8. The Holy Prophet 
waited for the enemy for twenty days in Tabuk, but the Romans withdrew and did not dare to face him. During this period, the Holy Prophet entered into Peace Agreements on his terms with the various neighboring Christian states and Arab tribes.
9. It was, thus, a very strategic operation of the Holy Prophet in terms of his influence on the neighboring states.
10. The Holy Prophet also took an offensive action against those Arab tribes, who sided with Quraish in the past and broke away their pacts with him. He marched on them suddenly and compelled them to surrender. In most of these expeditions, the mission was completed without fighting.
11.When the Holy Prophet returned, he before entering Madina ordered that that the Mosque built up by the hypocrites be destroyed. It may be noted that when he was proceeding to Tabuk, the hypocrites requested him to offer prayers in that mosque, but he continued to move ahead by saying that he was going to accomplish an important task and that he would see the matter on his return. Accordingly, when he returned, the Mosque was demolished and its staff burnt up on his orders (as reported by Ibn Khaldun), since that was used to harm and disunite the Muslims. (See also 9:107)
[Ibn Khaldun, Encyclopedia on Seerah, Zia-ul-Quran]
Note: The next Verse of Al-Baqarah (2:217) states about fighting in the Sacred Months.
