The Opening of Makkah

The Muslims prepared to enter Makkah, "The Mother of the Towns". The Prophet said to his uncle `Abbas, "Go and hold Abu Sufyan at the narrow path of the valley so that the army of Allah passes by him and he can see them." Al`Abbas had a good wit and diplomatic speech, so he said, "Messenger of Allah, Abu Sufyan is proud, so give him a privilege over his people."

So the Messenger ~, who had a good understanding of the hearts and souls, said, "He who enters the house of Abu Sufyan is safe. He who enters the house of Hakim ibn Hizam is safe. ­

He who enters the Sacred Mosque is safe, and he who keeps himself indoors is safe."

Al-'Abbas "Abul Fadl" took Abu Sufyan "Abu Hanzhalah" and confined him at the narrow path of the mountain where the Prophet ordered. As the tribes passed by Abu Sufyan ibn Harb, he wondered, "Who are these?"

Abul Fadl said to him, "Declare your faith."

Abu Sufyan said, "Why should I?" Then he repeated, "Who are these?"

"The tribe of Juhainah."

"What do I have to do with Juhainah?"

Then the tribe of Ghifar passed by and he asked the same question. Afterwards, Sa'd ibn Hadhim passed by, and Abu Sufyan exclaimed as before. Then a select, distinguished brigade passed by.

"Oh, Abul Fadl! Who are these?"

"This is the Messenger of Allah accompanied by the Ansar (Helpers of Madinah)."

"No one can defeat such a group."

He then looked at the green brigade and shook with fear for the Quraish. He was astonished by the great army mustered by the Prophet ~. He turned to Abul Fadl and said, "By Allah, Abul Fadl, your nephew's power has become great!"

"Oh, Abu Sufyan! It's the prophethood."

Sa'd ibn 'Ubadah carried the standard of the Prophet, and when he passed by Abu Sufyan, he said to him, "Abu Sufyan! Today is the day of the battle. Today Allah will humiliate the Quraish."

When the Prophet himself ~ passed by Abu Sufyan, the latter said, "Messenger of Allah, did you order the murder of your own kinsmen? Sa'd ibn 'Ubadah and his company said upon passing by me that he will kill us! Oh, Messenger of Allah! For the sake of Allah, I beg you to be merciful with your people, for you are the most beneficent, merciful and tender of them all."

'Uthman ibn 'Affan and `Abdul Rahman ibn 'Auf said, "Messenger of Allah, we do not guarantee that Sa'd will not attack the Quraish."

The Prophet ~ said, "Abu Sufyan, Sa'd lied. Today is the day of mercy and today Allah will honor the Quraish."

The Prophet of mercy ~ sent to Sa'd ibn 'Ubadah to have the standard taken from him and given to his son Qais ibn Sa'd ibn 'Ubadah. Sa'd refused to hand over the standard except by a clear indication from the Prophet.

The Prophet ~ sent him his turban, so Sa'd gave the standard over to his son Qais.

Abu Sufyan ibn Harb Advises His People

Al-' Abbas said to Abu Sufyan, "Advise your people to secure themselves."

Abu Sufyan mounted his horse and dashed to Makkah. On entering, he shouted loudly, "People of the Quraish! Muhammad is coming to you with a tremendous army that you cannot resist. Yet he who enters the house of Abu Sufyan is safe."

His wife Hind bint 'Utbah was furious with him. Blinded with rage, she grabbed his beard and cried, "Tribe of Ghalib! Kill the crazy old man!" Then she added, "You're the worst bearer of tidings." People rushed to her and she said, "Will you fight to defend yourselves and your city?"

Abu Sufyan said sharply, "Shut up and go in your house!" Then he looked at the people and said, "Woe to you! Don't be deceived by her. He has come with a mighty army that you cannot confront. He who enters the house of Abu Sufyan is safe, and he who enters the Sacred Mosque is safe and he who keeps himself indoors is safe."

The people then dispersed.

The Messenger of Allah Enters Makkah

The Prophet ~ arrayed the army and its generals and troops and ordered them to meet at Mount Safa and not to fight unless they were attacked first.

The Prophet ~ entered Makkah from the north with his head lowered in awe to Allah while reciting Surat Al-Fath. He leaned his head on his camel in humbleness to Allah. He did not enter it as a triumphant blood-thirsty general who violates the people and plunders their property. He advanced with his group till he reached Hujun, where he ordered his standard to be fixed.

The left flank of the army did not face any resistance, but the right flank led by Khalid ibn Al-Walid was confronted by some young men of the Quraish. They clashed with Khalid's men and threw spears at them, then fled to the mountains and roads. The Prophet ~ entered the Sacred Mosque and, starting from the Black Rock, circumambulated the Ka 'bah.

Purifying the Ka' bah of the Idols

Three hundred sixty idols -one for each tribe of the Arabs -Were set up in the Ka 'bah.

They were fixed by lead at the base. The Prophet ~ brought a rod and struck every idol till it fell on its face while he recited {And say, "Truth has Come and falsehood has vanished, indeed falsehood is bound to vanish."} (Isra' 1 7: 81)

The idol named Hubal remained inside the Ka'bah. When it was night, the Prophet ~ said to 'A1i ibn Abi Ta1ib, "Get on my shoulders and destroy the idol." 'Ali said, "Messenger of Allah, you get on me, for it is not honorable of me to be over you." The Prophet ~ said, "No! You mount."

So the Prophet ~ sat down and `Ali got up onto his shoulders. Then the Prophet ~ stood up, raising `Ali to the top of the Ka' bah. 'Ali managed to move the idol and throw it to the ground, where it broke into pieces.

Abu Sufyan was present and reported that the Prophet ~ recited the same verse of the Qur'an as earlier.

Al-Zubair ibn Al-'Awwam looked at Abu Sufyan and said, "So Hubal was destroyed, and on the day of Uhud you were arrogant when you claimed that it is a source of blessing."

Abu Sufyan said, "Leave me alone and don't rebuke me, for if there were another god with the God of Muhammad, things would have been otherwise."

The Messenger of Allah Enters the Ka'bah

After purifying the Ka 'bah of idols, pagans and filth, the Messenger of Allah ~ wanted to enter it. He sent Bilal ibn Rabah to 'Uthman ibn Abi Talhah to bring the key of the Ka'bah.

Because it was crammed with idols, statues and pictures, the Prophet ~ did not enter it till it was emptied. When it was cleared, he entered and found remains of pictures on its walls. He ordered a bucket of water, threw the water and started to rub out the drawings with his honored hands saying, "May Allah fight the people who draw what they cannot create." (Narrated by Tiyalsi and Diya' from Usama ibn Zaid)

The Free

The Prophet ~ stood and said, "There is no god but Allah. He has no partner. He has fulfilled His promise, granted victory to His servant and defeated the allies alone.

"People of the Quraish, Allah has purified you from the arrogance of the Period of Ignorance and its flattering with ancestry. People are descended from Adam, and Adam was created out of mud." Then he recited

{O mankind! We have created you from a male and a female, and made you nations and tribes, that you may know one another. Surely the most honorable of you in the sight of Allah is the most pious of you.Indeed Allah is All Knowing, All Aware.} (Al-Hujurat 49: 13)

The Prophet ~ placed his hands on the doorknobs and said, "What do you think I will do to you?"

They said, "Good."

One of them said, "We say it is good and believe it to be good. You are a good brother and a good nephew, though you have power over us."

The Prophet ~ said, "I will say to you what my brother Yusuf said: {... "No reproach shall this day be upon you, and Allah will forgive you, He is the Most Merciful of those who have mercy."} (Yusuf 12: 92) Go, you are free."

Providing water for the pilgrims was the responsibility of the tribe of 'Abdul Muttalib, and Al-'Abbas ibn 'Abdul Mutalib was in charge of it. The Prophet ~ asked, "Where is 'Uthman ibn Abi Talhah?"

'Uthman replied, "At your service, Messenger of Allah!"

The Prophet said, "Take your key, 'Uthman, for today is a day of beneficence and fulfillment." Then he gave him the keys and said, "Take the keys, ibn Abi Talhah, for they will be your everlasting duty not to be taken except by a transgressor.

Then the responsibility of providing water was given to 'Abbas ibn ' Abdul Muttalib.

Taken from http://www.islambasics.com/view.php?bkID=119&chapter=2

Further readings:
http://www.mindamadani.my/content/view/123/1/
http://www.albalagh.net/kids/history/rise.shtml
http://www.witness-pioneer.org/vil/Books/MH_LM/conquest_of_makkah.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhammad