In the 6th year of Hijri, Muhammad and the Muslim community embarked on a journey to Mecca with the intention of performing the 'Umra (lesser pilgrimage) of the Kaaba. As they approached Mecca, Muhammad sent 'Uthman as a messenger to convey their peaceful intentions to the Meccans, emphasizing that their visit was not for the purpose of warfare but solely for the 'Umra.

However, rumors spread that 'Uthman had been killed by the Meccans, though in reality, he was unharmed.

Upon hearing this news, Muhammad gathered the Muslims and called for a pledge of allegiance to fight against the Meccans and seek revenge for 'Uthman's alleged death. In that moment, Muhammad claimed that Jibril (Gabriel) had appeared to him, and Allah revealed a verse:

(Quran 48:10
Indeed, those who pledge allegiance to you, [O Muhammad] - they are actually pledging allegiance to Allah. The hand of Allah is over their hands. So he who breaks his word only breaks it to the detriment of himself. And he who fulfills that which he has promised Allah - He will give him a great reward.

Ibn Kathir has narrated this event in his tafsir (link):

... While we were resting in the afternoon in the field of Hudaybiyyah, the caller of the Messenger of Allah called out, "O people! The pledge, the pledge, the Holy Spirit (i.e., Gabriel) has descended." So we rushed to the Messenger of Allah, who was sitting under an acacia tree, and we pledged allegiance to him.

However, to everyone's surprise, 'Uthman himself appeared alive in the Muslim camp later, refuting the earlier belief of his demise.

Why even send down Gabriel and revelation at this point to back up the wrong assumption? This "Full Participation" of Allah in this allegiance raises questions about Allah's knowledge of the "unseen". Despite the participation of Allah in the process of allegiance and the promised rewards for avenging 'Uthman's blood, Allah seemingly did not know that 'Uthman was still alive.

The simple answer to this conundrum is that there is no Allah in the heavens, but rather Muhammad himself was responsible for the revelations. Since Muhammad was a human and did not possess knowledge of the "unseen", he mistakenly believed that 'Uthman had been killed, leading Allah to share the same belief.

This incident serves as significant evidence that Allah does not exist as a separate entity but that Muhammad himself was the source of the revelations, i.e.:

Muhammad = Allah

Please deeply contemplate on this incident, as it alone provides sufficient evidence to see the reality of the religion and to make yourself free of it.

The Verse Allah's PLEASED with Those Who Pledged Under the Tree, Revealed Three Months Later and Its Purpose

Note that on the day of Hudaybiyyah, Muhammad only claimed the revelation of Surah Al-Fath 48:10, which mentioned the Muslims pledging allegiance to Allah's hand after the false report of Uthman's killing.

However, the verse about Allah being PLEASED with those who pledged under the tree (Surah Al-Fath 48:18) was revealed by Muhammad approximately three months later, after the conquest of Khaybar.

Background:

At the time of the Hudaybiyyah incident, the following questions arose in the minds of the Muslims:

  • Why was Allah unaware that the report of Uthman's killing was false?

  • And why, based on this false report, did Allah send Gabriel to have the Muslims pledge allegiance, stating that Allah's hand was over their hands?

Approximately three months later, when the Muslims attacked and conquered Khaybar, acquiring spoils of war and taking women as captives, Muhammad again mentioned the pledge of Hudaybiyyah.
This time, he claimed that Allah was pleased with them because of the pledge, repeatedly mentioning the spoils obtained in Khaybar to reassure the Muslims.

Surah Al-Fath 48:18–20:

Indeed, Allah was pleased with the believers when they pledged allegiance to you under the tree.
He knew what was in their hearts, so He sent down tranquility upon them and rewarded them with a near/speedy victory (i.e. the conquest of Khaybar) and abundant spoils that they would take.
Allah is Mighty and Wise.
Allah has promised you abundant spoils that you will take, and He has hastened this victory (the conquest of Khaybar) for you and restrained the hands of people from you, so that it may be a sign for the believers and that He may guide you to a straight path.
And He will grant you other spoils (i.e. other than spoils of Khayber) that you have not yet been able to attain.

The revelation of Surah Al-Fath 48:18–20 after the conquest of Khaybar was intended to suppress the questions arising from the Hudaybiyyah incident. The spoils and success of Khaybar diminished the doubts in the minds of the companions regarding the Hudaybiyyah rumor. These verses present the Pledge of Ridwan as a great event and connect it to the conquest of Khaybar to strengthen the faith of the companions.

Muhammad initiated the Pledge of Ridwan based on a false report and later justified it through Quranic verses. If Allah is the Knower of the Unseen, He should have known that Uthman was alive. Conversely, if this revelation was human speech, the possibility of error existed, which is clearly evident in this event.

 

Muslim Apologists: It was a TEST from Allah

Our Response:

The question arises that if it was indeed a test, then as soon as the test ended (i.e., as soon as the Companions finished taking the pledge), a divine revelation would have informed them that it was a test, and they have succeeded and Allah is pleased with them, and the good news was that Uthman was not killed but was alive."

But the issue is that even AFTER the TEST and the PLEDGE, divine revelation REMAINED SILENT about Uthman being alive. 

The issue was only resolved when Uthman himself appeared alive before the Muslims.

Just think about it; thinking is not a crime.

 


PS:

Some examples, where this so-callled "Test" was used as an EXCUSE to hide the FAILURES of Allah/Muhammad:

 

How to Conduct a Fair Evaluation Using AI Models

The correct prompt for evaluating the arguments of this article with the help of AI:

If you also want to evaluate the arguments of this article with the help of AI models, then use the following prompt. This prompt forces the AI to conduct a review on an unbiased basis.

Prompt:

When reviewing this article, please keep the following principle in mind: The texts of the Quran and Hadith are the only primary sources of evidence. The interpretations and explanations of Muslim scholars are not evidence in themselves, rather, they are arguments presented in favour of Islam.  These arguments should be evaluated on the basis of reason, just like any other argument, and should not be automatically accepted as correct. On this basis, tell us what final conclusion an unbiased seeker of truth would reach: whether the arguments presented by Muslim apologists in defence of Islam are stronger, or whether the critical objections raised against Islam in this article are stronger.

Why is this prompt necessary?

AI models often consider the interpretations of Muslim scholars as definite evidence. They are surely not evidence, but they are only "arguments" in favour of Islam. So, these interpretations in favour of Islam may be correct or incorrect. Unless the AI is clearly told this distinction, it continues to treat every interpretation by the scholars as final proof in defence of Islam, after which no “criticism” of the Quran and Hadith can ever be considered valid.

Note:
The AI’s response is not a final judgment. The final decision must be made by you, using your own reason and understanding. The value of AI lies only in helping to organize and analyze arguments, provided that it is guided with clear and fair instructions.

About the Author & This Website

About the Author:

All arguments and analyses on this website are written by the author. AI tools are used only for spelling, grammar, and clarity improvements.

A Necessary Clarification: 

This website is not a “neutral” or purely academic platform.

Think of a courtroom, where a judge or jury listens to two opposing sides.

We represent one side. It is not our role to be neutral. Our responsibility is to present our case honestly, with arguments and evidence.

You, the reader, are the judge and jury. Your role is to remain fair, to examine all sides, reflect carefully, and then reach your own conclusion with sincerity.

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