Indexed OCR Text

41
The Life of Muhammad %
Anas 4% narrates that when Rasulullah % entered Makkah as a
conqueror, all the people were looking at him but he had his
face lowered out of humility. (Hakim)
Abū Sa'īd Khudrī 4% narrates that on the day of the conquest of
Makkah, Rasūlullah % said: "This is the day which Allah
had promised me." He then recited Sūrah an-Nasr. (Zurgānī)
Rasūlullah % was thinking over the fact that there was a time
when he had to emigrate from this city in a state of weakness
and poverty. He had left without the enemy knowing and all
alone. Now the time has come that through the help and
assistance of Allah & he is entering the same city with much
power and authority as a conqueror. This is the bounty of Allah
de which He bestows to whomever He wills.
It is for this reason that Rasulullah's head was lowered and
placed on the saddle - prostrating before Allah & out of
gratitude. Out of his extreme happiness, he was reciting Sūrahs
al-Fath and an-Nasr in a very beautiful and melodious tone. In
so doing, he was saying that this clear victory, help, power and
authority are all solely the blessing of Allah %. Truth was given
power and falsehood was defeated. The light of Islam and īman
glittered while the darkness of unbelief was removed. The
sacred land [of Makkah] was purified from the filth of unbelief
and polytheism.
Rasūlullah % passed through the place of Kada' and entered
from the upper section of Makkah. He ordered Khalid ibn
Walīd % to enter from Kuda' - the lower section of Makkah,
and Zubayr 4% to enter from Kada' - the upper section of
Makkah. He emphasised on both of them not to commence any
fighting. They should only fight the person who attacks them
first. He then entered Makkah with much respect and reverence.

42
The Life of Muhammad %
When he entered Makkah, he first went to the house of Umm
Hanī bint Abi Talib. He took a bath and offered eight rak'ats of
salah - this was the time of chasht - mid-morning. (Bukhārī)
The 'ulama' refer to this salah as salah al-fath (the salah for
victory). It has been the practice of Muslim leaders that when
they used to conquer a city, they would offer eight rak'ats of
salah as a gratitude for the victory. When Sa'd ibn Abī Waqqās
conquered Mada'in and entered the court of Khusroes, he
offered eight rak'ats of salah with one salām. It is most
probably for this reason that Imam Abū Hanīfah rahmatullahi
'alayh is of the opinion that it is disliked to offer more than
eight rak'ats of salah with one salām.
Umm Hanī said to Rasūlullah : "O Messenger of Allah! Two
relatives of my husband have fled and sought refuge in my
house. I have given them refuge. However, my brother, 'Alī 4%
wants to kill them." Rasūlullah % replied: "I give refuge to
those whom Umm Hanī has given refuge to. 'Alī should not kill
those two people."2
On completing his salah, Rasūlullah % went to Shi'b Abi Talib,
a place where his tent was pitched. The Sahabah had asked
Rasūlullah % a day before he could enter Makkah as to where
he would stay. He replied: "At the place where the Quraysh and
Kinanah had confined the Banū Hashim and the Banū al-
Muttalib. And when they had made a mutual agreement and
promise that they would sever all business dealings, marriage,
etc. with the Banu Hashim and the Banū al-Muttalib as long as
they do not hand over Muhammad [] to them." This place is
known as Shi'b Abī Talib.3
1 Raud al-Anif, vol. 2, p. 273.
2 Al-Bidāyah wa an-Nihāyah, vol. 4, pp. 299-300.
3
Zurqānî, vol. 2, p. 324. Also Fath al-Bārî, vol. 8, p. 16.

43
The Life of Muhammad %
Abū Hurayrah
narrates that Rasūlullah
summoned the
Ansar and informed them that the Quraysh have rallied some
riffraff against them. They should therefore confine them to the
orchards [outskirts] and keep them there.
Safwan ibn Umayyah, 'Ikramah ibn Abī Jahal and Suhayl ibn
'Amr gathered some riffraff at a place called Khandamah in
order to fight the Muslims. A skirmish ensued between them
and Khalid ibn Walīd 4%. Two Muslims, Khunays ibn Khalid
ibn Rabī'ah 4% and Kurz ibn Jabir Fihrī 4%, were martyred.
Twelve or thirteen persons from the polytheists were killed.
The remainder all fled.1
It is related in the Maghāzī of Mūsā ibn 'Uqbah that when
Khalid ibn Walid 4% entered from the lower section of Makkah,
the Banu Bakr, Banu Harith ibn 'Abd Manat, some people from
the Hudhayl tribe and some riffraff from the Quraysh were
gathered there in order to fight the Muslims. No sooner Khalid
reached there, they gave out the battle cry. However, they
were unable to defend themselves. They were defeated and fled
from there. About 20 from the Banu Bakr were killed while
three or four were killed from the Hudhayl tribe. The remainder
were left at a loss. Some of them went and concealed
themselves in their houses while others went to the mountain
tops. Abu Sufyan made the announcement: "The person who
shuts himself in his house is safe. The person who abstains
from fighting is safe." When Rasulullah % saw the glitter of
swords, he summoned Khalid ibn Walid
and asked him
1 This is according to Ibn Ishaq. Based on this Tradition, only 12 or 13
polytheists were killed. However, based on the Tradition of Mûsā ibn
'Uqbah, Ibn Sa'd and Waqidî, 23 or 24 polytheists were killed. This latter
Tradition is more reliable. However, the lesser number does not reject the
larger number. It is possible that the total of those that were killed was 23 or
24 while at the Khandamah alone, 12 or 13 were killed. The rest were killed
elsewhere. Allah knows best.

44
The Life of Muhammad
about what was happening for he had prohibited him from
fighting. He replied: "O Messenger of Allah! I did not start the
fight. I continued abstaining from fighting. But when I was
forced to do so and they began fighting us, I responded."
Rasulullah % replied: "There is good in whatever Allah
destined."]
Peace was established thereafter. People were guaranteed peace
and they were now at rest. When the conquest was completed,
Rasūlullah entered the Sacred Musjid.
Entering the Sacred Musjid
After the victory, Rasulullah # entered the Sacred Musjid and
circuited the Ka'bah. 'Abdullah ibn 'Umar
narrates that
when Rasulullah entered the Sacred Musjid, 360 idols were
placed around the Ka'bah. Rasulullah % pointed to each one
with a knife and recited the words "The truth has come, and
falsehood is defeated." On saying this, each idol began falling
one after the other. Imam Bayhaqī rahmatullahi 'alayh says
that although this Hadith is weak, it is supported by a Hadith of
Ibn 'Abbas .2 Ibn Hajar rahmatullahi 'alayh says that Ibn
Hibban is of the opinion that this Hadith of 'Abdullah ibn
'Umar % is authentic.3
Hafiz Haythamī says that the Hadith of Ibn 'Abbas 4% has been
narrated by Tabaranī and that all its narrators are reliable.
Bazzār also narrated it concisely.4
Ibn Ishaq and Abū Nu'aym state that the idols were stuck with
lead. Tamīm ibn Asad Khuzā'ī said: "In these idols there is an
1 Fath al-Bārî, vol. 8, p. 9.
2 Al-Khaşā'is al-Kubrā, vol. 1, p. 264.
3 Fath al-Bārî, vol. 14, p. 8.
4 Majma' az-Zawā'id, vol. 6, p. 176.

45
The Life of Muhammad
admonition and something to learn for he who hopes for reward
or punishment."1
When Rasulullah _ entered the Sacred Musjid, he was on his
camel. He made tawaf of the Ka'bah in the same condition. On
completing the tawaf he summoned for 'Uthman ibn Talhah,
took the key to the Ka'bah from him and opened it. He saw that
there were statues in it. He ordered all these to be removed.
When they were all removed and the inside was washed with
zam zam water, he went in and offered salah therein.2
He went to all the corners of the Ka'bah and illuminated them
with the sound of tauhid and takbir (saying Allah is the
greatest). Bilal 4% and Usamah % were with him at that time.
On completing this, he opened the door and went outside. He
saw that the Sacred Musjid was filled with people and that they
were waiting for him to see what he says about the criminals
and enemies. This was the 20th of Ramadan. He was standing at
the door of the Ka'bah with its key in his hand. He then
delivered the following speech.
Rasūlullah « delivers a speech from the door of the Ka'bah
لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له صدق وعده ونصر عبده وهزم الأحزاب وحده. ألا كل
مأثرة أو دم أو ما يدعى فهو تحت قدمي هاتين إلا سدانة البيت وسقاية الحاج. ألا
وقتيل الخطأ شبه العمد بالسوط والعصا ففيه الدية مغلظة من الإبل أربعون منها في
بطونها أولادها. يا معشر قريش إن الله قد أذهب عنكم نخوة الجاهلية وتعظمها بالآباء.
الناس من آدم وآدم من تراب ثم تلا هذه الآية يا أيها الناس إنا خلقناكم من ذكر وأنثى
1 Al-Bidāyah wa an-Nihāyah, vol. 4, p. 302.
2 Zurqānî, vol. 2, p. 336.

46
The Life of Muhammad
وجعلناكم شعوبا وقبائل لتعارفوا إن أكرمكم عند الله أتقاكم إن الله عليم خبير. ثم قال يا
معشر قريش ما ترون إني فاعل بكم؟ قالوا خيرا أخ كريم وابن أخ كريم. قال فإني أقول
لكم كما قال يوسف لإخوته لا تثريب عليكم اليوم إذهبوا فأنتم الطلقاء.
There is none worthy of worship but Allah. He is alone and has
no partner. He made true His promise, helped His servant and
defeated all the enemy groups by Himself. Listen! Every
custom, be it physical or monetary, which can be claimed is
now under my feet. (They are all cancelled). Except for the
custodianship of the Ka'bah and providing zam zam water to
the pilgrims. These customs will remain as previously. Listen!
The person who is mistakenly killed by a whip or by a staff, his
blood money will be 100 camels of which 40 will have to be
pregnant. O group of Quraysh! Allah % has abolished the
haughtiness of the days of ignorance and pride over forefathers.
All people are from Adam ( and Adam stall was created from
soil. He then recited this verse: 'O people! We created you
from a male and a female and made you into nations and tribes
so that you may recognize each other. The most honourable
among you in the sight of Allah is he who is most virtuous.
Surely Allah is all-knowing, fully aware.' He then said: 'O
group of Quraysh! What do you think I am going to do to you?'
They replied: 'We think that you will be good to us. You are a
noble brother who is the son of a noble brother.' He said: 'I am
saying to you the same thing which Yusuf & said to his
brothers: 'There is no reproach on you today. Go, for you are
all free.'"'1
The custom of pride and haughtiness over one's lineage and
nobility which was prevalent among the Arabs was put to an
1 Zād al-Ma 'ād, Sîrah Ibn Hishām and Zurqānî. Al-Bidāyah wa an-Nihāyah,
vol. 4, pp. 300-301.

47
The Life of Muhammad
end in this speech of Rasulullah . The flag of Islamic equality
was raised and it was demonstrated that the criterion for honour
and nobility was only piety and virtue. Rasūlullah & was sent
as a mercy to the world for the guidance of the entire universe.
His sole objective was guidance. Taking revenge from one's
enemies is the trait of kings [and not true Prophets of Allah ].
On completing his speech, Rasūlullah
sat down in the
musjid. The key to the Ka'bah was in his hand. 'Alis stood
up and asked: "O Messenger of Allah! Give the key to me so
that together with the responsibility of providing zam zam
water to the pilgrims, 2 we will also have the honour of
custodianship of the Ka'bah." This verse was then revealed:
إِنَّ اللهَ يَأْمُرُكُمْ أَنْ تُؤَدُّو الأَمَانَاتِ إِلَى أَهْلِهَا
"Surely Allah commands you to fulfil the trusts to their
recipients." (Sūrah an-Nisa', verse 58)
Rasūlullah % called for 'Uthman ibn Talhah and gave the key
to him. He then said to him: "Take this key forever." In other
words, it will remain in your family forever. "I am not giving it
to you of my own accord. Rather, it is Allah who has given it to
you. None but a tyrant and a usurper will take it away from
you."3
The adhan is given at the door of the Ka'bah
When it was the time for the zuhr salah, Rasulullah # ordered
Bilal % to climb the door of the Ka'bah and call out the adhan.
1 Sa'îd ibn Musayyib > narrates that 'Abbas 4% also tried to get the key but
Rasûlullah % did not agree to this. (Zad al-Ma 'ād).
2 The responsibility of providing zam zam water to the pilgrims was in the
hands of 'Abbas 4% and the Banû Hashim.
3 Fath al-Bārî, vol. 8, p. 15. Zurqānî, vol. 2, pp. 337-340.

48
The Life of Muhammad
The Quraysh of Makkah saw this extraordinary and strange
scene of the clear victory of this true religion from the
mountain tops of Makkah.
The leaders of the Quraysh who could not see the humiliation
of unbelief and polytheism and the honour of the true religion,
hid their faces in shame. Abu Sufyan, 'Itab, Khalid, Usayd,
Harith ibn Hisham (who embraced Islam later on) and other
Quraysh leaders were sitting in the courtyard of the Ka'bah.
'Itab and Khalid said: "Allah honoured our forefathers by
taking them away from this world before they could hear this
call [of the adhan]." Harith said: "I take an oath by Allah that if
I were convinced that you are on the truth, I would certainly
follow you." Abu Sufyan said: "I am not saying anything. If I
were to utter anything, these pebbles would inform him
thereof." Rasulullah was informed of all these conversations
through revelation from Allah g. When he passed by these
people he said to them: "I have been informed through
revelation all that you have been speaking." He then related to
them all that they had been speaking. Harith and 'Itab said:
"We bear testimony that you are certainly the Messenger of
Allah for none of us informed you of what we were speaking.
[We thereby conclude that it was Allah alone who informed His
Messenger of all that we were speaking.]" (Narrated by Abū
Ya'la on the authority of Ibn 'Abbas 4% , and Abu Shaybah on
the authority of Abu Salamah 4%)
After 'Itab ibn Usayd embraced Islam, Rasulullah % appointed
him as the governor of Makkah. He was 21 years old at that
time. Rasūlullah % stipulated that he should receive one dirham
per day for his personal expenses. It was on this that 'Itab said:
أيها الناس أجاع الله كبد من جاع على درهم
1 Zurqānî, vol. 2, p. 346.

49
The Life of Muhammad %
"O people! May Allah keep that liver hungry which remains
hungry on one dirham."1
He remained the governor of Makkah till the demise of
Rasulullah. When Abu Bakr
became the caliph, he
maintained him as the governor. He passed away on the same
day that Abu Bakr 4% passed away. (al-Istī'ab)
At the time when Bilal 4% climbed on the door of the Ka'bah in
order to call out the adhan, Abu Mahdhurah Jumhi and a few
youngsters began imitating the adhan. The latter had a very
beautiful and loud voice. His imitation of the adhan reached the
ears of Rasulullah . He summoned the entire group of
youngsters and asked them as to whose voice he had heard.
They all pointed towards Abu Mahdhurah. Rasulullah ¿ asked
all of them except Abu Mahdhūrah to leave. The latter
remained standing before Rasulullah % with the firm conviction
that he would be killed. Rasulullah % ordered him to call out
the adhan. He did so with much trepidation. When he
completed, Rasūlullah % gave him a pouch in which were some
dirhams. Rasūlullah % then passed his blessed hands on his
head, forehead, chest, heart and till his navel. He then made this
supplication for him: "May Allah bless you and may Allah
shower His blessings on you."
Abū Mahdhūrah says: "No sooner Rasūlullah % passed his
hand over me, all my antagonism towards him was changed
into affection. My heart was filled with love for him and I said
to him: 'O Messenger of Allah! Appoint me as the mu'adhdhin
of Makkah.' Rasūlullah % replied: 'I appoint you as the
mu'adhdhin of Makkah.'2 I went to 'Itab ibn Usayd 4%, the
1 Raud al-Anif, vol. 2, p. 276.
2 Some Traditions state that he was appointed as a mu'adhdhin after the
conquest of Makkah while most other Traditions state that he was appointed
after the return from Hunayn. Allah knows best.

50
The Life of Muhammad
governor of Makkah, and informed him thereof. I then
continued calling out the adhan in accordance with the
instruction of Rasūlullah ."" He remained in Makkah
throughout his life and continued calling out the adhan till his
death. He passed away in 59 A.H. in Makkah. (al-Istī'ab)
Suhaylī states that Abu Mahdhūrah 4% was 16 years old when
he was appointed as a mu'adhdhin and remained so till his
death. When he passed away, his progeny took the
responsibility of calling out the adhan and this continued from
generation to generation.
A poet says the following with regard to his adhan:
أما ورب الكعبة المستورة - وما تلا محمد من سورة
والنغمات من أبي محذورة - لأفعلن فعلة المذكورة
"By the oath of the Ka'bah which is covered and the chapters
of the Qur'an which Muhammad recited. By the oath of the
beautiful adhān of Abū Mahdhūrah, I will certainly do such
and such task."1
On completing the tawaf, Rasulullah * went to Mt. Safa, faced
the Ka'bah remained in supplication and praising Allah % for a
long time. A group of Ansar was also present. Some of them
said: "Allah enabled Rasulullah % to conquer his city and
homeland. It may well be that he will decide to remain behind
and settle down in this city and not come back to Madinah."
They continued speaking in this vein when they saw the effects
of divine revelation on Rasulullah's # countenance. It was the
habit of the Sahabah & that when divine revelation was coming
to Rasūlullah , they would not look at him. When the
revelation was completed, he said: "O Ansār! Is this what
1 Raud al-Anif, vol. 2, p. 277.

51
The Life of Muhammad %
you'll said?" They replied: "Yes, O Messenger of Allah." He
replied: "Understand this well that this can never happen. I am
the servant and Messenger of Allah %. I emigrated by the
command of Allah . My life is your life and my death is your
death." On hearing this, the Ansar began crying and said: "O
Messenger of Allah! We feared that the light which lighted us
will be taken away from us. We are servants who are prepared
to sacrifice our lives [for Allah , and His Messenger ] and
we are prepared to give preference to others over our own
selves. But we are extremely miserly when it comes to Allah
and His Messenger . [We are not prepared to share them with
anyone else]."
Rasūlullah % replied: "Allah % and His Messenger consider
you to be true in this regard and excuse you in this regard."1
Pledge of allegiance from men and women
On completing his supplications, Rasūlullah % remained sitting
on Mt. Safa. People gathered in order to pledge allegiance to
him. Rasūlullah % accepted their pledge on obedience to Allah
and His Messenger . From the men he took the pledge of
Islam and obedience to Allah and His Messenger
according to each one's capability. Some Traditions state that
from the men he took the pledge of Islam and jihad. When he
completed taking the pledge from the men, he commenced with
the women. From them, he took the pledge in matters that are
enumerated in the following verse:
1 Narrated by Muslim, Ahmad and others on the authority of Abû Hurayrah
Zurqānî, vol. 2, p. 333. al-Bidāyah wa an-Nihāyah, vol. 4, pp. 306-307.
.

52
The Life of Muhammad
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ إِذَا جَآءَكَ الْمُؤْمِنَاتُ يُبَابِعْنَكَ عَلَى أَنْ لاَّ يُشْرِكْنَ بِاللهِ شَيْئًا وَلاَ يَسْرِقْنَ وَلاَ
يَزْنِيْنَ وَلاَ يَقْتُلْنَ أَوْلاَدَهُنَّ وَلاَ يَأْتِيْنَ بِبُهْتَانٍ يَّفْتَرِيْنَهُ بَيْنَ أَيْدِيْهِنَّ وَأَرْجُلِهِنَّ وَلاَ يَعْصِيْنَكَ فِيْ
مَعْرُوْفٍ فَبَايِعْهُنَّ وَاسْتَغْفِرْ لَهُنَّ اللّهَ إِنَّ اللّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيْمٌ.
"O Prophet! If believing women come to you in order to pledge
to you that they will not ascribe any partners with Allah, they
will not steal, they will not commit adultery, they will not kill
their children, they will not fabricate a slander between their
hands and their feet, and that they will not disobey you in any
good deed, then accept the pledge from them and seek
forgiveness for them from Allah. Surely Allah is forgiving,
merciful."
The bay 'ah (pledge of allegiance) which Rasulullah % took
from women was solely verbal. His blessed hand never touched
any strange woman. Nor did he shake hands with any strange
woman. Rather, he would take a pledge via a piece of cloth. In
other words, he would hold one end of a piece of cloth while
the woman would hold the other end.
At times, when taking a pledge from women he would ask for a
cup of water and dip his blessed hand in it. He would then ask
the women to dip their hands into it. They would do so and in
so doing the pledge would be reinforced. Details with regard to
which women took this pledge are found in Tarikh Ibn al-Athir,
vol. 2, p. 66.
Ibn Athīr Jazarī states that when Rasūlullah & completed taking
the pledge from the men, he commenced with the women.
From among the Quraysh women who gave their pledge at that
time, the following are worthy of mention:
1. Umm Hanī bint Abi Talib, i.e. the sister of 'Alī
2. Umm Habībah bint 'As ibn Umayyah, the wife of 'Amr
ibn 'Abd Āmirī.

53
The Life of Muhammad
3. Arwah bint Abī al-'Îs, the paternal aunt of 'Itab ibn
Usayd.
4. 'Ātikah bint Abī al-'Îs, the sister of Arwah.
5. Hindah bint 'Utbah, the wife of Abu Sufyan and the
mother of Mu'āwiyah.
When Hindah presented herself for the pledge, she placed a veil
over her face. She was the one who had ordered Hamzah 4% to
be killed and she was the one who cut open his chest and
chewed his liver. It was out of her shame and remorse that she
covered her face and presented herself and so that she may not
be recognized. The story of her pledge is as follows:
Hindah: "O Rasūlullah! With regard to what things are you
taking a pledge and covenant from us?"
Rasūlullah : "To abstain from taking partners with Allah (g."
Hindah: "O Rasūlullah! You are taking a pledge from us with
regard to things which you did not take from the men.
Nevertheless, we accept this."
Rasūlullah : "And that you do not steal."
Hindah: "I take some things from my husband's [Abu Sufyan]
wealth. I do not know whether this is considered to be stealing
or not." Abu Sufyan was present there at that time. He said:
"Whatever has passed is forgiven." Rasūlullah % said: "You
may take from your husband's wealth according to your basic
necessities and what would be sufficient for you. This should
be according to the norm whereby it will be according to your
necessities and your children's necessities."
Rasūlullāh : "And that you do not commit adultery."
Hindah: "What! Can a noble woman ever commit adultery ?! "
Rasūlullāh %: "And that you do not kill your children."

54
The Life of Muhammad %
Hindah: "We brought them up when they were small and you
killed them on the day of Badr when they were big. So that is
between you and them." On hearing this, 'Umar
š began
laughing.
Rasūlullāh : "And that you do not slander anyone."
Hindah: "By Allah, it is extremely detestable to slander anyone.
And you are the one who is commanding us with righteousness
and noble qualities and character."
Rasulullah : "And that you do not disobey or refuse to
comply to any good deed."
Hindah: "We did not come here even with this thought of
disobeying you."
Rasūlullah % asked 'Umar 4% to take the pledge from her. After
the pledge, Rasūlullah ¿ made a supplication for forgiveness
for her.
After embracing Islam, Hindah said: "O Messenger of Allah!
Before embracing Islam, there was not any face that was more
detestable in my sight. And I did not harbour any enmity
towards anyone more than you. But now, there is no face that is
more beloved to me." Rasūlullah # replied: "Your love for me
will now increase."
Rasūlullah's second speech
It is stated in a Tradition of Ibn Ishaq that the day after the
conquest of Makkah, a person from the Khuzā'ah tribe killed a
polytheist from the Huzayl tribe. When Rasulullah % heard
about this, he gathered the Sahabah , stood on Mt. Safa and
delivered the following speech:
يا أيها الناس إن الله حرم مكة يوم خلق السماوات والأرض فهي حرام إلى يوم القيامة
فلا يحل لامرئ يؤمن بالله واليوم الآخر أن يسفك فيها دما ولا يعضد فيها شجرة ولم

55
The Life of Muhammad
تحلل لأحد كان قبلي ولا تحل لأحد يكون بعدي ولم تحلل لي إلا هذه الساعة عضبا
على أهلها ألا ثم قد رجعت كحرمتها بالأمس فليبلغ الشاهد منكم الغائب فمن قال
لكم إن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قاتل فيها فقولوا إن الله قد أحلها لرسوله ولم
يحللها لكم يا معشر خزاعة ارفعوا أيديكم عن القتل فلقد كثر القتل لقد قتلتم قتيلا
لأديته فمن قتل بعد مقامي هذا فأهله بخير الظرين إن شاءوا فدم قاتله وإن شاءوا فعقله.
"O people! Allah sanctified Makkah the day He created the
heavens and the earth. It will therefore remain sanctified till the
day of resurrection. It is therefore not lawful for a person
believing in Allah s and the last day to shed blood therein or to
uproot a tree. It was never made lawful for anyone before me
nor will it be lawful for anyone after me. It was only made
lawful to me for this particular time because of Allah's anger
on its inhabitants. It's sanctity has now returned as it had been
previously. He who is present here should convey this to him
who is not present. If anyone tells you that the Messenger of
Allah fought and killed in Makkah, tell him that Allah is made
this lawful for him and not for you. O people of the Khuza'ah!
Abstain from killing for too much of killing has taken place.
You have killed a person. I will now pay his blood money.
Whoever kills after this, the family of the murdered person
have the choice of either retaliating by killing the murderer or
demanding blood money."
Rasulullah % then gave 100 camels as blood money on behalf
of the person who killed from the Khuza'ah tribe.
The matter concerning the return of the dwellings that were left
behind by the Muhajirun
The unbelievers of Makkah had taken possession of the houses,
properties and estates of the Muhajirūn. When Rasūlullah
completed his sermon, he was still standing at the door of the
Ka'bah when Abū Ahmad ibn Jahsh stood up and tried to say

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The Life of Muhammad %
something about the return of his house which, on his
emigration, had been sold by Abu Sufyan for 400 dirhams.
Rasūlullah % called him forward, said something softly to him
and after which Abu Ahmad ibn Jahsh remained silent. Later
on, when he was asked as to what Rasulullah % said to him, he
replied: "Rasūlullah % said to me: 'If you remain patient, it will
be better for you and in return for this you will receive a house
in paradise.' I said to him: 'I will remain patient.""
Apart from him, there were other Muhajirun who also desired
that their houses be returned to them. Rasulullah # said to
them: "I do not desire that the wealth which has gone for the
cause of Allah { be returned." On hearing this, the Muhajirun
remained silent and did not utter a word about the return of the
houses which they left behind for the sake of Allah de and His
Messenger . Rasulullah % himself did not even mention the
house in which he was born and the house in which he married
Khadījah radiyallāhu 'anhā.1
Injunctions concerning certain criminals after the year of
amnesty
After the conquest of Makkah, Rasulullah
made the
announcement of general amnesty. Rasulullah
completely
forgave those who had scattered thorns in his path, those who
had thrown stones at him, those who were constantly
antagonistic towards him, and those who had caused his legs
and feet to be covered in blood. However, there were a few
who had been extremely insolent towards Rasulullah and
caused him much pain. With regard to these few, Rasūlullah
ordered that they should be killed wherever they are found.
This was the order of Allah % concerning such people:
1 As-Sārim al-Maslûl, p. 154.

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The Life of Muhammad
مَلْعُوْنِيْنَ أَيْنَمَا تُقِفُوْا أُخِذُوْا وَقُتِلُوْا تَقْتِيْلاً سُنَّةَ اللهِ فِي الَّذِيْنَ خَلَوْا مِنْ قَبْلُ وَلَنْ تَجِدَ لِسُنَّةِ
اللهِ تَبْدِيْلاً.
"[They will be] cursed: wherever they are found, they will be
seized and put to death. Such has been the way of Allah with
those who passed away. And you will not find Allah's way
changing." (Sūrah al-Ahzāb, verses 61-62)
To respect and honour the Messenger of Allah , and to help
and defend him are all incumbent duties on the entire ummah.
Showing disrespect to him entails disrespect to the religion of
Allah . Allah & says:
إِنَّ شَانِئَكَ هُوَ الأَبْتَرُ
"Surely he who hates you, he will be cut off [from every good
in this world and in the hereafter]." (Sūrah al-Kauthar, verse 3)
وَإِنْ تَّكَثُوْآَ أَيْمَانَهُمْ مِنْ بَعْدِ عَهْدِهِمْ وَطَعَنُوْا فِيْ دِيْنِكُمْ فَقَاتِلُؤْآَ أَتِمَّةَ الْكُفْرِ لا إِنَّهُمْ لاَ أَيْمَانَ
لَهُمْ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَنْتَهُوْنَ أَلاَ تُقَاتِلُوْنَ قَوْمًا تَّكَثُوْآَ أَيْمَانَهُمْ وَهُمُّوْا بِإِخْرَاجِ الرَّسُوْلِ وَهُمْ بَدَءُؤَكُمْ أَوَّلَ
مَرَّةٍ ط أَنَخْشَوْنَهُمْ تَ فَاللهُ أَحَقُّ أَنْ تَخْشَوْهُ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ مُّؤْمِنِيْنَ.
"If they break their oaths after having concluded a covenant,
and criticize your religion, then fight against the ringleaders of
unbelief - surely their oaths are nothing - so that they may
desist. What! Will you not fight against a people who break
their oaths, who are intent on expelling the Messenger, and
attacked you first? Do you fear them? It is Allah whom you
ought to fear more, if you have īmān." (Sūrah at-Taubah, verses
12-13)
In other words, the believers should have no hesitation
whatsoever in killing those who merely intended and tried to
expel the Messenger of Allah . The believers should not fear
their outward strength and material power and means. They

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The Life of Muhammad %
should fear Allah s alone. They should be prepared to sacrifice
their lives and wealth in the defence of the Messenger
It is absolutely clear to those who are endowed with
intelligence that to abuse, mock at, belittle, dishonour and
disrespect the Messenger of Allah % are crimes that are far
worse than expulsion. A government may pardon its worst
criminal. But it will never tolerate a person who shows
disrespect towards its leader because this entails showing
disrespect towards the government and the country itself.
Apart from this, disrespect and dishonour of the Messenger %
entail disrespect and dishonour towards the entire ummah. It is
therefore the duty of every follower of the Messenger % that
when he hears any disrespect shown to the Messenger %, he
should immediately take away that person's life or give his own
life. A poet says:
تشتم أيدينا ويحلم رأينا - ونشتم بالأفعال لا بالتكلم
"Our hands are abusive while our opinions and intelligence are
forbearing. We are abusive through deeds and not by our
speech."
Qādī 'Iyad rahmatullahi 'alayh states in his ash-Shifa' that
when the caliph Harun ar-Rashid asked Imam Malik
rahmatullahi 'alayh about the ruling concerning the person
who shows disrespect towards the Prophet %, he replied:
ما بقاء الأمة بعد شتم نبيها
"What can be the existence of this ummah after it is abusive
towards its Prophet?"
During the era of Shaykhul Islam Hafiz Ibn Taymīyyah
rahmatullahi 'alayh, a Christian made some abusive remarks
about Rasūlullah %. In response to this, he wrote a 600 page
book dedicated to this subject of being abusive towards

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The Life of Muhammad %
Rasūlullāh . He titled the book, as-Sarim al-Maslūl 'alā
Shatim ar-Rasul - the unsheathed sword against the person
who is abusive towards the Messenger . In this book, he
proves through Qur'anic verses, Ahadith of Rasūlullah , the
consensus of the Sahabah and the Tabi'in, the stance of the
caliphs, and through rational proofs and evidences that it is
compulsory to kill the person who is abusive towards the
Messenger . May Allah s reward him on behalf of Islam and
the Muslims for his efforts in this regard.
There were about 15-16 people regarding whom Rasūlullah
had issued the command that they should be killed wherever
they are found. Details concerning some of them are as follows:
1. 'Abdullah ibn Khatl. He had become a Muslim. Rasūlullah
appointed him as a tax collector and sent him in order to collect
zakāh. A slave and a Christian were with him on the journey.
On reaching a particular point on the journey, he asked the
slave to prepare some food. The slave fell asleep. When he got
up, 'Abdullah saw that the food was not prepared as yet. He
was overtaken by anger and killed the slave. He then realized
that Rasūlullah % would certainly kill him in retaliation for
killing this slave. He therefore became an apostate, went to
Makkah and joined the ranks of the polytheists. He also took
the camel of zakah with him. He used to compile poetry
disparaging Rasūlullah % and order his slave women to sing
these poems. He thus committed three crimes: (1) he shed
innocent blood, (2) he became an apostate, (3) he compiled
poetry disparaging Rasulullah. When Makkah was
conquered, this 'Abdullah ibn Khatl went and held on to the
veils of the Ka'bah. Rasulullah was informed of this. He
replied that he should be killed at that very place. Abū Barzah
Aslamī and Sa'd ibn Hurayth went and killed him. His head

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The Life of Muhammad *
was chopped off at the place between the Black Stone and the
Maqām-e-Ibrāhīm.1
2. and 3. Qurtana and Quraybah. These two were the slave
women of Ibn Khatl. They used to sing poems by night and day
in which they disparaged Rasulullah . When the polytheists of
Makkah gathered in any assembly, alcohol would be passed
around and these two women would sing these poems
disparaging Rasūlullah . One of these women was killed. The
other came and made peace with Rasulullah * and embraced
Islam.2
4. Sarrah. She was a slave woman belonging to someone from
the Banu al-Muttalib. She also used to sing poems disparaging
Rasūlullah . Some are of the opinion that she was killed while
others state that she embraced Islam and that she lived till the
caliphate of 'Umar 4%. She was the woman who was carrying
the letter of Hatib ibn Abī Balta'ah to Makkah.
5. Huwayrith ibn Naqīd. He was a poet who used to say poems
disparaging Rasūlullah . He therefore had to be killed. He was
killed by 'Alī
3
.
6. Maqīs ibn Subabah. He had become a Muslim. In the battle
of Dhi Qird, a Christian killed his brother, Hisham after
incorrectly assuming the latter to be from among the enemies.
Rasulullah ordered that blood money be paid. After
accepting the blood money, Maqis killed the Christian, became
an apostate and went away to Makkah. On the conquest of
Makkah, Rasūlullah % announced that it was lawful to kill him.
1 As-Sārim al-Maslûl, p. 633, and Zurqānî, vol. 2, p. 314.
2 As-Sārim al-Maslûl, p. 126.
3 Zurqānî, vol. 2, p. 315.