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Huzaifa Shaikh
In Ramadan 8 AH, corresponding to December and January of 630 CE, an event occurred that no human being could have comprehended to take place even 30 years prior. The stronghold of the Arab pagans which had been the center of polytheism for centuries had finally fallen, igniting a new phase in Arabia which would rewrite history forever. Makkah had surrendered to the Muslims after resisting for 20 years and despite its supremacy in every aspect, whether politically, militarily, economically or socially, it crumbled under the might of the Muslims, who were led by a man who was a popular personality in Makkah — Muhammad (PBUH).
Following the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah in 6 AH, the Muslims had established themselves as a strategic force in the Arabian Peninsula, much mightier than what they were merely five years ago. Initially, the treaty seemed like the final nail in the coffin for them as the terms which were decided were unreasonable and in no way beneficial for the Muslims. Under the treaty, if a person from Makkah went to Madina, they had to be returned, but if it were vice versa, then they wouldn’t be returned.
Moreover, the Muslims who had walked all the way from Madina, thrilled to perform Umrah (lesser pilgrimage), had to go back without performing it and could do it next year, but for merely three days. Furthermore, a peace treaty of 10 years was signed and both the Quraish and Muslims could form alliances with the tribes in the region. Umar (RA) wasn’t able to control himself, but Abu Bakr (RA) calmed him down and as the Muslims proceeded to Madina, dejected, the opening verse of Surah Fath was revealed, “Verily, I have granted you a manifest victory.” (48:1). Instantly, Umar (RA) asked the Prophet (PBUH), “Is this a victory, O Messenger of Allah?” The Prophet (PBUH) answered in the affirmative and Umar (RA) was overcome with regret over challenging the Prophet’s decision.
Following the Treaty of Hudaybiyah, a clear message had been sent across the Arabian Peninsula, the Muslims were a formidable force that couldn’t be taken lightly. The Prophet (PBUH) availed the 10-year truce and sent ambassadors in the surrounding regions to propagate Islam. Amr bin Umaiyah (RA) was sent with a letter inviting Ashama bin Al Abjar, commonly known as Negus, the King of the Aksumite empire. He gave a positive response and embraced Islam. Next, Al-Ala’ bin Al-Hadrami (RA) was dispatched to modern-day Bahrain and addressed the governor, Mundhir bin Sawa. He wrote back to the Prophet (PBUH), informing him that a group of his people found Islam appealing and embraced it, whilst others chose to practice their own faiths. The Prophet (PBUH) then commissioned Abdullah bin Hudhafa (RA) to Persia where he met Khusroes. Khusroes considered the Arabs as an inferior race and the letter inviting him to Islam, dented his well-crafted ego. Due to this, he tore the letter apart in rage and deployed troops to arrest and bring the Prophet (PBUH) before him. Upon hearing this, the Prophet (PBUH), supplicated against Khusroes and stated, “May Allah tear his kingdom apart just as he tore my letter.” The Prophet’s (PBUH) prayer was accepted and the Persian kingdom which had dominated the world for a millennium, faced a humiliating end when its most powerful ruler, Khusroes was murdered by his own son. Letters were also sent to Rome, Yamamah, Oman, Egypt and Damascus, signifying the prominence of the Muslims.
As the Muslims were rising rapidly post- Hudaybiyah, the Jews and Christians grew anxious as this was the last thing they desired. The Jews were aware of the fact that the Quraishi polytheists had lost miserably during the Battle of Ahzab even though their army consisted of a large number of tribes.
Furthermore, the hypocrites who had sided with the Quraish, after facing military defeat, tried to cause a rout amongst the Muslims emotionally and psychologically. They stooped to such a low that they accused the Prophet (PBUH) of a heinous crime. The verses had been revealed, abolishing tabanni which was adoption in which the child would keep his adopted father’s name and have the same rights as a biological child. However, Islam refined it and instructed that the child would keep his biological father’s name and would have no rights in regard to inheritance but would be provided with the same love and care. Thus, it was permissible for the Prophet (PBUH) to marry Zainab bint Jahsh (RA) who wasn’t getting along with the Prophet’s (PBUH) former son, Zaid bin Haritha (RA) as now Zaid (RA) wasn’t considered his son. Nonetheless, when the verses were revealed, hypocrites spread rumours, intending to dent the Prophet’s (PBUH) dignity and cause the Muslims to hold him in a lower regard. Nevertheless, this failed and so these demonic individuals accused the Prophet’s (PBUH) wife, Ayesha (RA), causing yet another emotional scar for the Prophet (PBUH). Some sincere Muslims even fell prey to the slander which the hypocrites spread, which caused the Prophet (PBUH) further restlessness. Allah later revealed the verses in Surah Nur, confirming Ayesha’s (RA) innocence and foiling the wretched plot of the hypocrites.
Thus, the Jews considered themselves intellectually and economically superior to the Arab polytheists and came to the conclusion that battle was the sole option to eliminate Islam. They fought the Battle of Khaibar where they suffered a crushing loss, bringing an end to Jewish supremacy in Arabia. This worried the Roman Christians, hence Heraclius prepared an army of 100,000 men alongside another 100,000 consisting of allied tribes. The Muslims who were a mere 3000, fearlessly marched to Mu’tah, where the battle occurred. Khalid bin Walid (RA) who had recently embraced Islam, following Hudaybiyah, was given the command of the Muslim army in the wake of the martyrdom of the three generals the Prophet (PBUH) had deployed, Zaid bin Haritha (RA), Jafar bin Abi Talib (RA) and Abdullah bin Rawaha (RA). It was reported by Al-Bukhari that Khalid bin Walid (RA) broke nine swords during the battle. He also initiated a strategy as he knew that if the Muslims fought in the orthodox manner, they would be blown away. He reshuffled the right and left flanks of the Muslim army and introduced a forward division from the rear end, giving the impression of reinforcements. This frightened the Romans and they halted the pursuit. This strategy known as “Tactical Withdrawal” showcased what a mastermind Khalid (RA) was and is taught to this day.
Moving on, the Muslims had made alliances with the Banu Khuz’ah tribe whilst Quraish had aligned themselves with Banu Bakr. Both Banu Bakr and Banu Khuz’ah were hostile to one another. Nonetheless, hidden motives stretching back to the times of Jahiliyyah (Pre-Islamic period) triggered hostilities and Banu Bakr carried out an attack on Banu Khuz’ah. They fled to the Ka’bah which was a sacred area where bloodshed was forbidden, but the Banu Bakr were heedless of the sanctity of the Ka’bah and killed people there as well.
Banu Khuz’ah approached the Prophet (PBUH), seeking justice and he immediately sent a message to the Quraish, demanding the acceptance of any one of the three options for violating the truce. The demands included:
To pay blood money for the victims of Khuz’ah
To terminate their alliance with Banu Bakr
To consider the truce to have been nullified
The Quraish grew anxious as they knew the Muslims were the dominant force, having defeated the Jews and Romans. They sent their most experienced politician, Abu Sufyan, to renew the treaty. However, Abu Sufyan was largely ignored in Madina and returned dejected to Makkah.
Back in Madina, the Prophet (PBUH) had initiated preparations for war and instructed his companions to keep it confidential. As a buzz had begun in Madina, Hatib bin Abi-Balta (RA) had sent word to Makkah by handing a letter to a lady, informing of the Prophet’s (PBUH) attack. The Prophet (PBUH) got to know what Hatib (RA) had done and sent Ali (RA), Al- Miqdad (RA), Az-Zubair (RA) and Abu Marthad (RA) to catch the woman before she reached Makkah. They reached the woman in time, and she did showcase some resistance but ultimately handed over the letter. When Hatib (RA) was summoned by the Prophet (PBUH) for an explanation, he exclaimed, “My family is in Makkah and there is no one to look after them or to offer protection. I felt that since I’m not related to them (Quraish), I should, for the safety of my children, earn their gratitude by doing some good. I swear by Allah, that I have not done this act as an apostate.”
Umar (RA) was furious and couldn’t take it anymore. He requested the Prophet (PBUH) to let him execute Hatib (RA) as he considered him a hypocrite but the Prophet (PBUH) out of his mercy, pardoned Hatib (RA).
On the 10th of Ramadan, the Prophet (PBUH) proceeded to Makkah alongside 10,000 soldiers and appointed Abdur Ruhm Al-Ghifari (RA) as an interim ruler of Madina in his absence. Upon reaching Al-Juhfa, the Prophet (PBUH) encountered his uncle, Al-Abbas (RA) and his family. At Al-Abwa, he came across his cousins, Abu Sufyan bin Harith and Abdullah bin Umayyah, but they weren’t welcomed due to the pain they had inflicted upon the Muslims. They repented and became great companions of the Prophet (PBUH), earning the glad tidings of Paradise.
As the Makkans grew fearful of the Muslims, Abu Sufyan bin Harb, Hakim bin Hizam and Budayl bin Warqa had been patrolling the outskirts of Makkah. The Prophet (PBUH) ordered the 10,000 soldiers to light a fire so they would seem much larger during the night and chose not to attack in the dead of the night. Rather, the Prophet (PBUH), opted to fight in broad daylight to portray the courage of the Muslims. Abu Sufyan got startled by it, adding insult to injury.
As Al-Abbas (RA) was making rounds on the back of the Prophet (PBUH), he heard sounds and instantly knew it was Abu Sufyan. Al-Abbas (RA) persuaded him to become Muslim and surrender before the Prophet (PBUH), to avert any consequences. Abu Sufyan followed Al-Abbas (RA) to the Prophet’s (PBUH) tent, however when Umar (RA) noticed Abu Sufyan, his temples boiled and urged the Prophet (PBUH) to let him cut Abu Sufyan’s head off. Instead the Prophet (PBUH) let Abu Sufyan spend the night in Al-Abbas’s (RA) tent.
The next day, Abu Sufyan was hesitant to embrace Islam but after witnessing Al-Abbas’s (RA) persuasion, recited the confession of faith, thereby entering the fold of Islam. As Abu Sufyan (RA) was a man fond of authority and honour, the Prophet (PBUH) alongside naming the Ka’bah and everyone’s personal homes a secure place to stay once the Muslims entered Makkah, mentioned Abu Sufyan’s (RA) house as well separately, uplifting him.
When the Prophet (PBUH) entered Makkah, he didn’t put on a pompous, arrogant show. Instead, he put his head down, constantly praising God for granting him his biggest victory yet.
This provides us with valuable lessons to trust God’s plan in times of adversary and otherwise as well as it’s only Him who can see the larger picture. The Prophet (PBUH) trusted God and depicted patience when the Muslims were forced to sign what seemed to be unfavourable terms in the Treaty of Hudaybiyah and despite being a hair’s breadth away from Makkah, returned back to Madina. It also gives us hope in light of what tragedies have been occurring in Palestine and by extension the region of Greater Syria in addition to the genocide which transpired in Srebrenica. We mustn’t give up and should keep on supporting the victims of theses genocides in whatever way we can and still bearing in mind that God is witnessing the cruel actions of the tyrants in Gaza, Yemen, Sudan and everywhere else and just like the genocide in Srebrenica ended and the Prophet (PBUH) conquered Makkah after 20 years of hardship, Palestine will soon be liberated and the people will attain their legitimate rights which they had been deprived of.
No tyranny is perpetual. All tyrants fall. What matters is who stands up before the fall and what rises after.
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