Conquest of Makkah

Extension of the Prophet's mosque

One of the consequences of the treaty of Hudaibiyah was that the Arab tribes had to ally themselves with the Quraish of Makkah or the Muslims of Madina. The Arab tribes who were not favorably inclined to the Quraish sought alliance with the Muslims. Most of these tribes accepted Islam. In view of large scale conversions that took place in the post Hudaibiyah period, the Prophet's mosque at Madina became too small to accommodate all the Muslims who came there to pray, and the need for extension came to be felt. The Holy Prophet appealed to his followers to finance the project for the extension of the mosque. Uthman financed the entire project, and it was no longer necessary for the other Muslims to make any contribution. Immensely pleased with the conduct of Uthman, the Holy Prophet gave him the tidings of paradise in the next world. On this occasion, Ali is said to have composed the following verses in the honor of Uthman.

"There's one that labors night and day,
To build us mosques of brick and clay,
And one who turns from dust away.
There's no life, but life of next world
O God have mercy on the Muhajreen and the Ansar".

Battle of Khyber

After their expulsion from Madina most of the Jews settled at Khyber. They were a cunning and crafty people, and were notorious for their intrigues. The Hudaibiyah pact provided for peace between the Muslims and the Quraish for a period of ten years. This meant that the Quraish could no longer openly aid the Jews against the Muslims. In spite of this change in the situation, there was no diminution in the hostility of the Jews against the Muslims, and they conspired to form another coalition against the Muslims.

To forestall the evil designs of the Jews, the Holy Prophet marched to Khyber in 629 C.E. with a force of 1,400 Muslims. The Jews shut themselves in their forts. These forts were formed of frowning walls built of the living rock and were considered invulnerable. The Jews thought that in these forts they would be able to defy the Muslims. The Jews had ample provisions, and there was no shortage of arms with them. The battle waged for some days with no tangible result. The Muslims attack became more violent, and they succeeded in capturing one of the Jewish forts named 'Naam'. Uthman was the first to climb the walls of this fort. The second person to climb the walls was Mahmud b Salma. The Jews stoned from above. Mahmud b Salma was martyred, but Uthman remained unhurt. He was the hero of the day and the Holy Prophet appreciated his feat of bravery. The Jews surrendered, and peace was concluded on the Jews agreeing to pay a tribute equivalent to one half of the land produce.

The battle of Khyber had far reaching consequences. It established the paramountcy of the Muslims in the Arabian peninsula. The Jews now became the subject of the Muslims. The Quraish thus lost the support of the Jews, and as such the battle of Khyber paved the way for the conquest of Makkah.

At Khyber, a Jewish lady served poisoned meat to the Muslims. Bishr b Bra one of the companions who ate a good deal of the meat died on the spot. Uthman did not taste the meat and thus escaped from the effects of the poison.

Makkah revisited

A year after the Hudaibiyah pact the Holy Prophet at the head of 2,000 Muslims proceeded to Makkah to perform the Hajj in accordance with the terms stipulated in the pact. As the Muslims reached Makkah, most of the Quraish left their houses, and took to the neighboring hills. In view of the Hudaibiyah pact, the Quraish had no option but to permit the Muslims visit Makkah and perform the pilgrimage, but they were loath to offer any welcome to the Muslims. The general view among the Quraish was that if their young men and women came in contact with the Muslims they were apt to be attracted by the new faith, and as such any contacts with the Muslims were to be avoided. The permission to the -Muslims to visit Makkah extended to three days only.

In contrast the Muslims were happy to visit the city of their birth. The Muslims were no longer a small group of helpless persons exposed to the persecutions of the Quraish; they were now a power in Arabia. That was a positive proof of the truth of Islam. On their visit to Makkah the Muslims offered their prayers in the Kaaba. The Adhan, the Muslim call to prayer, resounded in the hills and dales of Makkah, and as the Quraish heard the call they felt much perturbed. They felt that they had made a mistake in making the treaty of Hudaibiyah, and allowing the Muslims to visit the Kaaba.

Some of the Muslims suggested to the Holy Prophet that as the city was deserted, it should be occupied. The Holy Prophet vetoed the suggestion, and held that the pledge once made could not be violated. The Holy Prophet assured his followers that the day was not far when they would return to Makkah as victors and that might be sooner than what they could think of.

On the occasion of the visit to Makkah, Uthman met his mother and family members. He felt that they were now not so hostile to Islam as they had been previously. Uthman hoped that erelong his friends and family members would acceDt the faith of Islam.

End of the Hudaibiyah pact

According to the Hudaibiyah pact the Arab tribes had the option to be allied with the Quraish or the Muslims. In pursuance of these terms the Arabs of the Banu Bakr allied themselves with the Quraish, while the tribe of the Banu Khuza'ah allied themselves with the Muslims.

In disregard of the terms of the treaty of Hudaibiyah, the Banu Bakr attacked the Banu Khuza'ah, and even when the Banu Khuza'ah sought the sanctuary of the Kaaba, many of them were killed. The Banu Khuza'ah thereupon appealed to the Holy Prophet to come to their aid. The Holy Prophet assured them that in pursuance of the terms of the Hudaibiyah pact, the Muslims would come to their assistance.

The Holy Prophet thereupon took up the matter with the Quraish and offered them three alternatives. They were required in the first instance to pay the blood money for the victims of the high handedness of the Banu Bakr. In the alternative they should terminate their alliance with Banu Bakr. f either of these alternatives was not agreed to, then as the last resort the Hudaibiyah pact should be considered to be abrogated.

The Quraish who were already feeling unhappy at the visit of the Muslims to Makkah decided to abrogate the treaty of Hudaibiyah. The Holy Prophet welcomed this move on the part of the Quraish and declared that the Quraish would have in hear the consequences of the breach of faith.

The Quraish soon realized that they had made a mistake in abrogating the treaty of Hudaibiyah. Abu Sufyan the leader of the Quraish visited Madina to make amends. He sought an interview with the Holy Prophet to discuss the issue. The Holy Prophet refused to see him because of the Quraish breach of faith. One of the daughters of Abu Sufyan was a wife of the Holy Prophet. Abu Sufyan wanted her to plead his case with the Holy Prophet, but she refused. Abu Sufyan was related to Uthman. He wanted Othrnan to intercede with the Holy Prophet on his behalf. Uthman politely refused to oblige him. Abu Sufyan returned disappointed from Madina.

Conquest of Makkah

In 630 C.E. the Holy Prophet mustered a force ten thousand strong and marched to Makkah. The Quraish of Makkah were no longer capable of offering any resistance to the Muslims. Abu Sufyan the leader of the Quraish waited on the Holy Prophet, offered submission and became a convert to Islam. The city of Makkah was occupied by the Muslims without any battle. The Muslims who had been driven away from the city only eight years earlier were now the masters of the city. Thus God fulfilled the promise that He had made to His Prophet. It was a veritable vindication of the truth of Islam.

The Holy Prophet visited the Kaaba, and one by one all the idols therein were broken and destroyed. That marked the coming of the Truth and the vanishing of falsehood. Thereafter the Holy Prophet addressed the people assembled in the Kaaba in the following terms:

"There is no god but Allah. He has no associate. He is omniscient and omni-potent. He has made good the promise that He had held to His Messenger. He had helped him in overcoming his enemies. With the triumph of Truth a new era has dawned characterized by the vanishing of falsehood. Henceforward there will be no faith other than Islam, the faith ordained by Allah. I give you the tidings of an era of justice and peace. Bear in mind that every claim of privilege whether that of blood or property is abolished, except that the custody of the Kaaba, and of supplying water to the pilgrims. Let it be known that for any one who is slain the bloodwit is hundred camels. O people of the Quraish, surely God has abolished from you all pride of the time of ignorance and all pride in your ancestry because all men are descended from Adam".

Then turning to the people of Makkah, the Holy Prophet posed the question:

"O you Quraish, what do you think of the treatment that I should accord you"?

The people said with one voice:

"Mercy O Prophet of Allah; we expect nothing but good from you".

In the hour of triumph the Holy Prophet was most forgiving. He said:

"O the people of Makkah, I speak to you in the same words as the prophet Joseph spoke to his brothers. This day there is no reproof against you. Go your way, for you are free".

The announcement was received with great joy and applause. Although general immunity was granted to the people of Makkah, an exception was made in the case of half a dozen persons whose crimes had been too heinous to be forgiven. These persons included Abdullah b Saad a foster brother of Uthman. Abdullah b Saad had accepted Islam and the Holy Prophet availed of his services as a scribe for noting down the revelations. Abdullah b Saad was found guilty of interpolation and falsifying the revelations. When taken to task Abdullah b Saad apostatized and escaped to Makkah. The Holy Prophet was too much annoyed with him, and his orders were that he was to be executed for his sacrilegious conduct. Abdullah b Saad sought the protection of Uthman and prevailed upon him to intercede with the Holy Prophet on his behalf. Uthman was not inclined to undertake the hazardous mission, but when his foster mother, the mother of Abdullah b Saad appealed to him Uthman promised to do whatever he could do to save the life of Abdullah b Saad.

When the Holy Prophet granted general amnesty to the people of Makkah Uthman waited on the Holy Prophet, and said, "On this day of triumph I seek a favor from you O Prophet of God". The Holy Prophet said, "Yes, Uthman, you may ask whatever you wish". Uthman said, "I crave the life of Abdullah b Saad. I know of his crimes but he is repentant and God is Forgiving. He is my foster brother and my foster mother has put great pressure on me to intercede in his behalf". The Holy Prophet remained silent. After some time Uthman repeated his request. The Holy Prophet still gave no reply. When Uthman repeated his request for the third time, the Holy Prophet said: "Alright; let him be free. May God forgive him".

Thereafter all the Quraish of Makkah were converted to Islam and they took the oath of allegiance to the Holy Prophet. These included the mother of Uthman, his step brothers and sisters and other members of his family. The family which had remained apart on account of difference in faith was now reunited, and this reunion was a matter of great joy for Uthman. After conversion to Islam, the people of Makkah began a new life. Heretofore they had been the inveterate enemies of Islam, henceforward they were to be the dedicated servants of Islam.

Battle of Autas

After the fall of Makkah, the neighboring tribes of Hawazin and Thaqueef had to choose between peace by conversion to Islam or war with the Muslims. These tribes considered that the Quraish had been guilty of cowardice by submitting to Islam. They accordingly chose the way of war with the Muslims.

From Makkah the Holy Prophet marched to Autas at the head of an army twelve thousand strong. Out of these ten thousand warriors belonged to the army that had come from Madina. The other two thousand persons were the warriors from the Quraish of Makkah who had volunteered to fight in the way of Allah. As this army was mustered, the Muslims felt proud of it, and considered that it was invincible.

As the Muslim army passed through the valley of Hunain, some eleven miles north east of Makkah, a rain of arrows fell on it let loose by a group of archers of the hostile tribes that lay hidden in the mountain pass. The surprise attack caused a great confusion among the ranks of the Muslim force. In utter confusion, the men ran in all directions to seek cover. The Holy Prophet stood firm at his place, and he called the Muslims to his side. In the first instance only nine persons stood by the side of the Holy Prophet. These included Uthman. After some time the Muslims gathered round the Holy Prophet, and under his direction made a violent charge on the enemy. After some time the pass was captured. The Holy Prophet posted a guard at the pass and the main army marched to Autas.

In the confrontation at Autas, the hostile tribes were soon defeated. Large booty fell into the hands of the Muslims which was distributed among the warriors.

Siege of Taif

From Autas the Muslim force marched to Taif. The people of Taif chose to oppose the Muslims. They, however, shut themselves in the fort and refused to come into the open. The Muslims tried the testudo device "hereunder a group of soldiers shielded by a cover of cow hide advanced to set fire to the gate. The enemy threw red hot scraps of iron on the testudo which made it ineffective. Taif was a hill station, and the fort was situated at a height while the besiegers had to camp at a lower plane... It was not possible to take the fort by assault. The only way to overcome the resistance of the enemy was to tighten the blockade, and drag on the siege till the provisions in the fort were exhausted. That meant that the siege had to be continued for a long time. The Holy Prophet had other pressing business to undertake, and he could not afford to spend so much time in besieging Taif. The Holy Prophet held a council of war as to the course of action. The council included Uthman. After consulting his companions the Holy Prophet raised the siege of Taif and retired to Makkah.

A few days later, Malik b Auf the chief of Taif came to Makkah. As Uthman had property at Taif, Malik b Auf saw Uthman. Uthman stressed on him the advisability of accepting Islam. Malik b Auf asked a few questions and being satisfied asked Uthman to take him to the Holy Prophet. Malik b Auf declared the article of faith and became a Muslim. Thus the Muslims gained by raising the siege of Taif what they could not secure by carrying on the war. From Makkah the Holy Prophet and hit companions returned to Madina. Some eight years ego the Holy Prophet and his companions had come to Madina as refugees. Now they came to Madina as victors, the masters of Makkah and Arabia.