he said, “O assembly of the Ansar, you have uttered such-and-such words—so what would you call me then? Never! I am Allah’s servant and His Messenger. My life is with you, and my death shall be among you.”

They came forward weeping and said, “Messenger of Allah, our words sprang only from deep concern for Allah and His Messenger.” He replied, “Allah and His Messenger believe you and excuse you.”

Muslim recorded this report; in his wording it reads: “Never! I am Allah’s servant and His Messenger; I migrated for Allah’s sake and to you.”

The ḥadith indicates that killing is permissible before a guarantee of safety has been granted.

Salām ibn Miskīn narrated to us from Thābit al-Bunnānī, from ʿAbd Allāh ibn Bāriḥ, from Abū Hurayrah, who said, “Only four people were killed on the day of the Conquest.”

The chieftains of Quraysh then entered the Kaʿbah, convinced that the sword would not be sheathed from them. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ circumambulated the House, prayed, then came to the Kaʿbah, took hold of its two doorposts and asked, “What do you say and what do you think I will do?” They answered, “We say: a noble nephew and a gracious cousin—forebearing and merciful.” He said, “I say to you what Joseph said: ‘There will be no reproach upon you today; may Allah forgive you’ (Q 12:92).” The narrator continued, “They then emerged as though raised from their graves and entered Islam.”

ʿUrwah related from ʿĀʾishah: “On the day of the Conquest the Messenger of Allah ﷺ entered Mecca from Kadāʾ, at its upper approach.”

ʿAbd Allah ibn ʿUmar narrated from Nāfiʿ, from Ibn ʿUmar: “When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ entered Mecca in the Year of the Conquest he saw women striking the faces of the horses with their cloaks. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ smiled at Abū Bakr and said, ‘How did Ḥassān put it?’ So Abū Bakr recited:

‘May I be bereft of my daughters if you fail to see them,
Rousing the dust from both flanks of Kadāʾ;
Gripping the reins, sleek under saddle—
While the women lash them on with their veils.’