Factors & Preparations Leading towards the Conquest of Mecca
The conquest of Mecca, which is also known as Ghazwah al-Fath Al-Azam, took place in Ramadan 8 AH.
(Sharh al-Zurqani ‘ala al-Mawahib al-Laduniyyah, Vol. 3 [Beirut, Lebanon: Dar al-Kutub al-‘Ilmiyyah, 1996], p. 386)
In Tarikh al-Tabari it is written that when the Holy Prophet (sa) ordered the people to begin preparations, he told his family to make provisions for him. Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) went to his daughter, Hazrat ‘Aisha (ra), and at the time she was making provisions for the Holy Prophet (sa). Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) asked, “O my daughter! Has the Messenger (sa) of Allah ordered you to make provisions?” To this, she replied in the affirmative. He asked her, “Where do you think the Holy Prophet (sa) is intending to go?” Hazrat ‘Aisha (ra) replied, “I do not know at all.” Then the Holy Prophet (sa) informed the people that they were heading towards Mecca and that they ought to make preparations immediately. He then prayed, “O Allah! May You keep the spies and informants of the Quraysh heedless of this to the extent whereby we reach their area without them knowing. Upon this, the people began preparations.
(Muhammad Ibn Jarir al-Tabari, Tarikh al-Tabari, Vol. 3, Dhikr al-Khabr ‘an Fath Makkah [Beirut, Lebanon: Dar al-Fikr, 2002], p. 166)
Elaborating further upon this incident, it is written in Sirat al-Halabiyyah:
“Whilst Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) was enquiring from Hazrat ‘Aisha (ra), the Holy Prophet (sa) arrived. Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) asked the Holy Prophet (sa), ‘O Messenger (sa) of Allah! Are you intending to travel?’ The Holy Prophet (sa) replied in the affirmative. Upon this, Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) submitted, ‘Shall I also prepare?’ The Holy Prophet (sa) replied in the affirmative again. Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) enquired, ‘O Messenger (sa) of Allah! Where are you intending to travel?’ The Holy Prophet (sa) stated, ‘to fight against the Quraish, but Abu Bakr keep this confidential.’ (He told him, but also said to keep this fact confidential) The Holy Prophet (sa) instructed the people to prepare, however, he did not disclose to them where he was going. Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) submitted, ‘O Messenger (sa) of Allah! Does not the time period of the pact and treaty between us and the Quraish still remain?’ The Holy Prophet (sa) replied, ‘Yes, but they have dishonoured their treaty and broke it, but you must keep everything I have said to you confidential.’”
In another narration, it states that Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) submitted, “O Messenger (sa) of Allah! Do you intend to set out on a journey?” The Holy Prophet (sa) replied in the affirmative. Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) stated, “Perhaps you intend to travel towards the Banu Asfar (i.e. the Byzantines).” The Holy Prophet (sa) replied, “no”. Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) submitted, “Do you plan to travel towards Najd?” Again, the Holy Prophet (sa) stated, “no”. Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) submitted, “O Messenger (sa) of Allah! Perhaps you intend to travel towards the Quraish?” The Holy Prophet (sa) replied in the affirmative. Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) submitted, “O Messenger (sa) of Allah! The time period of the peace treaty established between you and them still remains.” The Holy Prophet (sa) stated, “Do you not know what they have done to the Banu Ka‘b, (i.e. the Banu Khuza‘ah).” Thereafter, the Holy Prophet (sa) sent a message to the neighbouring villages and Muslims and stated, “Whoever believes in Allah the Almighty and the Day of Judgment should gather in Madinah in the month of Ramadan.” Upon this instruction of the Holy Prophet (sa) various tribes of Arabia began to converge in Madinah. Amongst the tribes which arrived in Madinah were the Banu Aslam, Banu Ghaffar, Bannu Muzainah, Banu Ashja and Banu Juhainah. At the time, the Holy Prophet (sa) prayed, “O Allah! Stop the informants and spies of the Quraish, so that we can reach their areas without them knowing.” The Holy Prophet (sa) then stationed various parties along the entire way in order to gather information of anyone who passed by. The Holy Prophet (sa) instructed them that if any stranger passed by them, they should stop him and the Quraish should not learn of the preparations being made by the Muslims.
(Ali bin Burhan al-Din al-Halabi, Al-Sirah al-Halabiyyah, Vol. 3 [Beirut, Lebanon: Dar al-Kutub al-‘Ilmiyyah, 2002], pp. 107-108)