March
to Makkah:
On Ramadan 11, 8 AH, the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) set out from
Al-Madinah at the head of a ten-thousand-man army of the Companions. The
failure of Abu Sufyân's mission had disheartened the Quraish and 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 Abbâs bin Abdul-Muttalib (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) on the way who,
along with his wife and children, was moving to Al-Madinah after they had
embraced Islam. The Messenger of Allâh (صلى الله عليه
وآله وسلم) took Abbâs (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ)
to Makkah and sent his relatives to Al-Madinah. Marching quickly, the Muslim
army reached Marr-az-Zahrân at a distance of 8 miles from Makkah. The Makkans
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 force only from the shepherds who went back in the night. Informed of
this, Abu Sufyân came out to look into the matter. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) had already deputed
Umar (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) at the head of a
patrol party to ward off a night attack.
Abbâs bin Abdul-Muttalib (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) was anxious about
the safety of his people and wanted them to accept Islam and be safe. He came
out mounted on Duldul, the mule of the Prophet (صلى
الله عليه وآله وسلم), in the night and moved towards Makkah.
As per the order of the Messenger of Allâh (صلى الله
عليه وآله وسلم) the entire Muslim army had, in separate groups of one thousand
each, lit their campfires.
When Abu Sufyân 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.
Abbâs (رَضِيَ
ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) recognized the voice of Abu Sufyân even in the dark night and
sounded back that the army belonged to the Prophet (صلى
الله عليه وآله وسلم) and was ready to invade Makkah the next
morning. Abu Sufyân was left more confounded at this disheartening news. He, in
a state of utmost bewilderment, drew near Abbâs (رَضِيَ
ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) to seek his counsel at this juncture. Abbâs (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) said to him, "Ride on the back of
this mule and I will bring you to the Prophet (صلى
الله عليه وآله وسلم) for he alone can give you
protection." Abu Sufyân got on the mule without a moment's delay. Umar
Faruq (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) recognized Abu
Sufyân and wanted to kill him at once. But Abbâs (رَضِيَ
ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) spurred the mule and quickly went into the camp of the Prophet
(صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم), Umar (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) came chasing him and
said, "O Prophet of Allâh! Command me to kill this disbeliever, for he has
come under our control without any condition." Abbâs (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) said, "I have already given him
protection." But Umar (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ)
sought permission once again. Abbâs (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ
عَنْهُ) 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 (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ)
said, "Abbas! I felt more happy on your accepting Islam than I would have
been, had my father done so because I found the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) eager for your becoming a Muslim."
After this exchange between the two, the Prophet of Allâh (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) enjoined, "Well, Abu Sufyân is given
respite for a night." Following this he asked Abbâs (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) to keep Abu Sufyân in his own camp. And
next morning Abu Sufyân appeared before the Prophet (صلى
الله عليه وآله وسلم) and confessed Islam.
Abu
Sufyân (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) honored
Abbâs (رَضِيَ
ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) appeared before the Prophet of Allâh (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) and submitted, "Abu Sufyân is a
person who loves honor, so would you please give him some special honor."
At this he said, "He who enters the Sacred Mosque will be safe, he who
enters the house of Abu Sufyân will be safe, he who shuts his doors upon
himself will be safe and he who goes unarmed will be safe." Abu Sufyân (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) felt elated.
The army on the move surged like an
ocean. Different tribes had passed by with their tribal colors. Abu Sufyân (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) ascended a raised
spot to witness the spectacle of the Muslim troops on the march and hurried
back to Makkah ahead of all to announce: "He who enters the Sacred Mosque
or my house will be safe." The Prophet of Allâh (صلى
الله عليه وآله وسلم) wanted to avoid bloodshed at all costs.
His exit from Makkah in a state of helplessness and then his victorious and
glorious return must have been on his mind. This day he made a triumphant entry
into Makkah with his head lowered giving thanks to Allâh the Almighty. He then
circumambulated the Ka'bah seven times mounted on his animal and then cleared
the Ka'bah of idols. He then took the keys of the Ka'bah from Uthmân bin
Talhah, and entered the Ka'bah and prayed to Allâh the Exalted. Following this
the Prophet of Allâh (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) stood
at the door of the Ka'bah, holding its frame, while the Quraish arranged
themselves in front of him in the courtyard filled with fear and shame.
Historic
Address of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم):
The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) said addressing them: "There is no
God but Allâh Alone. He has made good His Promise and help to His slave. He has
alone overthrown all the Confederates. Lo'! All the rites, privileges and
claims to retaliation and blood compensation are beneath my feet except the
custody of the Ka'bah and the giving water to the pilgrims. Even cutting down a
green tree is not valid within the sanctuary. O you people of the Quraish,
Allâh has abolished the haughtiness of paganism and the pride of lineage. Man
comes from Adam and Adam came from dust. Allâh the Almighty says: 'O mankind!
We have created you from a male and a female, and have made you nations and
tribes that you may know one another. Verily! the noblest of you, with Allâh is
the best in conduct.' (49:13) O Quraish, what do you think I am about to do
with you?" "We hope for the best," they replied, "you are a
noble brother, son of a noble brother." The Prophet of Allâh (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) said in reply,
"I say to you what Yusuf (Prophet Joseph) said to his brothers: 'Have no
fear this day, go your way for you are all free'."
The address being over, the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) went up to Mount
Safa and sat down to take the oath of allegiance to Allâh and His Messenger
from the people. After finishing with men, he deputed Umar (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) to take Bai'ah from the women, and he
kept seeking forgiveness of Allâh for them. Safwân bin Umayyah fled to Yemen
for fear of life. Umair bin Wahb from his tribe sought safety for him and he
was granted immunity. Safwân was the man who had resisted the entry of the
Muslims into Makkah and fled from Makkah after the conquest; so did Ikrimah bin
Abu Jahl, and he too was granted safety. Both of them had the pleasure of
coming to the fold of Islam after the battle of Hunain.
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