In January 630, Muhammad set out at the head of the largest army ever to leave Medina. Along the road, their Bedouin allies joined the expedition, bringing the numbers up to 10,000 men. The Muslim army entered Mecca without striking a single blow. Muhammad’s red tent was pitched near the Kaaba.

He had come to Mecca not to persecute the Quraysh but to abolish the religion which had failed them. Mounted on Qawsa, he rode around the Kaaba seven times, touching the Black Stone each time and crying ‘Allah Akbar!’ The shout was taken up by his 10,000 soldiers and soon the whole city resounded with the words that symbolized the final victory of Islam. Next Muhammad turned his attention to the 360 idols around the shrine. Crowded on the roofs and balconies, the Quraysh watched him smash each idol. Lastly, Muhammad issued a general amnesty.

By conquering Mecca, Muhammad had vindicated his prophetic claim. This conquest had been achieved without bloodshed, and Muhammad’s peaceful policy paid off.

Death of Muhammad, June 8, 632

His son fell ill at the beginning of 632 and it was clear that he would not recover. Muhammad was with his son when he died and, weeping bitterly, took him into his arms at the last moment. Not long afterwards, Aisha felt that he was lying more heavily in her lap and that he seemed to be losing consciousness. Carefully she laid his head on the pillow and began to beat her breast, slap her face and cry aloud in the time-honored Arab way.

The shock of Muhammad’s death was one of the gravest crises that the Muslim community had ever had to face. There was a real danger that Arabia would lapse into its old tribal divisions.