It is very important to go back to the life of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Look at the compassion he had, look at how he treated his spouses and his family members.
Look at what he did to Muslims and non-Muslims around him… They were in harmony and peace.
And look at how he stood up for justice against his own people; and look at how he forgave at the moment when he knew that if he wanted he could have wiped out all those who had murdered his own tribesmen and family men.
Fath Makkah
When he entered Makkah, he was entering the city that he was born in, and at the same time, years later, entering this beautiful city as victorious people.
There were people that dwell within Makkah at that moment and they were from amongst those who had stolen the property of the Muslims, and they had killed large numbers of Muslims, they had prepared armies to fight the Muslims. And yet, as Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) returned to Makkah victorious, he humbled himself; he lowered his head down and entered Makkah declaring the praise of the Almighty.
And the question arose:
O people of Quraish, what do you think I am going to do to you?
Obviously, this question was in order for them to think what they would have done if they were in that position, that’s one of the reasons, otherwise he did not need to ask the question.
So, with all humility they look down and said:
“We have good hope in you, you’re a nobleman the son of a nobleman.”
He says:
Go, you are free. I say to you as Joseph said to his brothers: No blame upon you today. Allah will forgive you, for he is the most merciful of the merciful. (12:92). (Sunan al Kubra)
This was the legacy of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). He forgave when he knew that he was able to revenge or to get back at those who had harmed him and his people.
As a result so many of them entered the fold of Islam, and so many of them saw the beauty and the light that he had been teaching all along.