Expedition of Abu Sufyan ibn Harb or the Demolition of al-Lat, occurred in the same year as the Battle of Tabuk (which occurred in October 630 AD ). Muhammad sent Abu Sufyan with a group armed men to destroy the Idol AllÃÂt (also referred to as al-Tagiyyah) that was worshipped by the citizens of Taif. The destruction of the idol was a demand by Muhammad before any reconciliation could take place with the citizens of Taif.The event is also mentioned in the Quran verse 17:73.
According to the Muslim scholar Al-Suyuti, the Quran verse 17:73 was revealed about this event, after the tribe asked Muhammad to be excused from the daily prayers
The event is mentioned in the Quran (according to al-Suyuti):
Al Suyuti's commentary on the verse is as follows:
The event is mentioned by the Muslim jurist Tabari (he refers to al-Lat as Tagiyyah, which is an alternate name). He wrote: