EVENTS
629 CE / The Conquest of Makkah. 8th Year after Hijrah (Migration)
Important events and incidences that took place
In November 629, the situation in Arabia changed dramatically: the Quraysh broke the Treaty of Hudaybiyah. Aided and abetted by some Quraysh, the tribe of Bakr, one of their bedouin allies, made a surprise attack on the tribe of Khuza’ah, which had joined Muhammad’s confederacy. Khuza’ah promptly asked Muhammad for help and the Quraysh woke up to the fact that they had given Muhammad a perfect excuse to attack Makkah. In the meantime they became exceedingly troubled as to the possible consequences of what had happened, and so they sent Abu Sufyan to pacify the Prophet. The Prophet parried his request and maintained that he was in no way interested in making any new deal with the Makkans. After his departure, Muhammad began to plan a new campaign.
On the 10th of Ramadan, Muhammad set out at the head of the largest force ever to leave Madinah. Nearly all the men in the Muslim lands had volunteered to be part of the army and along the road their bedouin allies joined forces with the Muslims. However, only the closest of the disciples were informed of the plan to conquer Makkah as the Prophet wanted to keep the mission a secret for as long as possible.
In Makkah, the Quraishite leaders feared the worst. Abbas, Abu Sufyan, and Budayl, chief of Khuza’ah, all made their way under the cover of night to the Muslim camp. They were escorted to Muhammad who received them and prompted Abu Sufyan and Budayl to accept Islam. After some hesitation the two submitted and testified “There is no deity worthy of worship except God and Muhammad is His messenger”. The conversion of Abu Sufyan did not inhibit the Prophet from his plan rather he ordered that Abu Sufyan be held at the gate of the valley in the outskirts of Makkah. The Prophet advanced with the army until he reached Dhu Tuwa with the city in sight. He stopped his forces and busied himself in prayer, supplication, and praising the Most High and and beseeching Him for victory.
The army was divided into four groups and they were commanded not to engage in any fighting or bloodshed except in critical situations. The armies entered and occupied the city without opposition, with the little resistance being dealt with by Khalid ibn al Walid.
The Prophet mounted his she camel, al Qaswa, and rode down towards the Ka’bah with his head lowered in humility to God. Upon reaching the Ka’bah he endeavoured, in full view of the Quraysh, to smash the idols scattered around it while he recited the Quranic verse:
The truth has come, and falsehood has vanished away; surely falsehood is certain to vanish
He then circumambulated the sacred house on his camel and then alighted and called upon Uthman bin Talhah to open the Ka’bah for him. Inside he found pictures of Abraham and Ismael holding divination arrows which he promptly destroyed. Upon exiting the Ka’bah he stood at the door surrounded by his people and granted a general amnesty to all the people of Quraysh and Makkans, save ten people who were put on a black list. After his speech beside the Ka’bah, Muhammad withdrew to Mount Safa and invited the people of Makkah to swear fealty. One by one, the Quraysh filed up to the Prophet, who sat flanked by ‘Umar and Abu Bakr, and gave their pledges of allegiance.
LESSONS & WISDOMS
629 CE / The Conquest of Makkah
A closer look at the events; in search of deeper meanings and drawing lessons
The conquest of Makkah has many untold wisdoms and lessons to learn, of them:
1) The manner in which Umm Habeebah conducted herself with Abu Sufyan, her father, is indicative of the Islamic concept of loving and hating for the sake of God. Her father had been at war with the Muslims for many years and stood for all that which opposed Islam. When he visited her she invited him into the apartment but did not allow him to sit on the cushion of the Prophet stating that it not befitting for an idol worshipper to sit upon the cushion of the Prophet.
2) The story of the conversion of Abu Sufyan shows us the tremendous forgiving nature of the Prophet. Instead of calling for his execution, as in accordance with the rules of warfare, he invited him to Islam. Moreover, after he accepted Islam, he enticed him into working for the Islamic call by granting him a position of honor by singling out his house as a place for refuge. In this way the Prophet took into consideration his social status and used it in a positive manner.
3) The manner in which the Prophet entered Makkah, his once beloved home town, shows us the perfect display of humbleness- a balance between humility to God and not belittling oneself in front of the creation of God. He entered as a conquerer, mounted on his camel with his head bowed until his beard almost touched the saddle, in gratitude to God. In this way the Prophet was continually seeking to cultivate the spirituality of his followers, be it even on a military campaign.
4) The fact that the Prophet chose to have Usamah Ibn Zaid, the son of a freed slave and not of noble lineage, was symbolic display of the justice and equality Islam would now bring to Makkah. It is said that the lowering of the Prophet’s head was to show that the conquest was not intended to place the Prophet on a throne but rather raise the Command of God above all else.
5) The Prophet had the heart of a true visionary leader. He did not allow any for personal grudges to dictate his strategy and when he entered Makkah, home to his bitterest enemies who had spared no effort in trying to malign and abuse him, he did so whilst asking God to forgive them and without desiring bloodshed- for the ultimate goal was to guide mankind. Conquering Makkah in this way made the incident that much more monumental and unique.
6) The Prophet took all the necessary means to overtake the Quraysh with meticulous precision and then he relied upon God for a positive outcome. Though he was now in a position of strength he did not fail in making supplications to God, beseeching His help and aid in the campaign. This shows us that a Muslim should not become complacent with the blessing of God and that having plenty should not make one less reliant upon God.
7) The Prophet delivered a speech of universal pardon (with some exceptions), asking Bilal to pronounce the Athan and so he did by climbing on top of the Ka’bah. Such an act clearly demonstrates that Muslims do not believe that the Ka’bah building to be an idol that they prostrate to. Praying in it’s direction is a symbolic act of unity for the Muslim nation epitomising the essence of Islam- worshiping the One and only God.
The exceptions to the pardon clearly show us the limits of mercy beyond which is the realm of negligence and injustice.
EDICTS & RULINGS
629 CE / The Conquest of Makkah
Revelation & rulings particular to this year
The following rulings were established through the Prophetic tradition during this year.
1) The Permissibility of breaking the fast of Ramadan due to travel, as the Prophet broke his own fast at a location close to Makkah. The Companion J√¢bir relates in Sah√Æh Muslim, “We had gone forth with the Prophet (peace be upon him) to Mecca in the year of its conquest. The Prophet (peace be upon him) fasted until he arrived at the valley of Kura Gham√Æm. Then he called for water, raised it up, and then broke his fast. He then received word that some of his Companions had completed their fasts, so he said: “They are the disobedient ones. They are the disobedient ones.”
2) A concession was granted of shortening the prayers due to travel. It was reported that the Prophet shortened his prayers for the during of his nineteen days stay during in Makkah, as reported by Bukhari in his Saheeh.
3) The prohibition of Mu’tah type of marriage, a pre-determined period of wedlock, was made during the conquest of Makkah.
4) The permissibility to enter Makkah without Ihram if one who does not intend to perform Umrah or Hajj.
5) This year the Prophet instructed Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas that he could leave a maximum of a third of his wealth in charity as part of his will.
6) The Prophet permitted Abu Quhafah, Abu Bakr’s father, to dye his hair white hair any colour besides pure black.
CONTENTIOUS NARRATIVES
629 CE / The Conquest of Makkah
Muhammad & Polygyny
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