Table of Contents
The Approach to Makkah
When the Prophet ﷺ marched toward Makkah with around ten thousand believers in Ramadan of the eighth year after Hijrah, his goal was not revenge, but the establishment of Allah’s religion in its birthplace. This intention shaped every detail of the entry. Though previous sections discuss the reasons for the campaign and the breaking of the treaty, here we focus on how the Prophet ﷺ actually entered Makkah, the scenes of that day, and his conduct at that decisive moment.
The Muslims camped at Marr az-Zahrān, a valley close to Makkah. The Prophet ﷺ ordered each group to light its own fire, so the valley shone with hundreds of fires. This display was meant to show strength and create awe without unnecessary bloodshed. Abū Sufyān, at that time still leader of Quraysh and not yet Muslim, came out with others to investigate. Events of his encounter and Islam are detailed in other chapters, but it is important here that after his Islam, the Prophet ﷺ used him as a means to calm the Makkan population and invite them to peace.
Abū Sufyān was sent back to Makkah to announce amnesty and order. Authentic narrations state that he called out to his people that whoever entered his house would be safe, whoever locked himself in his own home would be safe, and whoever entered the Sacred Mosque would be safe. This was part of the careful preparation for a peaceful entry and to prevent pockets of resistance.
The Prophet ﷺ divided the army into several units that would enter Makkah from different routes. The aim was to surround the city, minimize fighting, and ensure that any remaining hostile groups could not organize.
The Humble Entry of the Prophet ﷺ
As the Prophet ﷺ entered victorious into the city that had expelled, mocked, and fought him, his state of heart was one of humility before Allah. Multiple reports describe his posture as he rode. On the day of the conquest, he entered Makkah on his she-camel, Al Qaswā, reciting words of praise and remembering Allah. Some narrations mention that his head was lowered so much in humility that his blessed beard almost touched the saddle.
He did not enter shouting slogans of vengeance. Instead, it was a day of praising Allah for fulfilling His promise. The Quran speaks of such victory in words revealed around that time:
إِذَا جَآءَ نَصْرُ ٱللَّهِ وَٱلْفَتْحُ
وَرَأَيْتَ ٱلنَّاسَ يَدْخُلُونَ فِى دِينِ ٱللَّهِ أَفْوَاجًا
فَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّكَ وَٱسْتَغْفِرْهُ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ تَوَّابًا
“When the victory of Allah has come and the conquest.
And you see the people entering into the religion of Allah in multitudes.
Then exalt with praise of your Lord and seek His forgiveness. Indeed, He is ever Accepting of repentance.”
(Quran 110:1–3)
The outward sign of victory was clear, but the Prophet ﷺ responded with tasbīh, hamd, and istighfār. This inner attitude defined how he conducted himself inside Makkah.
The Conquest of Makkah was characterized by humility, not arrogance. The Prophet ﷺ attributed victory to Allah alone and increased in praise and seeking forgiveness at the moment of greatest worldly triumph.
Security and Order on the Day of Conquest
To avoid chaos, looting, and bloodshed, the Prophet ﷺ set clear rules for his army as they entered Makkah. The Muslims had suffered twenty years of persecution, but the Prophet ﷺ did not permit individual revenge or unrestrained violence.
Narrations mention that he declared certain limited individuals as still liable for punishment due to particular crimes of treachery and murder, but he forbade general killing. The overall instruction was to avoid combat except where necessary, avoid harming non-combatants, and respect the sanctity of Makkah. This careful control of the army was part of his prophetic leadership.
He ﷺ emphasized the sacred status of the city. In a hadith in Sahih al Bukhari, when he entered Makkah he said:
إِنَّ هَذِهِ الْبَلْدَةَ حَرَّمَهَا اللَّهُ يَوْمَ خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضَ
فَهِيَ حَرَامٌ بِحَرَامِ اللَّهِ إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ
“Indeed this town has been made sacred by Allah the day He created the heavens and the earth, so it is sacred by Allah’s sanctity until the Day of Resurrection.”
(Sahih al Bukhari)
With these words, he made it clear that he was not conquering Makkah as an ordinary king but entering it as the Messenger of the Lord of the Sacred House.
He also established amnesty for most of the population. As mentioned earlier, the declaration through Abū Sufyān and others gave safety to anyone who did not fight. This immediate security brought calm and prevented mass panic.
Minimal Fighting and Control of Resistance
Although the general aim was a peaceful entry, there were limited clashes when a few Quraysh elements attempted to resist. The Prophet ﷺ had ordered certain commanders not to initiate fighting unless attacked. Some small skirmishes took place, especially in the area of the upper side of Makkah, but they did not turn into a major battle.
The swift and disciplined control of these incidents showed both the strength and restraint of the Muslim army. Those who threw down their weapons and surrendered were not pursued with vengeance. The focus remained on bringing the city under Islamic authority with minimal loss of life.
The Muslims entered from various directions, and by Allah’s permission, Makkah was soon under their control. The fear that had filled the hearts of Quraysh turned into astonishment at the mercy and discipline shown by the Prophet ﷺ and his companions.
The Prophet ﷺ Entering al-Masjid al-Haram
One of the central scenes of that day was the Prophet ﷺ entering al Masjid al Haram. He circled around the Kaabah on his camel, with his companions surrounding him. He touched the Black Stone with his staff, as mentioned in authentic narrations, and performed tawaf as an act of worship and gratitude to Allah.
The Kaabah had been filled with idols for generations. This was the place from which Quraysh had controlled religious life in Arabia. The Prophet ﷺ now entered it as the restorer of the pure religion of Ibrahim عليه السلام. Yet he did not rush to show dominance in a worldly sense. His first concern was to re-center worship on Allah alone.
It is narrated in Sahih al Bukhari that he entered the House and said takbīr in its corners and performed prayer there. The details of the destruction of idols are covered in the next chapter, but here the important point is his entry into the Sacred Mosque as a servant of Allah engaged in worship.
Quranic verses that had been revealed earlier now appeared as a clear reality. Among them were the words:
قُلْ جَآءَ ٱلْحَقُّ وَزَهَقَ ٱلْبَـٰطِلُ ۚ إِنَّ ٱلْبَـٰطِلَ كَانَ زَهُوقًا
“Say, ‘Truth has come, and falsehood has vanished. Indeed, falsehood is ever bound to vanish.’”
(Quran 17:81)
These verses were reported to be recited by the Prophet ﷺ on that day as he moved among the idols and the precincts of the Sacred House.
Conduct toward the People of Makkah
The entry into Makkah was not only a military or political moment. It was a test of character for all who had suffered harm at the hands of Quraysh. Many companions could recall torture, injury, and exile. Yet under the guidance of the Prophet ﷺ they did not turn this day into a day of personal revenge.
The Prophet ﷺ gathered the people, especially the chiefs of Quraysh, in front of the Kaabah. The well known declaration of general amnesty, which will be discussed more fully under “General Amnesty,” came after his entry and consolidation of control. At this point, it is important to note that until that announcement, he kept the people in a state of suspense while he reminded them of Allah’s favors and the reality of their past actions.
He asked them about how they thought he would treat them, and they replied by hoping for goodness from him, reminding him of his noble lineage and gentle character. This exchange took place after he had already entered peacefully and shown that no mass slaughter would occur. The way he moved among them during his entry, without displays of pride, prepared them to see him not as a vengeful conqueror but as a merciful messenger.
On the day he reentered the city that had expelled him, the Prophet ﷺ did not allow his personal pain or the companions’ grievances to control events. Instead, he upheld mercy, discipline, and obedience to Allah as the guiding principles of the conquest.
The Spiritual Meaning of the Entry
For Muslims, the entry into Makkah is not only a historical event but also a spiritual sign. It showed that patience, steadfastness, and trust in Allah eventually bring relief, even if the path is long. Years earlier, when the Prophet ﷺ left Makkah in the Hijrah, he looked back at the city with deep love and sadness, saying as reported:
وَاللَّهِ إِنَّكِ لَخَيْرُ أَرْضِ اللَّهِ وَأَحَبُّ أَرْضِ اللَّهِ إِلَيَّ
وَلَوْلَا أَنِّي أُخْرِجْتُ مِنْكِ مَا خَرَجْتُ
“By Allah, you are the best land of Allah and the most beloved land of Allah to me. If I had not been driven out from you, I would not have left.”
(Reported by at Tirmidhi)
To return years later as the undisputed leader of the city, yet with a heart full of humility and gratitude rather than arrogance, showed the completion of a divine promise. The conquest was a victory of tawhīd over shirk, of patience over oppression, and of mercy over vengeance.
Quran mentions the assurance given to the Prophet ﷺ earlier in his mission:
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِى فَرَضَ عَلَيْكَ ٱلْقُرْءَانَ لَرَآدُّكَ إِلَىٰ مَعَادٍ
“Indeed, He who imposed upon you the Quran will surely bring you back to a place of return.”
(Quran 28:85)
The entry into Makkah is one clear fulfillment of this promise. The Prophet ﷺ was brought back not as a helpless exile but as the bearer of Allah’s command, returning the Sacred House to the worship of its Lord.
Summary of the Entry
The entry of the Prophet ﷺ into Makkah was marked by preparation that prioritized peace, a heart filled with humility before Allah, strict rules to prevent uncontrolled violence, limited and quickly controlled resistance, a return to the Sacred Mosque in worship, and a conduct toward the people of Makkah that set the stage for forgiveness and reconciliation.
It was not merely the fall of a city. It was the opening of the primary sanctuary of Islam to pure worship, and the visible sign that the message of Muhammad ﷺ had prevailed in the very place where it was first opposed.