Death for criminals

The general amnesty notwithstanding, the Prophet sentenced the worst criminals to death that day, and issued orders to kill them even if they were found clinging to the covering of the Ka’bah. Allah’s wrath had finally descended upon them and the vast earth appeared constricted as they faced retribution.

However, it is also illuminating to reflect that all of the population of Makkah who had waged war against Islam, only four people were killed that day. They were Ibn Khatal, Muqis bin Sababa, Harith bin Nufayl and one of the maids of Ibn Khatal. Some sources say that Harith bin Talat Al Khuza’i and Umm Sa’d were also slain, but it is thought that Umm Sa’d was none other than the maid of Ibn Khatal. Thus, no more than six were punished by death.

Four others escaped death. They fled or hid and returned to embrace Islam once they were guaranteed pardon. They were Abdullah bin Sa’d bin Abi Sarh, Ikrama bin Abu Jahl, Habbar bin Aswad, and another maid of Ibn Khatal. Some sources add the names of Ka’b bin Zuhayr, Wahshi bin Harb, and Hind bint Utbah, the wife of Abu Sufyan, bringing the number to seven persons in all.

Some others from the Quraysh, such as Safwan bin Umayya, Zuhayr bin Abu Umayya, and Shuhayl bin Amr, hid themselves, even though they were not condemned to death. Subsequently, they all embraced Islam.