‘Amr ibn Sa‘īd ibn al-‘Ās, who was known as Al-Ashdaq, wanted to prepare an army to march to Makkah, when he was governor of Madīnah during the Caliphate of Yazīd ibn Mu‘āwiyah. His purpose was to fight ‘Abdullāh ibn Az-Zubayr, (may Allah be pleased with him). So Abu Shurayh, whose full name is Khuwaylid ibn ‘Amr al-Khuzā‘i, went to him to offer him advice in this respect. However, since his advice was directed at a person who has high regard of himself, Abu Shurayh was gentle and softened his speech when talking to him, out of wisdom and intelligence, so that the chances of his advice being accepted are higher and he would be safe from any unfavorable consequences. He asked him permission if he could give him advice regarding the army he was preparing to send. He told him that he was certain of the authenticity of this Hadīth that he was about to relate to him, and confident of its truthfulness since he was present when the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said it. His ears heard it, his heart understood it, and his eyes saw it. So ‘Amr ibn Sa‘īd gave him permission to speak. Abu Shurayh said that on the morning after the Conquest of Makkah, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) praised Allah and glorified him, then he said: "Allah has made Makkah sacred since the day He created the heavens and the earth," i.e. its sacredness is ancient. It was not the people who made it temporarily sacred as they do with private property or grazing land or water sources. Rather, it was Allah who made it sacred so that its sanctity becomes greater and more emphasized. So if Makkah’s sacredness was ancient and decreed by Allah, then it is not permissible for anyone who believes in Allah and the Last Day - if he is keen on preserving his faith - to spill the blood of anyone in it or cut down any of its trees. If anyone comes along and uses my fighting in Makkah as a justification, then say to him: You are not like the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him). He was given permission, but you were not, keeping in mind that fighting in Makkah was not made lawful for him at all times; rather, it was only a few hours of daytime in proportion to the need to fight. After that need was fulfilled, its sacredness was restored. So let those who are present relay that to those who are absent. For this reason, I am relaying this to you, O Commander, because I witnessed and heard this from the Messenger of Allah on the morning after the conquest, and you did not witness it. The People asked Abu Shurayh: "What did ‘Amr answer you?" He replied: "He said to me: 'I have more knowledge of this than you, O Abu Shurayh. Indeed the Sacred Precinct does not protect a sinner or a fugitive thief.'" So he challenged the Hadīth with his opinion, and he did not refrain from sending the army to fight Ibn Az-Zubayr; rather, he proceeded with his plan.