The Book of Delegations: those who came to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him

Muhammad ibn Isḥāq said (1): When the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, had conquered Mecca, completed the campaign of Tabuk, and the tribe of Thaqīf had embraced Islam and pledged allegiance, Arab delegations began to flock to him from every direction.

Ibn Hishām said (2): Abū ʿUbaydah told me that this occurred in the ninth year, which was therefore called “the Year of Delegations.”

Ibn Isḥāq continued: The Arabs had been delaying their acceptance of Islam to see what would happen with this clan of Quraysh, for Quraysh were the leaders and guides of mankind (3), the custodians of the House and the Sanctuary, the undisputed descendants of Ishmael son of Abraham, and the acknowledged chiefs of the Arabs—none denied this. Quraysh were also the ones who had waged war against the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, and opposed him. When Mecca was conquered, Quraysh submitted to him, and Islam subdued them, the Arabs realized they had no strength left to fight the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, or oppose him, so they entered the religion of Allah
—as He, exalted is He, said—in multitudes, coming toward him from every direction. The Almighty said to His Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him: “When the help of Allah and the victory come, and you see people entering the religion of Allah in multitudes, then glorify your Lord with praise and seek His forgiveness; indeed, He is ever accepting of repentance” (Qur’an 110:1–3). That is: praise Allah for the triumph of your religion and seek His forgiveness, for He is Ever-Relenting.

We have already cited the report of ʿAmr ibn Salamah (4). He said: “The Arabs used to hold back from embracing Islam until the Conquest; they would say, ‘Leave him and his people alone. If he prevails over them, then he is indeed a true Prophet.’ When the event of the Conquest took place, every tribe hastened to accept Islam. My father hurried along with his people to declare their Islam, and when he returned he said, ‘By Allah, I have truly come to you from the Prophet. He said: Pray such-and-such a prayer at such-and-such a time, and such-and-such a prayer at such-and-such a time. When the time for prayer arrives, let one of you call the adhān, and let the one among you who knows the most Qur’an lead the prayer.’”

He mentioned the remainder of the ḥadīth, and it is recorded in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī (6).