The Envoys: Khirāsh and ʿUthmān

The situation was very delicate. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) wanted to send an envoy into Makkah to explain to them: we have not come with the intention of fighting; we have come to make ṭawāf around al-Kaʿbah. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) chose Khirāsh ibn Umayyah, who was from the tribe of Khuzāʿah. Khirāsh went into Makkah. How did they deal with him? They killed his camel, and they almost killed him, until al-Aḥābīsh intervened and protected him. So this is how they dealt with the envoy of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him).

Throughout the story it can be seen that Quraysh were in a state of despair. They were confused; they were desperate, and they were frustrated. They were people who had been arrogant, and now they were humiliated. They were losing their position in Arabia, and their pride was preventing them from seeing clearly. So there is a lot of frustration in the way they were behaving. Khirāsh ibn Umayyah was coming to announce to them — first of all, he is a messenger, and messengers are not killed; and second, he was coming to tell them that we have not come for the purpose of fighting — and this is how they dealt with him. So he left.

The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) wanted to send someone else, so he summoned ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb and told him his intention. ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb replied: there is no one of my family left in Makkah to give me protection, and Quraysh know very well my animosity towards them; but if you insist on my going, then I will go. So ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb gave a frank assessment of the situation: he believed he would be in danger if he went into Makkah, but if it was an order, then he would obey. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) was silent, so ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb suggested another name. He said: how about sending ʿUthmān ibn ʿAffān, because his clan are there?

Now, ʿUthmān ibn ʿAffān belongs to Banū Umayyah, and Banū Umayyah are from the major branch of Quraysh, Banū ʿAbd Manāf. There were two families in Quraysh that held the reins of leadership in the town, and these were Banū Makhzūm and Banū ʿAbd Manāf. Among the famous personalities of Banū Makhzūm are Abū Jahl, who was the head of Quraysh until his death and was the leader in the fight against the Muslims, and then al-Walīd ibn al-Mughīrah and Khālid ibn al-Walīd, his son; these belong to the clan of Banū Makhzūm. And then there are Banū ʿAbd Manāf, and the two major branches of Banū ʿAbd Manāf are Banū Hāshim, the family of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), and Banū Umayyah. So Banū Umayyah, by the way, are very close relatives of Banū Hāshim.

Now, ʿUthmān ibn ʿAffān belonged to Banū Umayyah, so when the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) sent him to Makkah, he was immediately given protection by the major figure of Banū Umayyah after Abū Sufyān. Abū Sufyān also belonged to Banū Umayyah, but he was not there at the time. So the one who gave protection to ʿUthmān ibn ʿAffān was his cousin, Abān ibn Saʿīd ibn al-ʿĀṣ. He had him ride with him on his camel, and he went before Quraysh and said: this man is under my protection. Who would dare now to touch ʿUthmān ibn ʿAffān, when he had entered the protection of Abān ibn Saʿīd ibn al-ʿĀṣ?

The mission of ʿUthmān ibn ʿAffān was twofold. Number one, he would announce to Quraysh that the Muslims had not come for war. Number two, he was told by the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) to visit the believing men and believing women and give them the glad tidings that Islam would be victorious — that the Muslims would win. ʿUthmān ibn ʿAffān went to the people of Quraysh and told them: the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) has sent me to you, to call you to Islam and to Allah, glorious is His praise, and that you enter the religion of Allah altogether, for Allah will give victory to His religion and will honour His Prophet. And another thing: hold yourselves back, and let someone other than you take care of this affair. If they defeat the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), then that is what you wanted; and if he wins, then you will have the choice between entering into what the rest of the people have entered, or fighting when you are rested and at full strength. War has exhausted you, and it has taken away the best of you.

A very direct and blunt message: he was telling them to their faces that they were exhausted, that they were tired, that they could not carry on this fight forever. They had been worn out. Then he said: and another thing — the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) informs you that he has not come to fight anyone; he has only come for ʿumrah, with the sacrificial animals, marked with their collars; he will slaughter them and leave.

Ibn Saʿīd told ʿUthmān ibn ʿAffān (may Allah be pleased with him): if you want to make ṭawāf, go ahead; no one can prevent you. What did ʿUthmān ibn ʿAffān do? Actually, some of the Companions were saying: ʿUthmān is lucky; now he is making ṭawāf. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) heard them and said: my expectation of him is that, even if he stayed so many years, he would not make ṭawāf until I make ṭawāf. And that was the case. ʿUthmān ibn ʿAffān (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I would not make ṭawāf around the House of Allah until the Messenger of Allah makes ṭawāf around it — out of respect for the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him).