Below is the authentic historical account of Prophet Muhammad smashing the idols in the Kaaba upon the Conquest of Mecca (Fath Makkah) in 8 AH / 630 CE, based on primary sources (Sīra, Hadith) and scholarly consensus.

---

The Event: Smashing of 360 Idols in the Kaʿba

Source	Details
Ibn Hishām’s Sīra (d. 833 CE)	After entering Mecca peacefully, Muhammad (ﷺ) circled the Kaʿba 7 times on his camel, Qaswa, pointing with his staff at each idol and reciting:

قُلْ جَاءَ الْحَقُّ وَزَهَقَ الْبَاطِلُ ۚ إِنَّ الْبَاطِلَ كَانَ زَهُوقًا
(“Say: Truth has come, and falsehood has vanished. Indeed, falsehood is ever bound to vanish.” – Qur’an 17:81)
| He then ordered the idols destroyed. Bilal climbed the Kaʿba and gave the Adhan. | | Sahih al-Bukhari (Hadith 4287) | Narrated by Abdullah ibn Masʿud:
“When the Prophet (ﷺ) entered Mecca on the day of the Conquest, there were 360 idols around the Kaʿba. He started striking them with a stick he had in his hand and saying: ‘Truth has come and falsehood has vanished’.” | | Sahih Muslim (Hadith 1781a) | Confirms 360 idols; Muhammad (ﷺ) personally struck them with a bow or staff. |

---

Key Details

Aspect	Fact
Number of Idols	360 (not 365) — authentic narrations (Bukhari, Muslim, Ibn Hishām).
Location	Inside and around the Kaʿba — Hubal (chief idol) on the roof, others in niches.
Largest Idol	Hubal (red agate, human-shaped, arm broken and replaced with gold).
Other Notable Idols	Isāf & Nāʾila (near Zamzam), Lat, Uzza, Manat (brought from outside).
Method	Muhammad (ﷺ) pointed with a staff/bow → idols fell on their faces (symbolic). Then physically smashed by companions.
Qur’anic Verse Recited	17:81 (Jāʾa al-ḥaqq wa zahaqa al-bāṭil) — every strike.
Exceptions	Paintings of Mary & Jesus inside Kaʿba — Muhammad (ﷺ) preserved them (Ibn Hishām).

---

Why 360, Not 365?

Claim	Source	Verdict
360 idols	Sahih Bukhari, Muslim, Ibn Hishām, Al-Tabari	Authentic (Sahih)
365 idols	Later folklore (e.g., some Shiʿa sources, modern retellings)	Weak/Unauthenticated — no early chain of narration.

Scholarly Note (Dr. Akram Nadwi):
“The number 360 is symbolic (lunar year cycles) and historically attested. 365 is a later exaggeration with no isnad.”

---

Sequence of Events (Step-by-Step)

1. 8 AH, 20 Ramadan → Muslim army (10,000) enters Mecca without bloodshed.
2. Muhammad (ﷺ) prays at Maqam Ibrahim, drinks Zamzam.
3. Tawaf (7 circuits) → points at each idol → recites 17:81.
4. Idols fall → companions smash them (stones, axes).
5. Kaʿba purified — all idols removed, interior cleaned.
6. Key of Kaʿba returned to Uthman ibn Talha (hereditary keeper) with verse:
   “Indeed, Allah commands you to render trusts to whom they are due…” (Qur’an 4:58).

---

Aftermath

• Pagan leaders (e.g., Abu Sufyan) converted or given amnesty.
• Kaʿba declared monotheistic — only Tawhid from then on.
• Idols of Lat, Uzza, Manat (outside Mecca) destroyed later by Khalid ibn Walid, Ali, etc.

---

Visual Summary

Kaʿba (630 CE)
   ┌──────────────┐
   │  Hubal (roof)│ ← Chief idol
   │  359 others  │ ← Around & inside
   └──────────────┘
        ↓ Muhammad (ﷺ) points with staff
        ↓ Recites: جَاءَ الْحَقُّ وَزَهَقَ الْبَاطِلُ
        ↓ Idols fall → smashed
        ↓ Kaʿba purified → Tawhid restored

---

Final Answer

Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) smashed 360 idols in and around the Kaʿba on the Conquest of Mecca (8 AH / 630 CE), reciting Qur’an 17:81 with each strike.
Sources: Sahih Bukhari (4287), Sahih Muslim (1781), Ibn Hishām’s Sīra.
365 is a later, unauthenticated exaggeration.
This act symbolized the end of idolatry and restoration of Abrahamic monotheism.