Expedition of Tabuk

The Expedition of Tabuk, also known as the Expedition of Usra, was a military expedition that was initiated by the Islamic prophet Muhammad in October 630 CE (AH 9). He led a force of as many as 30,000^[1][2] north to Tabuk, near the Gulf of Aqaba, in present-day northwestern Saudi Arabia.^[2]

Muslim Conquest Map (Tabuk included)

Preparations

Following rumours of a Byzantine invasion,^[1] the Muslims and allies of Muhammad received an urgent call to join the campaign, but the Arabs of the desert showed little interest. Many came up with excuses not to participate. Muhammad provided incentives to persuade the Arabs to join and provided many with gifts.^[3]

Expedition

Muhammad and his forces marched northwards to Tabuk, near the Gulf of Aqaba in October 630^[2][4] (Rajab AH 9). It was his largest and last military expedition.^[2] Ali ibn Abi Talib, who participated in several other expeditions of Muhammad, did not participate in Muhammad's Tabuk expedition upon Muhammad's instructions, as he held command at Medina.^[5] Muhammad spent twenty days at Tabuk, scouting the area, making alliances with local chiefs.^[4] With no sign of the Byzantine army,^[2] he decided to return to Medina.^[1] Though Muhammad did not encounter a Byzantine army at Tabuk, according to the Oxford Encyclopedia of the Islamic World, "this show of force demonstrated his intention to challenge the Byzantines for control of the northern part of the caravan route from Mecca to Syria".^[2]

See also

• List of expeditions of Muhammad
• Military career of Muhammad
• Muhammad as a general
• Hadith of position
• Arabian Peninsula
  • Hejaz
  • Midian

References

1. George F. Nafziger; Mark W. Walton (2003), Islam at War: A History, Praeger Publishers, p. 13
2. Welch, Alford T.; Moussalli, Ahmad S. (2009). "Muḥammad". In Esposito, John L. (ed.). The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Islamic World. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-530513-5.
3. Muir, William (10 August 2003). Life of Mahomet. Kessinger Publishing Co. p. 454. ISBN 978-0-7661-7741-3.
4. Richard A. Gabriel (2007), Muhammad: Islam's First Great General, University of Oklahoma Press, p. 197, ISBN 978-0-8061-3860-2
5. Sachedina, Abdulaziz (2009). "ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib". In Esposito, John L. (ed.). The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Islamic World. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-530513-5.

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