Hilf al-Fudul: Difference between revisions

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'''Ḥilf al-Fuḍūl''' (Arabic: حلف الفضول) was the name of a pact between some clans of [[Quraysh]] at the [[Age of Ignorance]] before [[Islam]] to support the oppressed in [[Mecca]]. [[Banu Hashim]] and [[Banu Muttalib]], children of [['Abd Manaf]], Banu Zuhra b. Kilab, Banu Taym b. Murra and Banu Asad b. 'Abd al-'Uzza b. Qusay were the clans who participated in this pact. After [[Bi'tha]], [[the Prophet (s)]] mentioned this pact with pleasure.

== Cause of Naming ==

About the cause of naming the pact, it has been said that since Hilf al-Fudul was after [[Hilf al-Mutayyibin]] and [[Hilf al-Ahlaf]] and was different from them, it was called so.

Also, it has been said that this pact was called Hilf al-Fudul due to its excellence over other pacts made among Arabs until then and also due to the honor and merits of those who participate in it.

This naming is attributed to Zubayr b. 'Abd al-Muttalib who was from Banu Hashim clan and have said that he wrote this pact for them and composed some poems in this regard. Also, some have said that Arabs or Quraysh in particular called this pact as such.

Other reasons have been said about the cause of naming as well which are not quite justifiable.

== Time and Cause of Formation ==

It is said that Hilf al-Fudul was made 20 years after [['Am al-Fil]], on the return of Quraysh from the [[Battle of Fijar]]. Battle of Fijar happened in [[Shawwal]] and Hilf al-Fudul was made in [[Dhu l-Qa'da]]. However, some reports have mentioned the formation date of this pact five years before beginning of the mission of the Prophet (s) or in the childhood of the Prophet (s).

The formation cause of this pact was that sometimes, members of Quraysh tribe oppressed foreigners or those who did not have any relative in Mecca. For instance, one day a man having some goods to sell went to Mecca from Zabid of [[Yemen]]. 'As b. Wa'il Sahmi (father of [['Amr 'As]]) bought his goods, but made delays in giving him the money and made him tired. The Yemeni person petitioned to Quraysh and asked them to help him in claiming his rights, but no one helped him; therefore, he went up on [[Mount Abu Qubays|Abu Qubays mountain]] (near [[Masjid al-Haram]]) , or near [[Hijr]] and loudly recited poems and called for justice.

Zubayr b. 'Abd al-Muttalib, uncle of the noble Prophet (s) and one of the elders and nobles of Quraysh was the first person who spoke of Hilf al-Fudul and invited people to it. Afterwards, some clans of Quraysh gathered in [[Dar al-Nadwa]] (which was the place for resolution and contract) and agreed to claim the rights of the oppressed from oppressors. Then, by the efforts of Zubayr b. 'Abd al-Muttalib, they gathered in the house of 'Abd Allah b. Jud'an Taymi, one of the elders of Quraysh. They soaked their hands in [[Zamzam]] water (and according to another report plunged their hands in soil) and they made a pact with each other that if any foreigner or anyone from Mecca is oppressed, they will help him to claim his rights from the oppressor and that they would prevent an oppressor from oppression, and prohibit from evil and help the needy in their daily sustenance.

The clans who participated from Quraysh in this pact were [[Banu Hashim]], Banu Muttalib, children of [['Abd Manaf]], Banu Zuhra b. Kilab, Banu Taym b. Murra and Banu Asad b. 'Abd al-'Uzza b. Qusay. Banu Harith b. Fihr has also been mentioned, but there is no agreement on their presence in Hilf al-Fudul. At any rate, the excellence and pioneering in Hilf al-Fudul belonged to Banu Hashim.

Banu 'Abd al-Shams and Banu Nawfal who were two clans from 'Abd Manaf exited from this pact, because this pact was formed against [[Banu Umayya]] and their allies 'As b. Wa'il. Some historians have said that the clans participating in Hilf al-Fudul were the same clans who previously participated in [[Hilf al-Mutayyibin]].

Hilf al-Fudul was the most honorable and noble pact which existed among Arabs until then. It is narrated from the [[Prophet (s)]] that after beginning his mission, he (s) said, “(together with my uncles) I witnessed a pact in the house of 'Abd Allah b. Jud'an which I would not like to betray it even if all red-hair camels are given to me and if today I am invited to it, I would accept.”

 

 

This pact maintained its significance even after Islam. The [[second caliph]] regarded participation in Hilf al-Fudul a criterion for superiority of different tribes for receiving more provisions and budget.

 

 

 

 

 

Hisham b. Muhammad b. Sa'ib Kalbi (d. 204/819) wrote a book called Hilf al-Fudul.