Before the Conquest ¹ of Makkah

1. The Hudaybiyah:

The Prophet stayed in Al-Madinah for two months, and in the third month he asked his Companions to prepare for the Lesser Pilgrimage (`Umrah). The Prophet was bareheaded and put on the pilgrim's dress, made of two pieces of unstitched ² cloth, one wrapped round the waist covering the lower part of the body, and the other draped round the shoulders. Consecrating himself for the pilgrimage with two rak'ahs, he now uttered ³ the pilgrim's first invocation: ⁴ "Here I am at Your service, O, Allah." Then the Prophet and his Companions set out for Makkah driving seventy camels to be sacrificed in the sacred precinct, ⁵ where their meat would then be distributed among the poor of Makkah.

When Quraysh heard of the departure of the pilgrims from Al-Madinah, they decided that they should not allow them to enter Makkah; and they began to be ready for war. When the Prophet heard of their determination, he said, "Alas, Quraysh! War has devoured ⁶ them! What harm ⁷ would they have suffered if they had left me and the rest of the Arabs to go our own ways? If they should kill me that is what they desire, and if Allah should give me victory over them they would enter Islam in flocks. ⁸ If they do not do that (i.e. enter Islam) they will fight while they have the trength, so what are Quraysh thinking of? By Allah, I will not cease to fight for the mission ⁹ with which Allah has entrusted me until He makes it victorious ¹⁰ or I perish."

Then Quraysh sent an envoy ¹¹ to the Prophet to try to persuade ¹² him not to enter Makkah. He sat to the Prophet and tried to be too friendly with him, even at times taking him by the beard when he addressed him. This so much infuriated ¹³ one of the Emigrants that he threatened ¹⁴ to cut off his hand. The envoy's message was not successful; but he went back to Quraysh very much impressed by the love and reverence that Muslims had for the Prophet. So he said to Quraysh, "O people, I have been sent as envoy to kings - to Caesar and Chosroes and the Negus - and I have not seen a king whose men so honor him as the Companions of Muhammad honor Muhammad. If he commands anything, they almost out-strip ¹⁵ his word in fulfilling it; when he performs his ablution (wudu), they nearly fight for the water thereof; ¹⁶ when he speaks, their voices are hushed ¹⁷ in his presence; nor will they look him full in the face, but lower their eyes in reverence for him. He has offered you a reasonable concession; ¹⁸ therefore accept it from him."Finally the Prophet decided to send an envoy to Makkah. The Prophet at first wanted `Umar to be his envoy; but `Umar suggested `Uthman as a better envoy. The Prophet accepted `Umar's suggestion and `Uthman was sent to Quraysh. Having heard what `Uthman had to say, the leaders of Quraysh said, "If you want to go round the House, go round it." He said he could not do so until the Prophet did, and Quraysh kept him a prisoner with them. Then the Prophet and the Muslims were informed that `Uthman had been killed.

When the Prophet heard that `Uthman had been killed, he said that they would not return to Al-Madinah until they fought the enemy. Before they could fight, he called the Companions to give their pledge <sup>19</sup> (bay'ah). This pledge has been called the Pledge of Satisfaction (Bay'atar Ridwan); and all the believers offered their pledge of allegiance. <sup>20</sup> Then the Prophet heard that the news about the death of `Uthman was false.

2. The Treaty with Makkah:

When Quraysh sent their envoy for peace, they gave him instructions to make peace with the Prophet on condition that the Muslims would go back to Al-Madinah this year, so that none of the Arabs could say that the Prophet made a forcible ²¹ entry into Makkah. Quraysh's envoy was called Suhayl Ibn `Amr. After some discussion, both the Prophet and Suhayl agreed to the terms of the treaty; and the Prophet called on `Ali to write down the terms, beginning with "In the name of Allah, Ar-Rahman, the Ever Merciful." Suhayl: (objecting). "I do not recognize this; but write In your name, O, Allah (Bismikallahumma)." Some Companions: "By Allah, we will write nothing but Bismllahi r-Rahmani r-Rahim."

The Prophet: (dictating to `Ali "Write Bismik Allahuma", and goes on dictating)

"These are the terms of the truce ²² between Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah and Suhayl the son of Amr;

Suhayl: (again objecting). "If we knew you to be the Messenger of Allah, we would not have fought you, but write Muhammad the son of `Abdillah."

The Prophet: (to `Ali) "Write Muhammad, the son of `Abdillah." They have agreed to lay aside war for ten years, in which times men shall be safe and refrain ²³ from hostilities ²⁴ on condition that whoever comes to Muhammad of Quraysh without the leave of his guardian, Muhammad shall return him to them, but whoever comes to Quraysh of those who are with Muhammad, they shall not be returned. There shall be no subterfuge ²⁵ and no treachery. And whoever wishes to enter into the bond ²⁶ and pact of Muhammad may do so; and whoever wishes to enter into the bond and pact of Quraysh may do so."

Some men from the tribe of Khuza'ah: "We are one with Muhammad in his bond and his pact."

Some men from the tribe of Bakr: "We are one with Quraysh in their bond and their pact. You, Mu hammad shall depart from us this present year, and shall not enter Makkah against our will, and next year we will make way for you and you can enter it with your Companions, and stay there three nights. You may carry a rider's weapons, the swords in their sheaths ²⁷. You can bring in nothing more." (Abu Jandal, Suhyal's son, enters in fetters ²⁸ . He had accepted Islam, and had been imprisoned by his father).

Suhayl (to the Prophet): "Our agreement was concluded before this man came to you." The Prophet: "That is true." Suhayl: "Return him then to us."

Abu Jandal (shouting): "O Muslims, am I to be returned to the idolaters, for them to persecute me on account of my religion?"

Suhayl's Companions: "O Muhammad, we give Abu Jandal our protection on your behalf."

The Prophet: "Be patient Abu Jandal. Allah will surely give you and those with you relief and a way out. We have agreed on the terms of a truce with these people, and have given them our solemn ²⁹ pledge, even as they have done to us, and we will not now break our word."

`Umar: (to the Prophet with a sense of disappointment): "Are you not the Messenger of Allah?"

The Prophet: "Yea."

`Umar: "Are we not in the right and our enemies in the wrong?"

The Prophet: "Yea."

`Umar: "Then why should we agree to what is demeaning ³⁰ to our religion?"

The Prophet: "I am the servant of Allah and am His Messenger. I will not go against His Commandment, and He will not make me the loser."

`Umar: "But did you not tell us that we should go to the House and make our rounds about it?"

The Prophet: "Even so; but did I tell you that we should go to it this year?"

`Umar: "No. You did not."

The Prophet: "Surely you shall go to the House, and shall make rounds about it."

(`Umar goes to Abu Bakr to whom he vents his disappointment).

Abu Bakr (to `Umar): "Stick to what he (the Prophet) says, for I testify <sup>31</sup> `that he is the Messenger of Allah."

`Umar: "And so do I."

Finally when the Prophet called `Umar to put his name to the treaty, he signed it in silence. Later on`Umar used to say, "I have not ceased giving alms and fasting and praying and freeing slaves because of what I did that day out of fear of what I had said."

3. Sacrifice and Victory:

Then the Prophet ordered the Companions to rise and sacrifice their animals, and shave their heads. Many Companions were hesitant ³² because they had understood that the sacrifices had to be offered in Makkah, and then they could shave also there. The Prophet wondered at their hesitation, and when he consulted his wife Umm Salamah about it, she suggested that if the Prophet sacrificed and shaved, the Companions would do the same. When the Companions saw the Prophet perform his sacrifice and heard him say: Bismillah, Allahu Akbar (In the name of Allah, Allah is Greater) they all raced to make their sacrifices and shave. Some of them shaved, but others only cut their hair. When the Prophet saw them, he said, "Allah have mercy on the shavers of their heads!" Those who had cut their hair asked also for Allah's mercy ³³ saying, "And on the cutters of their hair, O,Messenger of Allah." But the Prophet repeated his invocation for the shavers of their heads twice, before he added, "and on the cutters of their hair!" On the way back from Makkah a Revelation was sent down declaring the visit and the pact of allegiance an evident victory:

"Surely We have given you an evident victory (opening)." (Al-Fath- 1).

And the pact of allegiance is referred to in the following verse:

"Allah has been satisfied with the believers when they pledged allegiance to you under the tree; He knew what was in their hearts, and sent down serenity upon them, and has requited them with near victory." (Opening of Makkah). (Al-Fath,18).

After the Revelation, the Prophet asked for Umar and comforted ³⁴ him assuringly ³⁵, saying, "There has descended upon me a surah which is dearer to me than anything else beneath the sun." In fact in the following two years the community of Islam was more than doubled; and now was the time to deal with the conspiracies of Banu -n-Nadir and their allies in Khaybar.

4. The Jews of Khaybar:

These had always been hostile to the Prophet and the new Muslim City. They thought that the Prophet would not fight them, as they were proud of the strength of their army of ten thousand.

The Prophet had stayed in Al-Madinah after the Hudaybiyah only less than two months, before he set out for Khaybar with an army of only four thousand. It took the Muslim army about three days to reach Khaybar, and the army took up a position that would bar ³⁶ the tribe of Ghatafan from helping Khaybar in their fight against the Prophet.

It was evening when the Muslim army came within sight of Khaybar; and the Prophet decided to wait until the morning. If he heard a call to prayer he held back; if he did not hear it he attacked. So when morning came, he heard no call to prayer, and began the attack against the fortresses of Khaybar. At sunrise, as the land workers came out with their spades and baskets, they saw the Muslim army. They were put to flight crying, "Muhammad and his host." Then the Prophet said, "Allahu Akbar: Kliaribat Khaybar." (Allah is Greater! Khaybar is ruined)."

It took about a week to force the first fortress to surrender. That stronghold was called `Alna'im. For a whole day every attack on that fortress was repulsed, <sup>37</sup> and the next day the Prophet gave the standard called "The Eagle", to `Ali, and he prayed for `Ali and his Companions that Allah should give them victory. `Ali and his company succeeded in subduing ³⁸ the resistance of the people inside the fortress after a fierce battle. But the strongest Jewish fortress was called Azzubayr, to which most of the fighting Jews escaped to join the garrison ³⁹ inside this last stronghold. After a three day siege the Muslims succeeded in cutting off the source of water for the fortress, and this led to the surrender of those inside it.

Before the Muslim army left Khaybar, a Jewish widow prepared a roast lamb for the Prophet, having first inquired what joint he preferred. When she learnt that it was the shoulder she put a lot of poison in it and then poisoned the whole lamb. Then she brought it in, and placed it before him. He took hold of the shoulder and chewed a piece of it, but could not swallow it. He told those of his Companions who were eating of the lamb to stop eating, for it was poisoned. He called for the woman and she confessed; and when he asked her what had induced her to do this, she an swered, "You know what you have done to my people. I said to myself, `If he is a King, I shall ease ⁴⁰ myself of him, and if he is a Prophet, he will be informed of the poison." But the Prophet pardoned the woman although one of the Companions died because he had swallowed a piece of the poisoned lamb.

One night on the way back to Al-Madinah, the Prophet asked his Companions, "Who will watch over us till the dawn, so that we may sleep?" Bilal volunteered to do so; thus all lay down and slept. Bilal was awake until it was near dawn, but suddenly his eyes were heavy and he slept. The first thing to wake the others was the warmth of the sun. The Prophet was the first to wake up and he asked Bilal what he had done to them. Then he ordered Bilal to call to prayer, and the Prophet led them in prayer. Having finished he went to them and said, "If you forget your prayers, pray them when you remember them, for Allah has said:

"And perform prayers for My remembrance." (Taha-14).

5. The Lesser Pilgrimage: (The fulfilled `Umrah)

After his return from Khaybar, the Prophet stayed in Al-Madinah for two months. In the third month (the month of Thul Qa'dah), he and the Muslims who had been barred a year before from entering Makkah started on their journey to perform the `Umrah which is sometimes called "the fulfilled `Umrah."

When Quraysh heard that the Muslims were nearing Makkah, they withdrew from around the house, and their chiefs were gathered together on Mount Abu Qubays, from where they could watch the Muslims entering the House. When the Prophet entered

the Mosque, he threw the end of his cloak over his left shoulder leaving his right upper arm free. Then he said to his Companions, "Allah have mercy on a man who shows them today that he is strong." That was because Quraysh thought that the Muslims in Al-Madinah were "in destitution ⁴¹, want, and privation."⁴²

The Prophet touched the stone, and went out trotting as did his Companions. When the House hid him from Quraysh and he had touched the southern corner he walked to touch the black stone. Then he trotted similarly three circuits ⁴³ and walked the remaining four.

The Prophet and the Muslims spent three days in Makkah. At the end of the three days Suhayl Ibn `Amr came heading a delegation ⁴⁴ from Quraysh asking the Prophet to leave Makkah. The Prophet agreed to leave the city and by nightfall the pilgrims were on the way back to Al-Madinah.

6. Victory or martyrdom: (The Expedition to Mu'tah)

The Prophet sent his expedition ⁴⁵ to Mu'tah in Jumadal-Ula in the eighth year and put Zayd Ibn Harithah in command. If Zayd were killed, then Ja'far

Ibn Abi Talib would take comman, and if the latter were killed, then Abdullah Ibn Rawahah would replace him. The Muslim army for that expedition was only three thousand.

When the army reached Ma'an they heard that the Greeks and other Arab tribes had gathered an army of about 200,000. The leaders of the Muslim army thought of writing to the Prophet for reinforcement ⁴⁶ At this point Ibn Rawahah encouraged the men saying "We are not fighting the enemy with numbers, or strength or multitude, ⁴⁷ but we are fighting them with this religion with which Allah has honored us. We have before us the certainty of one two good things, either victory or martyrdom."⁴⁸

When fighting began, Zayd fought holding the Prophet's standard until he was killed. Then Ja'far took the standard and fought with it until he was also killed. Ibn Rawahah was also killed. Then Khalid took command, and the men rallied ⁴⁹ to him, and the enemy advance was checked, allowing an orderly retreat for the Muslim army. It was a victory for the enemy, but the Muslims lost only eight men including their three leaders. It was to Khalid's credit that he made that safe withdrawal. ⁵⁰ When the Prophet told his Companions of the battle and of the death of the three leaders before the army had ever returned to Al-Madinah, he said, "Then one of the swords of Allah took the standard, and Allah opened up the way for them" - that is, for the Muslims to reach safety; and that was the reason why Khalid came to be called, "The Sword of Allah."

As the Prophet spoke these words, tears were flowing down his cheeks. Then the Prophet visited the houses of the martyrs to condole ⁵¹ with them and his eyes were filled with tears and he wept. When Zayd's daughter ran to the Prophet in tears, he "wept unrestrainedly, ⁵² and as he clasped ⁵³ the child to him his body shook with sobs ⁵⁴ . Sa'd Ibn `Ubadah happened to pass by at that moment, and searching in himself for words of comfort, he murmured, "O Messenger of Allah, what is this?" "This," said the Prophet, "Is one who loves yearning for his beloved." [`Ibn Sa'd, Ill/I, 32 in Martin Lings. p.288.]

When Khalid and his army returned from Mu'tah to Al-Madinah, the Prophet rode out to meet them. Many Muslims who were waiting to meet this small army enter Al-Madinah threw dust in their faces. "Runaways",' they shouted, "Did you flee from fighting in the way of Allah?" But the the Prophet answered them, "They are not runaways, but returners to the fight, if Allah wills."

With the expedition to Mu'tah the influence of Islam has reached the borders of the Roman Empire. The Arab tribes to the north of Al-Madinah are now convinced that the Prophet is a redoubtable ⁵⁵ enemy and "a powerful, reliable ⁵⁶ and generous ally." In the words of Martin Lings, "There was always a factor, slow-working yet powerful and profound, which had nothing whatsoever to do with politics, and which was also largely independent of the deliberate efforts made by the believers to spread the message of Islam. This was the remarkable serenity ⁵⁷ which characterized those who practised the new religion. Al-Qur'an, the Book of Allah's Oneness, was also the Book of Mercy and the Book of Paradise. The recitation of its verses, combined with the teaching of the Messenger, imbued ⁵⁸ the believers with the certainty that they had within easy reach, that is through the fulfilment ⁵⁹of certain conditions well within their capacity, the eternal satisfaction of every possible desire. The resulting happiness was a criterion ⁶⁰ of faith." The end is eternal bliss now and in the Hereafter; the culmination ⁶¹ on this earth is nothing but victory or martyrdom.

7. The Prophet's son:

Ibrahim was born at the beginning of year 8 H., and he was dead before the end of the year. When the Prophet was told of the birth of his only son through Maria the Copt, he felt joyful with the news and he named him Ibrahim after the Prophet Ibrahim. But `A'ishah felt unhappy. Her mother Zaynub (Umm Ruman) tried to comfort her.

Umm Ruman: Don't be grieved my young one!

`A'ishah: I would have liked to be mother to this young child.

The Prophet (looking at her for a while): Are you jealous, `A'ishah?

`A'ishah (musing): No.

The Prophet: Surely, you are jealous, by Allah.

`A'isha: How can one like me not feel jealous about one like you!

The Prophet (smiling): Has your devil already come to you?

`A'isha (calming down): Do I have a devil with me?

The Prophet: Yes!

`A'ishah: Does everyone have a devil?

The Prophet: Yes!

`A'ishah: And is there a devil with you, Messenger of Allah?

The Prophet: Yes! But my Lord has helped me against it. (Ibrahim lived only for a few months. When `A'ishah heard of the news of his death, she as well as other wives of the Prophet, as well as the Prophet himself, attended Ibrahim's burial. <sup>62</sup> Usamah and Al Fadl Ibn `Abbas carried Ibrahim's body, which was to be buried in the public cemetery ⁶³ called Al-Baqi').

Al-Fadl: Shall we bury him in Al-Baqi'?

The Prophet: Yes.

Al-Fadi (interring the body): To eternal Paradise, Ibrahim!

The Prophet: I see an opening in the grave.

The Undertaker: It does no harm or good, Messenger of Allah.

The Prophet: Surely it does no harm or good but it cools (delights) the eyes of those alive. If a servant (of Allah) does anything, then Allah would like that he should consummate it (make it perfect).

(Then the undertaker fills in the opening).

Usamah: Look! The sun has eclipsed ⁶⁴ for Ibrahim's death.

The Women: Really! The sun has eclipsed for Ibrahim's death.

The Prophet (addressing the people): The sun and the moon are signs of Allah. They are not eclipsed for the death of anybody nor for his life.

The prophet (to the undertaker): Have you finished?

The Undertaker: Yes.

The Prophet: Would anybody get a waterskin?

Usamah (getting a waterskin): Here it is, Messenger of Allah.

The Prophet: Sprinkle it on Ibrahim's tomb. ⁶⁵

(Tears fall down from the Prophet's eyes).

Usamah: Are you weeping, Messenger of Allah?

The Prophet: Ibrahim was my son, and he died a suckling.⁶⁶

Al-Fadl: O Messenger of Allah. You weep and you are the Messenger of Allah?

The Prophet: I am simply a human being; the eye is tearful and the heart is apprehensive, but we say nothing - Allah willing - except what satisfies the Lord. By Allah, were it not for the limited term, the fulfilled promise, and appointed time, and our late comers who will be joining our early (forefathers), we would have felt more sorrow for him than we do now. Surely we are indeed grieved for you Ibrahim!