The same year the Koreishites assisted some of their allies against the Kozaites, who were in alliance with Mahomet.  This the latter resented as an infraction of the peace.  Abu Sofian was sent to try to make up matters, but Mahomet would not vouchsafe to receive his explanation.  But having made his preparation to fall upon them before they could be prepared to receive him, he advanced upon Mecca with about ten thousand men.  Abu Sofian having come out of the town in the evening to reconnoitre, he fell in with Al Abbas, who, out of friendship to his countrymen, had ridden from the army with the hope of meeting some straggling Meccans whom he might send back with the news of Mahomet’s approach, and advise the Meccans to surrender.  Al Abbas, recognizing Abu Sofian’s voice, called to him, and advised him to get up behind him, and go with him, and in all haste make his submission to Mahomet.  This he did, and, to save his life, professed Islamism, and was afterward as zealous in propagating as he had hitherto been in opposing it.

Mahomet had given orders to his men to enter Mecca peaceably, but Kaled meeting with a party who discharged some arrows at him, fell upon them, and slew twenty-eight of them.  Mahomet sent one of his helpers to bid him desist from the slaughter; but the messenger delivered quite the contrary order, commanding him to show them no mercy.  Afterward, when Mahomet said to the helper, “Did not I bid you tell Kaled not to kill anybody in Mecca?”

“It is true,” said the helper, “and I would have done as you directed me, but God would have it otherwise, and God’s will was done.”

When all was quiet, Mahomet went to the Kaaba, and rode round it upon his camel seven times, and touched with his cane a corner of the black stone with great reverence.  Having alighted, he went into the Kaaba, where he found images of angels, and a figure of Abraham holding in his hand a bundle of arrows, which had been made use of for deciding things by lot.  All these, as well as three hundred and sixty idols which stood on the outside of the Kaaba, he caused to be thrown down and broken in pieces.  As he entered the Kaaba, he cried with a loud voice, “Allah acbar,” seven times, turning round to all the sides of the Kaaba.  He also appointed it to be the Kebla, or place toward which the Mussulmans should turn themselves when they pray.  Remounting his camel, he now rode once more seven times round the Kaaba, and again alighting, bowed himself twice before it.  He next visited the well Zem-zem, and from thence passed to the station of Abraham.  Here he stopped awhile, and ordering a pail of water to be brought from the Zem-zem, he drank several large draughts, and then made the holy washing called wodhu.  Immediately all his followers imitated his example, purifying themselves and washing their faces.  After this, Mahomet, standing at the door of the Kaaba, made a harangue to the following effect:  “There is no other god but God, who has fulfilled his promise