The Conquest of Makkah (2)

Now great multitudes came to adopt Islam and take the oath of allegiance to the Prophet. For this purpose an assembly was held at mount el Safa. Omar acting as the Prophet’s deputy administered the oath, whereby the people bound themselves not to worship any deity but God, to obey the Prophet, to abstain from theft, adultery, infanticide, lying and backbiting. Thus was fulfilled the prophecy embodied in the chapter of Victory in the Qu’ran.[1]

During his stay at Makkah, the Prophet dispatched his principal disciples in every direction to preach Islam among the wild tribes of the desert and call them to the true religion of God. He sent small detachments of his troops into the suburbs to destroy the temples of Al Uzza, Suwaa and Manat, the three famous idols in the neighbouring tribes. The Prophet gave strict orders that these expeditions should be carried out in a peaceful manner.[2] These orders were obeyed in all cases, with one exception. The troops under Khaled Ibn el-Walid, the newly–converted warrior, killed a few of the Banu Jazima.

When the news of this needless bloodshed reached the Prophet he was deeply grieved, and exclaimed, “Oh my Lord I am innocent of what Khaled has done, and he dispatched a large sum of money for the widows and orphans of the slain and severely reproach Khaled.[3] At this time the tribes of Hawazin and Thakif showed unwillingness to render obedience to the Muslims without resistance. They formed a league with the intention of attacking the Prophet. But he was cautious enough to discourage their plan.

A big battle was fought with this new enemy of Islam near Hunein, a deep and narrow valley nine miles to the north east of Makkah. The idolaters were completely defeated. One enemy group consisting chiefly of Thakif tribe took refuge in their fortified city of Tayef, which, as the reader may remember, eight or nine years before had dismissed the Prophet from within its walls with injuries and insults. The remainder of the defeated force, consisting principally of Hawazin, sought refuge at a camp in the valley of Autas. This camp was raided by the Muslim troops. The families of the Hawazin, their flocks and herds with all their other effects were captured by the troops of the Prophet. Tayef was then besieged for a few days only, after which the Prophet raised the siege, well knowing that the people of Tayef would soon be forced by circumstances to submit without bloodshed.

Returning to his camp where the prisoners of Hawazin were left for safety, the Prophet found a deputation from this hostile tribe who begged him to set free their families. The Prophet replied that he was willing to give back his own share of the captives and that of the children of Abdul Muttalib, but that he could not force his followers to abandon the fruits of their victory. The disciples followed the generous example of their teacher and about six thousand people were in a moment set free.[4] The spirit of liberty influenced the hearts of several members of the Thaqif tribe who offered their allegiance and soon became earnest Muslims.

The Prophet now returned to Al-Madienah fully satisfied with the achievements of his mission.

The ninth year of the Hijra is known as the years of embassies, as being the year in which the various tribes of Arabia submitted to the claim of the Prophet and sent embassies to render homage to him. Previously these tribes had been awaiting the issue of the war between Muhammad and the Quraishites; but as soon as that tribe –the principal of whole nation, and descendants of Ismail, whose prerogatives none offered to dispute– had submitted, they were satisfied that it was not in their power to oppose Muhammad.[5] Hence their embassies flocked into Al-Madienah to make their submission to him. The conquest of Makkah decided the fate of idolatry in Arabia. Now deputations began to arrive from all sides to render the adherence to Islam of various tribes. Among the rest, five Princes of the tribe of Himyar professed Islam and sent ambassadors to notify the same. These were the Princes of Yemen, Mahra, Oman and Yamama.[6]