The Prophet ﷺ entered Makkah victorious, years after he had been driven out of it. The first thing he did at the House was to clear it of idols.
Abdullah ibn Mas‘ud narrates that the Prophet ﷺ entered Makkah on the day of the conquest, and around the House were three hundred and sixty idols. He began striking them with a stick in his hand, saying: “Truth has come and falsehood has vanished,” and “Truth has come, and falsehood can neither begin anything nor bring anything back.”
Abdullah ibn Mughaffal narrates that he saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ on the day of the conquest of Makkah on his camel, reciting Surah al-Fath with a melodious voice.
A moment of reflection
The Prophet ﷺ did not meet the day of victory with arrogance, but with the Quran and with purifying the House for the worship of One God.
When you stand before the Kaaba, remember that this House was built for the worship of Allah alone, and that your heart is even more deserving of being cleared of everything that competes with that.
What do we know? What don’t we know?
- We know: the breaking of the idols around the House and the recitation of the verses, as in al-Bukhari and Muslim.
- We know: that he ﷺ recited Surah al-Fath on his camel on the day of the conquest, as in Sahih al-Bukhari.
- We do not know for certain: the famous phrase “Go, for you are free.” Hadith scholars have criticised its chain, so we do not state its wording as certain, although his general pardon ﷺ on that day is established.
Sources
- Sahih al-Bukhari 4287 and Sahih Muslim 1781, narrated by Ibn Mas‘ud.
- Sahih al-Bukhari 4281, narrated by Abdullah ibn Mughaffal.
- The Quran: al-Isra’ 17:81, and Saba’ 34:49.
When something you waited a long time for finally comes, how do you receive it?