Ihyaaud Deen An Effort to Revive Deen in Totality
The Conquest of Makkah Mukarramah was the culmination of the lifelong effort and sacrifice of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam). It was a time when Allah Ta‘ala showed Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) the fruits of his efforts and sacrifice materialize and the glory of Islam become evident to the world.
In the eighth year after the hijrah, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) marched towards the Holy City of Makkah Mukarramah with a powerful army of Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) numbering ten thousand. The kuffaar were powerless at this time before the formidable army of the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) who entered Makkah Mukarramah and conquered it with the command of Allah Ta‘ala.
It was a day of open victory and glory for Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum), as they witnessed the divine help of Allah Ta‘ala descend upon them through Allah Ta‘ala allowing them to return to Makkah Mukarramah as victors after eight years.
On this occasion of the Conquest of Makkah Mukarramah, when Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was at the pinnacle of glory and power, he expressed the greatest humility before Allah Ta‘ala and attributed all victory to Allah Ta‘ala alone.
The poet describes the manner in which Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) entered Makkah Mukarramah as a victorious leader on this occasion. The poet says:
فاتحانہ مکہ آئے سر جکھائے چشمِ نم امن کا اعلان کیا نادم ہوئے اہل وطن
He entered Makkah Mukarramah as a victorious leader, with his head lowered and tears rolling down from his mubaarak eyes (out of humility and gratitude to Allah Ta‘ala).
He then publicly announced general forgiveness and complete safety and amnesty for all the people of Makkah Mukarramah, (despite them being guilty of persecuting and torturing the Muslims before this. On seeing his sublime conduct,) the people of Makkah Mukarramah were remorseful and ashamed (over their previous conduct).
After conquering Makkah Mukarramah, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) stood in the doorway of the Ka’bah Shareef and delivered a sermon to the people of Makkah Mukarramah. In this sermon, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) praised and glorified Allah Ta‘ala for granting him victory.
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) recited the takbeer thrice and then recited the following praise of Allah Ta‘ala:
لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا الله وَحْدَهُ صَدَقَ وَعْدَهُ وَنَصَرَ عَبْدَهُ وَهَزَمَ الْأَحْزَابَ وَحْدَهُ
There is no deity besides Allah Ta‘ala alone, who has fulfilled His promise, assisted His slave, and defeated the armies alone. (Sunan Abu Dawood #4547)
On this momentous occasion, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) did not any attribute any greatness to himself, but rather attributed all greatness to Allah Ta‘ala alone, as he understood that it is Allah Ta‘ala alone who brought this day of glory, honour and victory to him.
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) then addressed the people of Makkah Mukarramah and asked them, “O clan of the Quraish! How do you think I will deal with you today?” They responded saying, “You will deal with us in a good and kind manner, as you are a noble man, the son of a noble man.”
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) then said to them, “Go! You are all free! There will be no reproach upon you today (for the wrongs and injustice that you had done to us in the past).” (Al-Bidaayah wan Nihaayah 6/568)
In some narrations, it is recorded that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said to them, “I will deal with you in the very same manner in which Nabi Yusuf (‘alaihis salaam) dealt with his brothers. He said to them, ‘Go! You are all free! There will be no reproach upon you today.’” (Sunan Kubra Nasai #11234)
On the occasion of the Conquest of Makkah Mukarramah, though Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) had announced general forgiveness for one and all, however there were few people who were excluded from the general forgiveness on account of them being arch-enemies of Islam and the Muslims. Hence, in regard to these people, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) had given instruction that they should be killed. Among these people was Habbaar bin Aswad.
Habbaar bin Aswad was responsible for many atrocities against the Muslims, and in specific, he was responsible for attacking and severely injuring the daughter of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), Hazrat Zainab (radhiyallahu ‘anha).
Habbaar bin Aswad Causing Injury to the daughter of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam)
On the occasion when Hazrat Zainab (radhiyallahu ‘anha) was departing from Makkah Mukarramah to make hijrah to Madinah Munawwarah, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) sent two Sahaabah to wait outside Makkah Mukarramah to fetch her and bring her safely to Madinah Munawwarah.
Her husband, Abul Aas bin Rabee (who had not yet embraced Islam), asked his brother, Kinaanah, to take her outside Makkah Mukarramah and hand her over to the Muslims. As Hazrat Zainab (radhiyallahu ‘anha) and Kinaanah were moving out of the town on camel-back, the Quraish became infuriated. They sent a group to stop them in which was Habbaar bin Aswad.
Habbaar flung a spear at her which wounded her and caused her to fall from the camel. At that time, she was expecting, and due to the wound and injury she sustained, she suffered a miscarriage. Kinaanah immediately started shooting arrows towards the trouble-makers.
Abu Sufyaan (who was still a non-Muslim at that time) said to Kinaanah, “We cannot allow the daughter of Muhammed (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) to leave Makkah Mukarramah so openly. Let her go back and we will send her secretly after a few days.”
Kinaanah agreed and Hazrat Zainab (radhiyallahu ‘anha) was sent off after a few days. She suffered greatly from this wound for a long time, until eventually, she passed away because of the wound in the year 8 A.H.
Habbaar bin Aswad remained a disbeliever and an arch enemy of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and the Muslims. Hence, on the occasion of the Conquest of Makkah Mukarramah, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) mentioned to the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum), that they should kill Habbaar bin Aswad. (Sharhuz Zurqaani 3/427)
Habbaar knew that he had committed serious atrocities, and hence, on the occasion of the Conquest of Makkah, he fled to save his life. When Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was returning from Ji’irraanah, Habbaar came before Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) with the intention of embracing Islam and seeking forgiveness for the crimes he had committed.
Hazrat Jubair bin Mut’im (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) relates the incident of how Habbaar embraced Islam saying:
I was seated with Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) on the occasion when he was returning from Ji’irraanah. While we were seated together, Habbaar entered. Seeing him, some of the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) said, “O Rasul of Allah! This is Habbaar bin Aswad!” Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) replied, “I have seen him.”
One of the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) then intended to stand up and confront him, but Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) gestured to the Sahaabi to sit down. Habbaar then stood before Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), greeted him with salaam and said, “O Rasul of Allah! I testify that there is none worthy of worship besides Allah, and that Muhammed is the Rasul of Allah.”
He then said, “O Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam)! I fled from you and I went to different lands. Then, I intended to go and join the non-Arabs (in their country, out of Arabia, thereby saving my life from you and your Sahaabah [radhiyallahu ‘anhum]).
“However, I remembered that you are a person of great compassion and grace, and I pondered over your sublime character of forgiveness for all those who treat you in a foolish and evil way. O Rasul of Allah! We were people of shirk and disbelief, but now, through you, Allah Ta‘ala has guided us to Islam and saved us from destruction! Please forgive me for my foolishness and the harm I had caused you (through harming your daughter and the Muslims), for indeed, I confess to my evil actions and acknowledge my sin!”
When Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) heard him seeking forgiveness, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) immediately forgave him and said to him, “I have forgiven you, and Allah Ta‘ala has showered His special kindness upon you by guiding you to Islam. Indeed, Islam wipes out all sins that one has committed before Islam.” (Usdul Ghaabah 5/360, Taareekh Khamees 1/391)
