A Critique of Professor Arnold G. Toynbee’s Understanding — Page 40
40 Ten years later, this King of both the Worlds, entered Makkah as a victorious commander. He possessed full power under the waving flag of success and accomplishment. He had power and capability to revenge, no disbeliever could utter a word against Him. He greeted these venomous enemies with the news of their complete forgiveness. He declared for all: Go, today you are all forgiven and free. You shall not be subjected to any hardship today ( Muslim, Fatah Makkah, Vol. ll, p. 86 ). Can history present the instance of any king or Caesar, who might have presented to the world an example of such great forgiveness and mercy? Nat only this, but every single prominent enemy of the Holy Prophet and of his followers were forgiven one by one. Abu Sufyan, who was the Head of the Makkans in each and every battle of the disbelievers against the Muslims, was arrested on this occasion, and came before the presence of the Holy Prophet. The Holy Prophet treated him with great courtesy, love and affec tion. He declared his house as the abode of peace, that anyone who entered in the house of Abu Sufyaan shall be granted peace and safety ( Muslim, Vol. 2, Fatah Makkah, p. 86 ). The enmity of Abu Jahl towards the Holy Prophet was not hidden from anyone. When Abu Jahl’s son, Akramah, was brought to the Holy Prophet by his wife, he declared: O you who migrated, blessed be your return ( Mishkaat, Kitab - ul - Adab ). Toynbee accuses the Holy Prophet of having used force and pressure. He says that upon arrival in Madinah, he bid farewell to