Emigration—From Makkah to Madinah

of Makkah warning them of the danger to their city. As Tabarani reported on the authority of Ibn ‘Abbas, “every tribe provided manpower and weaponry in full measure.” No one was left behind. The army of 10,000 was divided into groups of several hundred men. Each division marched in ranks, led by a commander bearing a standard. The Prophet asked his uncle (Abbas to let Abu Sufyan, an old opponent of the Prophet, witness the Muslims’ march. Abu Sufyan watched from beside a narrow mountain pass as, row upon row; the Muslim army filed past. He could hardly believe his eyes. “Who has the power to confront this army?” he exclaimed. “I have never seen anything like it.” The Prophet thus went to great lengths to impress Abu Sufyan. At the same time, he announced that anyone entering Abu Sufyan’s house would be safe. The result was that Abu Sufyan himself appealed to the people of Makkah to capitulate before Muhammad, for no one was strong enough to fight him. Events, which followed the conquest of the city, prove that the extensive preparations were not aimed at causing bloodshed: they were aimed at frightening the Makkans into submission so that the city could be captured for Islam without any need for fighting. As the Muslim army neared Makkah, one of its leaders, Sa’d ibn ‘Ubadah, said, “Today is the day of battle!” The Prophet told him it was not; it was the day of mercy. Saad was then told to step down, and the standard was handed over to his son instead.