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English_Biography_Shefa_of_Prophet_Muhammad, page : 30
them if they repeatedly ask forgiveness of Him" (Al-'Anfal 8:33).
Several years later, the Prophet led his unarmed followers from Medina to Mecca on pilgrimage, however, before they reached Mecca they encountered resistance from the unbelievers of Mecca and were prevented from entering. Unknown to the Muslims of Medina there were converts who had yet to migrate still living in Mecca and because of them Allah sent down the verses, "If it had not been for certain believing men and certain believing women whom you did not know, you might have trampled upon them, and so sin reached you because of (killing) them while you did not know" (48:25).
From these verses the exalted position of the Prophet is clearly recognizable. If it had not been for him the punishment would indeed have immediately fallen upon the Meccans, because Allah says, "And why should Allah not punish them" (8:34). Their punishment was postponed firstly on account of the Prophet's presence amongst them, then because of the presence of his followers. After all the Muslims had migrated to Medina before Mecca was opened the only people to remain in Mecca were the unbelievers, but upon its opening the victory of the Muslims was established and the unbelievers were punished by having to accept defeat. It was then that the property of the Muslims that had once been seized by the unbelievers was restored to their rightful owners.
Several years later, the Prophet led his unarmed followers from Medina to Mecca on pilgrimage, however, before they reached Mecca they encountered resistance from the unbelievers of Mecca and were prevented from entering. Unknown to the Muslims of Medina there were converts who had yet to migrate still living in Mecca and because of them Allah sent down the verses, "If it had not been for certain believing men and certain believing women whom you did not know, you might have trampled upon them, and so sin reached you because of (killing) them while you did not know" (48:25).
From these verses the exalted position of the Prophet is clearly recognizable. If it had not been for him the punishment would indeed have immediately fallen upon the Meccans, because Allah says, "And why should Allah not punish them" (8:34). Their punishment was postponed firstly on account of the Prophet's presence amongst them, then because of the presence of his followers. After all the Muslims had migrated to Medina before Mecca was opened the only people to remain in Mecca were the unbelievers, but upon its opening the victory of the Muslims was established and the unbelievers were punished by having to accept defeat. It was then that the property of the Muslims that had once been seized by the unbelievers was restored to their rightful owners.