The Greatest Victory in Islam Begins
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
O Allah, we praise You, seek Your help and guidance, and ask from You alone. There is no deity or refuge except You. Keep our feet firm on the straight path and make us among those who are sincere in word and deed towards You. Fill our hearts with such honour and dignity that contain no arrogance or pride. O Allah, we pray that You protect us from humiliation and do not make us a tool for those who lead others astray. Guide us among the guided ones and make us guides towards Your path.
O Allah, send Your mercy upon Your sincere friend. Your beloved, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), his pure family, and his enlightened companions.
This is the eighth episode in our series on the decisive milestones of Islamic history. Its name is Fatah Makkah — the Conquest of Mecca. Bringing this series to you has required immense effort, the limits of which only Allah knows. We hope it finds favour with our respected readers.
Our purpose in this historical series, beyond seeking Allah's pleasure, is to present the priceless treasures of Islamic history before our audience. These are filled with awe-inspiring events from the life of our noble prophet (peace be upon him) and his noble companions. We aim to inspire justice-loving, sincere, and guided readers to follow in the footsteps of these exemplary people who shaped this luminous history for us.
Unfortunately, attempts have always been made to erase or distort these historical landmarks with malicious and foul ideologies. As long as we have distanced ourselves from Islam, arrows have continued to rain upon us. The greatest reason for the damage we have suffered over long periods is this very distancing.
The conquest of Mecca carries profound lessons for the wise and insightful — whether ruler or ruled. It is packed with the best teachings and great admonitions.
The Historic Event
Approximately 10,000 valiant Muslims marched on Mecca, the great fortress of the Prophet's (peace be upon him) bitter enemies. Its inhabitants, overwhelmed, laid down their arms. The victorious leader, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), embraced them all in his mercy.
These were the same people who had conspired to shed his blood, declared it lawful, driven him out from under every sky, and left no place for him. They believed they had the power to eliminate him. They waged war against him and his followers. Yet, when the enemy leaders were at his mercy on the day of this great victory, no spirit of revenge arose in the Prophet (peace be upon him) – the kind that consumes the blood of persecutors and those who humiliated the weak.
Even on this day of triumph, revenge found no path to influence the Prophet and leader (peace be upon him). On this historic day, the Noble Messenger demonstrated a unique example of compassion, mercy, and forgiveness perfectly aligned with his noble nature.
He asked the Quraysh: "O people of Quraysh, what do you think I will do with you?"
They replied, "You are a generous brother and the son of a generous brother."
He declared, "Go, you are free."
These prophetic words brought forgiveness to the people of Mecca. Standing near the door of the Kaaba, the Prophet (peace be upon him) granted general amnesty while the hearts of Mecca's leaders pounded with fear that he would exact revenge and send them to silent graves.
But the ethics of prophethood prevailed. By forgiving the enemy leaders of Mecca, he bestowed favour upon them. They happily turned to the faith of their own accord, dedicated themselves to Islam, became its champions and great builders, and achieved decisive successes that brought immense strength to Islam in Syria, Iraq, Persia, Egypt, and Africa.
Examples include Safwan bin Umayya, Ikrimah bin Abi Jahl, and Abdullah bin Sa'd bin Abi Sarh. Safwan bin Umayya later commanded commandos at the Battle of Yarmouk, sacrificing his life with 400 others to halt a Roman assault that threatened to crush the small Muslim force. Abdullah bin Sa'd bin Abi Sarh led the Islamic naval fleet to one of its greatest victories, still remembered on the seas, achieved in a famous naval battle.
The Road to Conquest: Treaty of Hudaybiyyah and Its Violation
Before the Conquest, orders had been issued for the killing of certain individuals. Still, the Prophet (peace be upon him) forgave them and appointed some as military leaders because they later dedicated themselves fiercely to the cause of Islam. Many others who deserved punishment on the day of victory were also spared.
In the sixth year of Hijrah, on the rocky plains of Hudaybiyyah, the Prophet (peace be upon him) concluded a historic treaty with the Quraysh. He could not have imagined the negative consequences of some clauses, yet this treaty ended hostilities between the Quraysh, Kinana on one side, and the Prophet and the Khuza'ah on the other for ten years.
During this period, Muslims and polytheists lived in peace. The Prophet (peace be upon him) meticulously upheld every clause of the treaty with profound insight and demonstrated Islamic ethics through his actions. He even returned Muslim individuals to their polytheist families, clearly showing his commitment to agreements.
Yet, the ink on the treaty documents had barely dried when the Quraysh and their Kinana allies violated it. They did not uphold it as the Prophet and his faithful allies did.
The Qurayshi polytheists and their allies viewed the peace period as a golden opportunity for betrayal. Unable to confront the Muslims in open bravery, they sought revenge through treachery during peacetime.
The Banu Bakr, with Quraysh's help, launched a surprise attack, killing more than 25 men of the Khuza'ah inside the sacred Haram boundaries during the treaty period. They slaughtered them while they were praying in the state of tahajjud, unarmed, and seeking refuge in the Haram. This was a blatant violation of the treaty that the Quraysh themselves had demanded.
When news of this criminal act — a clear example of betrayal against the Prophet's allies — reached the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), he did not rush to attack Mecca despite the treaty's mutual responsibilities and penalties for violation. He disliked bloodshed and preferred preserving lives, even of enemies who had tried to spill Muslim blood.
Before breaking the treaty in response, he proposed a merciful solution via a special envoy to the Quraysh (who were major signatories). He offered three options to prevent war:
- Pay blood money (diyat) for the slain Khuza'ah allies so the treaty could continue for ten years with blood preserved.
- Disown the major treaty-breakers so the Prophet could deal with them alone and they could punish their own criminals justly.
- Hand over the aggressors and consider themselves equally responsible since the violation occurred with their approval.
The Quraysh rejected the first two merciful proposals arrogantly and chose war. They sent a message preferring battle over compensation or disavowal.
The March to Mecca
After the Quraysh's treaty violation rendered the Hudaybiyyah null, the Prophet (peace be upon him) decided to march on Mecca. He considered himself in a state of war with them once more, as before the treaty. He initiated action in response to their breach.
This was a justified case for war against those who violated pacts, supported oppressors, and attacked allies. The Quraysh had themselves declared war before the Prophet's announcement.
Allah had endowed the Prophet (peace be upon him) with perfect wisdom. He could discern betrayal. For these valid reasons, he marched from Madinah with an army of 10,000 brave warriors to discipline the treacherous covenant-breakers.
He led them to Mecca while its polytheists were negligent, unaware due to divine concealment of the news. Even the Muslim vanguard reached the outskirts before the Quraysh realised. The leaders who had planned betrayal now faced shining Islamic swords from all sides. With little resistance, they surrendered the city to the Prophet's army.
Contrary to their fears, the Conquest proved a source of goodness and blessing, as the Prophet had foretold in Madinah. When his wife Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) asked if the war was intended for good or evil for the Quraysh, he replied that it was for good.
After the Conquest, the people of Mecca entered Islam willingly and found great peace. Idolatry was wiped out with determination. Within a year, the entire Arabian Peninsula had largely embraced Islam. This victory occurred in the eighth year of Hijrah, and by the ninth (Year of Delegations), envoys poured into Madinah to accept the faith.
Then Allah revealed:
"When the victory of Allah has come and the conquest, and you see the people entering into the religion of Allah in multitudes, then exalt with praise of your Lord and ask forgiveness of Him. Indeed, He is ever accepting of repentance." (Surah An-Nasr 110:1-3).
Detailed Historical Context and Lessons
The Conquest of Mecca was not born of impulse but of principle, patience, and strategy. The Treaty of Hudaybiyyah, initially seen as humiliating by some companions (including Umar ibn al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him), proved to be a "clear victory" (Surah Al-Fath). It allowed Islam to spread peacefully, doubling the Muslim numbers and weakening Quraysh's isolation.
When Banu Bakr attacked Khuza'ah (Muslim allies) with Quraysh support – killing them even in prayer inside the Haram – it crossed every red line. The Prophet's response was measured: offers of reconciliation first, then decisive action when rejected.
The army of 10,000 assembled secretly. Divisions entered from different routes under leaders like Khalid ibn al-Walid, Zubayr ibn al-Awwam, and Sa'd ibn Ubadah. There was minimal fighting; the Prophet ordered no unnecessary bloodshed.
He entered humbly on his camel, head bowed nearly to the saddle, reciting Surah Al-Fath, glorifying Allah. Idols around the Kaaba were destroyed. General amnesty was declared: "Whoever enters the house of Abu Sufyan is safe; whoever closes his door is safe; whoever enters the Masjid is safe."
Even those who had mutilated Hamza (may Allah be pleased with him), attempted assassination, or persecuted Muslims were mostly forgiven. This mercy transformed enemies into heroes of Islam.
Profound Lessons for Today
- Forgiveness Over Revenge: True strength lies in mercy when in power.
- Upholding Covenants: The Prophet's fidelity to treaties, even seemingly unfavourable ones, highlights Islamic ethics. Violation by others justified a response, but always with justice.
- Strategic Patience: Hudaybiyyah taught that apparent setbacks can lead to greater victories.
- Humility in Triumph: The Prophet's bowed head in conquest remains a model against arrogance.
- Spread of Faith Through Character: No forced conversions; hearts were won by example.
- Divine Help: The bloodless nature (mostly) underscores Allah's support for truth.
This event marked the beginning of Islam's dominance in Arabia and paved the way for its global spread. It transformed a persecuted community into a powerful, merciful civilisation.
The Conquest of Mecca stands as the greatest victory, not because of military might alone, but because of the moral and spiritual triumph it represented — the victory of truth, mercy, and monotheism over idolatry, oppression, and tribal vengeance.
May Allah grant us the ability to draw lessons from this luminous chapter and implement them in our lives. Ameen.
