Sayyiduna Abu Shurayh (may Allah be pleased with him) said to ‘Amr bin Sa‘id (the governor of Madinah) when he was sending armies to Makkah (to fight Ibn Zubayr, may Allah be pleased with him): O Amir! If you permit me, I will narrate to you a hadith which the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said on the second day of the conquest of Makkah. My two ears heard it, my heart remembered it, and my eyes were looking at the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) while he was saying it. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) first praised Allah and then said: Allah has made Makkah sacred; people have not made it sacred. So (listen), it is not permissible for any person who believes in Allah and the Last Day to shed blood in Makkah or to cut down its trees. Then, if anyone argues by saying that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) fought there, then say to him: Allah permitted His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), not you. And I too was granted permission for only a few moments of the day. Today, its sanctity has returned as it was yesterday. And let the present convey this to the absent. (After hearing this hadith, the narrator of the hadith was asked) Sayyiduna Abu Shurayh (may Allah be pleased with him): What did ‘Amr reply after hearing this from you? He said: (‘Amr said) O Abu Shurayh! I know the hadith better than you. But the Haram (of Makkah) does not grant protection to a wrongdoer, or one who has killed someone, or one who has caused mischief and then fled there.