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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, ÚáíåãÇ
ÇáÓáÇã, 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 fo llowing
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." [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 s ame words as Yusuf (the Prophet Joseph) spoke unto his brothers: He said:
"No reproach on you this day," [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 peace be upon him 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 peace be upon him
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 peace be upon him adding that "We swear by Allâh that
none had been with us to inform you."
On that very day, the Prophet peace be upon him 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 peace be upon him.
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 peace be upon
him.
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 peace be upon him had arranged the payment of blood
money to him, which he had accepted. His revengeful nature, however, wasnever 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.
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