CONQUEST
       OF
       MAKKAH
 
 
 

                                                               By:  Banu Khuza'ah

                  According to the terms of the treaty of Hudaibiya, the Arab tribes had the option to be
                  allied with the Quraish or the Muslims. In pursuance of this option, the Banu Bakr joined
                  the Quraish, and their enemies the Banu Khuza'ah allied themselves with the Muslims.
                  Incited by the Quraish, the Banu Bakr attacked the Khuza'ah, looted their property and
                  killed their men. Even when the Banu Khuza'ah sought the sanctuary of the Kaaba,
                  they were chased and put to death. The Banu Khuza'ah sent a deputation to Madina,
                  and wanted the Muslims to come to their aid according to the terms of their treaty
                  with them. The Holy Prophet assured the Banu Khaza'ah that the Muslims would fulfil
                  their obligation to them. The Holy Prophet thereupon sent a message to the Quraish
                  making three alternative demands. The first alternative was that the Banu Bakr and
                  the Quraish should pay blood money for the victims of Banu Khuza'ah. The second
                  alternative was that the Quraish should terminate their alliance with Banu Bakr. The
                  third alternative was that the treaty of Hudaibiya should be considered to have been
                  abrogated. In a fit of arrogance, the Quraish replied that they would neither pay blood
                  money, nor terminate their alliance with Banu Bakr, and that in the circumstances they
                  were prepared to consider that the Hadaibiya pact had been abrogated.

                  The Hudaibiya pact

                  The life of the Hudaibiya pact did not exceed two years. It was a short period, but
                  nevertheless much had happened during this period which had added to the strength
                  of the Muslims, and correspondingly weakened the position of the Quraish. After the
                  conquest of Khyber the material sources of the Muslims had considerably increased.
                  After the discomfiture of the Jews, many Arab tribes joined the Muslims as their allies.
                  The Muslims were now in a position to raise a sufficiently large army. The Quraish soon
                  realized that they had imprudently abrogated the treaty of Hudaibiya. Abu Sufyan, the
                  Chief of the Quraish, rushed to Madina to seek the renewal of the treaty of Hudaibiya.
                  Umm Habiba a daughter of Abu Sufyan had accepted Islam and was a wife of the Holy
                  Prophet. Abu Sufyan wanted his daughter to intercede with the Holy Prophet in his
                  behalf. He sought the help of Abu Bakr, Umar and Ali as well. The Holy Prophet met
                  Abu Sufyan with due courtesy, and brought home to him the point that if the Quraish
                  wanted peace they should accept the suzerainty of the Muslims as the Jews had done.
                  Abu Sufyan was not agreeable to this and the negotiations failed. Abu Sufyan returned
                  to Makkah, a disappointed man. During his stay in Madina he had come to realize that
                  the Muslims had become a power, and the position of the Quraish visa a vis the
                  Muslims had become difficult.

                  March to Makkah

                  After Abu Sufyan had left Madina, the Holy Prophet ordered preparations to be made
                  for a foray. The Holy Prophet mustered a force ten thousand strong and took the road
                  to Makkah. Having reached in the neighborhood of Makkah, the Muslims encamped at
                  Marr al Zahran. When at night fire was lit in the Muslim camp it appeared as if the
                  whole of the desert was on fire. That alarmed the Quraish. Abu Sufyan realized that it
                  would be futile for the Quraish to resist the Muslims. He visited the Muslim camp and
                  was converted to Islam. That was the end of the Quraish opposition. The following day
                  the Muslim army marched triumphantly into Makkah. The various contingents of the
                  Muslim army marched into Makkah through different gates. Ali held the banner of Islam.
                  The triumphant entry of the Muslims in Makkah marked the vindication of the truth of
                  Islam. The city which eight years ago had treated the Muslims cruelly, and driven them
                  to seek refuge with strangers in Madina now lay at the feet of the Muslims. In the hour
                  of triumph, the Holy Prophet forgot every evil suffered, and forgave every injury that
                  had been inflicted on him. He granted general amnesty to the people of Makkah.

                  Destruction of the idols

                  The triumph of the Muslims was the triumph of Allah and the defeat of the idols. The
                  Holy Prophet visited the Kaaba along with his companions. The Holy Prophet with the
                  stroke of the stick held in his hand broke the idols that lay in the lower cavities of the
                  walls. As the stones were destroyed one by one, the Quraish looked on aghast at the
                  massacre of their gods, while the Holy Prophet recited the verse from the Quran: "Say,
                  the Truth has come and falsehood gone. Verily, falsehood is ever vanishing."

                  The more important idols, including that of Hubal, the god of war were placed higher up
                  in the cavities of the walls beyond the reach of the hand or stick. The Holy Prophet
                  asked Ali to ascend on his shoulders, and destroy the idols which were placed higher
                  up. Ali hesitated to ascend the shoulders of the Holy Prophet, but when the Holy
                  Prophet repeated the command, Ali complied and destroyed all idols. According to
                  legend, Ali is reported to have said that while standing on the shoulders of the Holy
                  Prophet he felt that his hand could reach to the heights of the Heaven.

                  Address to the people

                  To the people assembled in the Kasba who witnessed the destruction of the idols; the
                  Holy Prophet addressed as follows: "There is no god but Allah. He has no associate. He
                  has today made good His promise that He had held to his bondman and helped him in
                  fulfilling his mission. With the triumph of truth every claim of privilege, whether that of
                  blood or property is abolished except that of the custody of the Kaaba and of
                  supplying water to the pilgrims. Bear in mind that for anyone who is slain the blood wit
                  is one hundred camels. O people of Quraish, God has abolished from you all pride of the
                  time of ignorance, and all pride in your ancestry, because all persons are descended
                  from Adam, and Adam was made of clay." Then the Holy Prophet, turning to the people
                  said: "O Ye, Quraish, what do you think of the treatment that I should accord you?"
                  They said, "Mercy, O Prophet of Allah. We expect nothing but good from you."
                  Thereupon the Holy Prophet declared, "I speak to you in the same words as Joseph
                  spoke to his brothers. This day there is no re-proof against you, go your way for you
                  are free." This announcement was received with great joy and applause.

                  Banu Jazima

                  Having destroyed the idols of the Kaaba, the Holy Prophet sent out small expeditions
                  to the neighboring settlements to destroy the idols in the local temples. There after a
                  number of expeditions were sent to the neighboring tribes to call them to Islam. The
                  Holy Prophet issued instructions that the tribes who accepted the call were not to be
                  harmed. Khalid b Walid was sent to the tribe of Banu Jazima. The tribe accepted the
                  call and declared themselves as Muslims, but Khalid b Walid who had an old feud with
                  the tribe asked the men to lay down arms and then had them killed. When the Holy
                  Prophet came to know of this he felt much annoyed. He raised his hands towards
                  heaven and said "O Lord I am not responsible for what Khalid has done." The Holy
                  Prophet sent Ali with a good deal of money to smooth the feelings of Banu Jazima. Ali
                  paid indemnity for the blood that had been shed. He treated them generously,
                  expressed great regrets at what had happened and assured them of the good will of
                  the Muslims. Ali lived in the midst of the tribe for some time, and educated them in the
                  Islamic way of life. Ali performed the mission entrusted to him with great credit, and
                  returned to Makkah when the Banu Jazima were fully satisfied.