Shamaa-il Tirmidhi  Contents
Chapter Contents
Hadeeth 1
Commentary 1
Hadeeth 2
Commentary 2
 

A helmet is a hat made of steel to protect the head in war. The author has quoted two hadith in this chapter. 

(105)  Hadith 1
Hazrat Anas radiyallahu anhu reports that, on the day when Makkah was conquered, the Prophet of Allah sallallahu alaihe wasallam wore a helmet when they entered the city. (The Prophet of Allah sallallahu alaihe wasallam removed the helmet after being satisfied that everything was under control). Someone came to the Prophet of Allah sallallahu alaihe wasallam and said, "O' Messenger of Allah, this Ibn Khatl is holding the cover (black cloth) of the Ka'bah." 
The Propet of Allah sallallahu alaihe wasallam  replied, "Kill him." 

Commentary
When the Prophet of Allah sallallahu alaihe wasallam entered Makkah Mukarramah as a conqueror, the people of Makkah became frightened. There was no place to live nor a path to walk. The Prophet of Allah sallallahu alaihe wasallam who is well known for being merciful and generous, announced that the person who entered the House of Allah (Ka'bah) was safe, and those who remained in their homes were also safe. The one who laid down his arms was also safe, etc. There were eleven men and six women whose crimes could not be forgiven. These people were not included in the general amnesty. It was announced that there was no mercy for these people. Among these criminals seven men and two women embraced Islam and were pardoned. The remaining four men and and four women were killed. Ibn  Khatl was one of the eight  that were punished. 
He had first come to Madinah Munawwarah where he accepted Islam and kept the name Abdullah. The Prophet of Allah sallallahu alaihe wasallam sent him to a tribe to collect zakah. He killed a Muslim slave just because he had not prepared meals on time. Fearing that if he returned to Madinah Munawwarah he would be punished by death, he became a murtad (apostate) and went to Makkah. In Makkah he used to abuse the Prophet of Allah sallallahu alaihe wasallam. He purchased two slave girls, who sang songs in which the Prophet of Allah sallallahu alaihe wasallam was satirized. This made him feel happy. For this reason, despite of entering the Baytullah (Ka'bah), he was killed. 
There are many versions according to the Muhadditheen as to who the person was that killed him. A fiqhi mas'alah may also arise from this hadith that punishment and revenge is permissble in the Haram. The question needs a lengthy explanation, and there is no need for it here. It is omitted to keep the subject matter brief. These matters are referred to so that those who love to acquire knowledge and also students after reading it, will seek more information from their Mashaa'ikh. From this we also find a question of entering Makkah Mukarramah without Ihram, which is discussed in the hadith that follows. 
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(106)  Hadith 2
It is related from Hazrat Anas radiyallahu anhu that the Prophet of Allah sallallahu alaihe wasallam, when entering Makkah as a conqueror, wore a helmet on his auspicious head. After he had removed it, a person came and said, "O' Messenger of Allah, Ibn Khatl is clinging to the cover of the Ka'bah." 
The Prophet of Allah sallallahu alaihe wasallam replied, "He is not of the ones who have been granted amnesty, kill him." 
Ibn Shihaab Zuhri says, "I have been informed that the Prophet of Allah sallallahu alaihe wasallam was not in the state of Ihraam."

Commentary
The last sentence in the above hadith by Imam Zuhri refers to a fiqhi mas'alah. According to the Hanafi's it is not permissible to enter Makkah Mukarramah without Ihraam, because it is mentioned in the hadith that it is not permissible to cross the meeqaat boundary without wearing Ihraam. On the strength of the above hadith the Shafi'is say it is permissible. According to the Hanafi's this hadith cannot be used as an argument, because the prohibition was specially lifted for the Prophet of Allah sallallahu alaihe wasallam on this particular occasion. Imam Bukhari and others have quoted narrations wherein the Prophet of Allah sallallahu alaihe wasallam has said, "This was permissible for me today (not wearing Ihraam) and not for any other person." 
It may be possible that Ibn Khatl went to hold the cover of the Ka'bah to repent and make supplications, since he knew that there was no amnesty for him. He remembered all his past deeds, turning apostate, and all that he had committed since. He may have done this to make a supplication, as these people also venerated and respected the Ka'bah. The simplest explanation seems to be that according to the old custom, he may have hoped for an amnesty, because of the sanctity and reverence for the Ka'bah, criminals were not killed in this state. 
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