In Rajab, the Prophet sent letters and emissaries to the Arab tribes which had entered into Islam in order to invite them to the jihad. This was the Battle of Tabuk, which the Prophet led against the Byzantines and their Arab clients. He wrote to the tribes of Tamim, Ghatafan and Tayy. He also sent a message to `Attab ibn Usayd, his representative in Mecca, to make ready for battle against the Byzantines.
When all was ready for the journey, the Prophet stood up and delivered a sermon wherein he first praised Allah with fitting praise, then invited the people to help one another and assist the weak among them and to spend of their wealth in Allah's cause. The first man to give was Uthman ibn `Affan (the third caliph). He brought vessels filled with silver, which he poured in the lap of the Prophet. He also provisioned an army of poor people. He was thus known as, `he who provisioned the army of hardship' (jayshu'l-`usrah). al-`Abbas also came to the Messenger of Allah and gave generously, donating provisions for the fighters. The Ansar hastened to do likewise.
Other Companions also gave handsome donations: `Abdu'r-Rahman ibn `Awf, az-Zubayr and Talhah. Some of the Hypocrites also gave of their wealth, but only for a show of hypocrisy. Allah sent down concerning this certain verses of the Qur'an. [61] The Messenger of Allah encamped at Thaniyyatu'l Wada' with those who followed him of the Immigrants, the Arab tribes, the tribe of Kinanah, the people of Tihamah and Muzaynah, Juhaynah, Tayy and Tamim. He set `Ali as his representative over Medina, saying to him: "It is necessary that either you or I should stay in Medina." He entrusted the banner of the Immigrants to az-Zubayr and placed Talhah ibn `Ubaydillah at the head of the right flank, and `Abdu'rRahman ibn `Awf at the head of the left one. Then he set out until he reached a place called al-Jurf. There `Abdullah ibn Ubayy returned (to Medina) without the Prophet's permission. The Apostle of Allah said: "Allah is my sufficient Helper. It is He Who strengthened him (that is, the Prophet) with His support and with the people of faith, and reconciled their hearts. " [Qur'an 8:63]
At al-Jurf 'Ali hastened to the Prophet and, taking hold of his stirrup, complained saying: "O Apostle of Allah, the people of Quraysh are claiming that you have left me behind because you find me bothersome!" He replied: "Communities (of faith) have always caused their prophets much hurt! Are you not content to be in the same station to me as was Aaron to Moses?" "Yes, I accept", 'Ali answered; he then returned to Medina.
The Messenger of Allah arrived at Tabuk in Sha'ban, on Tuesday, where he remained the rest of the month and a few days of Ramadan. While in Tabuk, a man called Yuhannah ibn Ru'bah, the Governor of Aylah (Ilat), came to him. Yuhannah agreed to give the Apostle of Allah the jizyah and thus he wrote a truce agreement for him. The letter is still with them (that is, the Christians of the city). The Prophet likewise wrote an agreement of security for the people of al-Jarba' and Adhruh (two towns in Syria). Also while in Tabuk, the Messenger of Allah sent Abu `Ubaydah ibn al-Jarrah with a man called Zinba` ibn Rawh al-Judhami against a group of the tribe of Judham. Abu `Ubaydah was able to seize much wealth and women captives. The Prophet also sent Sa'd ibn `Ubadah against some people of the tribe of Sulaym and others of the tribe of Baliyy. But as they approached, the people fled.
The Prophet then sent Khalid ibn al-Walid to Ukaydir, a chieftain of a place called Dumatu'l-Jandal. He predicted to Khalid: "Allah will deliver him into your hand by means of the chasing of a cow." As Khalid and his Companions were spending a clear night near Ukaydir's fortress and while he sat within drinking wine with two of his wives, a cow came and vehemently began to butt the door. He rode after it with Hassan his brother and the men who owned the cow. Khalid and his Companions sat in ambush for him. Thus they captured him while he was chasing a cow. They killed Hassan his brother, who was wearing a garment woven with gold threads. The other men escaped and ran into the fortress and closed its gate. Khalid brought Ukaydir to the gate and ordered the men to open for him, but they refused. Ukaydir then asked Khalid to let him go and open the gate. He sent a man to guard him, and Ukaydir opened the fortress for Khalid and his Companions. Ukaydir gave him eight hundred heads of cattle, two thousand camels, four hundred suits of armour, four hundred spears and five hundred swords. Khalid accepted this gift from him and brought him to the Messenger of Allah. The Prophet spared his life and concluded a truce with him upon payment of the poll-tax.
It is reported in Bayhaqi's Dala'ilu'l-Nubuwwah [62] on the authority of Abu 'l-Aswad that when the Messenger of Allah was on his way back from Tabuk, some of his Companions plotted against him. They agreed to travel with him through a steep road and throw him over the cliff. The Messenger of Allah was, however, informed of their plot. He thus advised: "Let anyone of you who wish, take the road through the valley, for it is more spacious for you! " Yet he himself took the steep road. All the men took the road through the valley, except those who had plotted against him; they made ready and masked themselves. The Messenger of Allah commanded Hudhayfah ibn al-Yaman and Ammar ibn Yasir to walk with him. He ordered `Ammar to lead his she-camel, and Hudhayfah to drive her on from behind. As they were thus going, they heard the hastening footsteps of the men who had all surrounded him. The Apostle of Allah became angry, and ordered Hudhayfah to turn them away from him. Hudhayfah ran after them with a thick staff with a twisted handle and struck them with it in their faces. The men scattered, and Allah caused them to be frightened as they saw Hudhayfah. They thought that their malicious scheme had been discovered. They thus ran until they intermingled with the people, and Hudhayfah returned to the Messenger of Allah.
The Prophet ordered Hudhayfah to drive the she-camel on, and `Ammar to lead her quickly until they came out of the steep road, where they halted to wait for the men. The Prophet asked: "O Hudhayfah, did you recognize the horse or camel of any of these men?" "Yes", he answered, "I recognized the mount of this and that man" - even though the darkness of the night had covered them, and they were masked. The Prophet asked: "Do you know what these riders wished to do?" "No, O Apostle of Allah", they said. He continued: "They plotted to travel at my side through this steep road, so that when darkness had covered the road, they would push me down the cliff!" Hudhayfah and `Ammar asked: "When the people come, will you not, O Apostle of Allah, order that they be beheaded?" "I do not wish that men talk later and say that Muhammad has finally attacked his own Companions", he answered. He then named the culprits all for them, and said: "Keep their names a secret!" It is reported in Aban ibn `Uthman's book that they were twelve men, seven of whom were of the Quraysh.
It is reported that the Prophet then returned to Medina. Whenever he returned from a journey, he was received with Hasan and Husayn. He would take them in his arms and go straight to the house of Fatimah, with the Muslims crowding all around him. They would wait for him at the door until he came out, then they would walk with him to his home, when they would disperse.
It is related on the authority of Abu Hamid as-Sa'idi (a well-known Companion) who said: "We returned with the Messenger of Allah from the Battle of Tabuk. When we came within sight of Medina, he said: `This is Tabah (the good place, another name for Medina), and this is Mount Uhud. It loves us and we love it.' " It is further reported on the authority of Anas ibn Malik that when the Messenger came close to Medina, he said: "There are in Medina certain people who are with you on whatever journey you make through any valley or plain." The people asked: "O Apostle of Allah, even though they remain in Medina?" "Yes", he answered, "even though they remain in Medina, for there they shall be obliged to stay."
The engagement of Tabuk was the last battle which the Messenger undertook. `Abdullah ibn Ubayy (the well-known Hypocrite) died shortly after the Messenger of Allah's return from this engagement
Taken From : Beacons of Light by Abu Ali al Fadl ibn al Hasan ibn al Fadl at Tabarsi
source : sibtayn
