12. Promise of Future Conquest of Makkah

One of the most remarkable aspects of Surah Al-Fath is the clear promise Allah (swt) makes about the future conquest of Makkah, at a time when such a victory seemed distant and improbable. This divine assurance came at the precise moment when many Muslims felt that the terms of the Hudaybiyah treaty appeared disadvantageous to them.

In verse 27, Allah (swt) affirms:

This verse refers to a dream the Prophet (peace be upon him) had seen before the journey to Hudaybiyah, in which he saw himself and his Companions entering Makkah and performing Tawaf around the Ka'bah. When the Muslims were prevented from entering Makkah that year and had to return to Madinah, some might have questioned the dream's validity.

Allah (swt) reassured them that the vision would be fulfilled, though not immediately. The verse promised that they would indeed enter Makkah in complete safety, performing the rituals of Umrah with their heads shaved or hair trimmed, without any fear. This prophecy was fulfilled the following year when the Muslims returned to perform the compensatory Umrah (known as Umrat al-Qada) and ultimately with the complete conquest of Makkah two years after Hudaybiyah.

The verse continues with a profound statement:

This statement emphasizes that Allah possesses knowledge of the future and strategic wisdom that transcends human understanding. What appeared to be a setback to some believers was, in divine wisdom, the precursor to a greater triumph. The treaty of Hudaybiyah itself was the "near victory" mentioned here, which laid the foundation for the eventual conquest of Makkah.

In verse 28, Allah (swt) makes an even more extensive promise:

This verse extends beyond the conquest of Makkah to proclaim the eventual triumph of Islam over all other religious systems. This promise encompasses both:

1. Triumph in evidence and truth: Islam provides comprehensive answers to humanity's questions with clear proofs and logical coherence that surpass other religious frameworks.

2. Physical expansion: The spread of Islam throughout different regions of the world, which began in earnest after the conquest of Makkah when many Arab tribes entered Islam upon seeing the fall of Makkah without divine punishment befalling the Muslims.

The Hudaybiyah treaty, initially perceived as disadvantageous, proved to be a strategic opening that facilitated:

- The resumption of trade between Muslims and non-Muslims

- Opportunities for interaction that allowed non-Muslims to observe the character and conduct of Muslims

- A cessation of hostilities that permitted focus on outreach and expansion to other regions

These advantages led to a substantial increase in the number of Muslims, such that when the Prophet (peace be upon him) returned to conquer