Muhammad a Prophet For all Humanity
12. Emigration—From Makkah to Madinah
~ 304 ~
the Syrian border. The Ghassanids, along with other
Roman allies among Arab tribes in the region,
followed the emperor’s lead. In response, the
Prophet advanced to Tabuk with an army of 30,000.
The expedition to Tabuk was really a military
manoevre, a pre-emptive strike. The aim was to
strike fear into the enemy, so that they would lose
heart and abandon their hostile intentions. When
the Prophet reached Tabuk, he heard that Caesar
was not advancing to meet the Muslims but,
instead, was beginning to withdraw his forces from
the frontier. There was now no question of a battle,
and Caesar’s very withdrawal had assured the
Prophet of a moral victory, which he decided to
turn to his own political advantage. During his 20-
day stay in Tabuk, he established contact with the
neighbouring Arab tribes, who were at that time
under Roman influence. The Christian chieftain of
Daumat al Jandal, Ukaydir ibn ‘Abd al-Malik al-
Kindi, Yuhannah ibn Ruyah from Aylah, along with
Christians of Maqna, Jarba and Azruh, agreed to
pay
jizyah,
a tax levied on non-Muslims living
under the protection of a Muslim government,
which guarantees the safety of their lives and
property, and free exercise of their religion.
