7. THE CONQUEST OF MAKKAH
The Conquest of Makkah occurred in the month of Ramadan, 8th year (of Hijrah), and Allah has referred to it at various places in the Qur’an. Allah, the Almighty, says: “Not equal among you are those who spent and fought before the conquering (of Makkah) (with those among you who did so later). Such are higher in degree than those who spent and fought afterward. But to all, Allah has promised the best (reward). (Soorah Al-Hadeed 57:10) Allah (SWT) also says:
“When comes the Help of Allah (to you, O Muhammad against your enemies) and the Conquest (of Makkah), And you see that the people enter Allah’s religion (Islam) in crowds, So glorify the Praises of your Lord, and ask for His Forgiveness. Verily, He is the One Who accepts repentance and forgives.” (Soorah An-Nasr 110:1-3)
The reason for the Conquest, after the Treaty of Hudaibiyah, is related in the narration of Muhammad Ibn Ishaq from Az-Zuhri on the authority of ‘Urwah Ibn Az-Zubair, who said that Al-Miswar Ibn Makhramah and Marwan Ibn AlHakam jointly informed him that the Treaty of Hudaibiyah stipulated that anyone who wished may enter into a treaty either with Muhammad or with the Quraish; the terms (of the treaty) shall be applicable to them as well. Banu Khuza‘ah said: “We are entering into a treaty with Muhammad,” and Banu Bakr quickly aligned themselves with Quraish.
This status quo, as stipulated by the treaty, remained for 17 or 18 months. Afterward, Banu Bakr betrayed the treaty by attacking Banu Khuza‘ah at night near a watering place called Al-Wateer, which was close to Makkah. Quraish said: “Muhammad will not come to know of these events as it occurred at night and no one will see us.” They supported their allies with men and weapons and fought against Banu Khuza‘ah, because of their malice toward the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. However, after the incident between Banu Khuza‘ah and Banu Bakr at AlWateer, ‘Amr Ibn Salim rode to inform Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, of the incident.
The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: “O ‘Amr Ibn Salim, you will be aided.” A cloud appeared in the sky and he said: “This cloud will pour down with the victory of Bani Ka‘b.” Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, ordered the people to make preparations (to march out) as stealthily as possible and supplicate to Allah to hide the news (of their preparation) from the Quraish until they are able to reach their land.
Abu Sufyan went to see Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, in Madinah, but first he went to see his daughter, Umm Habeebah, the wife of the Prophet. As he tried to sit on the bed of the Prophet, she pulled it from underneath
him. He asked: “My daughter, do you consider this bed unfit for me or me unfit for this?” She said: “It is the bed of Allah’s Messenger and you are an unclean polytheist, and I do not wish for you to sit on it.” Abu Sufyan said: “My daughter, you have been afflicted with evil after (you left) me.” He then went to speak with Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, but he did not get any response (from him). So he went to Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, requesting him to mediate with Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, on his behalf. Abu Bakr’s response was brief and he said, “I will not do so.” He then went to ‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, with the same request, and he said: “Would I intercede on your behalf with Allah’s Messenger? By Allah, even if I found nothing more than motes, I shall still fight against you with it.” Undaunted, Abu Sufyan went to ‘Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, with whom he found Fatimah, the daughter of Allah’s Messenger, and with her was Hasan, who was a toddler crawling in front of them.
Abu Sufyan said: “‘Ali, you are the closest person to me in kinship and relation. I have come for a need and I shall not return frustrated. Would you please intercede for me with Allah’s Messenger?” ‘Ali said: “Abu Sufyan, Allah’s Messenger has decided upon a matter concerning which we cannot speak to him.” Then he (Abu Sufyan) turned to Fatimah and said: “O daughter of Muhammad, would you ask this son of yours to intercede between the people so that he becomes a leader of the Arabs until the end of time?” She said: “My son cannot intercede between the people and no one can grant protection against the Prophet.”
Then Abu Sufyan said: “Abu Al-Hasan, it appears that matters have really become difficult for me, so please advise me.” ‘Ali said: “By Allah, I know nothing that will suffice you, except that you are the leader of Banu Kinanah; you may hold discussions among the people and then return to your land.” Abu Sufyan asked: “Do you foresee any benefit in that for me?” ‘Ali replied: “No, I do not think so, but I have no other advice to give you other than that.”
Abu Sufyan rose and went to the Mosque and addressed the people: “O People, I have been given protection,” and then rode his camel and left. On his return back to Makkah, the Quraish asked: “What news did you leave behind?” He said: “I went to Muhammad, spoke with him but he did not give me any response. Then I went to Ibn Abi Quhafah but, by Allah, I did not find any good in him. Then I went to ‘Umar and found him most hostile. I went to ‘Ali and I found him to be the gentlest of them. He is the one who directed me to a course of action and I do not know whether it will be of any benefit or not.” They asked: “What did he advise you to do?” He replied: “He asked me to intercede between the people and I complied.” They said: “It will not add up to anything, for the man merely played on your intelligence. Your feedback will not be of any benefit to us.” Resignedly, Abu Sufyan said: “I did not find a better option other than that.”
After Abu Sufyan left, Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, remained for as long as Allah wished and then he resumed preparation for the invasion of Makkah. He asked ‘A’ishah (May Allah be pleased with her) to prepare his personal effects for the journey and told her to be quick about it. Afterward, Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, went to the Mosque or to satisfy a need when Abu Bakr came and found ‘A’ishah (May Allah be pleased with her) sifting and picking wheat. He asked: “Does Allah’s Messenger intend a military expedition?” She kept silent. Abu Bakr probed further, “Perhaps he intends to invade the Romans?” ‘A’ishah (May Allah be pleased with her) remained quiet. “Perhaps he intends the inhabitants of Najd?” Abu Bakr inquired further, mentioning some of their misdeeds. ‘A’ishah (May Allah be pleased with her) gave no information to her father. Undaunted, Abu Bakr prodded further: “Perhaps he intends the Quraish?” ‘A’ishah (May Allah be pleased with her) still did not respond.
Soon after, Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, came back and he asked the same questions to him: “Allah’s Messenger, do you intend to go on a military expedition?” “Yes,” Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, replied. “Perhaps it is against the Romans?” Abu Bakr asked. “No,” the Messenger of Allah said. “Perhaps you intend the inhabitants of Najd?” he further asked. The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, answered in the negative. “Perhaps it is against the Quraish?” Abu Bakr asked. Finally, the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: “Yes.” Alarmed at the Prophet’s response, Abu Bakr asked: “But isn’t there a treaty between you and them?” The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: “Haven’t you been informed of what they did to Banu Ka‘b?” Thereafter, Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, announced to the people to prepare for an invasion. Then Hatib Ibn Abi Balta‘ah wrote to Quraish (betraying the Prophet’s secret). Allah exposed the incident of the letter to His Messenger and the story is related as follows:
By: Ibn Katheer
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