The conquest of Makkah, 20 Ramadan - I

According to the terms ofthe treaty of Hudaybiyah,the Arab tribes were
given the option to join either of the parties with which they desired
to enter into treaty alliance,the Prophet's sallalahu alayhi wa
sallam, or the Quraysh's. As a consequence, Banu Bakr joined the
Quraysh, and Khuzaa'ah joined the Prophet, sallalahu alayhi wa sallam.
According to the Treaty they could not attack one another for a period
of ten years. But Banu Bakr developed an evil scheme against Banu
Khuzaa'ah and they planned to take revenge on their rivals. The
Quraysh of Makkah should have held Banu Bakr back from implementing
their plan against Banu Khuzaa'ah making them uphold the Treaty.
Instead of preventing them, the Quraysh, totally at variance with
their obligation to the Treaty, came out in the open lending full and
active support to Banu Bakr with men and material. They broke their
covenant to the extent that Safwaan ibn Umayyah, 'Ikrimah ibn Abu
Jahl, and Suhayl ibn 'Amr joined the fighting along with Banu Bakr.
The combined attack of Banu Bakr and the Quraysh inflicted on
BanuKhuzaa'ah a heavy loss of20 or 30 men. Being caught by a surprise
attack at night while theywere asleep, they found no where to take
refuge except at the House of Allaah, the Ka'bah, and even some of
them were killed there )this was alsoa breach of trust as the Ka'bah
was a sanctuary for all(.
A Few days after the incident Budayl ibn Warqa' and 'Amr ibn Saalim
came to Al-Madeenah and put their complaint before the Prophet,
sallalahu alayhi wa sallam. 'Amr ibn Saalim told his tale ofwoe in a
poem filled withgloom and grief at their being brutally attacked and
killed.
The Prophet of Allaah, sallalahu alayhi wa sallam, consoled them
saying,"You will be helped."Atthe time of their departure from
Al-Madeenah the Messenger of Allaah, sallalahu alayhi wa sallam,
remarked: "Abu Sufyaan has set out from Makkah to seek an extension in
the durationof Peace Treaty and get itconsolidated, but his mission
will end in failure."
When the Makkans foundtime to think over the consequences of their
misconduct, they were struck by fear. They sent Abu Sufyaan to renew
the Peace Treaty. The Messenger of Allaah, sallalahu alayhi wa sallam,
ordered the Muslims, on the other hand, to make preparations for the
ensuing battle and to keep it a top secret. On the way back to Makkah,
Budayl ibn Warqa' and his group came across Abu Sufyaan who was
heading for Al-Madeenah. "Where have you been?" asked Abu Sufyaan. "I
was only up in this valley," Budayl replied. Abu Sufyaan was under the
impression that the Prophet was unaware of the attack against Banu
Khuzaa'ah that had just occurred. Hewas determined to get the Peace
Treaty renewed as soon as possible.
Abu Sufyaan in Al-Madeenah
Abu Sufyaan came to Al-Madeenah and went tothe house of his daughter
Umm Habeebah)wife of the Noble Prophet, sallalahu alayhi wa sallam(.
But as he went to sit on the apostle's carpet she folded it up. "My
daughter," said he, "Do you think that the carpet is too good for me
or am I too good for the carpet." She replied, "It isthe apostle's
carpet and you are an unclean polytheist."
Being disgusted at the curt reply of his daughter, Abu Sufyaan stepped
out of her room and went to the Noble Prophet, sallalahu alayhi wa
sallam, but he, sallalahu alayhi wa sallam, was well aware ofhis
tricks and did not hold him any assurance. He then approached Abu
Bakrbut he declined to interfere. He contacted'Umaralso to intercede
but he made a point-blank refusal. At last he saw 'Ali ibn Abi
Taalibin this connection, but he also regretted his inability to do
anything for him.
Preparations for the Attack onMakkah
Immediately after the departure of Abu Sufyaan, the Prophet, sallalahu
alayhi wa sallam, asked the Companions to march on Makkah. In spite of
the massive size of the military preparations, theCompanions did not
know the target of attack. It was simply because the Messenger
ofAllaah, sallalahu alayhi wa sallam, wanted the Makkans to be caught
unaware.
However, a Companion ofthe Prophet, Haatib ibn Abu Balta'ahinformedthe
Quraysh of the impending Muslim attack,in a letter sent through a
woman. Allaah The Almighty inspired His Messenger with this. He,
sallalahu alayhi wa sallam, sent 'Ali and Az-Zubayr ibn
Al-'Awwaamimmediately after the woman with the description of her
features. They caught herafter a hard chase, searched her belongings
but the letter remained hidden. However, 'Ali wasquite sure about the
letter because he knew the Prophet, sallalahu alayhi wa sallam, would
not say anything that wasn't absolutely true. When 'Ali threatened her
with dire consequences, she drew out the letter from her hair and
handed it over to them. The letter was from Haatib ibn Abu Balta'ahto
the Quraysh. The letter along with the woman was brought to the
Messenger of Allaah. Haatib was sent for and was asked for an
explanation. He said,"Since my relatives were still in Makkah and in
danger, I wished to oblige the Makkans by informing them about the
ensuing Muslim attack so that my relatives would remain safe from
them." Having heard this, 'Umar lost his temper and said, "O Messenger
of Allaah! Allow me to cut his head off." But the Prophet, sallalahu
alayhi wa sallam, forgave him and told 'Umar that Haatib was truthful
in his claim, and Allaah would forgive him due to his partaking in the
battle of Badr.
March to Makkah
On Ramadan 11, 8 AH, theProphet, sallalahu alayhi wa sallam, set out
from Al-Madeenah at the head of a ten-thousand-man army of the
Companions. The failure of Abu Sufyaan's mission had disheartened the
Qurayshand they were in the dark about the plans of the believers. The
Prophet's march to Makkah was very swift. They came across his uncle
Al-'Abbaas ibn aAbdul-Muttalibon the way who, along with his wife and
children, was moving to Al-Madeenah after they had embraced Islam. The
Messenger of Allaah took Al-'Abbas to Makkah and sent his family to
Al-Madeenah. Marching quickly, the Muslim army reached Marruaz-Zahraan
at a distance of 8 miles from Makkah. TheMakkans were still unaware of
the presence of Muslim troops even though they were so close to
Makkah. They encamped at that place. The Makkans came to know of the
Muslim forceonly from the shepherds who went back in the night.
Informed of this, Abu Sufyaan came out to look into the matter. The
Prophet, sallalahu alayhi wa sallam, had already deputed 'Umarat the
head of a patrol party to ward off a night attack.
Al-'Abbaas ibn Abdul-Muttalib was anxious about the safety of his
people and wanted themto accept Islam and be safe. He came out mounted
on the mule of the Prophet, sallalahu alayhi wa sallam, in the night
and moved towards Makkah. As per the order of the Messenger of Allaah,
sallalahu alayhi wa sallam, the entire Muslim army had, in separate
groups of one thousand each, lit their campfires.
When Abu Sufyaan witnessed the blazing campfires spread over a vast
area, he was shocked and stunned to the core to think how such a large
army had been collected.
Al-'Abbaas recognized the voice of Abu Sufyaan even in the dark night
and sounded back that the army belonged to theProphet, sallalahu
alayhi wa sallam, and was readyto invade Makkah the next morning. Abu
Sufyaan was left more confounded at this disheartening news. He, in a
state of utmost bewilderment, drew nearAl-'Abbaas to seek his counsel
at this juncture. Al-'Abbaas said to him,"Ride on the back of this
mule and I will bring you to the Prophet, sallalahu alayhi wa sallam,
for he alone can give you protection." Abu Sufyaan got on the mule
without a moment's delay. 'Umar recognized Abu Sufyaan and wanted to
kill him at once, but Al-'Abbaas spurred the mule and quickly went
into the camp of the Prophet. 'Umar came chasing him and said, "O
Prophet of Allaah! Command me to kill this disbeliever, for he has
come under our control without any condition." Al-'Abbaassaid, "I have
already given him protection." But 'Umar sought permission once again.
Al-'Abbaas replied to him with a pinch of taunt,"'Umar'! You would not
have insisted on his being killed had he belonged to your
family."Thereupon 'Umar said, "OAl-'Abbaas! I felt more happy on your
accepting Islam than I would have been had my father doneso because I
found the Prophet eager for your becoming a Muslim." After this
exchange between the two, the Prophet of Allaah, sallalahu alayhi wa
sallam, enjoined, "Well, Abu Sufyaan is given respite for a night."
Following this he asked Al-'Abbaas to keep Abu Sufyaan in his own
camp.And next morning Abu Sufyaan appeared beforethe Prophet,
sallalahu alayhi wa sallam, and confessed Islam.
To be continued