The Holy Prophet Muhammadsa – The Prophetsa Enters Makkah

THE PROPHET^sa ENTERS MAKKAH
“The arrangement was full of wisdom. When Muslims were persecuted in Makkah, Bilal^ra, one of their targets, was dragged about the streets by ropes tied to his legs. Makkah gave no peace to Bilal^ra, but only physical pain, humiliation and disgrace. How revengeful Bilal^ra must have felt on this day of his deliverance.To let him avenge the savage cruelties suffered by him in Makkah was necessary, but it had to be within the limits laid down by Islam. Accordingly, the Prophet^sa did not let Bilal^ra draw the sword and smite the necks of his former persecutors. at would have been un-Islamic. Instead, the Prophet^sa handed to Bilal’s^ra brother the standard of Islam, and charged Bilal^ra with the duty of offering peace to all his former persecutors under the standard borne by his brother. There was beauty and appeal in this revenge. We have to picture Bilal^ra marching in front of his brother and inviting his enemies to peace. His passion for revenge could not have lasted. It must have dissolved as he advanced, inviting Meccans to peace under a standard held aloft by his brother.” [1]
“As the Prophet^sa was passing, Abu Sufyan^ra raised his voice and addressing the Prophet^sa said, ‘Have you allowed the massacre of your own kith and kin? I heard the commander of the Ansar, Sa’d^raand his companions say so. They said it was a day of slaughter. The sacredness of Mecca will not avert bloodshed and the Quraish will be humiliated. Prophet^sa of God, you are the best, the most forgiving, the most considerate of men. Will you not forgive and forget whatever was done by your own people?’
Abu Sufyan’s^ra appeal went home. Those very Muslims who used to be insulted and beaten in the streets of Makkah, who had been dispossessed and driven out of their homes, began to entertain feelings of mercy for their old persecutors. ‘Prophetsa of God,’ they said, ‘the accounts which the Ansar have heard of the excesses and cruelties committed by Meccans against us, may lead them to seek revenge. We know not what they may do.’
The Prophet^sa understood this. Turning to Abu Sufyan^ra, he said, ‘What Sa’d^ra has said is quite wrong. It is not the day of slaughter. It is the day of forgiveness. The Quraish and the Ka’bah will be honoured by God.’”

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