The importance of Makkah:

Makkah (or Umm AI-Qura) is the holiest city in Islam. The Holy Mosque is
located at its center, and in the middle of this Mosque is Ka'bah, the qibla of
Muslims in their prayers and their destination for pilgrimage. Ka'bah was built by
Ibrahim Al-Khalil and his son Ismael. Makkah has also several important religious
landmarks, such as Zamzam well, Arafa, Muzdalifa, Mina, Al-Noor Mountain,
Thawr mountain and Hera cave in which revelation came to the Prophet
Muhammad PBUH. From Makkah Islam spread to the world. It is the city in which
Adam and Eve, as well as most Prophets and Messengers lived. The Prophet
PBUH was born in Makkah, emigrated from it to Madina and return to it in
conquest.
Al-Hudaibiya Treaty paved the way for the conquest of Makkah:
AI-Hudaibiya Treaty was made in the month of Dhu AI-Qa'da, in the sixth year
AH, between Muslims and Quraysh, at a place called AI-Hudaibiya, on the
outskirts of Makkah, when the Muslims went to perform Umrah but were
prevented by the polytheists of Makkah.
Key terms of the treaty: the two sides agreed on a truce between them for ten years.
Muslims will not enter Makkah, but will return to it the following year to perform
Umrah.
The treaty gave tribes the freedom to join either of the two parties: the Muslims or
Quraysh. It provided that any person from Quraysh who converts to Islam and
comes to the Messenger, peace be upon him, shall be returned to Quraysh, and any
person from the side of the Messenger, peace be upon him, who joins Quraysh
shall be accepted. AI-Hudaibiya Treaty formed a suitable framework for spreading
Islam among tribes and enhancing the strength of Muslims and limiting wars and
fighting.
Events of the Conquest of Makkah:
After the Truce of Hudaybiyah, Bani Bakr became an ally of Quraysh while Bani
Khuzaah sided with the Muslims. As per the Truce, no party shall indulge in any
kind of attack either directly or indirectly.
But when Bani Bakr attacked Bani Khuzaah , while they were asleep, Quraysh
helped them with weapons and some of their chiefs took part in the attack. Thus
they broke the Truce of Hudaybiyah.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) sent a man to Makkah to confirm the news that
the Quraysh had broken the Treaty of Hudaybiyah.

The Prophet (Peace be upon him) placed three alternatives before the Quraysh:
1. To pay blood-money for the victims of Bani Khuzaah.
2. To withdraw their support for the section of Bakr involved in the attack.
3. To declare the Truce of Hudaybiyah to have been broken.
They did not agree to the first two alternatives and declared the Truce of
Hudaybiyah to be null and void.
After breaking the Treaty of Hudaybiyah, the Quraysh were greatly troubled as to
the possible consequences of what they had done. So they sent Abu Sufyan to
Madinah to strengthen the Hudaybiyah Agreement and to prolong its duration.
All attempts by Abu Sufyan to convince the Prophet and win him over failed. He
did not succeed in his mission.
He began to prepare for a campaign. He told Abu Bakr about his plan and
instructed him to keep it a secret. He, then, prayed, “O Allah! Take from Quraysh
all sight of us and all news of us, what we are about, that we may come suddenly
upon them in their land”.
Trust in Allah and making necessary efforts:
The Prophet PBUH went out to conquer Makkah in Ramadan in the 8th year after
Hjira ( ‫)هجره‬. He and the Muslims accompanying him were fasting. He and the
Muslims broke fast until they entered Makkah. The Prophet PBUH maintained full
secrecy while marching, He told Abu Bakr about his plan and instructed him to
keep it a secret. He, then, prayed, “O Allah! Take from Quraysh all sight of us and
all news of us, what we are about, that we may come suddenly upon them in their
land”.
Example of forgiveness from Prophet life:
After the peace treaty at Al-Hudaibiyah was drawn up between the Prophet and the
people of Makkah, it resulted in a ceasefire and prevalence of peace. Then an
incident occurred in which some Makkans tried to kill the Prophet and his
companions:
Anas reported that a Jewess came to Allah’s Messenger with poisoned mutton and
he took of that what had been brought to him. (When the effect of this poison were
felt by him) he called for her and asked her about that, whereupon she said:
‘I had determined to kill you’. Thereupon he said:
‘Allah will never give you the power to do it.’
Later Prophet PBUH forgive her.

Forgiveness and tolerance

Ibn Ishaq said; the Messenger of Allah, (PBUH) stood at the door of Ka’bah and
said: “ O Quraysh! What do you think I would do with you? They said: “
something good. You are a good brother and a good nephew.” He said” you are
free to go.” This is the perfect example of forgiveness, tolerance and having mercy
on others. One of the effects of forgiveness is that people felt secure and entered
the religion of Allah in multitudes, and Islam became stronger.