News comes that Heraclius is massing a large army. In great heat and drought the Prophet ﷺ openly calls for a campaign; ‘Uthman gives nine hundred camels, a hundred horses and money, and 30,000 march north — the largest Muslim army yet. At Tabuk no enemy appears; nearby towns make terms, and the army returns after fifty days. It is the last campaign the Prophet leads.
As the book dates it: set out Rajab, 9 A.H.; returned in Ramadan (fifty days)
Numbers given in the book:
MuslimsOpponents
Army30,000—
Who was there
- UA‘Uthman bin ‘AffanAn early believer who married two of the Prophet’s daughters in turn and migrated to Abyssinia.
- AT‘Ali bin Abi TalibThe Prophet’s young cousin, among the very first believers, who slept in his bed on the night of the Hijrah and later married Fatimah.
- ABAbu Bakr as-SiddiqThe Prophet’s close friend, who believed on the very first day of the call, hid with him in the cave of Thawr, and led the prayer in his last days.
- U‘Umar bin al-KhattabOnce set on killing the Prophet ﷺ, he accepted Islam and the Muslims began to pray openly at the Ka’bah.
- KKhalid bin al-WalidThe Quraish cavalry leader whose charge turned Uhud; after accepting Islam he saved the army at Mu’tah.
- HHeracliusThe Byzantine (Roman) emperor, who questioned Abu Sufyan about the Prophet ﷺ after receiving his letter.