The Prophet Muhammad Pocket Guide

are alive that doom will befall those who reject the truth. If you submit to God, you will be safe. If you refuse, you shall bear the responsibility for the Magians (i.e. your people).” Some of the rulers, like Negus, the ruler of Abyssinia, accepted Islam, while others rejected it, but they accepted the letters graciously and sent presents to the Prophet. Only the Emperor of Iran, Khusru Parvez, tore the Prophet’s message apart in his arrogance. He considered it below his dignity to accept such a letter. When the Prophet received this news, he said: “The Emperor of Persia has himself torn his Kingdom to pieces.” This prediction was fulfilled during the rule of Caliph Umar, when Iran came under Muslim rule. The king of Persia even ordered the governor of Yemen to arrest the Prophet. When his man arrived in Madinah the Prophet surprised him by saying that Khusru Parvez had been killed the previous night. The Prophet had been informed by God: Khusru Parvez had been assassinated by his son. The Conquest of Makkah Two years after the signing of the treaty of Hudaybiyyah, the treaty was violated by the Quraysh. The Prophet then announced that the peace agreement had been revoked. Subsequently, on the 10th of Ramadan, he left for Makkah accompanied by 10,000 companions. This march was conducted in complete secrecy. Only when they encamped a few miles from the city did the Makkans come to know of their arrival. The Makkans were completely taken by surprise. Faced with this numerical strength, the Makkans found themselves helpless. Therefore, they conceded their defeat without any resistance. Makkah was thus conquered without any armed encounter. The Muslims had strict orders to shed no blood. The Makkans were told that they would be safe if they kept indoors or took refuge in the Kabah or in Abu Sufyan’s house. After the conquest of Makkah, the Kabah was purified of all the idols which had been placed in it. Then Bilal, the Negro Companion of the Prophet, went up on to the roof of the Kabah and gave the call to prayer (adhan). Then the companions said the thanksgiving prayer, led by the Prophet. Pardon for All After the conquest of Makkah, the Makkan leaders were gathered in the compound of the Kabah. They were, without exception, the worst type of criminals. Therefore, even if all of them had been put to death, the punishment would have been fully justified. But the Prophet, being of a noble character, did not take any action against them. He unilaterally declared a general amnesty, saying: “Go, you are all free.” The Makkans could hardly believe their ears. This generous treatment meted out to the fallen foe won all hearts, including those of the most bitter enemies of Islam. After the conquest of their hearts, they had no choice but to embrace Islam. All the insolent Makkans surrendered and joined the Prophet in his mission as his companions. All opposition just completely vanished. The acceptance of Islam by the Makkans paved the way for all the tribes of Arab to accept Islam. Representatives of various Arabian tribes came to Madinah to accept Islam at the hand of the Prophet Muhammad . The Farewell Pilgrimage