But when he came to the setting forth, and the sacred month of Dzul Higg was upon him, he found that many idolatrous practices still remained as part of the great ceremonial.  He could not contaminate himself by undertaking the pilgrimage while these remained, but he could send Abu Bekr to ensure that none should remain after this year’s cleansing.  He was now strong enough to insist that the rooting out of idolatry was his chief policy, and to make the breaking up of the ancestral gods incumbent upon the whole country.  Abu Bekr was commissioned to set forth upon his task with 300 men, and to spare neither himself nor them until the mission was accomplished and every idolatrous practice blotted out.

And now follows one of the most characteristic acts Mahomet ever performed, wherein obligation is made to bow to expediency and the bonds of treaties snap and break before the wind of the Prophet’s will.  Abu Bekr had started but one day’s journey upon the Meccan road when Ali was sent after him with a document bearing the Prophet’s seal.  This he was to read to the Faithful, and receive their pledge that they would act upon its contents.  Mahomet also published abroad a like proclamation in the city itself.  The document drawn up and despatched with such haste was nothing less than a Release for the Prophet and his followers from all obligations to the Infidels after a term of four months.

“A Release by God and the Apostle in respect of the Heathen with whom ye have entered into treaty.  Go to and fro in the earth securely in the four months to come.  And know ye cannot hinder God, and that verily God will bring disgrace upon the Unbelievers.  And an announcement from God and his Apostle unto the People on the day of Pilgrimage that God is discharged from (liability to) the Heathen and his Prophet likewise....  Fulfil unto these their engagements until the expiration of their terms; for God loveth the pious.  And when the forbidden months are over then fight gainst the heathen, wheresoever ye find them, ... but if they repent and establish Prayer and give the Tithes, leave them in peace....  O ye that believe, verily the Unbelievers are unclean.  Wherefore let them not approach the Holy Temple after this year.”

No one reading this writing, which bears upon it all the stamps of authenticity, can fail to see the motive behind its words.  Its unscrupulousness has received in all good faith the sanction of the Most High.  Mahomet knew that the time was ripe for an uncompromising insistence upon the acceptance of his faith.  He was strong enough to compel.  It was Allah who had strengthened his armies and given him dominion, therefore in Allah’s name he repudiated his agreements with heathen peoples, and by virtue of his power he purposed to bestow upon his Lord a greater glory.  An act wrought in such defiance of honour at the inspiration of God savours unquestionably of hypocrisy, but none who estimates aright the age and environment in which Mahomet dwelt can accuse him of anything more than a keenness of political cunning which led him to value accurately his own power and the waning reputation of idolatry.