Seerah
Conquest without revenge
He came back to the city that drove him out, and forgave it.
5 min, Intro, Draft written with AI help: awaiting scholar review
Part 1 of 4
Allies of Quraysh attack a tribe allied to the Muslims, and the treaty of Hudaybiyyah is broken. Makkah's leader, Abu Sufyan, tries to repair it. Too late. The Prophet prepares to march.
Lesson
The truce of Hudaybiyyah ended because one side broke its word.
Part 2 of 4
The Prophet's army camps outside Makkah. He announces: anyone in their home, in the Ka'bah's precinct, or in Abu Sufyan's house is safe. Makkah opens. There is fighting in only one quarter.
Lesson
He took Makkah almost without battle, and entered it with his head bowed.
Part 3 of 4
With Makkah taken, the Prophet goes to the Ka'bah and removes the idols around it, reciting: "Truth has come and falsehood has vanished." Then Bilal, once tortured for saying "One," climbs onto the Ka'bah to give the call to prayer.
Qur'an 17:81
وَقُلۡ جَآءَ ٱلۡحَقُّ وَزَهَقَ ٱلۡبَٰطِلُۚ إِنَّ ٱلۡبَٰطِلَ كَانَ زَهُوقࣱا ٨١
81 And say, “The truth has come and falsehood has perished. Indeed, falsehood is bound to perish.”
Lesson
The man tortured for saying "One" called the prayer from the Ka'bah.
Part 4 of 4
Now the Makkans who had tortured, boycotted and fought him gather, expecting revenge. He declares a general amnesty, with a handful of named exceptions, most later pardoned. He echoes the prophet Joseph's words to his brothers: no blame on you today.
Qur'an 12:92
قَالَ لَا تَثۡرِيبَ عَلَيۡكُمُ ٱلۡيَوۡمَۖ يَغۡفِرُ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمۡۖ وَهُوَ أَرۡحَمُ ٱلرَّٰحِمِينَ ٩٢
92 He said, “There is no blame on you today. May Allah forgive you, for He is the Most Merciful of those who show mercy.
Lesson
Facing the men who had fought him, he used Joseph's words: no blame on you today.
Reflect, just for you
Seen by lamplight. It gives more each time.
He came back to the city that drove him out, and forgave it.