Expedition of Abu Sufyan ibn Harb or the Demolition of al-Lat, occurred in the same year as the Battle of Tabuk[1] (which occurred in October 630 AD[2] ). Muhammad sent Abu Sufyan[3] with a group armed men to destroy the Idol Allāt (also referred to as al-Tagiyyah) that was worshipped by the citizens of Taif.[citation needed] The destruction of the idol was a demand by Muhammad before any reconciliation could take place with the citizens of Taif.