Is the story of Hudhayfah ibn al-Yaman true, that he made a covenant with Quraysh not to fight them, and then the Prophet commanded him to return from the Battle of Badr in fulfillment of his covenant?

The hadith the questioner is asking about is the hadith of Hudhayfah ibn al-Yaman (may Allah be pleased with them both) concerning the reason for their absence from the Battle of Badr. It was narrated by Al-Tabarani, Abu Awanah, Ibn Asakir, and Al-Dhahabi. Its wording is: Hudhayfah and his father, Al-Yaman, while on their way to the Prophet (peace be upon him) at Badr, were intercepted by the disbelievers of Quraysh. They took from them an oath by Allah and His covenant that they would return to Madinah and not fight with the Prophet (peace be upon him). They informed the Prophet of this, and he said: "We seek Allah's help against them, and we will fulfill their covenant. Return to Madinah." Al-Dhahabi authenticated it, and it appears that the covenant was specific to the Battle of Badr.