Expedition of Abdullah ibn Jahsh to Nakhla

The Prophet sent Abdullah ibn Jahsh with eight Muhajirun to Nakhla, between Mecca and Ta'if, to gather intelligence on Quraysh activities. He gave Abdullah a sealed letter with instructions not to open it until two days of travel had passed. The letter instructed him to proceed to Nakhla and observe the Quraysh. At Nakhla, the group encountered a small Quraysh caravan carrying raisins, leather, and other goods. They debated whether to attack, as it was the last day of Rajab, a sacred month. Some of the men attacked the caravan, killing Amr ibn al-Hadrami and capturing two men and the goods. This caused a significant controversy: the Quraysh accused the Muslims of violating the sacred months, and even some Muslims were troubled. Allah revealed: 'They ask you about fighting in the sacred month. Say: Fighting therein is great sin, but averting people from the way of Allah and disbelief in Him and the Sacred Mosque and driving out its people therefrom is greater sin in the sight of Allah' (al-Baqarah 2:217).