Basic HTML Version
177
In the same context of magnanimity peculiar to Muhammad peace be upon him, two chiefs of
Quraish were pardoned once they had embraced Islam. They were Safwan bin Omaiyah and Fudalah
bin 'Umair. The latter had attempted to assassinate the Prophet peace be upon him while
circumambulating in the Holy Sanctuary. The Prophet's matchless tolerance and broad-mindedness
instigated by his mission as 'A mercy to all people', converted a terrible hypocrite into a faithful
devout believer.
On the second day of the great conquest, the Prophet peace be upon him stood up and addressed
the people in matters relating to the holy status of Makkah. After entertaining Allâh's praise, he
proclaimed that Makkah was a holy land and would remain so till the Day of Judgement. No
bloodshed was allowed therein. Should anyone take the liberty of fighting within Makkah on grounds
derived from the events that characterized the conquest, he should remember that it had been a
licence granted temporarily to the Prophet, and virtually does not go for others. Ibn 'Abbas ÑÖì Çááå
ÚäåãÇ narrated: The Prophet Õáì Çááå Úáíå æ Óáã said: "Allâh has made Makkah, a sanctuary, so it
was a sanctuary before me and will continue to be a sanctuary after me. It was made legal for me
(i.e. I was allowed to fight in it) for a few hours of a day. It is not allowed to uproot its shrubs or to
cut its trees, or to chase (or disturb) its game, or to pick up its fallen things except by a person who
would announce that (what has found) publicly." Al-'Abbas said: "O Allâh's Messenger! Except the
lemon grass (for it is used) by our goldsmiths and for our homes." The Prophet peace be upon him
then said: "Except the lemon grass." In this context, out of the spirit of revenge, the tribesmen of
Khuza'ah killed a man from Laith Tribe. Here the Prophet was indignant and ordered Khuza'ah to
stop those pre-Islamic practices. He, moreover, gave the family of anyone killed the right to
consider either of two options, blood-money or just retribution (the killer is killed).
After having delivered his address, the Prophet peace be upon him rode to a small hill, Safa, not far
from Al-Ka'bah. Turning his face towards the Sacred House, amidst a vast admiring and devotional
multitude, he raised his hand in fervent prayer to Allâh. The citizens of Madinah who had gathered
round him entertained fear, as Allâh had given him victory over his native city, he might choose to
stay here. He insisted on explanation of their fear and so they spoke openly. He immediately
dispelled their fears and assured them that he had lived with them and would die with them.
Immediately after the great conquest, the Makkans came to realize that the only way to success lay
in the avenue of Islam. They complied with the new realities and gathered to pledge fealty to the
Prophet peace be upon him. The men came first pledging full obedience in all areas they can afford.
Then came the women to follow the men's example. The Prophet peace be upon him with 'Umar bin
Al-Khattab receiving the pledge of fealty and communicating to them for him. Hind bint 'Utbah, Abu
Sufyan's wife, came in the trail of women disguised lest the Prophet peace be upon him should
recognize and account for her, having chewed the liver of Hamzah, his uncle. The Prophet peace be
upon him accepted their allegiance on condition that they associate none with Allâh, to which they
immediately agreed. He added that they should not practise theft. Here Hind complained that her
husband, Abu Sufyan, was tight-fisted. Her husband interrupted granting all his worldly possessions
to her. The Prophet peace be upon him laughed and recognized the woman. She implored him to
extend his pardon to her and efface all her previous sins. Some other conditions were appended
including the prohibition of adultery, infanticide or forging falsehood. To all these orders, Hind
replied positively swearing that she would not have come to take an oath of allegiance if she had
had the least seed of disobedience to him. On returning home, she broke her idol admitting her
delusion as regards stone-gods.
The Messenger of Allâh peace be upon him stayed in Makkah for 19 days. During that period he
used to define the way to Islam, guide people to the orthodox path. He ordered Abu Usaid Al-
Khuza'i to restore the pillars of the Holy Sanctuary, sent missions to all quarters inviting them to
adopt Islam and break down the graven images still lying in the vicinity of Makkah, and he did have
all of them scrapped, inculcating in the believers' ears his words:
"Whoever believes in Allâh and the Hereafter is supposed to scrap out the idols that should happen
to be in his house."
Shortly after the great conquest, the Prophet peace be upon him began to despatch platoons and
errands aiming at eliminating the last symbols reminiscent of pre-Islamic practices. He sent Khalid
bin Al-Waleed in Ramadan 8 A.H. to a spot called Nakhlah where there was a goddess called Al-
'Uzza venerated by Quraish and Kinanah tribes. It had custodians from Bani Shaiban. Khalid, at the
head of thirty horsemen arrived at the spot and exterminated it. On his return, the Prophet peace be
upon him asked him if he had seen anything there, to which Khalid gave a negative answer. Here,
he was told that it had not been destroyed and he had to go there again and fulfill the task. He went
back again and there he saw a black woman, naked with torn hair. Khalid struck her with his sword
into two parts. He returned and narrated the story to the Prophet peace be upon him, who then
confirmed the fulfillment of the task.
Later, in the same month, 'Amr bin Al-'As was sent on an errand to destroy another idol, venerated
by Hudhail, called Suwa'. It used to stand at a distance of three kilometres from Makkah. On a
Click on View to read this book online under free books www.islamicbulletin.com