Introduction to the Study of The Holy Quran — Page 200
200 until after the conquest of Mecca. Hakim bin Hizam asked the Prophet if the Muslims would destroy their own kith and kin. "These people," said the Prophet, "have been very cruel. They have committed excesses and proved themselves of bad faith. They have gone back on the peace they signed at Hudaybiyyah and attacked the Khuza‘ah savagely. They have made war in a place which had been made inviolate by God. " "It is quite true, O Prophet of God, our people have done exactly as you say, but instead of marching upon Mecca you should have attacked the Hawazin," suggested Hakim. "The Hawazin also have been cruel and savage. I hope God will enable me to realise all the three ends: the conquest of Mecca, the ascendancy of Islam and the defeat of the Hawazin. " Abu Sufyan, who had been listening, now asked the Prophet: "If the Meccans draw not the sword, will they have peace?" "Yes," replied the Prophet, "everyone who stays indoors will have peace. " "But O Prophet," intervened ‘Abbas, "Abu Sufyan is much concerned about himself. He wishes to know if his rank and position among the Meccans will be respected. " "Very good," said the Prophet: "Whoever takes shelter in the house of Abu Sufyan will have peace. Whoever enters the Sacred Mosque will have peace. Those who lay down their arms will have peace. Those who close their doors and stay in will have peace. Those who stay in the house of Hakim bin Hizam will have peace. " Saying this, he called Abu Ruwayhah and handed over to him the standard of Islam. Abu Ruwayhah had entered into a pact of brotherhood with Bilal, the negro slave. Handing over the standard, the Prophet said, "Whoever stands under this stan- dard will have peace. " At the same time, he ordered Bilal to march in front of Abu Ruwayhah and announce to all concerned that there was peace under the standard held by Abu Ruwayhah. The Prophet Enters Mecca The arrangement was full of wisdom. When Muslims were persecuted in Mecca, Bilal, one of their targets, was dragged about the streets by ropes tied to his legs. Mecca gave no peace to Bilal, but only physical pain, humiliation and disgrace. How revengeful Bilal must have felt on this day of his deliverance. To let him avenge the savage cruelties suffered by him in Mecca was necessary, but it had to be within the limits laid down by Islam. Accordingly, the Prophet did not let Bilal draw the sword and smite the necks of his former persecutors. That would have been un-Islamic. Instead, the Prophet handed to Bilal’s brother the standard of Islam, and charged Bilal with the duty of offering peace to all his former persecutors under the standard borne by his brother. There was beauty and appeal in this revenge. We have to picture Bilal marching in front of his brother and inviting his enemies to peace. His passion for