The battle for Makkah (2)

Abu Sufyan appears before the Prophet

As Abbas was making rounds on the back of the Prophet’s mule, he heard a voice and he called out in instant recognition, “Abu Handhla?” Abu Sufyan responded, asking, “Abul Fadl?” “Yes,” said Abbas. Abu Sufyan then asked Abbas, “May my parents be ransomed for you, what is the matter?” Abbas said, “Look! The Prophet is here with his army. What destruction awaits the Quraysh!” Abu Sufyan asked, “May my mother and father ransom you, what do you suggest we do?” Abbas said, “If any Muslim learns of your presence, you will surely be killed. Here, ride on the back of my mule and I will take you to the Prophet.”

Thus Abu Sufyan sat behind Abbas and set out to see the Prophet . Umar bin Khattab saw him and said, “Is that you, Abu Sufyan, enemy of Allah? Praise be to Allah that He gave you to us without any agreement.”

Umar rushed towards the Prophet to inform him of the unwelcome visitor. Abbas, on the other hand, spurred his mule ahead and reached the Prophet before Umar did. Umar, undaunted, followed them in and asked the Prophet for permission to kill Abu Sufyan.

Abbas, interjected, “I have given him shelter.” He then caught the Prophet’s head and said, “None will whisper with the Prophet tonight other than myself.” Umar repeatedly asked for the Prophet’s consent to kill Abu Sufyan, but the Prophet was silent.

Turning to Abbas the Prophet said, “Take him [Abu Sufyan] to your house and come to me in tomorrow morning.” Morning arrived and so did Abu Sufyan. The Prophet said to him, “Woe to you Abu Sufyan, it is not time you acknowledge that there is no god but Allah?”

Abu Sufyan said, “May my mother and father be your ransom, how kind and noble you are. I think that if there had been another god besides Allah, he would have been of help to me on this day.”

The Prophet said again, “Woe to you Abu Sufyan! Is it not time that you acknowledge me as Allah’s Prophet and Messenger?” Abu Sufyan said, “I still have some doubt as to that.” Abbas intervened saying, “Embrace Islam before you lose your head.” Abu Sufyan then recited the confession of faith and thus he entered Islam.

Abbas said, “O Messenger of Allah! Abu Sufyan loves honour. Bestow some honour on him.” The Prophet said, “Very well then, anyone who enters Abu Sufayn’s house is safe, he who shuts his door upon himself is safe, and he who enters the Sacred Mosque is safe.”