Liberation (Fathu) of Mecca: The Coolest Peace War Declaration in the History of the Prophet SAW

 

Liberation (Fathu) of Mecca: The Coolest Peace War Declaration in the History of the Prophet SAW

If you hear the term war, what many people understand is the raging atmosphere of the soul-physical and blood, then the story of those who were injured and killed, won and lost. Likewise with the Liberation ( fathu ) of Mecca, which is often also referred to as one of the wars ( ghazw ) which was followed and led directly by the Prophet Muhammad.

The details, many people do not know. In fact, in this incident, the Prophet SAW forbade drops of blood and asked all Muslims to keep their weapons from being drawn to the Quraysh who at that time were still infidels and became sworn enemies of Muslims, from the first year of Islam's presence until the year the 8th Hijri, or 20 years since the beginning of Islam was present. They insulted Muslims, tortured them, robbed them of their property, and expelled them from their own homeland.

Thus, when the Prophet Muhammad SAW, in the 8th year of Hijri, announced his departure for Mecca with full weapons, almost all the companions cheered with joy, because they would avenge all the violence they had experienced from the Quraysh. But do we know why Prophet Muhammad SAW invited all Islamic troops to prepare for Mecca?

This has something to do with the Hudaibiyah Peace Agreement in the 6th year H, which was signed by the Prophet Muhammad from the Islamic side and Suhail bin Amr from the Quraysh side. In this agreement, a truce was agreed for ten years, at the same time that there should be no killing and violence between each party, and those participating in a coalition with each of these parties, unless they had to be punished according to the rules in force at that time.

Well, in the 8th year, there was a tribe of Khuza'ah who was not Muslim and who joined the ranks of the Prophet's collation, was killed by the Bani Bakr tribes who joined the coalition of the Quraysh. According to the agreement, the tribe of Khuza'ah demanded revenge from the Bani Bakr. They refused. Bani Bakr asked their coalition, namely the Quraysh to support them in order to be free from retaliatory lawsuits from Khuza'ah. The Quraysh supported them fully.

In fact, when the Khuza'ah tribe came to Mecca, asking for support from various Arab tribes for the murder case, the Quraysh killed them in large, cruel, and terrible numbers. The Khuza'ah tribe felt oppressed and unprotected. They are desperate.

However, considering the Hudaibiyah agreement where they joined a coalition with the Prophet Muhammad, they went to Medina to complain about their problems.

"Relax, we fully support you, you just go back to your place," replied the Prophet to the coalition that is still infidels, namely the Khuza'ah tribe. And the Prophet gathered all the adults who were able to fight to go with him.

At that time, the Prophet had not told where this army had gone. The aim was that the people of Mecca did not have time to prepare themselves on one side, and also so that there was no commotion among the various other tribes. Enough between the Muslims and the Quraysh.

So, the liberation ( fathu ) of Mecca occurred because of the violations committed by the Quraysh against the Hudaibiyah agreement which they agreed with the Prophet. And the people who the Prophet defended in this agreement were the non-Muslim tribes of Khuza'ah. The issue was upholding the peace treaty that was supposed to be agreed upon, but the Quraish violated. The Prophet came to collect this covenant commitment.

In the middle of the road, once the atmosphere has calmed down. The Holy Prophet announced where the troops should go, namely Mecca. All the friends cheered happily because they would enter and conquer Mecca, where their mortal enemy had been. One of the troop leaders named Sa'd bin Ubadah ra, the flag bearer, excitedly proclaimed the slogan:

"Today is the day of their vengeance and final ( al-yaum yaum al-malhamah )," he said vehemently.

The Prophet SAW heard the slogan and asked Ali bin Talib RA to rebuke Sa'd bin Ubadah ra and remove him as commander of the flag bearer. After it was removed, the flag was handed over to Sa'd bin Ubadah's son, Qays bin Sa'd bin Ubadah. And the Prophet replaced his slogan with the sentence:

"Today is the day of love ( al-yaum yaum al-marhamah )," said the Prophet with great emotion.

The atmosphere was tense, hot, and full of enthusiasm. But the Prophet SAW still controlled the companions so that they were calm and not easily provoked. In fact, when some of the elders of the Quraysh came to the camp, the Muslims asked for their negotiations to be escorted safely and to meet the Prophet SAW.

The Messenger of Quraish asked the Prophet to step down, because this was a problem with the Kablah of Khuza'ah, not with the Prophet. However, the Prophet SAW remained unmoved, because it was Quraish himself who had violated and killed the people of Khuza'ah, who were non-Muslims but were allies of the Prophet.

Negotiations didn't work. However, the Holy Prophet gave a guarantee of safety to all the Quraysh who did not draw a sword, who wished to remain in his house, or enter the house of Abu Sufyan, or enter the Masjid al-Haram of Mecca. Everyone will be guaranteed safe. Only those who are still nagging, wielding their swords, and resisting, will be fought.

And when the Prophet's army rushed into the city of Mecca, all the inhabitants of Mecca bowed down in fear of what they would receive.

However, in front of all the Quraysh, who had been sworn enemies for nearly 20 years, the Holy Prophet made a speech:

“What should I do with all of you? What do you guys think about my reply to all of you?” the Prophet asked them.

All imagine the violence, cruelty, murder, plunder, expulsion that the Quraysh has carried out against Muslims during those 20 years.

"We see that you are our kind-hearted brother, and the son of our kind-hearted brother," replied the Quraysh.

"Go home, you are all forgiven and free from any punishment ( idzhabu fa antum thulaqa )," replied the Prophet, full of emotion, joy, and unity.

Subhan Allah…

Which of us and our leaders have a noble heart like the Prophet SAW, or at least try to imitate them to continue to promote peace, unity, and togetherness among Indonesian citizens, fellow Muslims, and fellow human beings in the world?

Allahumma Shalli 'ala Sayyidina Muhammad waalihi wa shahbih wa man tabi'ahu wa sallim.