He said, “Demolish it.”
They replied, “Impossible! If the goddess knew you intended to tear her down, she would kill her own people.”
ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb retorted, “Woe to you, son of ʿAbd Yālīl—how ignorant you are! The so-called goddess is nothing but a stone.”
They answered, “We did not come to you, Ibn al-Khaṭṭāb.” Then they turned and said, “O Messenger of Allah, you undertake its demolition; as for us, we will never do it ourselves.”
He replied, “I will send someone who will spare you the task of destroying it.”
They put this in writing with him and asked permission to precede his envoys home. When they reached their people, the tribesmen came out to meet them and asked, “What news?” They feigned sadness and said, “We have come from a harsh, severe man who has risen by the sword, rules as he wills, and has subdued the Arabs. He has forbidden usury, fornication, and wine, and he has ordered that the goddess be demolished.”
Thaqīf recoiled, crying, “We shall never obey such a command!” They were told, “Then prepare for battle and ready your weapons.” They remained in that mood for two or three days, after which Allah cast fear into their hearts; they relented and repented, saying, “Return to him, negotiate on those terms, and make peace.”
Their envoys replied, “We have already done so, and we found him to be the most God-fearing, faithful, compassionate, and truthful of men. Our journey to him and the pact we struck have been blessed for both you and us. Understand the treaty and accept the ease Allah has granted you.”
Their people asked, “Why did you conceal this from us at first?”
They said, “We wanted Allah to strip Satan’s pride from your hearts.” So the tribe accepted Islam on the spot and remained there for several days.
Soon afterward, the envoys of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ arrived—he had placed Khālid ibn al-Walīd in command, with al-Mughīrah ibn Shuʿbah among them. They proceeded straight to al-Lāt. Thaqīf had mustered its men, women, and children—even the young maidens left their chambers—convinced that the idol could never be destroyed and would protect itself.
Al-Mughīrah took up a crowbar—that is, a pick-axe—and said to his companions, “By Allah, I shall make you laugh at Thaqīf today.” He struck the idol with the crowbar, then stumbled and kicked his foot. The people of Ṭāʾif cried out in a single voice, rejoicing, “May Allah remove al-Mughīrah—the goddess has killed him!” They shouted to the Muslims, “Let anyone who dares come near!”
Al-Mughīrah stood up and said, “By Allah, people of Thaqīf, it is nothing but a foolish heap of stones and clay. Accept Allah’s mercy and worship Him alone.” He smashed the door, clambered onto the wall, and the men climbed with him. They kept dismantling the idol stone by stone until it lay level with the ground. All the while its custodian kept muttering, “The very foundation will rage and swallow them!”
When al-Mughīrah heard this he said to Khālid, “Let me dig out its foundation.” They dug until even the soil beneath it was removed, gathered its water and debris, and Thaqīf stood stupefied.
The detachment then returned to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, who the very same day distributed the idol’s wealth. They praised Allah Most High for exalting His religion and aiding His Messenger.
Ibn Isḥāq (1) said: The written document the Messenger of Allah ﷺ issued for them ran:
“In the name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful. From Muḥammad the Prophet, the Messenger of Allah, to the believers: The pasture of Wajj and its game are not to be cut or hunted. Whoever is found doing so shall be flogged and have his garments confiscated; if he transgresses further, he shall be seized and brought before the Prophet Muḥammad. This is the command of the Prophet Muḥammad.”
Khālid ibn Saʿīd wrote it by order of the Messenger Muḥammad ibn ʿAbd Allāh. Let no one contravene it and thereby wrong himself regarding what Muḥammad, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, has ordained.