الحمد لله رب العالمين والصلاة والسلام على سيد المرسلين وعلى آله وأصحابه أمعين
In the last session of the Seerah, we came to learn that a large Muslim army had camped outside Makkah and was ready to march towards Makkah. We also saw how Abu Sufyan, the enemy of Islam and Muslims, and the chief of the Makkans had visited the Prophet (S) in the Muslim camp and declared his testimony of faith (shahadah) publicly in presence of the Prophet (S). To honor his high status and position among the Makkans, the Prophet (S) told him to tell the people in Makkah that when the Muslim army entered Makkah, anyone seeking refuge in his house will be safe. So will those be safe and protected who remained in their own homes or who sought refuge at the Ka’bah.
Today inshaAllah is a discussion on what happened next. Abu Sufyan returned quickly to Makkah, and from top of a hill called upon the Quraysh to come to him. Abu Sufyan then speaking to the people said, ‘O people of Makkah, the fires we saw all around us were the camp fires of Muhammad and his men. He has come with a strong army and there are too many for us to fight. It is best, therefore, to surrender. Anyone who stays in my house, or in his own home, or at the Ka’bah will be safe.’
Early next day, the Muslims entered Makkah from all sides. They had been ordered to cause no harm unless anyone tried to stop them entering. When the Prophet (S) arrived, he got off his camel, bowed down on the ground and thanked Allah for this victory. When the unbelievers saw this, they knew that the Prophet (S) had come in peace.
People began leaving their homes and running towards the Ka’bah. When they arrived there, they found the Prophet (S) performing the ritual encircling of the Ka’bah, the tawaf on his camel, surrounded by the Muslims. When he had finished, he said, ‘There no divinity except Allah and He has no partner. Men and women of Quraysh be not proud for all are equal; we are all the sons of Adam, and Adam was made of dust.’ Then he recited this verse to them:
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّا خَلَقْنَاكُمْ مِنْ ذَكَرٍ وَأُنْثَى وَجَعَلْنَاكُمْ شُعُوبًا وَقَبَائِلَ لِتَعَارَفُوا إِنَّ أَكْرَمَكُمْ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ أَتْقَاكُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرٌ (13)
“O mankind! Indeed, We created you from a male and a female, and made you into peoples and tribes so that you may ˹get to˺ know one another. Surely the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous among you. Allah is truly All-Knowing, All-Aware.” (al-Hujurat, 49:13)
After this he said to them: ‘O Quraysh, what do you think I am going to do to you?’ The people thought carefully before answering because they knew that according to the laws of war they could all be taken prisoner. They also knew, however, that the Prophet Muhammad (S) was generous, so they replied, “You will treat us as a kind nephew and a generous brother would.” To this he replied with the words used by the Prophet Joseph when his brothers came to Egypt: ‘Allah forgives you and He is the Most Merciful of the merciful.’
Later the Prophet (S) went to the hill of Safa and there the crowd followed him and surged forward, taking his hand one by one, to declare themselves as Muslim. He then turned to the Ka’bah and, pointing his staff at the three hundred and sixty-five idols which were placed there, recited from the Qur’an:
وَقُلْ جَاءَ الْحَقُّ وَزَهَقَ الْبَاطِلُ إِنَّ الْبَاطِلَ كَانَ زَهُوقًا (81)
“And declare, “The truth has come and falsehood has vanished. Indeed, falsehood is bound to vanish.” (a-Isra’,
At this, each idol fell over onto its face. Together with his followers the Prophet (S) then proceeded to purify the Ka’bah, after which he ordered Bilal to climb on top of it and perform the call to prayer. Since then the call to prayer has been heard five times a day in Makkah. The Ka’bah, the House of Allah, has served the purpose for which it was built by Ibrahim (A) thousands of years ago, as a sanctuary for the worship of Allah, our Creator, and Makkah continues to be the spiritual centre of Islam.
On the day Makkah was conquered, the Prophet (S) addressed the people saying: ‘Allah made Makkah holy the day He created the heavens and the earth and it is the Holy of Holies until the Day of Resurrection. It is not lawful for anyone who believes in Allah and the Last Day to shed blood therein, nor to cut down trees therein. It was not lawful for anyone before me and it will not be lawful for anyone after me…Makkah has now regained its former holiness. Let those here now go forth and tell others.’
The Lesson of Pride at The Valley of Hunayn
Islam flourished in Makkah and the Muslims became stronger and stronger, but south of Makkah lived a tribe of warriors called Hawazin, who had not become Muslim. They made an agreement with another tribe from Ta’if, called Thaqif to fight the Muslims and destroy them before they could spread their religion throughout Arabia. The Thaqif, who were known for their courage, soon won the support of other tribes living around the Ta’if area, especially when such tribes were told: “Look what has happened! If Quraysh, the largest tribe of all, have fallen to Muhammad, it is only a matter of time before the same will happen to the rest of us. We should strike now before the Muslims are established in Makkah and have the support of Quraysh.’
The Chief of one of these tribes, a fearless warrior called Malik Ibn ‘Awf, was chosen as the leader. He put forward a plan: ‘You should all go out to battle accompanied by your families, your tents, your sheep and goats, for with all your belongings at stake, none of you will dare give up the fight.’ Everyone agreed with Malik except an old, blind man called Dorayd. He had been a great warrior in his day and because of his experience and valuable advice still accompanied the men into battle. ‘I don’t like Malik’s plan’, he insisted. ‘If a man is so cowardly as to leave a battle, then he will leave his family as well. The women and children will be a great worry to us and if we are defeated all our wealth will fall into enemy hands.’
But Malik ignored this advice and stuck to his original plan. When the Prophet (S) heard what the enemy tribes were planning, he found himself forced to fight and ordered his army towards Ta’if. He had twelve thousand men and the enemy only four thousand. The Muslims were proud of their strength and as they looked around at their number, said to themselves, ‘We will never be defeated!’ On hearing this the Prophet (S) knew that the Muslims had become too proud and because of this would not succeed. He warned them, ‘Look to Allah and not to your own strength.’
The time for battle came. The Muslim army advanced along the Hunayn path, a narrow way in the rugged mountains, towards the valley where the Hawazin and the other tribes were waiting. It was very early morning and not yet light. The Muslims were unaware that, under cover of darkness, the Hawazin warriors had already climbed up the mountain and were waiting for them. As soon as all the Muslims were trapped in the narrow passage-way below, the Hawazin ambushed them. First they threw rocks down upon them and then attacked with arrows and swords.
In surprise and fear, the Muslims started to retreat. The Prophet (S) was bitterly disappointed to see them fleeing in terror but he stayed firmly in his place with Abu Bakr, ‘Ali, his uncle al-‘Abbas, and a few companions at his side. Al ‘Abbas then called to the Muslims to return and not to abandon the Prophet (S).
Ashamed at what they had done, and seeing the Prophet (S) facing the enemy almost alone, the Muslims quickly returned to fight. Then Allah sent His angels to their aid. A fierce battle followed. The Muslim warriors advanced, attacking furiously, driving the Hawazin back from the path into the valley, where the fighting went on long and hard. At the end of the day the Muslims won but not before having learned a hard lesson about the danger of pride.
Just as the old man had predicted, the defeated enemy fled, leaving their families and possessions to be captured. Later all the leaders of the tribes except one came to ask for them back and to declare their acceptance of Islam. The Prophet (S) forgave them and returned their families to them, but not their belongings. The one exception was the leader of Hawazin. He fled to Ta’if, where he sought protection in the castle, but the Muslims pursued him and surrounded the city, which they besieged for about three weeks. They tried to break into the castle but after losing many men in the attempt the Prophet (S) ordered a withdrawal.
The story did not end there, however, for shortly afterwards Hawazin and most of the other tribes came to Makkah and declared themselves Muslim, including Malik Ibn Awf, who had led them in battle and whom the Prophet (S) now made their leader.
After the battle of the Hunayn Valley, the Prophet (S) distributed what goods had been taken between the people of Quraysh and the other Bedouin tribes. The Ansar from Madina, who had been his only support during the long hard years before the conquest of Makkah, received nothing. They felt angry about this and went to the Prophet (S) to complain. He said to them, what is this I hear of you? Do you think badly of me? Did I not come to you when you did not know the truth and Allah guided you; when you were poor and Allah made you rich; when you were enemies and Allah softened your hearts? Are you greedy for the things of this world that I must use to gain people’s trust so that I can then lead them to Islam? Surely for you Islam is enough? Are you not satisfied that while some men take away flocks and herds you take Allah’s Messenger back with you to Madina?’
On hearing this, all the men felt very regretful and began to weep. Then with great humility and reverence their spokesman said: ‘We are indeed well pleased to have Allah’s Messenger as our gift in this life.’
Perhaps we could ask ourselves the same question. Are we not blessed to have the Prophet Muhammad (S) and the Book, guiding us in what really matters forever and ever? Is this not so much more important than thinking about the momentary pleasures of the day?
Shortly after this the Ansar left for Madina accompanied by the Prophet (S). He could have stayed among his own people and lived out his days in Makkah, but he returned as he had promised, to live among the people of Madina, which was a great blessing for them.
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Resources and References:
Imam Ibn Kathir – Stories of the Prophets
Leila Azzam & Aisha Gouverneur – the Life of the Prophet Muhammad
Anwar Al-Awlaki – The Life of Muhammad (Makkan Period) & The Life of Muhammad (Medina Period): https://www.kalamullah.com/muhammad.html
Aisha Stacey – The Religion of Islam (islamreligion.com)
