Basics of Religious Education — Page 229
229 229 229 229 229 B ASICS OF R ELIGIOUS E DUCATION - F IFTH E DITION In the year 629 A. D. (Dhul Qa`dah, 7 Hijrah), the Prophet sa , in the company of nearly 2000 companions, performed `Umrah at Mecca, according to the terms of the Treaty of Hudaibiyah. However, the next year (630 A. D. ) the Quraish committed a serious breach of the Treaty of Hudaibiyah, by attack- ing the Khuza`a , a tribe in alliance with the Muslims. The Holy Prophet sa had no choice but to fight the Quraish. In January 630 A. D. , he advanced towards Mecca with a large force of ten thousand men, and camped just outside Mecca. The Meccans were alarmed at the news of the Prophet’s advance. Feeling helpless, they sent Abu Sufyaan and two others to the Muslim camp, to see if negotiation was possible. The Holy Prophet sa allowed them to pass the night in the camp. Abu Sufyaan was so much impressed by the love of the Muslims for the Holy Prophet sa that by sunrise, he and his companions ac- cepted Islam. The Holy Prophet sa accepted Abu Sufyaan’s proposal that the Meccans could have peace if they did not fight. Thus the Muslim forces marched victoriously into Mecca. The Holy Prophet sa proceeded straight to the Ka`bah and cleared it of all the idols. At this moment he recited the Qur’anic verse (17:82): Truth has come and falsehood has vanished away. Falsehood does indeed vanish away fast. The Holy Prophet sa then addressed the Meccans and declared a general am- nesty for all of them and said (Al-Qur’an, 12:93): No blame shall lie on you this day. These were the same Meccans who had inflicted immense hardship, suffer- ing and torture on the devoted followers of the Holy Prophet sa. These were the same Meccans who eventually compelled the Muslims to leave their motherland. But the Holy Prophet sa , at this moment of triumph was ex- tremely generous and forgave them all. Thus his enemies became his devoted followers. This was undoubtedly a unique act of forgiveness in the history of mankind and signified the vic- tory of love over hatred. The Holy Prophet sa had thus conquered not only Mecca but also the hearts of the Meccans. The Conquest of Mecca (Jan. 630 A. D. , Ramadan, 8 A. H. ) 6. 1 6. 1 6. 1 6. 1 6. 1 H H H H H O L O L O L O L O LY Y Y Y Y P P P P P ROPHET ROPHET ROPHET ROPHET ROPHET SA SA SA SA SA A N D A N D A N D A N D A N D S S S S S UCCESSORS UCCESSORS UCCESSORS UCCESSORS UCCESSORS — L — L — L — L — L I F E I F E I F E I F E I F E O F O F O F O F O F H H H H H O L O L O L O L O LY Y Y Y Y P P P P P ROPHET ROPHET ROPHET ROPHET ROPHET SA SA SA SA SA