Hilf al-Fudul: Difference between revisions

This designation is attributed to [[Zubayr b. ‘Abd al-Muttalib]] who was from [[Banu Hashim]] clan and it has been said that he wrote this pact for them and composed some poems about it. Also, some have said that Arabs or [[Quraysh]] in particular named this pact as Hilf al-Fudul. Other reasons explained about the cause of naming, are not quite justifiable.

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 took place in [[Shawwal]] and Hilf al-Fudul was made in [[Dhu l-Qa'da]]. However, there are reports which refer to the formation date of this pact to have been either five years before the beginning of the mission of the holy Prophet (s) or in the childhood of the Prophet (s).

The main cause which led to the formation of this pact was that members of Quraysh treated the foreigners or those who did not have any relatives in [[Mecca]] with cruelty. For instance, one day a man who had brought 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 thus making the vender angry. The protesting vender went to Quraysh and asked them to help him in claiming his right, but no one helped him. Later on, he decided to go up the Abu Qubays (a mountain near [[Masjid al-Haram]]) and loudly repeated some poems, calling for justice.

[[Zubayr b. ‘Abd al-Muttalib]], uncle of the holy [[Prophet (s)]] and one of the elders 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-Nudwa]] (a meeting place for resolving issues) and agreed to claim the rights of the angry vender. 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 they put their hands on soil. They made an agreement with each other that if any foreigner or anyone from Mecca is treated unjustly, they would help him reclaim his right from the oppressor, they would prevent an oppressor from oppression, prohibit from evil and help the needy in their day to day living. Hilf al-Fudul was the most honorable and noble pact which remained among Arabs until then.

* [[Banu ‘Abd Manaf]]

Banu ‘Abd al-Shams and Banu Nawfal that were two clans from ‘Abd Manaf exited from this pact, because this pact was formed against [[Banu Umayya]] and their ally ‘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]].

:“(together with my uncles) I witnessed a pact in the house of ‘Abd Allah b. Jud’an which I would not like to break it even if all red-hair camels are given to me and if today I was invited to it again, I would accept it.”

In one of the trips of [[Mu'awiya b. Abi Sufyan|Mu’awiya]] to [[Medina]], [[‘Abd Allah b, Zubayr]] told Mu’awiya that he was with [[Imam al-Hasan (a)]] in Hilf al-Fudul and if one day Imam (a) asks him for help against Mu’awiya, he would help him. However Mu’awiya refused to accept it by mocking his account.

In another event, after the martyrdom of Imam al-Hasan (a), when according to his will, [[Imam al-Husayn (a)]] wanted to bury him beside the grave of the holy Prophet (s), the [[Umayyad]] opposed it and he (a) turned to Hilf al-Fudul for assistance and even some tribes prepared to help him , but he (s) withdrew from taking action.

Also, when [[Walid b. 'Utaba b. Abi Sufyan]], the Umayyad governor of [[Medina]] (from 57/676 - 60/679 and 61/680 - 62/681) ignored the right of Imam al-Husayn (a) regarding a property or state which belonged to Imam (a) and he (a) warned him that if he does not do justice towards Imam (a), he (a) will take his sword and will call people to Hilf al-Fudul. Following that event, some people expressed readiness for supporting Imam al-Husayn (a) and Walid , having no other options, gave him his rights.

[[Hisham b. Muhammad b. Sa’ib Kalbi]] (d. 204/819-820) wrote a book called Hilf al-Fudul.