Using special tactics...

Using special tactics, he frightened the enemy and then issued the command to retreat to Medina.[^29] Al-Waqidi records that the martyrs of this war were eight[^30] but Ibn Husham records them as twelve.[^31] In some contemporary records, it is written that they were seventeen.[^32] The tombs of these martyrs rest next to the city of Mu’tah;[^33] each one of the commanders has a magnificent shrine with a dome.

Next to the tomb of Ja`far, there is built a handsome mosque.[^34] The conquest of Mecca One of the articles of the Hudaybiyah Truce was ceasefire between the infidels and Muslims. The Holy Prophet made use of the tranquility and took big strides: he sent different missionaries to all countries of the world and enacted his universal mission; he either disarmed the enemies residing around Medina or convened treaties with them.

In the meantime, Khaybar, which was the center of conspiracies, collapsed altogether. The Quraysh breach of truce After two years, the Hudaybiyah Truce was broken by Quraysh. According to the fourth paragraph, any tribe was free to join either the Muslims or Quraysh. At that time, Khuza`ah made a treaty with Muslims and Banu-Bakr allied with Quraysh.[^35] In the eighth year of Hegira, Banu-Bakr attacked Banu-Khuza`ah at nighttime.

In this confrontation Quraysh allied with Banu-Bakr, killing a group of the soldiers of Khuza`ah. This was a breach of the Hudaybiyah Truce.[^36] Following the chief of Khuza`ah’s request for assistance, the Holy Prophet announced a general mobilization[^37] and decided to attack Mecca.

In order for Quraysh not to know the Muslims’ plan and to surprise them in an attack so that Mecca could be captured with no bloodshed, the Holy Prophet concealed his destination[^38] and ordered his men to watch the Meccan roads[^39] asking God to keep Quraysh unaware of his plan.[^40] The Holy Prophet, with an army of ten thousand soldiers, headed for Mecca.[^41] His tactic was successful.

The spies of Quraysh were kept in the dark up to the moment when Muslim troops were stationed at the gates of Mecca. `Abbas, the Holy Prophet’s uncle, lived in Mecca up to that year. As he was heading for Medina, the Islamic troops were heading for Mecca. He met the Holy Prophet at al-Juhafah and returned to Mecca with him. At the last night of the stationing of the Muslim troops outside the gates of Mecca, `Abbas saw Abu-Sufyan outside the city and took him to meet the Holy Prophet.