Mar 20
Conquest of Makkah
Thursday 20 Ramadan, 1446
Mar 20
Thursday 20 Ramadan, 1446
The Conquest of Makkah was a pivotal event in Islamic history when Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ and his companions peacefully reclaimed Mecca from the Quraysh. It marked the end of idolatry not only in the holy city but in most parts of the Arabian Peninsula. It also paved the way for the establishment of Islamic rule.
In the earlier phase of the Prophethood, the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ and his followers had to face severe persecutions at the hands of the Quraysh tribe of Mecca. Eventually, on the Will and Command of Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ, he, along with his followers, migrated to Medina in 622 CE, where the first Islamic state was established. However, the Quraysh continued their efforts to destabilize the newly founded Islamic state by engaging the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ in a series of battles.
In 628 CE, the sixth year after migration, the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ decided to travel to Mecca for the pilgrimage of Ka’aba, with a group comprising around 1500 of his followers. The Quraysh took this as an attack on Mecca, whereas the Muslims were unarmed and dressed in Pilgrimage style. They refused to allow entry of Muslims in Mecca. After a comprehensive phase of negotiations, a truce was signed between both parties, historically known as the “Treaty of Hudaybiyyah.”
The main clauses of the treaty were as under:
Per the terms of the treaty, the Prophet Muhammad. صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ performed his first and the last Pilgrimage, along with his followers, the next year. However, the treaty was soon breached by the Quraysh. The tribe of Banu Bakr were the allies of Quraysh, whereas Banu Khaza had entered into allegiance with the Muslims. In 8 AH, Banu Bakr attacked Banu Khuzah. Breaching the terms of the treaty of Hudaybiyyah, the Quraysh supported Banu Bakr during this attack.
Resultantly, the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ asked the Quraysh to either pay blood money to the victims of Banu Khazah, or the treaty will be considered void. Eventually, the Prophet decided to launch a military campaign against the Quraysh, as the treaty of Hudaybiyyah was breached by them. This was the basic reason behind the conquest of Mecca, which happened somewhere between December 629 to January 630. However, it is generally believed that it was the 20th of Ramadan, 8 AH.
Just before the conquest of Mecca, the leader of Quraysh, Abu Sufyan Ibn Harb, accepted Islam. The conquest occurred without any noticeable resistance. The Prophet entered Mecca along with his army of 10,000. Ka’aba was cleared from the idols, which were installed there by the Quraysh. The Prophet announced a general amnesty for all the Meccans, declaring that anyone taking refuge in Abu Sufyan’s house is safe, anyone taking refuge in Ka’aba is safe and those taking refuge in their own house will also be safe.
The outcome of the conquest of Mecca was that the conflict between Quraysh and Muslims came to an end. Another impact of this conquest was that the entire Arabian Peninsula came under the Islamic Rule. After staying in Mecca for around 20 days, the Prophet went back to Medina.
The conquest occurred on the 20th of Ramadan, 8 AH (January 630 CE). Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ entered Mecca with an army of 10,000 companions, without any resistance. Although the 20th of Ramadan, 8 AH, is generally accepted as the actual date, some scholars have different points of view. Some historians suggest that the date of conquest was either the 10, 17, 19, or 20th of Ramadan.
Accordingly, it would correspond to either the end of 629 CE or the start of 630 CE. The consensus is on the month of Ramadan of 8 AH. The conquest of Mecca is marked by the concept of mercy and forgiveness, which was exhibited by the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ at this historic event.
Following are some of the key highlights of the conquest of Makkah:
At the historic event of the conquest of Mecca, the Prophet announced a general amnesty for the people of Mecca. He specifically instructed his troops not to kill anyone who did not resist. He also instructed them not to destroy crops and animals. As part of the general amnesty, he announced the following:
Immediately after entering Mecca, the Prophet proceeded to Ka’aba. The Quraysh had installed around 360 idols in the Ka’aba. The Prophet started knocking down these idols while reciting the 81st verse of Surah Al-Isra:
Translation - And say: "Truth has come and falsehood nullified." Verily falsehood is perishable
This was an important and one of the most significant parts of the conquest of Mecca. The Ka’aba was the symbol of Oneness of Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ (Monotheism), whereas it was filled with idols by the non-believers. Cleaning it from these idols was done to eradicate all signs of polytheism and restoration of Ka’aba as the symbolic place of monotheism.
While the Prophet was on his way to Mecca, Abu Sufyan Ibn Harb tried to have a meeting with him, along with some of his aides. The Prophet allowed him. After a brief conversation with the Prophet, Abu Sufyan Ibn Harb accepted Islam. Similarly, other two companions of Abu Sufyan Iban Harb, known as Hakim Bin Hizam and Budail Bin Warqa also embraced Islam.
After the conquest of Mecca, many others also entered into Islam. Likewise, other tribes of the Arabian Peninsula also joined Islam. In a short span of time, almost the entire Peninsula submitted to Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ. Acceptance of Islam by the Quraysh leaders, as well as the leaders of other tribes, resulted in the spread of Islam at a rapid pace. So, one of the most considerable impacts of the conquest of Mecca is that it resulted in the expansion and spreading of the Message of Islam in the entire Arab and beyond.
The significance of the conquest of Makkah involves:
The conquest of Mecca is known for the practical exhibition of the Islamic concept of justice and compassion. The Prophet announced and implemented a general amnesty for all the Meccans. No revenge was taken from anyone. Even the wife of Abu Sufyan, who was instrumental in the martyrdom of Hazrat Hamza, uncle of the Prophet, was pardoned. That was the level of mercy, exhibited by the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ. It was also instructed by the Prophet not to kill anyone who did not show resistance.
Another noticeable impact of the conquest of Mecca was that it facilitated the spread of Islam. The fall of Mecca to the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ was seen as the success of the truth by most of the tribes of Arabian Peninsula. They were also impressed by the military might of the Muslims. The outcome of this impression was obvious; almost all the tribes submitted to the Prophet and accepted Islam. It also resulted in the unity of Muslims under Islamic Rule, led by the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ.
The conquest of Mecca resulted in a long-standing conflict between the Muslims and the Quraysh. Muslims emerged as ultimate winners in this battle of Truth and Falsehood.
The conquest of Mecca ended the ongoing battle between the believers and non-believers, with victory for the believers. The Quraysh and the Muslims were engaged in a continuous conflict ever since the inception of Islam, which ultimately ended with the conquest of Mecca. It had the following implications:
1. Islam was the official religion of the seat of Arabia, Mecca.
2. The hub of polytheism was overcome.
3. Muslims had a stronghold in Arabia. Now, they could focus on spreading Islam across the world as they were no longer worried about facing opposition from the Quraysh in Mecca.
Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَdealt with the people of Mecca with justice and compassion. He did not take revenge on them. He declared a general amnesty for all the Meccans, instructing his companions not to fight those who did not resist. He also honored the notables of Mecca, such as Abu Sufyan Ibn Harb, by declaring that anyone who seeks refuge in his house is safe.
All the 360 idols placed inside the Ka’aba were destroyed by the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ and his companions. The Ka'aba was practically cleaned from all these Idols.
The Prophet launched the military campaign for the conquest of Mecca with 10,000 of his companions.
It ended the conflicts between the Muslims and the non-Muslims of Quraysh. It resulted in unity of the Muslim Ummah, under the leadership of the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ. The entire Arabian Peninsula came under the Islamic Rule and accepted Islam as their only religion. The pace of the spread of Islam was increased after the conquest of Mecca, which later on reached up to Middle East, Asia and Africa.