Twenty days in Tabuk

When the Romans learned that the Muslims had crossed four hundred kilometres of desert to challenge them, they lost courage and elected not to face them in combat. Nevertheless, the Prophet camped in Tabuk for twenty days in order to intimidate the Romans and their Christian Arab mercenaries by his sheer presence.

The Prophet also received several delegations from the neighbouring Arab tribes who were interested in making peace with Arabia’s new rulers. Yuhanna bin Ru’ba, the governor of Aylah, called upon the Prophet at this time. The parties of Jarba, Adhruh and Mina accompanied him. They agreed to pay Jiziyah but remained undecided about embracing Islam. The Prophet gave them in writing a guarantee of peace and safety for their territory, ships and caravans, by both land and sea.

Similarly, the Prophet signed treaties with Jarba and Adhuruh guaranteeing them peace and safety in return for one hundred dinars every year in Rajab. The people of Mina agreed to give one-fourth of all the fruits produced in their territory in return for peace and security.

Ukaydir is captured

The Prophet sent Khalid bin Waleed with 420 cavalrymen to capture Ukaydir of Dumat Al-Jandal. The Prophet told Khalid that he would find him hunting white antelopes. Khalid set out on his mission, and when he came close enough to see Ukaydir’s citadel, a white antelope suddenly appeared and began to rub its horns against the citadel’s gate. The animal caught Ukaydir’s attention, and he came out to hunt it, not knowing that he would also be hunted. Khalid, who was lying in wait, captured Ukaydir and brought him to the Prophet , who spared his life in return for two thousand camels, eight hundred slaves, four hundred coats of mail, and four hundred spears.

Ukaydir also promised to pay Jiziyah with the same conditions accepted by Aylah and Mina.