The Campaign of Khyber
In the seventh year or the Hijrah the Prophet, may God
praise to him, led a campaign against Khyber, the stronghold of the Jewish
tribes in North Arabia, which had become a hornets’ nest of his enemies. The
Jews of Khyber thenceforth became tenants of the Muslims. It was at Khyber
that a Jewish woman prepared poisoned meat for the Prophet, of which he only
tasted a morsel. Hardly had the morsel touched his lips than he became aware
that it was poisoned. Without swallowing it, he warned his companions of the
poison, but one Muslim, who had already swallowed a mouthful, died later. The
woman who had cooked the meat was put to death.
Pilgrimage to Mecca
In the same year the Prophet’s vision was fulfilled: he
visited Mecca unopposed. In accordance with the terms of the truce the
idolaters evacuated the city, and from the surrounding heights watched the
procedure of the Muslims.
Truce broken by the Quraish
A little later, a tribe allied to the Quraish broke the
truce by attacking a tribe that was in alliance with the Prophet and massacring
them even in the sanctuary at Mecca. Afterwards they were afraid because of
what they had done. They sent Abu Sufyan to Medina to ask for the existing
treaty to be renewed and, its term prolonged. They hoped that he would arrive
before the tidings of the massacre. But a messenger from the injured tribe had
been before him and Abu Sufyan failed again.
Conquest of Mecca
Then the Prophet summoned all the Muslims capable of bearing
arms and marched to Mecca. The Quraish were overawed. Their cavalry put up a
show of defense before the town, but were routed without bloodshed; and the
Prophet entered his native city as conqueror.
The inhabitants expected vengeance for their past
misdeeds, but the Prophet proclaimed a general amnesty. In their relief and
surprise, the whole population of Mecca hastened to swear allegiance. The
Prophet ordered all the idols which were in the sanctuary to be destroyed,
saying: “Truth hath come; darkness hath vanished away;” and the Muslim call to
prayer was heard in Mecca.
Battle of Hunain
In the same year there was an angry gathering of pagan tribes
eager to regain the Kaaba. The Prophet led twelve thousand men against them. At
Hunain, in a deep ravine, his troops were ambushed by the enemy and almost put
to flight. It was with difficulty that they were rallied to the Prophet and
his bodyguard of faithful comrades who alone stood firm. But the victory, when
it came, was complete and the booty enormous, for many of the hostile tribes
had brought out with them everything that they possessed.
Conquest of Taif
The tribe of Thaqeef were among the enemy at Hunain. After
that victory their city of Taif was besieged by the Muslims, and finally
reduced. Then the Prophet appointed a governor of Mecca, and himself returned
to Medina to the boundless joy of the Ansar, who had feared lest, now that he
had regained his native city, he might forsake them and make Mecca the capital.
The Tabook Expedition
In the ninth year of the Hijrah, hearing that an army
was again being mustered in Syria, the Prophet called on all the Muslims to
support him in a great campaign. In spite of infirmity, the Prophet led an army
against the Syrian frontier in midsummer. The far distance, the hot season, and
the fact that it was harvest time and the prestige of the enemy caused many to
excuse themselves and many more to stay behind without excuse. They camped
that night without food or drink, sheltering behind their camels; and so they
reached the oasis of Tabuk, finally returning to Mecca after converting several
tribes. But the campaign ended peacefully. The army advanced to Tabuk, on the
border of Syria, but there they learnt that the enemy had not yet gathered.
Declaration of Immunity
Although Mecca had been conquered and its people were
now Muslims, the official order of the pilgrimage had not been changed; the
pagan Arabs performing it in their manner, and the Muslims in their manner. It
was only after the pilgrims’ caravan had left Medina in the ninth year of the
Hijrah, when Islam was dominant in North Arabia, that the Declaration of
Immunity, as it is called, was revealed. Its purport was that after that year
Muslims only were to make the pilgrimage, exception being made for such of the
idolaters as had an ongoing treaty with the Muslims and had never broken their treaties
nor supported anyone against those they had treaties with. Such, then, were to
enjoy the privileges of their treaty for the term thereof, but when their
treaty had expired they would be as other idolaters. This proclamation marked
the end of idol-worship in Arabia.
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