Abu Sufyan's Acceptance of Islam
Hisham bin Urwah relates from his father that when the Holy Prophet (sa) departed for the Conquest of Mecca, the Quraish had received news of this. Consequently, Abu Sufyan bin Harb, Hakim bin Hizam and Budail bin Waraqah went out to seek information about the Holy Prophet (sa) until they reached a place called Marruz Zahran. Marruz Zahran is a place 5 miles from Mecca, wherein are plentiful springs and gardens of dates. When they reached this place, they saw countless fires lit, just as there are at Arafat during the pilgrimage. Abu Sufyan then said, “What is this? It seems as though these are the fires of Arafat.” Budail bin Waraqah then said, “These seem to be the fires of Banu Amr, (i.e., of the Khuza’ah tribe).” Abu Sufyan said, “The Banu Amr tribe are much fewer in numbers.” Thereafter, some guards of the Holy Prophet (sa) saw them and seized the three of them. They were then brought to the Holy Prophet (sa) and Abu Sufyan accepted Islam. When the Holy Prophet (sa) left towards Mecca, he told Hazrat Abbas (ra), “Keep Abu Sufyan at the mountain-pass, so that he may see the Muslims.” Therefore, Hazrat Abbas (ra) kept him there. Numerous tribes passed by, alongside the Holy Prophet (sa), and each division of the army passed in front of Abu Sufyan. When one group was passing by, Abu Sufyan asked, “Abbas, who are these people?” Hazrat Abbas (ra) replied, “These are the people of the Ghiffar tribe,” to which Abu Sufyan said, “I have no concern for the Ghiffar tribe.” Then the people of the Juhainah tribe passed by and Abu Sufyan posed the same question. Then the people of the Sa‘d bin Huzaim tribe passed by and he asked the same question, then the people of the Sulaim tribe passed by and he asked the same question, up to the point where the last division of the army passed by, which he had not seen before. Abu Sufyan asked, “Who are these people?” Hazrat Abbas (ra) said, “These are the Ansar and their chief is Hazrat Sa‘d (ra) bin Ubadah, who is holding the flag. Hazrat Sa‘d (ra) bin Ubadah exclaimed, “O Abu Sufyan, today is the day of a fierce battle, and in which fighting shall be permissible in the precinct of the Ka‘bah.” Having heard this, Abu Sufyan then said, “Abbas, what a great day of destruction this would be if I were to contest you” (i.e., if he was on the opposing side and had the opportunity [to fight them], but he was on the side of the Muslims due to having accepted Islam). Then another division of the army arrived which was the smallest of all the battalions. Among them was the Holy Prophet (sa) and the Muhajireen and the flag of the Holy Prophet (sa) was being carried by Hazrat Zubair (ra) bin al-Awwam. When the Holy Prophet (sa) passed by Abu Sufyan, he said, “Are you not aware of what Sa‘d (ra) bin Ubadah has just said?” The Holy Prophet (sa) asked, “What did he say?” He then told him whatever Hazrat Sa‘d bin Ubadah (ra) uttered. The Holy Prophet (sa) then replied, “Sa‘d has erred, in fact, today is the day that God Almighty shall restore the honour of the Ka‘bah and it shall be covered with a sacred cloth [Ghilaf]. There shall be no fighting on this day.”
(Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab-ul-Maghazi, Bab Aina Rakaza an-Nabi ar-Ra’ya Yaumal Fath, Hadith 4280) (Mu’jamul Buldan, Vol. 4, p. 247)
Hazrat Musleh Maud (ra) has mentioned this incident in more detail and is as follows: “While the Muslims marched towards Mecca, the Holy Prophet (sa) had ordered Hazrat Abbas (ra) to take Abu Sufyan and his friends to a spot from where they could easily view the Muslim army, and its loyalty and devotion. Hazrat Abbas (ra) did so and from a vantage point Abu Sufyan and his friends watched the Arab tribes go past on whose power the Meccans had banked all these years for their plots against Islam. The people of Mecca thought that they would be able to receive help from them but now they all stood in support of the Holy Prophet (sa). They marched that day not as soldiers of disbelief but as soldiers of belief. They raised now the slogans of Islam, not the slogans of their pagan days. They marched in formation, not to put an end to the Prophet’s life (as the Meccans desired), but rather to lay down their lives to save his; not to shed his blood, but their own for his sake. Their ambition that day was not to resist the Prophet’s message and save the superficial solidarity of their own people. It was to carry to all parts of the world the very message they had so far resisted. It was to establish the unity and solidarity of man. Column after column marched past until the Ashja‘ tribe came in Abu Sufyan’s view. Their devotion to Islam and their self-sacrificing zeal could be seen in their faces, and heard in their songs and slogans.
“‘Who are they?’ asked Abu Sufyan.
‘They are the Ashja‘ tribe’, replied Hazrat Abbas (ra).
“Abu Sufyan looked astonished and said, ‘In all Arabia, no one bore greater enmity to Muhammad (sa) than them.’
“Hazrat Abbas (ra) replied, ‘We owe it to the grace of God. He changed the hearts of the enemy of Islam as soon as He deemed fit.’
“Last of all came the Holy Prophet (sa), surrounded by the armies of Ansar and Muhajirin.
“They must have been about 2,000 strong, dressed in suits of armour. Hazrat Umar (ra) directed their marching and would continuously tell them to be mindful of their steps so that the rows remained intact.
“The sight proved the most impressive of all. The devotion of these Muslims, their determination and their zeal seemed overflowing. When Abu Sufyan’s eyes fell on them, he was completely overpowered. ‘Who are they?’ he asked. ‘They are the Ansar and the Muhajirin surrounding the Prophet (sa),’ replied Abbas (ra).
“‘No power on earth could resist this army,’ said Abu Sufyan, and then, addressing Hazrat Abbas (ra) more specifically, ‘Abbas, your nephew has become the most powerful king in the world.’
“‘You are still far from the truth, Abu Sufyan. He is no king; he is a Prophet, a Messenger of God,’ replied Hazrat Abbas (ra).
‘Yes, yes, let it be as you say, a Prophet.’ added Abu Sufyan
“As the Muslim army marched past Abu Sufyan, the commander of the Ansar, Sa‘d (ra) bin Ubadah happened to eye Abu Sufyan and could not resist saying that God that day had made it lawful for them to enter Mecca by force and that the Quraish would be humiliated.
“As the Holy Prophet (sa) was passing, Abu Sufyan raised his voice and addressing the Holy Prophet (sa) said, ‘O Messenger (sa) of Allah! Have you allowed the massacre of your own kith and kin? I heard the commander of the Ansar, Sa‘d and his companions say so. They said it was a day of slaughter. The sacredness of Mecca will not avert bloodshed and the Quraish will be humiliated. Prophet (sa) of God, you are the best, the most forgiving, the most considerate of men. Will you not forgive and forget whatever was done by your own people?’
“Upon hearing this plea from Abu Sufyan, those very Muslims who used to be insulted and beaten in the streets of Mecca, who had been dispossessed and driven out of their homes, began to entertain feelings of mercy for their old persecutors. ‘O Prophet of God,’ they said, ‘the accounts which the Ansar have heard of the excesses and cruelties committed by Meccans against us, may lead them to seek revenge. We know not what they may do.’
“The Holy Prophet (sa) understood this. Turning to Abu Sufyan, he said, ‘What Sa‘d has said is incorrect. It is the day of forgiveness. The Quraish and the Ka‘bah will be honoured by God.’
“Then he sent for Sa‘d and ordered him to hand over the Ansar flag to his son, Qais, for he would now be the commander of the Ansar’s army. In this way, it placated the Meccans and saved the Ansar’s disappointment. Qais, a pious young man, was fully trusted by the Holy Prophet (sa).”
Hazrat Musleh Maud (ra), in relation to Qais’ (ra) level of piety, states: “An incident of his last days illustrates the piety of his character. Lying on his deathbed, Qais received his friends. Some came and some did not. He could not understand this and asked why some of his friends had not come to see him. ‘Your charity is abundant,’ explained one (Qais was extremely generous and would help people).
“‘You have been helping the needy with your loans. There are many in the town who are in debt to you. Some may have hesitated to come lest you should ask them for the return of the loans.’
“He replied, ‘Then I have been the cause of keeping my friends away. Please announce that no one now owes anything to Qais.’ After this announcement, Qais had so many visitors during his last days that the steps to his house gave way.”
(Dibacha Tafsir-ul-Quran, Anwar-ul-Ulum, Vol. 20, pp. 341-343)