The Excellent Exemplar - Muhammad — Page 63
THE EXCELLENT EXEMPLAR — MUHAMMAD 63 Prophet answered in the affirmative and announced a series of measures which would secure a peaceful entry of his followers into Mecca and obviate the possibility of a clash. These measures were widely proclaimed in Mecca and the Muslim forces marched in, the Prophet himself bringing up the rear. At one point the party led by Khalid was attacked by the Meccans and there was a clash resulting in the death of about a dozen men. News of this was brought quickly to the Prophet, and he immediately issued orders which stopped further bloodshed. The Prophet proceeded to the Ka’aba, and himself smashed one by one the idols that had been installed therein. As each idol fell, he recited the verse: “Truth has come and falsehood has vanished away. Falsehood does indeed vanish fast” (I7:82). Thus was th e Ka’aba restored to its true purpose, the worship of the One God, as was intended by Abraham. Having performed these immediate and necessary tasks, and having prayed inside and outside the Ka’aba in thankfulness to God for all His favors, the Prophet sent for the leaders of the Qureish and asked them how he should deal with them. They replied that they fully merited whatever punishment he might choose to inflict upon them, but that they knew he was a generous brother and would deal with them as such. The Prophet pronounced judgment in the words addressed by the Prophet Joseph to his brethren: “No re tribution shall be exacted from you this day” (12:93) All the scorn and ridicule poured on him by the Meccans; their implacable hatred and enmity; the long years of bitter, cruel, and sustained persecution; all the fighting, the hardship and suffering; the loss of dear and devoted companions - all, all was in