The Trigger — Violation of Hudaybiyya
The Treaty of Hudaybiyya (628 CE) was a 10-year peace agreement. The Banu Bakr tribe (allied with Quraysh) attacked the Banu Khuza’a tribe (allied with Muslims) in 629 CE — with Quraysh’s assistance. This violated the treaty.
Abu Sufyan traveled to Medina to repair the treaty — but the Prophet had already decided to act. He organized the largest Muslim army to date (10,000 soldiers) in complete secrecy — commanding: “O Allah, restrain the spies and the news from the Quraysh until we fall upon them in their land.”
The March and the Entry
The army advanced on Mecca in Ramadan 8 AH. The Prophet assigned commanders to the four columns entering from different directions, with strict orders: fight no one unless attacked.
‘Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib (the Prophet’s uncle, who had only recently converted) encountered Abu Sufyan ibn Harb — the Quraysh leader — and brought him to the Prophet. Abu Sufyan took shahada. The Prophet said: “Whoever enters Abu Sufyan’s house is safe. Whoever enters the Masjid al-Haram is safe. Whoever closes his door is safe.”
The entry was nearly without battle — only Khalid ibn al-Walid’s column encountered brief resistance.
The Purification of the Ka’ba
The Prophet entered the Ka’ba and found 360 idols. He pointed to each with his staff reciting: “Truth has come and falsehood has departed — indeed, falsehood is [by nature] departing.” (17:81) All 360 idols were removed.
The General Amnesty
Standing before the assembled Meccans, the Prophet declared: “Adhabu fa-antum al-tulaqaa’” — “Go, for you are free.” No ransom. No execution of those who had persecuted Muslims. No forced conversion.
Specific exceptions were a very small number of individuals who had committed specific crimes (murdered specific people), but even most of those were ultimately pardoned.
The people of Mecca accepted Islam en masse.
See also: Prophet Muhammad, Seerah Medina, Seerah Hudaybiyya, Seerah Final Years, Sahaba, Masjid Al Haram