Hilf Al-Fudool

In the wake of the Battle of Fajar, later that month a covenant was agreed upon among the five tribes of the Quraysh. It was known as Hilf Al-Fudool and its signatories were Banu Hashim, Banu Abdul Muttalib, Banu Asad, Banu Zahra and Banu Taym. The covenant was born in response to a shameful denial of justice to a stranger. A man came from Zabid to sell his merchandise in Makkah. A local resident by the name of Aas ibn Wayel took all of the stranger’s goods, but refused to pay for them.

The helpless stranger approached the people of Banu Abdul Dar, Banu Makhzoom, Banu Jamah, Banu Sham and Banu Adiy, all of whom ignored his cry for redress. In desperation, he climbed atop a hill called Jabal Abu Qays and informed everyone of how all his goods had been stolen. Then he implored his listeners to come forward to help him. His plea was answered by Zubayr bin Abdul Muttalib, who volunteered to help the unfortunate stranger.

Zubayr called on representatives of all the clans to assemble in the house of Abdullah bin Jad’an of Banu Taym. At this assembly, the tribal leaders agreed that henceforth they would stand up for anyone who had suffered injustice, regardless of his tribal affiliation. Then they forced Aas bin Wayel to return the merchandise he had taken. 25 Muhammad was also present with his uncles during the institution of the covenant, which he regarded as an honourable pact. Long after Allah had made him a Prophet, he was to declare: “I was present when a covenant was agreed upon in the house of Abdullah bin Jad’an, and I would not accept even a red camel in lieu of it. Had I been asked to uphold it even in the days of Islam, I would have agreed.”