Part 6

1. He said who entered the Haram on that day were guaranteed safety.

2. Those who surrendered their weapons were also guaranteed safety.

3. Those who closed their doors and remained inside their houses were also safe.

4. Those who entered the house of Abu Sufyan were also rendered safe and secure.

Impressed and overawed by the majesty of Islam, Abu Sufyan had, through the mediation of ‘Abbas .# managed to gain the attention of the Prophet 3% and pledge allegiance to the pure and noble religion of Islam.

When the Prophet 38 stood at the head of the Mujahideen in the valley of Zee Tawa, tears of joy filled his eyes. He remembered that this was the same Makkah from where he had been forced to emigrate stealthily in the dead of night. And on this auspicious day the city seemed to spread out its arms to welcome and embrace him and the rest of the Muslims. The very same kuffar, idolaters and worshippers of ‘Lat’ and ‘Manat’ who had night and day tortured and tormented the followers of the One True Allah were now bowed down before them, pleading for mercy and forgiveness; in fact they were begging for their lives.

The very people who had besieged and starved the Muslims in the siege of Sha’ab Abu Talib, were on this day imploring them for kindness and mercy. Seeing this change of fortune, the Prophet 3€ prostrated in gratitude before Allah Almighty.

Shirk,' But Khalid bin Waleed %, fired by the zeal and passionate faith in the One True Allah &&, tore the huge idol to pieces with a pickaxe, calling out:

“O 'Uzza, | hereby declare you area false god; there is not an iota of sanctity nor holiness in you. Allah Almighty has today degraded and defamed you by my hands.”

After destroying the idol he set fire to it.

' Associating any other with the One True Allah Almighty.

40 Commanders of the Muslim Army

rather than the word Muslim, which showed they disliked Islam, and deserved to have their heads chopped off. Imam Ibn Tameemah, Allama Aini and Hafiz Ibn Hajr held the view that the people of Banu Khuzamah should have answered promptly that they were Muslims.

It is the basic quality of an efficient and good general that he never wastes time at a critical juncture; once he decides ona course of action, he tries to execute it as soon as possible. It was for this reason that once Khalid bin Waleed -# heard the word Sabi from their lips he thought that they did not love Islam; since no Muslim could possibly declare he was a Sabi. Hence he decided on his own regarding the course of action to be taken. Because of this misunderstanding the Banu Khuzama suffered a heavy loss of life and property.

When the Prophet 3% came to hear of this tragic incident he was very sad, but he did not reprimand or rebuke Khalid bin Waleed -. After all he had not meant to do wrong, and it was all a tragic misunderstanding. In order to make up to the Banu Khuzama for the huge losses suffered by them he sent ‘Ali 4 with a lot of money and goods to compensate them. Khalid bin Waleed .# continued to have the support of the Prophet 3% just like before and appointed him Commander of the foremost brigades in all the later wars against the Kuffar.

Khalid bin Waleed .# was sent with the warriors of the tribe of Banu Saleem as an advance guard. The enemy numbered only four thousand, When the Mujahideen saw this they became overconfident and sure of victory. They forgot that they had won battles before against all odds because of Divine support and assistance and they thought their numerical strength alone could bring them victory. Allah Almighty was displeased with this attitude of theirs, and they suffered reverses in the first encounter. The Noble Qur’an describes this incident:

“Truly, Allah has given you victory on many battlefields, and on the day of Hunain (battle) when you rejoiced at your great number, but it availed you naught and the earth, vast as it is, was straitened for you, then you turned back in flight. Then Allah sent down His Sakinah (calmness, tranquillity and reassurance) on the Messenger (Muhammad 3), and on the believers, and sent down forces (angels) which you saw not, and punished the disbelievers. Such is the recompense of disbelievers.” (9:25,26)

“Tam doubtless the Prophet of Allah Almighty, Iam the son of “Abdul Mutallib!