The battle for Makkah

In Ramadan 8 A.H., Allah honoured His Messenger (ﷺ ) with the conquest of Makkah. The event was the greatest victory in the history of the faith. Through it, Allah elevated and exalted His religion and His Prophet(ﷺ ) , and liberated His Sacred Mosque and His city from the infidels. The conquest of Makkah led to people entering Islam in multitudes.

The seeds of the battle lay in the Treaty of Hudaybia. According to its terms, all parties were free to enter alliances with either the Quraysh or the Prophet (ﷺ ). Accordingly Banu Khuzaa as previously mentioned, sided with the Muslims, while their rivals, the Banu Bakr, entered a pact with the Quraysh.

The Banu Bakr and Banu Khuzaa had been feuding long before the advent of Islam and were in the midst of a rare peaceful interlude during the campaign of Hudaybia. With the mighty Quraysh on their side, the Banu Bakr decided to capitalise on their strength, and in Sha’ban, 8 A.H. they made a night raid on Banu Khuzaa as they camped at a spring called Wateer. Banu Bakr killed more than twenty men of Banu Khuzaa and drove the rest into Makkah. Contravening all rules, they fought them even inside the sacrosanct city with the support of the Quraysh, who clandestinely helped them with men and materials.

Since Banu Khuzaa were bound in allegiance with the Muslims and some of their men had embraced Islam, they reported the clash to the Prophet (ﷺ ), who assured them, “By Allah, we shall protect you with what we protect ourselves.”

The Quraysh, on the other hand, knew they had transgressed greatly grew worried about the possible consequences of violating the treaty. They therefore sent Abu Sufyan bin Harb to Madinah to ratify the treaty and seek its extension. Abu Sufyan came to Madinah on a mission, and while he was there he visited his daughter, Umm Habeebah (رضی اللہ عنہا) who was married to the Prophet (ﷺ ). When Abu Sufyan made to sit on the Prophet’s bed, she rolled it up. His pride hurt, Abu Sufyan said, “O daughter, I cannot understand whether you think the bed is too good for me or that I am too good for the bed.” She replied, “The fact is, that it is the Prophet’s bed, and you are an unclean polytheist.”

“By God,” said Abu Sufyan, stung at his daughter’s succinct and unflattering description of him, “Evil has come over you since you left me.”

Abu Sufyan then went to the Prophet (ﷺ )and talked to him about ratifying the treaty but did not receive a reply. Then he went to Abu Bakr (رضی اللہ عنہ )and asked him to speak on his behalf to the Prophet (ﷺ ), but Abu Bakr (رضی اللہ عنہ ) refused. He then approached Umar (رضی اللہ عنہ ) , who not only rejected his offer, but also spoke to him rudely. Ali (رضی اللہ عنہ ), when approached, pleaded his inability to intervene. He suggested that Abu Sufyan simply announce a general cessation of hostilities and leave. Abu Sufyan proceeded accordingly and returned to Makkah.

The Prophet(ﷺ ), on the other hand, had started preparations for war. He issued orders to his Companions and had the news announced among the Bedouins on the outskirts of Madinah, even as he enjoined secrecy. He prayed, “O Allah, confound the spies and the informers of the Quraysh so that we may take them by surprise in their own land.”

In order to mislead the enemy, the Prophet (ﷺ ) sent Abu Qatadah (رضی اللہ عنہ )towards Batn Adam so that everyone would assume he had that territory in mind. Hatib bin Abu Balta’a, however, wrote a letter to the Quraysh informing them that the Prophet (ﷺ ) intended to attack Makkah. He handed over the letter to a woman, promising to pay her for delivering it to the Quraysh.

The Prophet (ﷺ ) who had received divine revelation about Hatib’s treachery, sent off Ali, Miqdad, Zubayr and Abu Marthad Ghanwi in pursuit of the woman. He said to them, “Ride until you come to the meadow of Khakh. There you will find a woman travelling on a camel. She has a letter which you must take from her.

They went off to find the woman, who denied having any such letter with her. Only after the men threatened to search her person did she draw the letter out from her tresses and hand it over to them. The company took the letter and returned to the Prophet (ﷺ ) who summoned Hatib. The Prophet (ﷺ ) said, “What’s this Hatib?” Hatib offered him this explanation, “I have my family in Makkah, but no kinsmen among the Quraysh so that they would protect my family. I have not done this to renounce Islam or to commit unbelief.”

Umar (رضی اللہ عنہ )said furiously, “O Messenger of Allah (ﷺ ), give me leave to cut off his head. He has committed breach of trust with Allah and His Prophet, and has turned Hypocrite.”

The Prophet (ﷺ ) replied, “He was present at Badr, do you know Umar, perhaps Allah has looked favourably on those who were present at Badr and said to them, ‘Do as you wish for I have forgiven you.’” At these words, Umar dissolved into tears saying, “Allah and His Messenger know better.”

On the way to Makkah

 

On Ramadan 10, 8 A.H., the Prophet (ﷺ ) left Madinah for Makkah. Ten thousand Companions accompanied him. At Jahfa, the Prophet (ﷺ ) came across his uncle Abbas, who was en route with his family to Madinah after converting to Islam. The Prophet’s cousins, Abu Sufyan bin Harith and Abdullah bin Abu Umayya, also crossed his path, but the Prophet (ﷺ ) averted his gaze. Both men used to lampoon him viciously and their words had wounded the Prophet(ﷺ )  . At this, Umm Salamah commented to the Prophet(ﷺ ) , “It is not fitting that your cousins should be the only unfortunates.” Ali, meanwhile instructed Abu Sufyan (not to be confused with Abu Sufyan bin Harb, the commander-in-chief of the pagan forces) to appear before the Prophet (ﷺ ) and say to him that the Prophet Yusuf’s brothers had said to him when they finally met in Egypt: “They said: We swear by Allah that Allah has preferred you to us, and we certainly have been guilty of sin.” (12: 91)

A shamefaced Abu Sufyan came to the Prophet (ﷺ ) and apologised, using the words of Yusuf’s brothers. The Prophet(ﷺ ) himself echoed what Yusuf had said to his brothers: “This day let no reproach be cast upon you: Allah will forgive you, and He is the Most Merciful of those who show mercy.” (12: 92)

Thus forgiven, Abu Sufyan bin Harith recited a few couplets praising the Prophet (ﷺ ) and apologising for his past behaviour.

On reaching Kadeed, the Prophet (ﷺ ) found fasting unbearable while travelling. He broke his fast and told his Companions to do the same. He then resumed his journey until he arrived at Marra Al-Dhahran around the time of Isha prayer. Each soldier was instructed to light a fire for himself, and in this way ten thousand fires burned in the night, with Umar bin Khattab (رضی اللہ عنہ )supervising the whole exercise.

The spectacle of ten thousand campfires startled Abu Sufyan bin Harb, commander of the pagans. He brought along Hakim bin Hazam and Budayl bin Waraqa to observe the sight and said, “Never have I seen a fire and troops as I find today.” Budayl commented, “It’s probably Khuzaa.” Abu Sufyan dismissed his remark saying, “Banu Khuzaa are too inferior to have such a fire and force.”

Abu Sufyan appears before the Prophet (ﷺ )

 

As Abbas ( رضی اللہ عنہ )was making rounds on the back of the Prophet’s (ﷺ ) mule, he heard a voice and he called out in instant recognition, “Abu Handhla?” Abu Sufyan responded, asking, “Abul Fadl?” “Yes,” said Abbas. Abu Sufyan then asked Abbas, “May my parents be ransomed for you, what is the matter?”

Abbas said, “Look! The Prophet (ﷺ ) is here with his army. What destruction awaits the Quraysh!” Abu Sufyan asked, “May my mother and father ransom you, what do you suggest we do?”

Abbas said, “If any Muslim learns of your presence, you will surely be killed. Here, ride on the back of my mule and I will take you to the Prophet.”

Thus Abu Sufyan sat behind Abbas and set out to see the Prophet (ﷺ ) . Umar bin Khattab ( رضی اللہ عنہ ) saw him and said, “Is that you, Abu Sufyan, enemy of Allah? Praise be to Allah that He gave you to us without any agreement.”

Umar rushed towards the Prophet (ﷺ ) to inform him of the unwelcome visitor. Abbas, on the other hand, spurred his mule ahead and reached the Prophet (ﷺ ) before Umar ( رضی اللہ عنہ ) did. Umar     ( رضی اللہ عنہ ), undaunted, followed them in and asked the Prophet (ﷺ ) for permission to kill Abu Sufyan.

Abbas, interjected, “I have given him shelter.” He then caught the Prophet’s head and said, “None will whisper with the Prophet tonight other than myself.” Umar repeatedly asked for the Prophet’s consent to kill Abu Sufyan, but the Prophet (ﷺ ) was silent.

Turning to Abbas the Prophet (ﷺ ) said, “Take him [Abu Sufyan] to your house and come to me in tomorrow morning.” Morning arrived and so did Abu Sufyan. The Prophet (ﷺ ) said to him, “Woe to you Abu Sufyan, it is not time you acknowledge that there is no god but Allah?”

Abu Sufyan said, “May my mother and father be your ransom, how kind and noble you are. I think that if there had been another god besides Allah, he would have been of help to me on this day.”

The Prophet (ﷺ ) said again, “Woe to you Abu Sufyan! Is it not time that you acknowledge me as Allah’s Prophet and Messenger?” Abu Sufyan said, “I still have some doubt as to that.” Abbas intervened saying, “Embrace Islam before you lose your head.” Abu Sufyan then recited the confession of faith and thus he entered Islam.

Abbas said, “O Messenger of Allah(ﷺ )! Abu Sufyan loves honour. Bestow some honour on him.” The Prophet (ﷺ ) said, “Very well then, anyone who enters Abu Sufayn’s house is safe, he who shuts his door upon himself is safe, and he who enters the Sacred Mosque is safe.”

The Prophet (ﷺ ) enters Makkah

 

The same morning the Prophet (ﷺ ) left his camp for Makkah. He instructed Abbas to take Abu Sufyan to a hill at the end of the valley, where he could review the Muslim troops on the march.

Abbas obeyed the Prophet’s (ﷺ ) instructions and took Abu Sufyan to observe the Muslim army that surged like an ocean in front of him.

Different tribes marched by Abu Sufyan with their tribal colours, and as each marched ahead, he asked Abbas the name of the tribe, he mumbled gloomily, “What have I to do with them?” Then the detachment of the Ansar with Sa’d bin Ubadah holding the standard. Sa’d passed Abu Sufyan and called out, “Abu Sufyan, today is a day of conflict and bloodshed. Today the Ka’bah will be made lawful for us.

Abu Sufyan said, “O Abbas! Congratulations on the day of destruction and plunder.”

Finally, the Prophet (ﷺ ) himself passed by, flanked by the Muhajireen and Ansar who were completely covered in armour save their eyes. Abu Sufyan sighed and said, “Abbas, who are these?” When Abbas told him that it was the Prophet approaching, accompanied by the Ansar and the Muhajireen, Abu Sufyan said, “Who has the power to resist them? The empire of your nephew has assumed splendid proportions.”

Abbas said, “Such is Prophethood.”

Abu Sufyan said in resignation, “Yes, of course.”

Abu Sufyan took Sa’d’s challenge very seriously, and he went to the Prophet (ﷺ ) and repeated what Sa’d had said. The Prophet (ﷺ ) was displeased with Sa’d’s bragging and replied:

“Nay, the Ka’bah will be raised in honour today; the Ka’bah will be clothed today.”

Saying this, the Prophet (ﷺ ) took the standard from Sa’d and gave it to his son, Qays, for he was worried that in the euphoria of victory Sa’d might unleash terror on the citizens of Makkah.

As the Prophet (ﷺ ) passed by, Abu Sufyan hurried back to Makkah and announced loudly: “O people of the Quraysh, this is Muhammad who has come to you with an army you cannot resist. Now he who enters Abu Sufyan’s house will be safe.”

“Allah destroy you, cried some of the Quraysh in dismay. “How can your house accommodate us all?”

Abu Sufyan added, “He who shuts his door upon himself will also be safe, just as he who enters the Sacred Mosque will be safe.” At that, the people dispersed to take shelter in their houses and in the Ka’bah.

When the Prophet(ﷺ )  arrived at Dhu Tuwa, he ordered Khalid bin Waleed and the left flank of the army to enter the lower part of Makkah via Kada. Anyone among the Quraysh who resisted was to be killed. The army was to proceed and meet up with the Prophet at Mount Safa.

The Prophet’s (ﷺ ) standard bearer and commander of the right wing. Zubayr, was commanded to make his entry into Makkah through the upper part of Kada and to pitch his standard at Hajoon. He and the troops were to stay there until the arrival of the Prophet (ﷺ ) . Abu Ubaydah, the commander of the infantry and the unarmed soldiers, was to go along the route leading from inside the valley and to descend into Makkah ahead of the Prophet (ﷺ ).

At this stage the Quraysh assembled some of their men under Safwan Ibn Umayyah, Ikramah Abi Jahl and Sahl ibn Amr at Khandama and entrusted them with the last vestige of resistance against the Muslim army. If they too fell, there was no choice but to accept the Muslim supremacy over Makkah. And indeed that day there was no choice but to accept Allah’s decree. After nearly twenty-one years of patience and endurance of persecution, Allah’s Messenger would finally enter His Sacred Mosque, victorious and unchallenged.

Khalid and his men passed the company and made short work of the Makkan resistance. Twelve of the pagans were killed and the rest took to their heels. Once he had dismissed this contingent, no barriers remained in Khalid’s way. He and his men charged into Makkah, marching through the streets and by lanes without any opposition. Two men who got separated from them were killed. Finally, at Safa, Khalid and his men met up with the Prophet (ﷺ ).

Zubayr, on the other hand, arrived at Hajoon and planted his standard near Fath mosque. He put up a tent there for Umm Salamah and Maymoona, and in compliance with the Prophet’s instructions, he waited for the Prophet (ﷺ ) to arrive there. When the Prophet (ﷺ ) got there he rested briefly, and then moved forward accompanied by Abu Bakr( رضی اللہ عنہ ).

At last, the moment ordained by Allah arrived, and His servant was finally free to worship Him without impediment. Humble in victory, flanked by his followers, the Prophet (ﷺ ) entered the Sacred Mosque reciting Surah Fath. He then kissed the Black Stone and circumambulated the Ka’bah. Around it were 360 idols that the pagans had placed over the years. He prodded each with a stick in his hands reciting the following verses: “Truth has come and falsehood has vanished. Truly, falsehood is ever bound to vanish.” (17: 81) “The Truth has arrived, and falsehood can neither prove nor disprove anything.” (34: 49)

The Ka’bah is purified

 

After the Prophet (ﷺ ) had circled the House of Allah, he sent for Uthman bin Talha who held the keys of the Ka’bah. He took the keys from Uthman and had the doors opened. The idols inside were removed ad destroyed, and all the pictures rubbed out. Following this, the Prophet (ﷺ ) entered the structure with Usama bin Zayd and Bilal and shut the door. He then faced the front wall and stood at a distance of three cubits thereof, and keeping one pillar on his left, two on his right, and three at the rear, offered two Rak’ah in prayer. He then went around the Sacred Mosque praising and glorifying Allah.

Have no fear this day

 

The Prophet (ﷺ ) then opened the door of the Ka’bah. By then the area around the Ka’bah was packed with the Quraysh, who apprehensively awaited his next step. The Prophet (ﷺ ) stood at the door of the Ka’bah holding its frame, while the Quraysh arrayed themselves in front of him. To his old persecutors, humbled thus before him, he spoke at length, as he explained several injunctions of Islam and annulled all pagan practices. He then asked the Quraysh, “O Quraysh, what do you think I am about to do with you?” “We hope for the best,” they replied. “You are a noble brother and son of a noble brother.”

The Prophet (ﷺ ) said simply: “Have no fear this day: go your way and you are all free.”

The Prophet (ﷺ ) descended and sat in the Sacred Mosque. He then returned the keys to Uthman bin Talha and said, “The key shall remain with you and none but a tyrant would take it from you.”

REFERENCE:

BOOK: WHEN THE MOON SPLIT FINAL.

Compiled by Safiur Rahman Mubarakpuri

Edited and Translated by Tabassum Siraj – Michael Richardson Badr Azimabadi