Introduction to the Study of The Holy Quran — Page 203
203 He then explained the conditions under which the Prophet had promised peace to the Meccans. On hearing these conditions the people of Mecca ran for protection to the places which had been named in the Prophet’s proclamation. From this proclamation eleven men and four women had been excepted. The offences which they had committed were very grave. Their guilt was not that they had not believed nor that they had taken part in wars against Islam; it was that they had committed inhumanities which could not be passed over. Actually, however, only four persons were put to death. The Prophet had ordered Khalid bin Walid not to permit any fighting unless they were fought against and unless the Meccans first started fighting. The part of the town which Khalid entered had not heard the conditions of peace. The Meccans posted in that part challenged Khalid and invited him to fight. An encounter ensued in which twelve or thirteen men were killed. 229 Khalid was a man of fiery temper. Somebody, warned by this incident, ran to the Prophet to request him to stop Khalid from fighting. If Khalid did not stop, said this man, all Mecca would be massacred. The Prophet sent for Khalid at once and said, "Did I not stop you from fighting?" "Yes, you did, O Prophet of God, but these people attacked us first and began to shoot arrows at us. For a time I did nothing and told them we did not want to fight. But they did not listen, and did not stop. So I replied to them, and dispersed them. " This was the only untoward incident which took place on this occasion. The conquest of Mecca was thus brought about practically without bloodshed. The Prophet entered Mecca. They asked him where he would stop. "Has ‘Aqil left any house for me to live in?" asked the Prophet. ‘Aqil was the Prophet’s cousin, a son of his uncle. During the years of the Prophet’s refuge at Medina, his relations had sold all his property. There was no house left which the Prophet could call his own. Accordingly the Prophet said, "I will stop at Hanif Bani Kinanah. " This was an open space. The Quraysh and the Kinanah once assembled there and swore that unless the Banu Hashim and the Banu ‘Abdul-Muttalib handed over the Prophet to them to deal with him as they liked, they would have no dealings with the two tribes. They would neither sell anything to them nor buy anything from them. It was after this solemn declaration that the Prophet, his uncle Abu Talib, his family and followers, had to take refuge in the valley of Abu Talib and suffer a severe blockade and boycott lasting for three years. The place which the Prophet chose for his stay was, therefore, full of significance. The Meccans had once assembled there and taken the oath that unless the Prophet was made over to them, they would not be at peace with his tribe. Now the Prophet had come to the same spot. It was as though he had come to tell the Meccans: "You wanted me here, so here am I. But not in the way you wanted. You wanted me as your victim, one completely at your mercy. But I am here in power. Not only my own