Abu Sufyan(ra) must have been thinking furiously. Had not an incredibly great change taken place in seven years? And now as leader of the Meccans, what was he going to do? Was he going to resist, or was he going to submit? Troubled by such thoughts, he appeared stupefied to outside observers. The Prophet(sa) saw this agitated Meccan leader. He told Abbas(ra) to take him away and entertain him for the night, promising to see him in the morning. Abu Sufyan(ra) spent the night with Abbas. In the morning they called on the Prophet(sa). It was time for the early morning prayers. The bustle and activity which Abu Sufyan(ra) saw at this early hour was quite unusual in his experience. He had not known—no Meccan had known—such early risers as Muslims had become under the discipline of Islam. He saw all the Muslim campers turned out for their morning prayers. Some went to and fro in quest of water for ablutions, others to supervise the lining up of worshippers for the service. Abu Sufyan(ra) could not understand this activity early in the morning. He was frightened. Was a new plan afoot to overawe him?
"What can they all be doing?" he asked in sheer consternation.
"Nothing to be afraid of," replied Abbas(ra). "They are only preparing for the morning prayers."
Abu Sufyan(ra) then saw thousands of Muslims lined up behind the Prophet(sa), making the prescribed movements and devotions at the bidding of the Prophet(sa)—half prostrations, full prostrations, standing up again, and so on. Abbas(ra) was on guard duty, so he was free to engage Abu Sufyan(ra) in conversation.
"What could they be doing now?" asked Abu Sufyan(ra). "Everything the Prophet(sa) does, is done by the rest."
"What are you thinking about? It is only the Muslim prayer, Abu Sufyan(ra). Muslims would do anything at the bidding of the Prophet(sa)— give up food and drink for instance."
"True," said Abu Sufyan(ra), "I have seen great courts. I have seen the court of the Chosroes and the court of the Kaiser, but I have never seen any people as devoted to their leader as Muslims are to their Prophet(sa)" (Halbiyya, Vol. 2, p. 90).
Filled with fear and guilt, Abu Sufyan(ra) went on to ask Abbas(ra) if he would not request the Prophet(sa) to forgive his own people —meaning the Meccans.
The morning prayers over, Abbas(ra) led Abu Sufyan(ra) to the Prophet(sa).
Said the Prophet(sa) to Abu Sufyan(ra). "Has it not yet dawned upon you that there is no one worthy of worship except Allah?"
"My father and my mother be a sacrifice to you. You have ever been kind, gentle and considerate to your kith and kin. I am certain now that if there were anyone else worthy of worship, we might have had some help against you from him."
"Has it not also dawned upon you that I am a Messenger of Allah(sa)?"
"My father and my mother be a sacrifice to you, on this I still have some doubts."
While Abu Sufyan(ra) hesitated to acknowledge the Prophet(sa) as Messenger of God, two of his companions who had marched out of Mecca with him to do reconnoitring duty for the Meccans, became Muslims. One of them was Hakim bin Hizam(ra). A little later, Abu Sufyan(ra) also joined, but his inner conversion seems to have been deferred until after the conquest of Mecca. Hakim bin Hizam(ra) asked the Prophet(sa) if the Muslims would destroy their own kith and kin.
“These people,” said the Prophet(sa), “have been very cruel. They have committed excesses and proved themselves of bad faith. They have gone back on the peace they signed at Hudaibiya and attacked the Khuza’a savagely. They have made war in a place which had been made inviolate by God."
"It is quite true, O Prophet(sa) of God, our people have done exactly as you say, but instead of marching upon Mecca you should have attacked the Hawazin," suggested Hakim(ra).
"The Hawazin also have been cruel and savage. I hope God will enable me to realize all the three ends: the conquest of Mecca, the ascendancy of Islam and the defeat of the Hawazin."
Abu Sufyan(ra), who had been listening, now asked the Prophet(sa): "If the Meccans draw not the sword, will they have peace?"
"Yes," replied the Prophet(sa), "everyone who stays indoors will have peace."
"But O Prophet(sa)," intervened Abbas(ra), "Abu Sufyan(ra) is much concerned about himself. He wishes to know if his rank and position among the Meccans will be respected."
"Very good," said the Prophet(sa): "Whoever take shelter in the house of Abu Sufyan(ra) will have peace. Whoever enters the Sacred Mosque will-have peace. Those who lay down their arms will have peace. Those who close their doors and stay in will have peace. Those who stay in the house of Hakim bin Hizam(ra) will have peace."
Saying this, he called Abu Ruwaiha(ra) and handed over to him the standard of Islam. Abu Ruwaiha(ra) had entered into a pact of brotherhood with Bilal(ra), the negro slave. Handing over the standard, the Prophet(sa) said, "Whoever stands under this standard will have peace." At the same time, he ordered Bilal(ra) to march in front of Abu Ruwaiha(ra) and announce to all concerned that there was peace under the standard held by Abu Ruwaiha(ra).