The Life of the Prophet Muhammad

Entry Into Mecca

Despite the improved relations between Mecca and Medinah after thesigning of the Treaty of Hudaybiyah, the ten-year peace was to be brokenby Quraysh who, with their allies, the Bani Bakr, attacked the Khuza'ahtribe. Now Khuza'ah were allies of the Muslims and when the Prophet(pbuh)heard of the attack he immediately ordered his men to prepare forwar. When they were ready he told them that their destination was Meccaand, as he did not want any fighting within the walls of the city, he toldthem they must move quickly and take the enemy by surprise. In this waythe Meccans would not have time to prepare for war and, beingsurrounded would have to surrender. The Muslims would then be able totake the city without injury or loss of life to anyone. 

When the Muslim army, which numbered ten thousand, set out forMecca was the month of Ramadan in the eighth year of the Hijrah.Many of the men kept the fast, even though they were not obliged tobecause they were traveling. Everyone was jubilant because they weregoing to Mecca, especially as some of them had not seen their homes inthe city for eight long years. In the meantime, the Prophet's uncle, al-'Abbas, had decided that the time had come for him and his wife to leaveMecca and join the Prophet (pbuh) in Medinah. They did not, however,have to go far as after a distance of only twenty-five kilometers theycame across the Muslim camp. When the Prophet (pbuh) saw them hesaid, 'Uncle, your emigration is the last emigration. My prophecy is thelast prophecy.' Al-'Abbas then joined the army and his wife went on tothe safety of Medinah. 

Night fell and the Muslims made fires to light their camp. TheMeccans, looking out of the city, were amazed to see the many fires, andAbu Sufyan went all over Mecca trying to find out whose camp it was.Suddenly he saw al-„Abbas riding towards him from the direction of thefires. He was returning as a messenger of peace from the Prophet (pbuh)and said to Abu Sufyan, 'The Muslims have come with a large army. 

They do not wish to fight, only to enter the city. It would be better tosurrender and not fight. Come under my protection and meet the Prophet(pbuh).' Abu Sufyan agreed and got up behind al-Abbas, who was ridingthe Prophet‟s white mule. It was still night as they entered the Muslimcamp. Each time they passed a fire, someone would call out, 'Who goesthere?' None of them recognized the stranger as the leader of their enemybut all knew al-„Abbas and so let them through. As they passed by 'Umar,however, he immediately recognized Abu Sufyan and yelled out, 'AbuSufyan! The enemy of Allah!' He ran after them intending to kill his enemy but al-Abbas made the mule go faster. They reached the Prophet'stent just before Umar who rushed in after them quite out of breath.'Umar begged the Prophet (pbuh), '0 Messenger of Allah, let me end thelife of Abu Sufyan, this enemy of Islam, who has led the Quraysh armiesin their attacks on us!' Al-Abbas interrupted, saying, 'I have sworn toprotect him during his time here whereupon the Prophet (pbuh) told hisuncle to take Abu Sufyan to his tent for the night. 

In the morning Abu Sufyan was taken to the Prophet (pbuh) who said,'Abu Sufyan! Have you not yet realized that there is no divinity butAllah?' To this Abu Sufyan replied, 'If there had been another he surelywould Have helped me by now.‟ Shame on you, Abu Sufyan', respondedthe Prophet (pbuh), 'it is time you realize that I am truly Allah'sMessenger.' After a moment or two, Abu Sufyan, who remembered how„Umar had not been allowed to kill him, replied: 'I can see you are agenerous and forgiving man but I still cannot be sure of that.' At this, al-Abbas, who had been standing nearby turned to him and said: Believeas I do now.' Abu Sufyan stood quietly for a moment, then in a calm,clear voice swore in front of everyone, there is no divinity but Allah, andMuhammad is the messenger of Allah.' 

The Prophet (pbuh) then told Abu Sufyan to go back to Mecca andtell the people that the Muslims would enter the city the next morning.Before he left, however, al-'Abbas suggested to the Prophet (pbuh) that asAbu Sufyan was a proud man, it would be good to give him an honorableposition. The Prophet (pbuh) took this advice, saying to Abu Sufyan, 'Tellthe people that when we enter, anyone seeking refuge in your house willbe safe.' This was a great honor for Abu Sufyan. 

In addition, the Prophet (pbuh) told him to assure the Meccans thatthose who remained in their own homes or at the Ka'bah would also beprotected. 

Abu Sufyan returned quickly to the city. He made straight for the hillHagar had climbed in her search for water and from which the Prophet(pbuh) later spoke, and called upon Quraysh to come to him. Abu Sufyanthen spoke to the people, '0 people of Mecca, the fires we saw all aroundus were the campfires of Muhammad and his men. He has come with astrong army and there are too many for us to fight. It is best, therefore, tosurrender. Anyone who stays in my house, or in his own home, or at theKa'bah will be safe.' 

Early the next day, the Muslims entered Mecca from all sides. They hadbeen ordered to cause no harm unless anyone tried to stop them from entering.When the Prophet (pbuh) arrived, he got off his camel, bowed down onthe ground and thanked Allah for this victory. When the unbelievers sawthis, they knew that the Prophet (pbuh) had come in peace. People beganleaving their homes and running towards the Ka'bah. When they arrivedthere, they found the Prophet (pbuh) performing the ritual encircling ofthe Ka'bah, the tawaf on his camel, surrounded by the Muslims. When hehad finished, he said, 'There no divinity except Allah and He has nopartner. Men and women of Quraysh be not proud for all are equal; weare all the sons of Adam, and Adam was made of dust.' Then he recitedthis verse to them: 

"O mankind! Lo! We have created you male and female, and havemade you nations and tribes so you may know each another. Surely thenoblest of you, in the sight of Allah, is the best in conduct. Lo! Allah isAll-knowing, All-aware". (Qur'an 49.13) 

After this, he said to them: 'O Quraysh, what do you think I am goingto do to you?' The people thought carefully before answering becausethey knew that according to the laws of war they could all be takenprisoner. They also knew, however, that the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)was generous, so they replied, You will treat us as a kind nephew and agenerous brother would.' 

To this, he replied with the words used by the Prophet Joseph when hisbrothers came to Egypt: 'God forgives you and He is the Most Merciful ofthe merciful.' Later the Prophet (pbuh) went to the hill of Safa and therethe crowd followed him and surged forward, taking his hand one by one,to declare themselves Muslim. He then turned to the Ka'bah and, pointinghis staff at the three hundred and sixty-five idols which were placed there,recited from the Qur'an: 

"... Truth has come and falsehood has vanished away. Lo! Falsehoodis ever bound to vanish". (Qur'an 17.81) 

At this, each idol fell over onto its face. Together with his followersthe Prophet (pbuh) then proceeded to purify the Ka'bah, after which heordered Bilal to climb on top of it and perform the call to prayer. Sincethen the call to prayer has been heard five times a day in Mecca

The Ka'bah, the House of Allah has served the purpose for which itwas built by Abraham thousands of years ago, as a sanctuary for theworship of Allah, our Creator, and Mecca continues to be the spiritualcentre of Islam. 

On the day Mecca was conquered, the Prophet (pbuh) addressed thepeople saying: 'Allah made Mecca holy the day He created heaven andearth and it is the Holy of Holies until the Resurrection Day. It is notlawful for anyone who believes in Allah and the Last Day to shed bloodtherein, nor to cut down trees therein. It was not lawful for anyone beforeme and it will not be lawful for anyone after me. 

Indeed it is not lawful for me except at this time, only Allah's angeragainst his people makes it permissible. Mecca has now regained itsformer holiness. Let those here now go forth and tell others.'