Islam - A religion of justice

The Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam stood at the door of the Ka'bah, holding its frame, while the Quraish arrayed themselves in front of him in the courtyard. He addressed them, saying :

"There is no God but Allah alone. He has no partner. He has made good His promise and helped His servant. He has alone overthrown all the confederates. All the privileges and claims to retaliation are beneath my feet except the custody of the Ka'bah and providing water to the pilgrims. 0 people of the Quraish, Allah has abolished the haughtiness of paganism and the pride of lineage. Man springs from Adam and Adam sprang from dust."

Thereafter, the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam recited the Quránic verses:

"0 mankind! Certainly, we have created you male and female and have made you nations and tribes that you may know one another. Verily, the noblest of you in the sight of Allah, is the most pious. Verily, Allah is All-knowing and All-Aware."

The Prophet of Mercy

The Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam then asked the Quraish: "0 Quraish, what do you think I am about to do with you?"

"We hope for the best," they replied, "you are a noble brother and son of a noble brother."

The Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam said in reply: "I say to you what Yusuf said to his brothers : 'Have no fear this day. Go your way for you are all free.' " (1)

Now that the victory was complete, all the citizens of Makkah were granted amnesty. One of those brought before the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam was Wahshi, the slave of Jubayr Ibn Mut'im, who had killed the Prophet's Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam uncle, Hamza Radhi Allahu Anhu. The Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam had condemned him to death but when he came repenting of his deed he was forgiven.

Habbar Ibn al-Aswad, who had attacked the Prophet's Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam daughter, Zaynab, had fled Makkah but later came back to accept Islam. The merciful Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam also forgave him. Among those found guilty were two singing girls, Sarah and her friend, who used to sing satirical songs ridiculing the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam. When amnesty was demanded for them, the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam pardoned their guilt and they accepted Islam.

After the men had pledged their faith the women came up to take the oath. Among them came Hind Ibn Utba, the wife of Abu Sufyan. She came veiled because of what she had done to Hamza Radhi Allahu Anhu. The Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam forgave her and allowed her to pledge her allegiance to him.

Only a handful of people were condemned to death. Of these was one who had been guilty of apostasy after accepting Islam, another man had deceitfully killed a Muslim while a few others had abused the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam. Ikrima Ibn Abu Jahl so detested Islam that he had fled to Yemen. His wife became a Muslim and requested the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam to grant him amnesty. Ikrima was the son of Abu Jahl, the greatest enemy of the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam, yet he was not only pardoned but when he came back to Makkah the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam accorded him a warm welcome. He was well pleased to admit Ikrima into the fold of Islam. Accorded a place of honour among the Muslims, Ikrima distinguished himself by his deeds of valour in the battles fought by the Muslims against the apostates and the Romans.

Equality Before the Law

Fatimah, a woman of Bani Makhzum was, in the meanwhile, apprehended on the charge of theft. Her clansmen approached Usama Ibn Zaid Radhi Allahu Anhu in the hope that he might intercede with the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam on her behalf. When Usama Radhi Allahu Anhu mentioned the matter to the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam, he found his expression completely altered. The Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam said to Usama: "Do you speak to me about the bounds put by Allah?" Usama felt so ashamed that he beseeched the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam: "0 Messenger of Allah, pray to Allah to forgive me."

In the evening, when the people had gathered, the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam said after praising Allah :

"The people before you were destroyed because they used to overlook when a noble or a man of substance among them committed a theft but when the poor or the weak did the same they punished him as ordained by the law. I swear by Him who holds my life, that if Fatimah bint Muhammad had committed theft I would have amputated her hand."

The Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam ordered to cut off the right hand of the culprit. She is reported to have sincerely repented for her sin and led a normal life thereafter.

Inseparable Ansaar

Allah had opened the gates of Makkah to the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam. It was the city of his birth as well as his ancestral home. Some of the Ansaar began doubting that since Allah had given power to the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam over the city, he might now remain there instead of going back to Madinah. But the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam reassured them: "Allah forbid, I will live and die with you." (2)

All Traces of Paganism Erased

The Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam sent a few parties to destroy the idols in the city of Makkah and the surrounding valley. All of them including those of al-Lat, al-Uzza and Manat-as-Thaalithat al-Ukhra were broken to pieces. The Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam then sent a messenger to announce that every man who had faith in Allah and the Hereafter should destroy his personal household idol.

The Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam assembled the Muslims and announced that Allah had made Makkah a sacred territory forever. He said: "It is not lawful for anyone who believes in Allah and the Hereafter to shed blood in the city or to cut down a tree. It was not permitted to anyone before me nor shall it be permitted to anyone after me." (3)

Having conquered Makkah and instructed the inhabitants regarding the important elements of Islam the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam returned to Madinah.

Impact of the Conquest of Makkah

The conquest of Makkah had a tremendous impact on the Arabs. It was a great victory for it strengthened the claim that Islam was the religion of Allah and paved the way for its reception by the whole of Arabia. Tribesmen from distant deserts started coming to Madinah in batches or sent deputations to accept Islam. A number of tribes had treaty relations with the Quraish that bound them to keep away from the Muslims while others feared or respected the Quraish as the guardians of the Ka'bah. With the submission of the Quraish to Allah and His Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam, all these obstacles were removed. There were also tribes who believed, the fate of Abraha still fresh in their minds, that no tyrant could lay his hands upon Makkah and, therefore, they preferred to wait and see the result of the contention between the Muslims and the Quraish. Some of them had actually decided to accept the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam if he were successful in winning over his own tribe.

When Allah allowed His Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam to gain the upper hand over Makkah and the Quraish yielded obedience to him, the whole of Arabia bowed its head to Islam in a way unheard of in the country given to disorder and unruliness throughout the ages. The Bedouins came thronging to Madinah, from every clan and tribe, to pay their respect to the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam and accept Islam on his hands. It was then that Surah Nasr was revealed by Allah :

"When Allah's assistance and the victory comes and you see mankind entering the religion of Allah in large groups."