found this deeply distressing. The most eminent among them was Umar, who went to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him:

“He said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, are we not upon the truth, and our enemy upon falsehood?’

He replied, ‘Yes.’

Umar asked, ‘Why, then, should we accept humiliation in our religion?’

He replied, ‘I am Allah’s Messenger, and He will grant me victory. I will not disobey Him.’

Umar said, ‘Did you not tell us that we would come to the House and circumambulate it?’

He replied, ‘Yes, but did I tell you that you would come to it this year?’

Umar answered, ‘No.’

He said, ‘You will indeed come to it and circumambulate it.’”

Umar then went to Abū Bakr and said to him the same things he had said to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. Abū Bakr gave him the same answers that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, had given, without having heard the Prophet’s response.