The Conquest of Makkah (2/2)

The Messenger (Peace be upon him) told Al-`Abbas to take Abu Sufyan to the foot of the valley and let him see the Muslim soldiers marching. The army paraded past Abu Sufyan, squadron after squadron. No squadron would pass but Abu Sufyan asked, “Who are those?” While they were watching, a squadron commanded by Sa`ad bin `Ubadah (may Allah be pleased with him) passed. When they were passing, Abu Sufyan overheard Sa`ad saying: “Today is the day of battle, the day of great war, the day when all taboos will be lifted.”

Hearing this, Abu Sufyan was alarmed, so when the Messenger passed by him Abu Sufyan told him what Sa`ad had just said. The Messenger (Peace be upon him) said: “Sa`ad lied to you. This is the day in which the Ka`abah will be glorified, the day in which the Ka`abah will be adorned.” Then the Messenger (Peace be upon him) commanded that Sa`ad be relieved of his duty as commander and that his post be given to his son Qais, so he would not be too much offended because it would remain in his family. Had Sa`ad been permitted to proceed, this would have violated the Messenger’s commandment that no blood should be shed in Makkah.

The Messenger (Peace be upon him) proceeded to Makkah, commanding his flags to be concentrated in the area of Al-Hujun. He entered Makkah, a victorious conqueror bowing down his head as a sign of humbleness to Allah (Glory be to Him). He bowed until his head could be seen touching his horse`s neck. Meanwhile, he was reciting:

“Verily We have granted thee a manifest victory.” (Surah Al-Fath, 48: 1)

He repeated it several times.

He put Khalid bin Walid and Az-Zubair bin `Awwam on each side of the Muslim army. The Messenger declared: “Whoever enters into the Masjid he is safe, whoever enters into the house of Abu Sufyan he is safe, whoever enters his own house and closes the door he is safe.” The Messenger entered the Masjid Al-Haram and made circumambulation on his horse. There were about 360 idols around the Ka`abah. He pulled them down with his sword while reciting:

“And say: ‘Truth has arrived and falsehood has perished for falsehood is by its nature bound to perish.’” (Surah Al-Israa‘, 17:81)

“Say: ‘Truth has arrived and falsehood neither creates anything new nor restores anything.’” (Surah Saba’, 34: 49)

The idols tumbled on their faces.

The Messenger entered the Ka`abah and ordered all the pictures to be destroyed. He prayed inside, and afterward he walked round saying Allahu Akbar (Allah is the Greatest), in every corner declaring the oneness of Allah (Glory be to Him). When he came out of the Ka`abah, he stood in the door and said:

“There is no deity but Allah alone; He has no associates. He has made good His promise and helped His servant. He has put to fight the confederates. Every claim of privilege, of blood or property is abolished by me except the custody of the House of Allah and water for the pilgrims. The unintentional slaying in a quasi-intentional way by club or whip, for him the blood wit is most severe: a hundred camels, forty of them to be pregnant. O Quraysh, Allah has taken from you the haughtiness of paganism and its veneration of ancestors. Man springs from Adam and Adam springs from dust.”

Then he recited to them this verse.

“O Mankind, We created you from male and female and made you into peoples and tribes that you may know one another: of a truth the noblest of you in Allah’s sight is the most pious.” (Surah Al-Hujurat, 49: 13)

He continued: “O Quraysh, what do you think that I am about to do with you?” They replied “Good. You are a noble, son of a noble brother.” “Well, I would say to you what Prophet Yusuf said to his brothers: `This day let no reproach be cast on you: Allah will forgive you and He is the most Merciful of those who show mercy.'” (Surah Yusuf, 12: 92)

He said: “Go your way for you are freed ones.”

On the second day of the campaign the Messenger (Peace be upon him) addressed all of Makkah. He said:

“Allah made Makkah holy the day He created heavens and earth, and it will be holy until the Day of Resurrection. It is not lawful for anyone who believes in Allah and the last day to shed blood therein, nor to cut down trees therein. It was not lawful to any one before me and it will not be lawful to anyone after me. Indeed, it is not lawful for me except at this time because of Allah’s anger against its people. Now it has regained its former holiness. Let those here now tell those that are not here. If anyone should say, the Messenger killed men in Makkah, say Allah permitted His Messenger to do so but he does not permit you.”

The hour that Allah permitted the Messenger was from sunrise to late afternoon on the day of campaign.

The Messenger stayed in Makkah 29 days, while shortening his prayers. He stayed to educate the newly converted Makkans in the basic teachings of Islam, tawhid, to reinforce their iman, and take allegiance from the people. In Bukhari, Mujashi’e (may Allah be pleased with him) said:

“I brought my brother to the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) to give ba’yah (allegiance) to the Messenger on Hijrah (migration). The Messenger replied: “The people of Hijrah have taken the reward of Hijrah, but I will accept your allegiance on Islam, iman and jihad.” With this great victory, people entered into the fold of Islam in droves.