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When the fighting began between the two sides, and the side of the Muslims shouted the motto,
"One . . . One," the heart of Umayah was startled, and a warning came to him. The word which his slave
used to repeat yesterday under torture and horror became today the motto of a whole religion and of a
whole new nation.
"One . . . One" Is it so? With this quickness? And with this rapid growth?
The swords clashed in the battle and the fighting became severe. As the battle neared its end,
Umayah lbn Khalaf noticed `Abd Ar Rahman Ibn `Awf, the Companion of the Messenger of Allah. He
sought refuge with him and asked to be his captive, hoping to save his life. `Abd Ar-Rahman accepted
his supplication and granted him refuge. Then he took him and walked with him amidst the battle to the
place where captives were held.
On the way Bilaal noticed him and shouted, "The head of kuft (disbelief), Umayah lbn Khalaf!
May I not be saved if he is saved!" he lifted up his sword to cut off the head which was all the time full
of pride and arrogance. But `Abd Ar-Rahman Ibn `Awf shouted at him, "O Bilaal, he is my captive!" A
captive while the war was still raging? A captive while his sword was still dripping blood because of
what he had been doing just moments before to the bodies of the Muslims? No! In Bilaal's opinion, this
was irony and abuse of the mind, and Umayah had scoffed and abused the mind enough. He scoffed until
there was no irony remaining for such a day, such a dilemma, and such a fate!
Bilaal realized that he would not be able alone to storm the sanctuary of his brother in faith, `Abd
Ar-rahman Ibn `Awf. So he shouted at the top of his voice to the Muslims, "O helpers of Allah! The head
of Kufr, Umayah Ibn khalaf! May I not be saved if he is saved!" A band of Muslims approached with
swords dripping blood. They surrounded Umayah and his son, who was fighting with the Quraish. `Abd
Ar-Rabman Ibn `Awf could not do anything. He could not even protect his armor which the crowd
removed. Bilaal gazed long at the body of Umayah, who fell beneath the smashing swords. Then he
hastened away from him shouting, "One... One."
I do not think it is our right to examine the virtue of leniency in Bilaal on this occasion. If the
meeting between Bilaal and Umayah had taken place in other circumstances, we would have been
allowed to ask Bilaal for leniency, and a man like him in faith and piety would not have withheld it. But
the meeting which took place between them was in a war, where each party came to destroy its enemy.
The swords were blazing, the killed were failing. Then Bilaal saw Umayah, who had not left even a
small place on his body free of the traces of his torture. Where and how did he see him? He saw him in
the arena of battle and fighting, mowing down with his sword all of the heads of Muslims he could. If he
had reached the head of Bilaal then, he would have cut it off. In such circumstances as the two men met,
it is not fair to ask Bilaal: Why did you not forgive him gently?
The days went by and Makkah was conquered. The Messenger (PBUH) entered it, thankful and
saying, "Allah is the Greatest," at the head of 10,000 Muslims. He headed for the Ka`bah immediately,
this holy place which the Quraish had crowded with idols amounting to the number of days of the year.
"The truth has come and falsehood has vanished."
Ever since that day, there has been no Uzzaa, no Laat and no Hubal. Man will not bow to a rock or idol
after today. People will worship no one with all his conscience but Allah, Who has no likeness, the One,
Most Great, Most High. The Messenger entered the Ka`bah accompanied by Bilaal. He had hardly
entered it when he faced a carved idol representing lbraahiim (Abraham) (PBUH) prophesying with
sticks.
The Messenger (PBUH) was angry and said, "May Allah kill them. Our ancestor never did prophesy
with sticks. lbraahiim was not a Jew or Christian, but he was a true Muslim and was never a polytheist."
Then he ordered Bilaal to ascend to the top of the mosque and call to Prayer, and Bilaal called the
Adhaan. How magnificent `was the time, place, and occasion!