The Sacred Territory of Mecca. May God most high guard it - Section 1

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Ibn ‘Abbas reported God’s messenger as saying on the day of the conquest of Mecca, “There is no hijra, but only jihad and intention ; and when you are called to battle, go forth.’’ He also said on the day of the conquest of Mecca, “God made this town sacred on the day He created the heavens and the earth, so it is sacred by the sacredness conferred on it by God till the day of resurrection. Fighting in it has not been lawful to anyone before me and it has been made lawful for me only during one hour on one day, so it is sacred by the sacredness conferred on it by God till the day of resurrection. Its thorns are not to be cut, its game is not to be molested, things dropped are to be picked up only by one who publicly announces it, and its fresh herbage is not to be cut.” Ibn ‘Abbas made the suggestion, “Except the rush, messenger of God, for it is useful for their blacksmiths and for their houses.” He then said, “Except the rush.” (Bukhari and Muslim.) A version by Abu Huraira has, “Its trees are not to be lopped, and only one who announces it may pick up anything which falls in it.”

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Jabir said he heard God's messenger say, “It is not allowable for any of you to carry weapons in Mecca.” Muslim transmitted it.

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Anas said that the Prophet (ﷺ) entered , Mecca on the day of the Conquest with a helmet on his head, and when he pulled it off a man came to him and said, “Ibn Khatal (He was a renegade Muslim) is hanging on to the curtains of the Ka'ba.” He replied, “Kill him.” Bukhari and Muslim.

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Jabir said that God’s messenger entered on the day of the Conquest of Mecca wearing a black turban, but not wearing the ihram. Muslim transmitted it.

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‘A'isha reported God’s messenger as saying, “An army will set out to attack the Ka'ba, but in an extensive desert the first and last of them will be swallowed up.” She asked how the first and last of them would be swallowed up when among them there would be markets and people who were not of their number, to which he replied, “The first and last of them will be swallowed up, then they will be resurrected in a state agreeing with their intentions.” Bukhari and Muslim.

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Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “An Abyssinian with short legs will destroy the Ka'ba.” Bukhari and Muslim.

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Ibn ‘Abbas reported the Prophet (ﷺ) as saying, ‘ I seem to see him black and hen-toed pulling it down stone by stone.” Bukhari transmitted it.

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Ya'la b. Umayya reported God’s messenger as saying, “Storing up food to sell it at a high price in the sacred territory is a profanation of its sanctity.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

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Ibn ‘Abbas reported God’s messenger as saying to Mecca, “What a fine town you are, and how dear you are to me! Were it not that my people expelled me from you, I would live nowhere else.” Tirmidhi transmitted it, saying this is a <i>hasan sahih</i> tradition whose <i>isnad</i> is <i>gharlb</i>.

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'Abdallah b. ‘Adi b. Hamra’ said he saw God’s messenger standing at al-Hazwara (Taj al-'Arus gives two statements about this place, one saying it was a place at the gate of the wheat sellers, the other saying it was the market of Mecca which was later incorporated in the mosque when it was enlarged) and saying, “I swear by God that you are the best part of God’s earth and the part dearest to Him. Had I not been expelled from you I would not have gone out.” Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

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Abu Shuraih al-‘Adawi told that he said to ‘Amr b. Sa‘id when he was sending troops to Mecca (The reference is to an expedition against 'Abdallah b. az-Zubair):

Let me tell you something, commander, which God’s messenger said on the day following the Conquest. My ears heard it, my heart has retained it, and my eyes saw him when he spoke it. After praising and extolling God he said, “God, not men, has made Mecca sacred, so it is not allowable for a man who believes in God and in the last day to shed blood in it, or lop a tree in it. If anyone seeks licence to do so on the ground that God’s messenger fought in it, tell him that God has given permission to His messenger but not to you. He gave him permission only during one hour on one day, and its sacredness has been restored to it like what it was yesterday. Let him who is present convey the information to him who is absent." Abu Shuraih was asked what ‘Amr had replied, and said he had replied, “I am better informed of that than you, Abu Shuraih.' The sacred territory does not give refuge to one who is disobedient, or one who flies when he has shed blood, or one who flies because of a fault (kharba).” (The word is used of a vice) Bukhari and Muslim. In Bukhari’s work kharba is said to mean a crime.

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‘Ayyash b. Abu Rabi'a al-Makhzumi reported God’s messenger as saying, “This people will continue to prosper as long as they give this sacredness due respect, but when they squander that they will perish.” Ibn Majah transmitted it. Chapter 16a