Editing Abu Bakr (section)

=== Military campaigns during final years of Muhammad ===
{{Main|Expedition of Amr ibn al-As|Conquest of Mecca|Expedition of Tabuk}}

In 629, Muhammad sent [[Amr ibn al-As]] to Zaat-ul-Sallasal, followed by [[Abu Ubaidah ibn al-Jarrah]] in response to a call for reinforcements. Abu Bakr and Umar commanded an army under al-Jarrah, and they attacked and defeated the enemy.<ref>Sahih-al-Bhukari book of Maghazi, Ghazwa Saif-al-Jara</ref>

In 630, when [[Conquest of Mecca|the Muslims conquered Mecca]], Abu Bakr was part of the army.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lasani |first=Yousaf Manzoor |date=12 July 2020 |title=Who was Hazrat Abu Bakr (RA)? His Life and Contributions to Islam |url=https://zillnoorain.com/who-was-hazrat-abu-bakr-ra-his-life-and-contributions-to-islam/ |access-date=23 June 2024 |website=zillnoorain.com |language=en}}</ref> Before the conquest, his father [[Uthman Abu Quhafa|Abu Quhafa]] converted to Islam.<ref>{{Cite web |last=slife |date=26 December 2018 |title=Conquest of Mecca |url=https://slife.org/conquest-of-mecca/ |access-date=22 June 2024 |website=The Spiritual Life |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=28 November 2022 |title=Facts about Abu Bakr al-Siddiq |url=https://www.studioarabiyainegypt.com/facts-about-abu-bakr-al-siddiq/ |access-date=23 June 2024 |website=studioarabiyainegypt.com |language=en}}</ref>

==== Battles of Hunayn and Ta'if ====
{{Main|Battle of Hunayn|Siege of Ta'if}}

In 630, the Muslim army was [[Battle of Hunayn|ambushed by archers from the local tribes]] as it passed through the valley of [[Hunayn, Saudi Arabia|Hunayn]], some eleven miles northeast of Mecca. Taken unaware, the advance guard of the Muslim army fled in panic. There was considerable confusion, and the camels, horses and men ran into one another in an attempt to seek cover. Muhammad, however, stood firm. Only nine companions remained around him, including Abu Bakr. Under Muhammad's instruction, his uncle [[Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib|Abbas]] shouted at the top of his voice, "O Muslims, come to the Prophet of Allah". The call was heard by the Muslim soldiers and they gathered beside Muhammad. When the Muslims had gathered in sufficient number, Muhammad ordered a charge against the enemy. In the hand-to-hand fight that followed the tribes were routed and they fled to [[Autas]].

Muhammad posted a contingent to guard the Hunayn pass and led the main army to Autas. In the confrontation at Autas, the tribes could not withstand the Muslim onslaught. Believing continued resistance useless, the tribes broke camp and retired to [[Taif|Ta'if]].

Abu Bakr was commissioned by Muhammad to lead the [[Siege of Ta'if|attack against Ta'if]]. The tribes shut themselves in the fort and refused to come out in the open. The Muslims employed catapults, but without tangible result. The Muslims attempted to use a testudo formation, in which a group of soldiers shielded by a cover of cowhide advanced to set fire to the gate. However, the enemy threw red hot scraps of iron on the testudo, rendering it ineffective.

The siege dragged on for two weeks, and still there was no sign of weakness in the fort. Muhammad held a council of war. Abu Bakr advised that the siege might be raised and that God make arrangements for the fall of the fort. The advice was accepted, and in December 630, the siege of Ta'if was raised and the Muslim army returned to [[Mecca]]. A few days later, [[Malik ibn Awf|Malik bin Awf]], the commander, came to Mecca and became a Muslim.<ref>{{cite book |title=Sidiq-i-Akbar Hazrat Abu Bakr |author=Masud-ul-Hasan |page=46 |publisher=[[Ferozsons]]}}</ref>