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A Turning Point in the Seerah
The Conquest of Makkah is one of the most decisive events in the life of the Prophet ﷺ and in the history of Islam. It came after years of persecution, migration, battles, and treaties. With this event, the central sanctuary of the Arabian Peninsula, the Ka‘bah in Makkah, returned to its original purpose as a place of pure worship of Allah alone, without partners. It marked the visible dominance of Islam in Arabia and fulfilled many earlier promises and indications in the Quran.
This chapter will look at the overall meaning and significance of the Conquest of Makkah as a whole, without going into details that will appear under the later specific headings about the actual entry into the city, the general amnesty, and the destruction of idols.
Fulfilling a Long-Awaited Promise
From the early years in Makkah, the Prophet ﷺ and the believers prayed facing the Ka‘bah and loved that city deeply. Yet they were driven out, their property was seized, and they were prevented from worshipping there. The longing to return was always present in the hearts of the believers.
Allah promised support and victory to His Messenger ﷺ even when the Muslims were weak and oppressed. Among the verses that the scholars have linked to the conquest is the beginning of Surah al-Fath, revealed earlier after the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah:
إِنَّا فَتَحْنَا لَكَ فَتْحًا مُّبِينًا
“Indeed, We have given you a clear victory.”
[Surah al-Fath 48:1]
The word “fatḥ” in Arabic means an opening or victory. The “clear victory” mentioned here was understood by many companions to refer to the events that began with the treaty and led to the peaceful domination of Makkah by Islam. The Conquest of Makkah was the full unfolding of this promise. It became clear in hindsight that what looked like a political setback at Hudaybiyyah was in reality the door that led to this decisive victory.
Another Surah that strongly connects to this moment is Surah an-Nasr, which many scholars consider a sign that the mission of the Prophet ﷺ was nearing completion:
إِذَا جَاءَ نَصْرُ اللَّهِ وَالْفَتْحُ
وَرَأَيْتَ النَّاسَ يَدْخُلُونَ فِي دِينِ اللَّهِ أَفْوَاجًا
فَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّكَ وَاسْتَغْفِرْهُ ۚ إِنَّهُ كَانَ تَوَّابًا
“When the help of Allah and the victory come,
and you see the people entering into the religion of Allah in crowds,
then glorify the praises of your Lord and ask His forgiveness. Indeed, He is ever Accepting of repentance.”
[Surah an-Nasr 110:1–3]
Many companions understood “victory” here to be the Conquest of Makkah, after which the tribes of Arabia entered Islam in large numbers. The chapter also shows the attitude the Prophet ﷺ was commanded to have at the peak of success. Instead of pride, he was ordered to show more tasbih, praise, and istighfar, seeking forgiveness. This spirit of humility and turning back to Allah would shape how the Prophet ﷺ entered Makkah and how he treated its people.
The Conquest of Makkah was not only a political or military victory. It was the completion of the Prophet’s mission to restore the Ka‘bah to pure tawhid and to open the hearts of the people of Makkah to Islam, through mercy and humility rather than revenge.
A Different Kind of Victory
Throughout history, conquests often meant bloodshed, revenge, and humiliation for the defeated people. The conquest led by the Prophet ﷺ was different in its spirit and in the way it was carried out. The Muslims had been harmed in Makkah for many years. They had been tortured, killed, expelled, and fought. From a worldly perspective, they had many reasons to seek revenge. Instead, the Prophet ﷺ entered Makkah with his head lowered in humility to Allah and chose forgiveness as the primary tone of this event.
The Quran describes the mission of the Prophet ﷺ in general terms that became very visible at this moment:
وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ إِلَّا رَحْمَةً لِّلْعَالَمِينَ
“And We have not sent you except as a mercy to the worlds.”
[Surah al-Anbiya 21:107]
This mercy was not limited to the weak or to those who supported him. It extended to people who had fought him, insulted him, and forced him out of his homeland. The Conquest of Makkah allowed this mercy to be seen on a large public scale. The Prophet ﷺ forgave many who had been his fiercest enemies, and he turned a day that could have been a day of revenge into a day of amnesty and guidance.
The hadith literature shows that the Prophet ﷺ did not enter Makkah as a proud conqueror. In Sahih Muslim it is narrated that he recited Surah al-Fath as he entered and that his head was bowed so low in gratitude and humility that his beard was almost touching the saddle of his riding animal. This physical image captures the inner state of the Messenger at the moment of greatest worldly triumph.
Restoring the Sacredness of the Ka‘bah
The Ka‘bah was built originally by Prophet Ibrahim عليه السلام and his son Isma‘il عليه السلام as a house dedicated to the worship of Allah alone. Over time idolatry had entered Makkah and idols were placed around and inside the Ka‘bah. The Conquest of Makkah allowed the Prophet ﷺ to restore the original purpose of this sacred place.
Allah reminds us of the original role of the Ka‘bah in the Quran:
وَإِذْ بَوَّأْنَا لِإِبْرَاهِيمَ مَكَانَ الْبَيْتِ أَنْ لَا تُشْرِكْ بِي شَيْئًا وَطَهِّرْ بَيْتِيَ لِلطَّائِفِينَ وَالْقَائِمِينَ وَالرُّكَّعِ السُّجُودِ
“And [mention] when We designated for Ibrahim the site of the House, [saying], ‘Do not associate anything with Me and purify My House for those who perform tawaf and those who stand [in prayer] and those who bow and prostrate.’”
[Surah al-Hajj 22:26]
The command to avoid shirk and to purify the House for worshippers was fulfilled again through the mission of Muhammad ﷺ. The Conquest of Makkah was the moment when this purification became public and complete. From that point on, the Ka‘bah was no longer a centre of idol worship but was returned to being the heart of tawhid on earth.
Although later sections will explain the specific act of destroying the idols, here it is important to notice the greater meaning. The removal of the idols was not just breaking stones. It was the visible sign that the age of paganism in Makkah had ended. It affirmed that guidance now stood openly over misguidance, and that the worship of Allah alone had replaced centuries of inherited false beliefs.
A Turning Point for the People of Quraysh
The people of Quraysh had long seen themselves as the custodians of the Ka‘bah and the leaders of Arabia. Their opposition to the Prophet ﷺ came partly from fear of losing this status. For many years they led the fight against Islam. With the Conquest of Makkah, the balance changed. Quraysh now had a new place within the Ummah.
A hadith in Sahih Muslim narrates that the Prophet ﷺ said on another occasion:
«إِنَّمَا النَّاسُ تَبَعٌ لِقُرَيْشٍ، فِي هَذَا الشَّأْنِ، مُسْلِمُهُمْ تَبَعٌ لِمُسْلِمِهِمْ، وَكَافِرُهُمْ تَبَعٌ لِكَافِرِهِمْ»
“Indeed, the people follow Quraysh in this matter. Their Muslims follow their Muslims and their disbelievers follow their disbelievers.”
Once Quraysh embraced Islam in large numbers after the conquest, the tribes of Arabia began to enter Islam more quickly. The very group that had been the fiercest opponent of the Prophet ﷺ now became among the key pillars supporting the new Islamic order in Arabia. Former enemies like Abu Sufyan and many others would later contribute to the spread of Islam and the strengthening of the Muslim community.
Thus, the Conquest of Makkah did not simply remove an enemy. It transformed that enemy into a core part of the Ummah. The Prophet ﷺ, by offering amnesty and a dignified place within Islam, allowed this transformation to happen. This was a great strategic and spiritual wisdom. It turned hearts instead of simply breaking them.
The Moral Example of the Prophet ﷺ in Victory
One of the most important lessons of the Conquest of Makkah is how a Muslim should behave at the moment of power and success. During the years in Makkah, the believers had been commanded to be patient, to avoid retaliation, and to forgive. Later in Madinah, they were given permission to defend themselves and to fight when necessary. By the time of the conquest, the Muslims were strong. Yet the Prophet ﷺ remained consistent in his character.
Allah had instructed him:
خُذِ الْعَفْوَ وَأْمُرْ بِالْعُرْفِ وَأَعْرِضْ عَنِ الْجَاهِلِينَ
“Show forgiveness, enjoin what is right, and turn away from the ignorant.”
[Surah al-A‘raf 7:199]
On the day of the conquest, this verse became practical and public on a wide scale. The Prophet ﷺ forgave those who had previously mocked him, thrown stones at him, plotted against his life, and fought him on the battlefield. He did not seek to humiliate them or destroy their honour. Instead, he offered words that calmed hearts and opened the door to sincere repentance.
The atmosphere of that day showed several key qualities of the Prophet ﷺ. There was justice, since some individuals who were particularly dangerous were not given general amnesty. There was mercy, since the majority were forgiven. There was humility, which appeared in his manner and speech. There was loyalty, as he remembered the sacredness of the Ka‘bah and the rights of its people. All of this together made the conquest a model of how power can be exercised with taqwa and balance.
The Conquest of Makkah teaches that true Islamic victory is not measured only by control of a city or territory. It is measured by the dominance of tawhid in worship, justice in action, and mercy in dealing with people, even former enemies.
The Spread of Islam After the Conquest
The Conquest of Makkah had a major impact on how Islam spread afterwards. Before this event, many tribes in Arabia were waiting to see how the conflict between Quraysh and the Muslims would end. They followed the political strength of Quraysh and feared to oppose them openly. When Makkah entered Islam, the main barrier that held back many tribes disappeared.
The Quran describes the wave of new believers that would come:
وَرَأَيْتَ النَّاسَ يَدْخُلُونَ فِي دِينِ اللَّهِ أَفْوَاجًا
“And you see the people entering into the religion of Allah in crowds.”
[Surah an-Nasr 110:2]
After the conquest, delegations from across Arabia began to come to Madinah to meet the Prophet ﷺ, accept Islam, and learn about its teachings. This period will be studied later in more detail, but it is important to see that the Conquest of Makkah was the key event that opened this new phase. Islam was no longer a small community facing a powerful enemy. It became the leading force that others now approached and joined.
This new situation also meant more responsibility. The Prophet ﷺ had to guide new Muslims, organize the relationship between different tribes, and ensure that the Ka‘bah and Makkah operated according to Islamic principles. The conquest was not the end of effort, but the beginning of a broader and more complex stage in the life of the Ummah.
Spiritual Meanings of the Conquest
Beyond political and social change, the Conquest of Makkah has deep spiritual meanings for Muslims in every age. It is a reminder that patience in obedience to Allah eventually leads to openings, even if they are delayed. The early Muslims waited for many years, suffered hardships, and maintained their faith under pressure. Their perseverance led, by Allah’s permission, to an outcome they could not have achieved by their own strength alone.
The conquest also shows that doors can open after what looks like defeat. The Treaty of Hudaybiyyah appeared, at first, to be a loss for the Muslims. Yet Allah called it a “clear victory” and from it the path to the conquest unfolded. This pattern teaches believers that Allah’s plan is deeper than surface appearances, and that trust in His wisdom is essential.
The Prophet ﷺ, even at this moment of great success, was commanded to increase in praise and asking forgiveness:
فَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّكَ وَاسْتَغْفِرْهُ
“Then glorify the praises of your Lord and ask His forgiveness.”
[Surah an-Nasr 110:3]
This teaches that a believer must not become proud or self-satisfied at times of ease or progress. Instead, the more Allah opens doors and grants success, the more a Muslim should recognise their own weakness, thank Allah, and seek forgiveness for shortcomings.
Finally, the Conquest of Makkah highlights the importance of inner conquest. Makkah as a city was conquered, but the real goal was the conquest of hearts by faith, mercy, and guidance. For each believer, there is a similar inner journey: the “idols” of the heart, such as arrogance, stubbornness, and love of sin, need to be removed so that the heart can be devoted to Allah alone. In this way, the outward event in history becomes a symbol of an inner reality that every Muslim should seek.
In the next sections, we will look more closely at how the treaty was broken, how the Prophet ﷺ prepared for this event, and the detailed events of his entry into Makkah, the general amnesty, and the destruction of idols that completed the purification of the Sacred House.