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On the authority of At-Tabari, the Messenger of
Allâh [pbuh] asked ‘Aishah [R], his spouse three days prior to
receiving news relating to breaching of covenant, to make preparations peculiar to
marching out for war. Abu Bakr, meanwhile, came in and asked ‘Aishah [R]
what the matter was, showing surprise at the preparations being made as it was not, as he
said, the usual time for war. She replied that she had no idea. On the morning of the
third day ‘Amr bin Sâlim Al-Khuza‘i arrived in the company of forty horsemen to
brief the Prophet [pbuh] on the plight of his people and seeking the Muslims’ help
for retaliation. People of Madinah then got to know that Quraish had breached the
covenant. Budail followed ‘Amr, and then Abu Sufyan and the news was unequivocally
confirmed.
With view of securing a complete news black-out
concerning his military intentions, the Prophet [pbuh] despatched an eight-men platoon
under the leadership of Qatadah bin Rab‘i in the direction of Edam, a short distance
from Madinah, in Ramadan 8 A.H., in order to divert the attention of people and screen off
the main target with which he was preoccupied.
There was so much dread and fear everywhere that
Hatib, one of the most trusted followers of the Prophet [pbuh] secretly despatched a
female messenger with a letter to Makkah containing intimation of the intended attack. The
Prophet [pbuh] received news from the heaven of Hatib’s action and sent ‘Ali and
Al-Miqdad with instructions to go after her. They overtook the messenger, and after a long
search discovered the letter carefully hidden in her locks. The Prophet [pbuh] summoned
Hatib and asked him what had induced him to this act. He replied, "O Messenger of
Allâh [pbuh]! I have no affinity of blood with Quraish; there is only a kind of friendly
relationship between them and myself. My family is at Makkah and there is no one to look
after it or to offer protection to it. My position stands in striking contrast to that of
the refugees whose families are secure due to their blood ties with Quraish. I felt that
since I am not related to them, I should, for the safety of my children, earn their
gratitude by doing good to them. I swear by Allâh that I have not done this act as an
apostate, forsaking Islam. I was prompted only by the considerations I have just
explained."
‘Umar wanted to cut his head off as a
hypocrite, but the Prophet [pbuh] accepted his excuse and granted him pardon, then
addressed ‘Umar saying: "Hatib is one of those who fought in the battle of
Badr.
How do you know that he is a hypocrite? Allâh is likely to look favourably on those who
participated in that battle. Turning then, to Hatib, he said: "Do as you please, for
I have forgiven you."
After making full preparation, the Prophet [pbuh]
proceeded to Makkah at the head of ten thousand soldiers on the 10th of Ramadan, 8 A.H. He
mandated Abu Ruhm Al-Ghifari to dispose the affairs of Madinah during his absence. When
they reached Al-Juhfa, Al-‘Abbas bin ‘Abdul Muttalib and his family came to join
the Prophet [pbuh]. At Al-Abwa’, the Muslims came across Abu Sufyan bin Al-Harith and
‘Abdullah bin Omaiyah, the Prophet’s cousins, but, on account of the harm they
had inflicted, and their satiric language, on the believers, they were not welcomed.
‘Ali addressed Abu Sufyan to go and beseech the Prophet [pbuh] for pardon and confess
his ill-behaviour in a manner similar to that of Yusuf’s (the Prophet Joseph)
brothers:
"They said:
‘By Allâh! Indeed Allâh has preferred you above us, and we certainly have been
sinners.’" [Al-Qur'an 12:91]
Abu Sufyan observed ‘Ali’s counsel, to
which the Prophet quoted Allâh’s Words:
"He said:
‘No reproach on you this day, may Allâh forgive you, and He is the Most Merciful of
those who show mercy!’" [Al-Qur'an 12:92]
Abu Sufyan recited some verses paying a generous
tribute to the Prophet [pbuh] and professing Islam as his only religion.
The Muslims then marched on in a state of fasting
until they reached a place called Al-Qadeed where water was available. There they broke
fast [Sahih Al-Bukhari 2/613] and
resumed their movement towards Mar Az-Zahran. The Quraishites were quite unaware of the
development of affairs, but the Prophet [pbuh] did not like to take them by surprise. He,
therefore, ordered his men to kindle fire on all sides for cooking purposes. The idea
behind this was that Quraish should be afforded full opportunity to assess the situation
in which they were pitchforked correctly, and should not endanger their lives by leaping
blindly in the battlefield. ‘Umar bin Al-Khattab was entrusted with the guard duty.
In the meanwhile, Abu Sufyan along with Hakim bin Hizam and Budail bin Warqua’, two
terrible polytheists, went out to reconnoiter. Before they got near the camp, they met
‘Abbas, the Prophet’s uncle. He apprised Abu Sufyan of the situation and advised
him to accept Islam and persuade his people to surrender before Muhammad [pbuh];
otherwise, his head would be struck off.
Under the prevailing compelling circumstances, Abu
Sufyan went in the company of ‘Abbas seeking the Prophet’s [pbuh] audience. The
Muslims were furious to see Abu Sufyan and wanted to kill him on the spot. But the two men
managed, not without difficulties, to see the Messenger of Allâh [pbuh] who advised that
they see him the following day. The Prophet [pbuh] addressed Abu Sufyan saying: "Woe
to you! Isn’t it time for you to bear witness to the Oneness of Allâh and
Prophethood of Muhammad?" Here, the archenemy of Islam began to beseech the Prophet
[pbuh] in the most earnest words that testify to the Prophet’s generosity and mild
temper begging for pardon and forgiveness, and professing wholeheartedly the new faith.
On request by ‘Abbas, the Prophet [pbuh], in
the context of the general amnesty he proclaimed, gave Abu Sufyan, who had a liking for
bragging, a special privilege, saying: "He who takes refuge in Abu Sufyan’s
house is safe; whosoever confines himself to his house, the inmates thereof shall be in
safety, and he who enters the Sacred Mosque is safe."
On the morning of Tuesday, 17th. Ramadan, 8 A.H.,
the Prophet [pbuh] left Mar Az-Zahran. He ordered Al-‘Abbas to detain Abu Sufyan at a
commanding gorge that could afford a full view of the Muslim army parading on its way
towards Makkah, and hence give him the chance to see the great and powerful soldiers of
Allâh. The different tribes successively passed with their banners flown up, until at
last the battalion of the Emigrants and Helpers with the Prophet [pbuh] at their head
heavily armed marched by. Abu Sufyan began to wonder who those people were, to which
Al-‘Abbas told him that they were Muhammad [pbuh] and his Companions. Abu Sufyan said
that no army however powerful could resist those people and addressing Al-‘Abbas, he
said: "I swear by Allâh that the sovereignty of your brother’s son has become
too powerful to withstand." Al-‘Abbas answered, "It is rather the power of
Prophethood," to which the former agreed.
Sa‘d bin ‘Ubadah carried the flag of the
Helpers. When he passed by Abu Sufyan, he said "Today will witness the great fight,
you cannot seek sanctuary at Al-Ka‘bah. Today will witness the humiliation of
Quraish." Abu Sufyan complained about this to the Prophet [pbuh] who got angry and
said "Nay, today Al-Ka‘bah will be sanctified, and Quraish honoured," and
quickly ordered that Sa‘d should be stripped off the flag, and that it should be
entrusted to his son Qais, in another version, to Az-Zubair.
Al-‘Abbas urged Abu Sufyan to hasten into
Makkah and warn the Quraishites against any aggressive behaviour towards the Muslims.
There in Makkah, he shouted at the top of his voice and warned against any hostilities
advising them to seek safety in his house. His wife got indignant and tugged at his
moustache cursing him and abusing his cowardly stance. The people within Makkah mocked Abu
Sufyan and dispersed in different directions, some into their houses, others into the Holy
Sanctuary while some undisciplined reckless ruffians led by ‘Ikrimah bin Abi
Jahl,
Safwan bin Omaiyah and Suhail bin ‘Amr encamped themselves in a place called
Khandamah, with a murderous intent in their minds.
The Prophet [pbuh], on his part, was quite modestly
and calmly drawing the final touches for the military breakthrough awaiting the Muslims,
by Allâh’s Will. He appointed Khalid bin Al-Waleed as a leader of the right flank of
the army with Aslam, Sulaim, Ghifar, Muzainah and Juhainah tribes under his command to
enter Makkah through its lower avenues. Az-Zubair bin ‘Awwam was to lead the left
flank and would storm Makkah from the upper side holding up the Messenger’s banner.
Abu ‘Ubaidah took command of the infantry and was to penetrate into the city via a
side valley. They were given full and decisive orders not to kill unless in self defence
and in that case they would exterminate any aggressive elements and quell any opposition.
The Muslim battalions marched out each in its
already drawn route to fulfill the missions they were supposed to carry out. Khalid bin
Al-Waleed worked his way into the heart of the town quite successively killing twelve of
the ruffians and sustaining two martyrs. Az-Zubair set out and reached the fixed
destination where he planted the banner at Al-Fath (conquest) Mosque and waited there for
the arrival of the Prophet [pbuh]. A tent was pitched for him where he offered prayers of
thanks to the All-Mighty Allâh, Who, out of His immense grace, had granted him a splendid
victory. But he did not repose long. He, in the company of the Helpers and Emigrants, got
up and proceeded towards Al-Ka‘bah, the Sacred House, which is an emblem of the
Oneness and Supremacy of Allâh. It was unfortunately infested with idols that numbered
360. He knocked them down with his bow while reciting the verse of the Noble Qur’ân:
"And Say:
‘Truth (i.e. Islamic Monotheism or this Qur’ân or Jihâd against
polytheists) has come and Batil (falsehood, i.e. Satan or polytheism, etc.) has
vanished. Surely! Batil is ever bound to vanish.’"
[Al-Qur'an 17:81]
And Allâh further said:
"Say (O Muhammad
[pbuh]): "The Truth (the Qur’ân and Allah’s Inspiration) has come, and Al-Batil
(falsehood - Iblis) can neither create anything nor resurrect (any thing)."
[Al-Qur'an 34:49]
He then started the usual circumambulation on his
ride. He was not in a state of Ihram (ritual consecration) then. On completion, he
called for ‘Uthman bin Talhah, the janitor of Al-Ka‘bah, from whom he
took the key. He went in and saw images of Prophets Ibrahim and Ishmael, [AWS], throwing
divination arrows. He denounced these acts of Quraish and ordered that all idols be
dismantled, images and effigies deleted. He then entered the sacred hall to face the wall
opposite the door and there again performed devout prostrations, and went around
acclaiming Allâh’s Greatness and Oneness. Shortly afterwards, he returned to the
door-way and standing upon its elevated step, gazed in thankfulness on the thronging
multitude below and delivered the following celebrated address:
"There is no god but Allâh Alone. He has no
associates. He made good His Promise that He held to His slave and helped him and defeated
all the Confederates along. Bear in mind that every claim of privilege, whether that of
blood, or property, is under my heel, except that of the custody of Al-Ka‘bah
and supplying of water to the pilgrims. Bear in mind that for anyone who is slain, even
though semi-deliberately, with club or whip, for him the blood-money is very severe: a
hundred camels, forty of them to be pregnant.
"O people of Quraish!
surely Allâh has abolished from you all pride of the pre-Islamic era and all conceit in
your ancestry, (because) all men are descended from Adam, and Adam was made out of
clay."
He then recited to them the verse:
"O mankind! We
have created you from a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you
may know one another. Verily, the most honourable of you near Allâh is that (believer)
who has At-Taqwa [i.e. one of the Muttaqûn: i.e. pious and righteous
persons who fear Allâh much (abstain from all kinds of sins and evil deeds which He has
forbidden), and love Allâh much (perform all kinds of good deeds which He has ordained)].
Verily, Allâh is All-Knowing, All-Aware." [Al-Qur'an 49:13]
He further added:
"O you people of
Quraish! What do you think of the treatment that I am about to accord to you?"
They replied:
"O noble brother and
son of noble brother! We expect nothing but goodness from you."
Upon this he said:
"I speak to you
in the same words as Yusuf (the Prophet Joseph) spoke unto his brothers: He said: "No
reproach on you this day," [Al-Qur'an 12:92] go your way, for you are
freed ones."
As for the door-keeping of Al-Ka‘bah and
supplying of water to pilgrims, the Prophet [pbuh] ordered that these jobs remain in the
hand of ‘Uthman bin Talhah and that the key will stay with him and his descendants
for ever.
When time for prayer approached, Bilal ascended
Al-Ka‘bah and called for prayer. Abu Sufyan bin Harb, ‘Itab bin Usaid and
Al-Harith bin Hisham were meanwhile sitting in the yard. ‘Itab bin Usaid commented on
the new situation (Bilal ascending Al-Ka‘bah and calling for prayer) saying that
Allâh honoured Usaid (his father) having not heard such words. The Prophet [pbuh]
approached and assisted by Divine Revelation told them that he had learnt about what they
had spoken of. Al-Harith and ‘Itab, taken by incredible surprise, immediately
professed Islam and bore witness to the Messengership of Muhammad [pbuh] adding that
"We swear by Allâh that none had been with us to inform you."
On that very day, the Prophet [pbuh] entered
‘Umm Hani’s house where he washed and offered prayers of victory. ‘Umm Hani
had sheltered two Makkan relatives of hers in her house in which act she was granted
support by the Prophet [pbuh].
Shedding blood of nine arch-criminals was declared
lawful even under the curtains of Al-Ka‘bah. Nevertheless, only four of them were
killed while the others were pardoned for different reasons. As for those who were killed,
mention could be made of ‘Abdul ‘Uzza bin Khatal who had become a Muslim and
then deputed to collect alms-tax in the company of a Helper. They had also a slave with
them. ‘Abdullah, in a fit of rage, killed the Helper’s slave on account of a
mere trifling dispute, and joined the pagan Arabs as an apostate. He was never repentant
at this heinous crime but rather employed two women singers and incited them to sing
satirically about the Prophet [pbuh].
The other man who was put to death was Miqyas bin
Sababa. He was a Muslim. A Helper accidently killed his brother Hisham. The Prophet
[pbuh]
had arranged the payment of blood money to him, which he had accepted. His revengeful
nature, however, was never appeased, so he killed the Helper and went to Makkah as an
apostate.
Similarly, Huwairith and one woman singer went to
death.
On the other hand, every attempt was made to grant
pardon to the people. ‘Ikrimah bin Abu Jahl, who had attacked Khalid’s
detachment at the time of the entry into Makkah, was forgiven. To Wahshi, the murderer of
Hamzah, the Prophet’s uncle, and to Hind, who had chewed his liver, was also extended
his generous clemency. The same generous treatment was accorded to Habar who had attacked
the Prophet’s daughter with a spear, while on her way from Makkah to
Madinah, so
grievously that she ultimately died of the fatal injuries.
In the same context of magnanimity peculiar to
Muhammad [pbuh], two chiefs of Quraish were pardoned once they had embraced Islam. They
were Safwan bin Omaiyah and Fudalah bin ‘Umair. The latter had attempted to
assassinate the Prophet [pbuh] while circumambulating in the Holy Sanctuary. The
Prophet’s matchless tolerance and broad-mindedness instigated by his mission as
‘A mercy to all people’, converted a terrible hypocrite into a faithful devout
believer.
On the second day of the great conquest, the Prophet
[pbuh] stood up and addressed the people in matters relating to the holy status of
Makkah.
After entertaining Allâh’s praise, he proclaimed that Makkah was a holy land and
would remain so till the Day of Judgement. No bloodshed was allowed therein. Should anyone
take the liberty of fighting within Makkah on grounds derived from the events that
characterized the conquest, he should remember that it had been a licence granted
temporarily to the Prophet, and virtually does not go for others. Ibn ‘Abbas [R]
narrated: The Prophet [pbuh] said: "Allâh has made Makkah, a sanctuary, so it was a
sanctuary before me and will continue to be a sanctuary after me. It was made legal for me
(i.e. I was allowed to fight in it) for a few hours of a day. It is not allowed to uproot
its shrubs or to cut its trees, or to chase (or disturb) its game, or to pick up its
fallen things except by a person who would announce that (what has found) publicly."
Al-‘Abbas said: "O Allâh’s Messenger! Except the lemon grass (for it is
used) by our goldsmiths and for our homes." The Prophet [pbuh] then said:
"Except the lemon grass."
In this context, out of the spirit of revenge, the
tribesmen of Khuza‘ah killed a man from Laith Tribe. Here the Prophet was indignant
and ordered Khuza‘ah to stop those pre-Islamic practices. He, moreover, gave the
family of anyone killed the right to consider either of two options, blood-money or just
retribution (the killer is killed).
After having delivered his address, the Prophet
[pbuh] rode to a small hill, Safa, not far from Al-Ka‘bah. Turning his face towards
the Sacred House, amidst a vast admiring and devotional multitude, he raised his hand in
fervent prayer to Allâh. The citizens of Madinah who had gathered round him entertained
fear, as Allâh had given him victory over his native city, he might choose to stay here.
He insisted on explanation of their fear and so they spoke openly. He immediately
dispelled their fears and assured them that he had lived with them and would die with
them.
Immediately after the great conquest, the Makkans
came to realize that the only way to success lay in the avenue of Islam. They complied
with the new realities and gathered to pledge fealty to the Prophet [pbuh]. The men came
first pledging full obedience in all areas they can afford. Then came the women to follow
the men’s example. The Prophet [pbuh] with ‘Umar bin Al-Khattab receiving the
pledge of fealty and communicating to them for him. Hind bint ‘Utbah, Abu
Sufyan’s wife, came in the trail of women disguised lest the Prophet [pbuh] should
recognize and account for her, having chewed the liver of Hamzah, his uncle. The Prophet
[pbuh] accepted their allegiance on condition that they associate none with
Allâh, to
which they immediately agreed. He added that they should not practise theft. Here Hind
complained that her husband, Abu Sufyan, was tight-fisted. Her husband interrupted
granting all his worldly possessions to her. The Prophet [pbuh] laughed and recognized the
woman. She implored him to extend his pardon to her and efface all her previous sins. Some
other conditions were appended including the prohibition of adultery, infanticide or
forging falsehood. To all these orders, Hind replied positively swearing that she would
not have come to take an oath of allegiance if she had had the least seed of disobedience
to him. On returning home, she broke her idol admitting her delusion as regards
stone-gods.
The Messenger of Allâh
[pbuh] stayed in Makkah for 19 days. During that period he used to define the way to
Islam, guide people to the orthodox path. He ordered Abu Usaid Al-Khuza‘i to restore
the pillars of the Holy Sanctuary, sent missions to all quarters inviting them to adopt
Islam and break down the graven images still lying in the vicinity of Makkah, and he did
have all of them scrapped, inculcating in the believers’ ears his words:
"Whoever believes in
Allâh and the Hereafter is supposed to scrap out the idols that should happen to be in
his house."
Shortly after the great conquest, the Prophet
[pbuh]
began to despatch platoons and errands aiming at eliminating the last symbols reminiscent
of pre-Islamic practices.
He sent Khalid bin Al-Waleed in Ramadan 8 A.H. to a
spot called Nakhlah where there was a goddess called Al-‘Uzza venerated by Quraish
and Kinanah tribes. It had custodians from Bani Shaiban. Khalid, at the head of thirty
horsemen arrived at the spot and exterminated it. On his return, the Prophet [pbuh] asked
him if he had seen anything there, to which Khalid gave a negative answer. Here, he was
told that it had not been destroyed and he had to go there again and fulfill the task. He
went back again and there he saw a black woman, naked with torn hair. Khalid struck her
with his sword into two parts. He returned and narrated the story to the Prophet
[pbuh],
who then confirmed the fulfillment of the task.
Later, in the same month, ‘Amr bin Al-‘As
was sent on an errand to destroy another idol, venerated by Hudhail, called Suwa‘. It
used to stand at a distance of three kilometres from Makkah. On a question posed by the
door-keeper, ‘Amr said he had been ordered by the Prophet [pbuh] to knock down the
idol. The man warned ‘Amr that he would not be able to do it. ‘Amr was surprised
to see someone still in the wrong, approached the idol and destroyed it, then he broke the
casket beside it but found nothing. The man immediately embraced Islam.
Sa‘d bin Zaid Al-Ashhali was also sent in the
same month and on the same mission to Al-Mashallal to destroy an idol, Manat, venerated by
both Al-Aws and Al-Khazraj tribes. Here also a black woman, naked with messy hair appeared
wailing and beating on her chest. Sa‘d immediately killed her, destroyed the idol and
broke the casket and returned at the conclusion of his errand.
Khalid bin Al-Waleed at the head of 350 horsemen of
Helpers, Emigrants and Bani Saleem was despatched once again in the same year 8 A.H. to
the habitation of Bani Khuzaimah bedouins to invite them to the fold of Islam. He was
instructed to carry out his mission with peace and goodwill. There, the people were not
articulate enough to communicate their intentions, so Khalid ordered his men to kill them
and take the others as captives. He even had in mind to kill the captives but some of the
Companions were opposed to his plan. News of bloodshed reached the Prophet [pbuh]. He was
deeply grieved and raised his hands towards the heaven, uttering these words: "O
Allâh! I am innocent of what Khalid has done," twice. [Sahih Al-Bukhari 1/450, 2/622] He immediately sent
‘Ali to make every possible reparation to the tribes who had been wronged. After a
careful inquiry, ‘Ali paid the blood-money to all those who suffered loss. The
remaining portion was also distributed amongst the members of the tribe in order to
alleviate their suffering. Khalid, due to his irrational behaviour, had a row with
‘Abdur Rahman bin ‘Awf. Hearing this, the Prophet [pbuh] got angry, and ordered
Khalid to stop that altercation adding that his Companions (meaning ‘Abdur Rahman bin
‘Awf) were too high in rank to be involved in such arguments.
That is the story of the conquest of Makkah and the
decisive battle that exterminated paganism once and for all. The other tribes in the
Arabian Peninsula were waiting and closely watching the final outcome of the bitter
struggle between the Muslims and idolaters, already convinced that the Holy Sanctuary
would not fall but in the hands of the righteous party. It had been a conviction deeply
established in their minds ever since the elephant army of Abraha Al-Ashram advanced from
Yemen intending to destroy the Sacred House 50 years before.
Al-Hudaibiyah Peace Treaty was the natural prelude
to this great victory in which people believed deeply and over which people talked a lot.
The Muslims in Makkah, who had feared to declare their Faith in public, began to appear
and work ardently for this new approach of life. People began to convert into Islam in
hosts, and the Muslim army that numbered 3000 only in the previous Ghazwah, now
came to reach 10,000 in number. In fact, this decisive change provided people with the
keen insight to perceive things and the world around them as a whole in a different
perceptive. The Muslims were then to steer the whole political and religious affairs of
all Arabia. They had monopolised both the religious supremacy and temporal power.
The whole post-Hudaibiyah phase had been
well-fledged in favour of the new Islamic movement. Streams of the desert Arabians began
to pour in paying full homage to the Messenger of Allâh [pbuh], embracing the new faith
and then carrying it to different quarters for propagation.
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