The Prophet (s), after confirming the attack and the event that had taken place, marched into Mecca with an army of 3000 Muslims of Medina and Muslims from other Arab communities joining them along the way totaling 10,000 Muslims. Before entering Mecca, he sent word to the citizens saying that anyone who is living in his home, or the home of Abu Sufyan, or in the Kabah would be safe. The army entered Mecca without fighting and the Prophet (s) went directly to the Kabah. He pointed to every idol in the Kabah with his stick and said, “Truth has come and Falsehood will neither start nor will it reappear” [Qur'an 17:81]. One by one the idols fell down. The Kabah was then cleaned from all the three hundred and sixty idols, and was restored to its perfect status of the worship of the One True God (as built by Prophets Ibrahim and Ismail).
The people of the city expected general slaughter in view of their persecution and torture of Muslims for the past twenty years. While standing by the Ka’bah, the Prophet (s) promised clemency for the Makkans, stating: “O Quraish, what do you think that I am about to do with you?” They replied, “Good. You are a noble brother, son of a noble brother.” The Prophet forgave them all saying:
“I will treat you as Prophet Yousuf (Joseph) treated his brothers. There is no reproach against you. Go to your homes, and you are all free.” (Sahih Bukhari)
The Prophet also declared:
Allah made Makkah holy the day He created heavens and earth, and it is the holy of holies until the Resurrection Day. It is not lawful for anyone who believes in Allah and the last day to shed blood therein, nor to cut down trees therein. It was not lawful to anyone before me and it will not be lawful to anyone after me. (Sahih Bukhari)
The people of Mecca then accepted Islam including the staunch enemies of the Prophet. A few of the staunchest enemies and military commanders had fled Mecca after his entry. However, when they received the Prophet (s) s word of no revenge and no force in religion, they came back and gradually the message of Islam won their hearts. Within a year (630 CE), almost all Arabia accepted Islam. Among the Prophet (s) s close companions were Muslims from such diverse background as Persia, Abyssinia, Syria and Rome. Several prominent Jewish Rabbis, Christian bishop and clergymen accepted Islam after discussions with the Prophet.
Death of Prophet Muhammad (s)
Two months after performing the Hajj (Farewell Pilgrimage), Prophet Muhammad fell ill. He continued to lead the congregation prayers. After one of these prayers he invoked special blessings on the martyrs of Uhud, and then addressed the Muslims:
There is a slave among the slaves of Allah (The One God) to whom God has offered the choice between this world and that which is with Him, and the slave has chosen that which is with God.
Upon hearing this Abu Bakr r.a. wept as he understood that the Prophet was talking about himself and that the choice meant his imminent death. The Prophet continued:
I warn you O Muslims to be good to the Ansar (the Helpers, i.e., those residents of Medina who helped the Emigrants from Mecca). They have performed their duty well. Muslims will increase in number but Ansar will dwindle and be as salt in a meal.
Woe to the nations before you who worshiped the tombs of their prophets. I forbid you to do that. O people, the most unselfish of men to me in his companionship is Abu Bakr r.a., and if I were to take from mankind an inseparable friend he would be Abu Bakr r.a. – but the brotherhood of faith is ours until God unite us in His presence. O my dear daughter Fatimah r.a. and O my dear aunt Safiyah r.a., spend your efforts in the way of the hereafter for I will not be able to help you against the Will of Allah.
I go before you and I am your witness. Your meeting with me is at the pool (a lake fed by the celestial river Kawthar where believers will quench their thirst on their entry into paradise.). I fear not for you that you will set up gods beside Allah (The One God); but I fear for you that you will rival one another in worldly gains. (http://www.islaam.com)
Soon after this sermon, his last in the mosque, the Prophet became so weak that he could not move. He then appointed Abu Bakr r.a. to lead the prayers. The Prophet spent the rest of his illness in the apartment of his beloved wife Aishah r.a.. On the early morning of twelfth of Rabi al-Awwal, the prophet s fever abated and he went to the mosque, assisted by Fadl and Thawban, when Abu Bakr r.a. was already leading the prayer. Realizing that the prophet was approaching, Abu Bakr r.a. stepped back without turning his head, but the prophet pressed his hand on his shoulder to let him know to continue. The Prophet sat on the right of Abu Bakr r.a. and completed the prayer while seated. The apparent recovery of the Prophet overjoyed the Muslims. Anas r.a. is reported to have said that I never saw the Prophet s face more beautiful than it was at that hour.
Within hours, the Prophet lost his consciousness. He opened his eyes again an hour later saying to Aishah r.a.: No Prophet is taken by death until he has been shown his place in Paradise and then offered the choice to live or to die. Among the last words he said were:
With the supreme communion in Paradise, with those upon whom God has showered his favor, the prophets and the saints and the martyrs and the righteous, most excellent for communion are they. (http://www.islaam.com)
The Prophet (s) s last words were O Allah, with the supreme communion. He died in the evening of the twelfth of Rabi al-Awwal (June 8, 632 A.D.) at the age of sixty-three. (The Life of Muhammad)
The news of the Prophet s death was so hard upon close companions and Muslims that some of them refused to believe that he had passed away. (At the close of his death, he looked youthful as if in his forties and his face always shown a great radiance). Upon hearing this, Abu Bakr r.a. who was later to become the first caliph went to the mosque and delivered one of the noblest speeches:
O People! If Muhammad is the sole object of your adoration, then know that he is dead. But if it is Allah (The One God) you Worshiped, then know that He does not die.
He then recited the following verse from the Qur’an, 3:144, which was revealed after the Battle of Uhud:
Muhammad is no more than an Apostle: many were the Apostles that passed away before him. If he died or were slain, will you then turn back on your heels? If any did turn back on his heels, not the least harm will he do to Allah; but Allah (on the other hand) will swiftly reward those who (serve Him) with gratitude.
The Prophet was buried the next day at the same place where he died. The place of his burial was decided by his saying as related by Abu Bakr r.a.: Allah does not cause a prophet to die but in the place where he is to be buried.
Prophet lived a most simple, severe and modest life. He and his family used to go without cooked meal several days at a time, relying only on dates, dried bread and water. During the day he was the busiest man, as he performed his duties in many roles all at once as head of state, chief justice, commander-in-chief, arbitrator, instructor and family man. He was the most devoted man at night. He used to spend one- to two-thirds of every night in prayer and meditation (Qur’an 73:20). All of his children died before his death except Fatimah r.a. who died six months after his death. All of the Prophet s wives (known as Ummul Momineen, mother of the faithful) passed their widowhood during the remaining period of their lives.
The Prophet s possession consisted of mats, blankets, jugs and other simple things even when he was the virtual ruler of Arabia. He left nothing to be inherited except a white mule, few ammunition and a piece of land that he had made a gift during his life time. Among his last words were: We the community of Prophets are not inherited. Whatever we leave is for charity.
The Prophet s actions and words were remembered and later recorded (known as Hadith), so that Muslims in future generations to the end of time could try to act and speak as he did. He has served as an example for all Muslims in all periods to modern times. He will remain a model example for all of humanity. (Muhammad: His Life)
We now come to know the Prophet (s) from the time of his birth to the time of his death. After his death, the first caliphate took place came to be known, which was Muhammad (s) best friend, companion, and father-in-law, Abu Bakr r.a. The death of the Prophet Muhammad (s) was just the beginning of Islam. Now, Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world today and is the second biggest religion in the world.
Muhammad (s) was a man and a messenger of Allah (The One God). He is the last of the prophets sent by Allah to guide man to the right path, Adam was the first Prophet. The Quran mentions 25 prophets by name and provides a great insight of their mission, struggle and their communities. The Quran clears prophets from charges leveled against them in previous Scriptures. The Quran also mentions four previously revealed scriptures, which are: Suhoof (Pages) of Ibrahim (Abraham), Taurat (’Torah’) as revealed to Prophet Moses, Zuboor (’Psalms’) as revealed to Prophet David, and Injeel (’Evangel’) as revealed to Prophet Jesus (pbuh). Islam requires belief in all prophets and revealed scriptures (original, non-corrupted) as part of the Articles of Faith. Muhammad (s) is greatly respected as the model of Quranic behavior. Muslims mention his name by adding “peace be upon him,” a phrase used with the name of all prophets. All sincere Muslims try to follow the Quran and the Prophet s example to minute details. The account of every aspect of his life has been preserved (numerous daily accounts including his family life). Prophet Muhammad (s) has served as an example for all Mankind in all periods to modern times. He will remain a model example for all of humanity.
At the end of his mission, the Prophet was blessed with several hundred thousand followers (men and women) of Islam. Thousands prayed with him at the mosque and listened to his sermon. Hundreds of sincere Muslims would find every opportunity to be with him following five daily prayers and at other times. They used to seek his advice for their everyday problems, and listened attentively to the interpretation and application of revealed verses to their situation. They followed the message of the Quran and the Messenger of Allah with utmost sincerity, and supported him with every thing they had. They faithfully carried the message of Islam after the Prophet, and within ninety years the light of Islam reached Spain, North Africa, the Caucasus, northwest China and India. The message that Prophet Muhammad (s) worked so hard to convey from a small city in the middle of a barren desert, has now reached every corner of the world.