The Life of Prophet Muhammad - by Sheikh Azhar Nasser Why Quran?

After victory against Banu Thaqif at Hunayn, Prophet Muhammad marched his army to Ta'if, where Banu Thaqif had retreated to and barricated themselves inside with enough food and water to last them for a year.

The Prophet declared any slaves who joined Islam and left the fortress would be granted freedom, and many took him up on the offer.

As the siege extended, the prophet decided a military victory there wasn't necessary. Thaif was isolated from all allies and would eventually realize it's advantageous to join Islam.

Lecture notes available at http://www.why-quran.org/?p=710.

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Banu Thaqif had been long standing rivals of the Quraysh. They saw the Quraysh's defeated as an opportunity to attack and seize control of Mecca for themselves.

In response, Prophet Muhammad called all Muslims to battle and led an army of 12,000 against them. Banu Thaqif's side had over 20,000.

Banu Thaqif setup an ambush in the Valley of Hunain, making most Muslims flee. However, Prophet Muhammad was able to rally the troops and counter the assault.

During the battle, some tribes had begun killing women and children, and were later strongly rebuked for it by Prophet Muhammad, formalizing the prohibition against killing non-combatants and civilian rights.

Lecture notes available at http://www.why-quran.org/?p=706.

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After the conquest of Mecca, hundreds of thousands of Arabs came to the prophet to convert and pledge their allegiance. This lecture covers why they joined now and reflects the verses of Surah An-Nasr which predicted this.

The Prophet also sent various small expiditions to the surrounding tribes to invite them to Islam.

The last of the pagan tribes decided to attack the Muslims in a final stand, setting the stage for the Battle of Hunayn.

Lecture notes available at http://www.why-quran.org/?p=695.

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Prophet Muhammad destroys all the idols in the Kaaba with Imam Ali's help and washes the images that had been drawn inside.

He then introduced Islam to the Meccans, discarding their ideas of nationalism and tribalism, and offered a general amnesty regardless of if they convert to Islam.

Prophet Muhammad told Bilal to climb on top of the Kaaba to give the Azaan. Ikrima bin Abu Jahl saw that and made disparraging remarks about it, with a couple other pagans agreeing. They were soon shokced when Prophet Muhammad came over and said "I know what you said about Bilal" and repeated their words verbatim, revealing his miraculous knowledge.

The Prophet stayed in Mecca for 19 more days and during that time many prominent Meccans who had initially resisted conversion would end up converting instead of fleeing, including Ikrimah bin Abu Jahl, Suhayl ibn Amr, and Safwan ibn Umayyah.

Lecture notes available at http://www.why-quran.org/?p=691.

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Prophet Muhammad had promised safety to any Meccan who either remined in their own home during the invasion or went to Abu Sufyan's home.

After seeing the Muslim's strenght, Abu Sufyan saw the futility of struggle and urged the Meccans to surrender. Some Meccans remained defiant, notably his wife Hind and Ikrimah, the son of Abu Jahl.

After taking over Mecca, Prophet Muhammad granted general amnesty to all Meccans save for about a dozen who had been the most defiant.

The Prophet then went to the Ka'bah and destroyed all the idols there.

Lecture notes available at http://www.why-quran.org/?p=687.

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Prophet Muhammad kept the attack on Mecca a closely guarded secret. However Hatib ibn Abi Balta'ah sent a letter to the Quraysh warning them of the attack. The Prophet was informed of this by revelation and he sent Ali and Zubayr to retrieve it.

The Muslim army eventually marched to Mecca, where they were instructed to spread out and display their numbers. Under the cover of night, Abu Sufyan and two other senior leaders of Quraysh were brought to the Prophet to surrender and were granted amnesty.

Lecture notes available at http://www.why-quran.org/?p=678.

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Video recording of this lecture + Q&A available on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBYrR05Xgug&list=PLpkB0iwLgfTat-Pgh4W3WFmupPamiC9UT.