The Peaceful Conquest of Makkah
Fatah Makkah (Arabic: فَتْحُ مَكَّةَ) refers to the peaceful conquest of the city of Makkah by the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in Ramadan in the year 8 AH (629 or 630 CE). This event marked a significant turning point in Islamic history. Fatah Makkah made Makkah an important center for Islam by getting rid of idols and returning it to the worship of one God. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) showed mercy and forgiveness by pardoning his old enemies, creating a lasting example of peace and reconciliation.
Background
In Dhul Qadah of the 6th year of Hijri (628 CE), the Quraysh of Makkah and the Muslims of Medina agreed to a ten-year truce known as the Treaty of Al-Hudaybiyah (Sulah Hudaybiyah). Despite improved relations between Makkah and Medina following the Treaty of Al-Hudaybiyah, peace was disrupted when the Quraysh of Makkah, along with their allies from the Bani Bakr tribe, attacked the Khuzaah tribe. The Khuzaah tribe were allies of the Muslims. When the Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) heard of the attack, he immediately ordered his companions to prepare for war.
Causes of the Conquest of Makkah
- Broken Treaty: The Quraysh tribe broke the peace treaty with the Muslims by attacking an allied tribe, which led to the need for action.
- Seeking Justice: The attack on the allied tribe demanded revenge and justice from the Muslims.
- Spreading Islam: The conquest aimed to strengthen and expand the influence of Islam by gaining control of Makkah.
- Prophetic Promise: The conquest was seen as fulfilling promises made by the Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.), showing that his mission was supported by God.
- Unifying Arabia: The goal was to bring together the different tribes of Arabia under Islam to reduce conflicts and increase unity.
- Purifying the Kaaba Mecca: The Prophet wanted to remove the idols from the Kaaba and restore it as a place of worship for Allah alone.
The Conquest of Makkah summary
The departure of the Islamic army & Abu Sufyan’s Failed Attempts to Negotiate
On the 10th of Ramadan, 8 AH, the Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.), accompanied by 10,000 companions, embarked on their journey to Makkah. This was the largest Muslim force ever assembled at that time.
After this incident, Abu Sufyan ibn Harb traveled to Medina to renegotiate the truce. He visited his daughter Umm Habiba, who was also the wife of the Prophet Muhammad. When he tried to sit on Muhammad’s carpet, Umm Habiba folded it up. Abu Sufyan asked, “Do you think the carpet is too good for me or that I am too good for the carpet? ” Umm Habiba replied, “It is the Messenger of Allah’s carpet, and you are an unclean polytheist.”
Abu Sufyan then sought a meeting with Muhammad (PBUH), but Muhammad (PBUH), aware of his intentions, did not offer any assurance. He approached Hazrat Abu Bakr (R.A), who also refused to help. He then turned to ‘Hazrat Umar (R.A), who flatly refused as well. Finally, he pleaded with ‘Hazrat Ali bin Abi Talib (R.A). However, ‘Ali also said he could not help. Abu Sufyan ibn Harb returned to Mecca feeling disappointed and discouraged. He told the Quraysh about his failed attempts to get help from his daughter, Abu Bakr, ‘Umar, and ‘Ali, as well as Hazrat Muhammad’s lack of response to his requests.
Abu Sufyan’s acceptance of Islam
As the muslim army moved toward Mecca, Al-‘Abbas bin ‘Abdul Muttalib and his family joined Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) and his army at Al-Juhfa. Hisham’s father, as reported by Al-Bukhari, said:
When Allah’s Messenger (S.A.W.) set out toward Makkah for the Conquest, news reached the Quraysh infidels. Abu Sufyan, Hakim bin Hizam, and Budail bin Warqa went out to gather information about him. They traveled until they reached a place called Marr-Az-Zahran, near Makkah, where they saw many fires that looked like the fires of Arafat.
Abu Sufyan asked, “What are these? They look like the fires of Arafat.”
Budail bin Warqa’ replied, “The Banu Amr (a Muslim tribe from Medina) are fewer in number than this.”
Some of Allah’s Messenger’s (S.A.W.) guards spotted them, captured them, and brought them to him.
During their meeting, Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) said to Abu Sufyan, “Isn’t it time for you to accept that there is only one God and that I am His Prophet?” Abu Sufyan, who had been a fierce enemy of Islam, asked for forgiveness and accepted the faith wholeheartedly.
Following the general amnesty he had announced, Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) gave Abu Sufyan a special privilege at ‘Hazrat Abbas’s request. Hazrat Muhammad(PBUH) said, “Anyone who seeks refuge in Abu Sufyan’s house will be safe. Anyone who stays inside his house will be protected, and anyone who enters the Sacred Mosque will be safe.”
Abu Sufyan’ Observance of the Muslim Army
As the Prophet (S.A.W.) advanced, he instructed Al-Abbas to position Abu Sufyan on top of a mountain so he could observe the Muslim army. Al-Abbas did so, and Abu Sufyan watched as various tribes passed in front of him.
When a group passed, Abu Sufyan asked, “Who are these?”
Al-Abbas replied, “They are Banu Ghifar.”
Abu Sufyan responded, “I have nothing to do with them.”
As more tribes like Juhaina, Saad bin Huzaim’s tribe, and Banu Sulaim passed, Abu Sufyan made similar remarks.
Then came a large group, and Abu Sufyan asked, “Who are these?”
Al-Abbas said, “They are the Ansar led by Saad bin Ubada, who is carrying the flag.”
Saad bin Ubada said, “O Abu Sufyan! Today is the day of a significant battle, and what was once forbidden in the Kaaba will now be allowed.”
Abu Sufyan responded, “How remarkable the day of destruction is!”
Finally, a smaller group arrived, including the Prophet (S.A.W.) and his companions, with the flag carried by Az-Zubair bin Al Awwam.
When the Prophet (S.A.W.) passed by, Abu Sufyan asked him, “Do you know what Saad bin Ubada said?”
The Prophet (S.A.W.) inquired about Saad’s words, and Abu Sufyan reported them.
The Prophet (S.A.W.) replied, “Saad was wrong. Today, Allah will honor the Kaaba, and it will be covered with a new cloth.”
Prophet Muhammad’s Strategic Commands
Allah’s Messenger (S.A.W.) ordered his flag to be placed at Al-Hajun, a location north of the Great Mosque.
He instructed Hazrat Khalid bin Al-Walid (R.A) to enter Makkah from the upper part through Kada, while the Prophet (S.A.W.) himself entered from Kuda, a hill in Makkah. On that day, two men from Khalid bin Al-Walid’s cavalry, Hubaish bin Al-Ashar and Kurz bin Jabir Al-Fihri, were martyred.
(Sahih Bukhari: 4280)
The Prophet (S.A.W.) ordered the Muslims not to harm anyone unless they were stopped from entering Makkah. He instructed his commanders to fight only those who resisted, except for four men and two women who were to be killed even if found under the curtains of the Kaabah. These included Abdullah Ibn Saad Ibn Abi Sarh, Abdullah Ibn Khadl, and Al-Huwairth Ibn Naqid.
The Peaceful Entry into Makkah
There were four entry routes to Makkah through passes in the hills: from the northwest, southwest, south, and northeast. The Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.) divided the Muslim army into four groups, each advancing through one of these passes.
The Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.) entered Makkah on his favorite camel, Al-Kaswa, with Usama Ibn Zaid (R.A.) sitting behind him. On the way, he recited Surah Al-Fatha (the 48th Surah of the Quran).
Hazrat Aishah (R.A.) said, “During the year of the Conquest (of Makkah), the Prophet (S.A.W.) entered Makkah through Kada, which is at the upper part of Makkah.”
Narrated by Mujahid: Allah’s Messenger (S.A.W.) stood up on the day of the Conquest of Makkah and said, “Allah has made Makkah a sanctuary since the day He created the heavens and the earth, and it will remain a sanctuary by virtue of the sanctity Allah has bestowed on it until the Day of Resurrection. Fighting in it was not made lawful to anyone before me, nor will it be made lawful to anyone after me, and it was only made lawful for me for a short period of time. Its game should not be hunted, nor should its trees be cut, its vegetation or grass uprooted, nor its lost property picked up except by someone who makes a public announcement about it.” (Sahih Bukhari: 4313)
Prophet (S.A.W.)’s dismantlement Idols in the Kaaba
Inside the Kaaba, there were 360 idols and pictures of Prophet Abraham (A.S.), Prophet Ismail (A.S.), and angels. The Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) removed these images and destroyed all the idols. The idol of Hubal was high up and could not be reached by the Prophet or Ali ibn Abi Talib (R.A.). The Prophet had Ali stand on his shoulders to break it. No one in Makkah tried to stop Muhammad (S.A.W.) from destroying their gods. Narrated by Abdullah (R.A.):
“When the Prophet (S.A.W.) entered Makkah, there were 360 idols around the Kaaba. He struck them with a stick and said, ‘’The truth came and falsehood was destroyed. Indeed, falsehood had to be destroyed.’’
Abu Sufyan’s Forgiveness
On the day of the Conquest of Makkah, even Abu Sufyan, who thought he would never be forgiven, was forgiven by the Prophet (S.A.W).
The Prophet (S.A.W.) asked Abu Sufyan why he had embraced Islam. Abu Sufyan replied that the gods of Makkah had proven powerless and that there is “no god but Allah” (the first pillar of Islam).
Since Abu Sufyan was the chief of the Quraysh and had become a Muslim, the Prophet (S.A.W.) declared his house a place of safety. He said, “Anyone who enters Abu Sufyan’s house will be safe.”
Prophet Muhammad’s Declaration of General Amnesty
After dealing Abu Sufyan, the Prophet (S.A.W.) asked the people of Makkah, “O Quraysh, what do you expect from me today?” They responded, “Mercy, O respected Brother and son of respected Brother. We expect nothing but good from you.”
In reply, the Prophet (S.A.W.) declared, “Today, I will speak to you as Yusuf spoke to his brothers. I will not harm you, and Allah will forgive you, for He is Merciful and Loving. Go, you are free.”
After announcing general amnesty, the Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) went up Safa Hill and accepted the allegiance of the Quraysh. Years earlier, he declared his Prophethood there, but they rejected him. Now, he was receiving their acceptance of Islam from the same place.
Hazrat Bilal’s Adhan During the Conquest of Makkah
During the Conquest of Makkah, the Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) instructed Hazrat Bilal ibn Rabah (R.A.) to perform the Adhan (Islamic call to prayer) from the Kaaba. They chose Hazrat Bilal because of his strong faith and close bond with the Prophet (S.A.W.). He (R.A)climbed to the top of the Kaaba, which had been cleansed of its idols, and called the Adhan. His voice resonated throughout Makkah, marking a significant moment in Islamic history. This act symbolized the triumph of Islam and its message over the old pagan beliefs of the Quraysh.
What makes the Conquest of Makkah different than other battles?
The Conquest of Makkah is distinct from other battles in Islamic history due to its peaceful nature and profound symbolic significance. Unlike many military conflicts, the Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) achieved this conquest with minimal bloodshed, emphasizing mercy and forgiveness. It fulfilled prophecies and symbolized the purification of the Kaaba from idols, restoring it to its original purpose as a place of worship for the one true God. The general amnesty extended to the people of Makkah, including former adversaries, facilitated reconciliation and unity. This event not only had strategic implications for the spread of Islam but also held deep spiritual importance, solidifying the Muslim community’s foundation and marking a significant turning point in the history of Islam.
Importance of the Conquest of Makkah
The Makkah Victory in Islam is a pivotal event in Islamic history. It marked the purification of Makkah and its surrounding areas from idols. More importantly, it cleansed the hearts of the Quraysh from polytheism and filled them with the light of Allah’s oneness.
FAQ’s
The Conquest of Mecca by Muhammad (PBUH) took place on the 18th to 20th of Ramadan in the year 8 AH (After Hijra), which corresponds to January 11, 630 CE.
The Victory of Makkah was pivotal in spreading Islam due to its strategic trade location and religious significance. With Makkah as the heart of Islamic faith, its control allowed Muslim traders and caravans to carry Muhammad’s teachings across the Arabian Peninsula and beyond. Unified Islamic leadership and the influence of the Quraysh tribe legitimized the religion, encouraging other tribes to embrace Islam and aiding its rapid expansion throughout the Middle East, Central Asia, and North Africa.
During the Conquest of Mecca, very few people were killed. According to historical sources, about 10 to 12 Quraysh were killed and two Muslim soldiers were martyred.
