Khalifa Uthman bin Affan - Makkah revisited

A year after the Hudaibiyah pact the Holy Prophet at the head of 2,000 Muslims proceeded to Makkah to perform the Hajj in accordance with the terms stipulated in the pact. As the Muslims reached Makkah, most of the Quraish left their houses, and took to the neighboring hills. In view of the Hudaibiyah pact, the Quraish had no option but to permit the Muslims visit Makkah and perform the pilgrimage, but they were loath to offer any welcome to the Muslims. The general view among the Quraish was that if their young men and women came in contact with the Muslims they were apt to be attracted by the new faith, and as such any contacts with the Muslims were to be avoided. The permission to the -Muslims to visit Makkah extended to three days only.

In contrast the Muslims were happy to visit the city of their birth. The Muslims were no longer a small group of helpless persons exposed to the persecutions of the Quraish; they were now a power in Arabia. That was a positive proof of the truth of Islam. On their visit to Makkah the Muslims offered their prayers in the Kaaba. The Adhan, the Muslim call to prayer, resounded in the hills and dales of Makkah, and as the Quraish heard the call they felt much perturbed. They felt that they had made a mistake in making the treaty of Hudaibiyah, and allowing the Muslims to visit the Kaaba.

Some of the Muslims suggested to the Holy Prophet that as the city was deserted, it should be occupied. The Holy Prophet vetoed the suggestion, and held that the pledge once made could not be violated. The Holy Prophet assured his followers that the day was not far when they would return to Makkah as victors and that might be sooner than what they could think of.

On the occasion of the visit to Makkah, Uthman met his mother and family members. He felt that they were now not so hostile to Islam as they had been previously. Uthman hoped that erelong his friends and family members would acceDt the faith of Islam.