7. The return to Makkah

7. The return to Makkah: the cards as text

Seerah. Draft written with AI help: awaiting scholar review.

  1. Card 1

    He came back to the city that drove him out, and forgave it.

  2. Card 2

    The truce is broken

    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.

  3. Card 3

    Lesson: The truce of Hudaybiyyah ended because one side broke its word.

  4. Card 4

    Entering almost without a fight

    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.

  5. Card 5

    Lesson: He took Makkah almost without battle, and entered it with his head bowed.

  6. Card 6

    "Truth has come"

    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.

  7. Card 7

    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.”

  8. Card 8

    Lesson: The man tortured for saying "One" called the prayer from the Ka'bah.

  9. Card 9

    "No blame on you today"

    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.

  10. Card 10

    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.

  11. Card 11

    Lesson: Facing the men who had fought him, he used Joseph's words: no blame on you today.

  12. Card 12

    Reflect: How did the Prophet treat the Makkans when he took the city?

    Answer: He declared a general amnesty. He forgave them, using the prophet Joseph's words: no blame on you today.

  13. Card 13

    The end of 7. The return to Makkah.

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