The Remembrance of the Bearer of Glad Tidings and the Warner صلى الله عليه وسلم - Episode 25: A Spotlight on Tabuk Invasion

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: After Shurahbeal bin 'Amr Al-Ghassani had killed the prophet's dispatched messenger, Al-Harith bin 'Umari Al-Azdi to the ruler of Al-Busra,  the prophet sent an expedition lead by Zaid bin Haritha where they fought the Roman in M'utah.

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi:  M'utah Expedition and how three thousand Muslims fought fiercely against two hundred thousand Romans was a matchless bravery and deep faith that the Muslims never forgot for a moment.

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: Whereupon the polytheists feared the prophet greatly. Hence Caesar could neither ignore the great benefit Mu’tah Battle had brought to Muslims, nor could he disregard the Arab tribes’ desires of independence, and their hopes of getting free from his influence and reign.

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: Caesar mustered a huge army of the Romans combatants to launch a decisive bloody battle against Medina in order to kill the prophet and demolish the Muslims state, hence ending the Message of Islam.

Sheikh Ali Paqees:  The Romans started planning how to invade the Muslims in their homeland. Soon the news reached Medina while the prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم and his companions awaited such news. All were anxious and nervous about it.

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: They're the Romans. Who could stand to their great numbers and lethal power!

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: The situation was critical even more for those incidents occurred in the summer time, a very hot season with the hottest weather.

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: Also the distance between both was a very vast one. The centre of the Romans' state very was far from the Arab peninsula.

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: Taking in consideration that the people were in great difficulty at that time; they suffered from lack of water, food, riding animals and supplies,

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: even more for the harvest time approached and the companions by simple humane instinct were looking forward to reap the crops and gather the fruits, thanking Allah for his blessings,

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: there's no doubt they disliked a forthcoming fight against the Romans in such a state and such a harvest time that they awaited since the last summer.

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: As the prophet took his final decision, depending wholly on Allah, he ordered his Companions to get ready for war in the sake of Allah; holy fighting (Jihad)

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم was determined that the Muslims should invade the Romans before the latter reach their borders. One may wonder how could the prophet resolute to such decision although he knew how large were the Romans' army in terms of numbers and equipments, but the prophet wanted it to be a decisive fight.

(Caesar couldn't blink an eye wondering how dare those Arabs, who used to pay his tariff with humiliation, are now fighting against him! He decided to invade the Muslims who were mere subjects in his parish and became independent Masters)

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: The prophet announced openly his intention of meeting the Romans and fighting them inspite of the difficulty they were suffering from. He cleared the situation to the Muslims so that they would get ready.

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: Contrary to his habit of concealing his real intention of the invasion by means of declaring a false one, if he intended to go south he would announce going north and vice versa in order to mislead the spies and hypocrites amongst Muslims, yet this time; he صلى الله عليه وسلم announced openly his intention of meeting the Romans at Tabuk to the north of Arab peninsula and fight them right there.

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: The prophet then sent for the Muslims in Mecca and the other Arab tribes asking for their assistance and urged them to fight in the sake of Allah.

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: Hence the tribes' delegations poured into Medina. They sit up their tents in order to participate in the war against the Romans along with the prophet.

Sheikh Ali Paqees: The army the prophet's mobilized reached thirty thousand fighters.

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: The Prophet, صلى الله عليه وسلم induced his Companions to spend on the preparations for this battle.

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: and indeed the companions competed to comply to their Lord's and his Messenger's orders.

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: Sacrificing their souls, fortunes and whichever is in their posses

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: to the extent that the rich Muslims would come and pour into the prophet's hands (who is the one to bring glad tidings and convey warning from the Lord) amounts of silver and gold ounces

(What a good day in which the Muslims were very charitable, competing in sacrificing their pleasures in the sake of Allah, their Lord سبحانه وتعالى. Indeed it had become easy to sacrifice the valuable for the sake of the latter heavenly reward)

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: Amongst the poorer companions who wish to spend in the cause of Allah and perform charity for Jihad;was ‘Ulbah bin Zayd  who wept, went to his dwellings and prayed at night shedding tears and said, “O Allah, you have ordered us to go for Jihad and did not grant me what could help me to go with Your Messenger, and didn't grant your Messenger what he may provide us with to accompany him in this war and so I am paying charity to every Muslim through [forgiving him for] anything that he wronged me with, whether in myself or honor or family or money.”  His tears mixed with sincere words straight out of his heart till the daybreak as The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم called to the Fajr (dawn) prayer. He stood staring at his companions' faces. He inquired "Who amongst you perform charity last night?" Yet no one answered him. He repeated and still no answer. At last the prophet called 'Ulbah and said "What did you say last night?" he replied " O Messenger of Allah, I said nothing and did nothing. It's just that I supplicated my Lord and wept" and he told the prophet what he prayed for. The prophet's face then brightened as if a bright full moon and said "What a reward you won ! By Allah in whose hand is my soul, Allah has accepted your charity"

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: Here is ‘Uthman, for instance, who had already rigged two hundred, saddled camels with their coverings to travel to Ash-Sham, presented them all with two hundred ounces (of gold) as charity for Jihad to the prophet, looking forward to his heavenly reward. The prophet again incited his companions to spend in preparing the Mujahidoon (the army). So again 'Uthman presented a hundred saddled camels with their covering "O Messenger of Allah, they are all in the cause of Allah for I seek his reward on the Day of Judgment," He said. Yet again the prophet induced his companions to spend in the cause of Allah. Thereupon 'Uthman again offered another hundred saddled camels with their covering in the cause of Allah seeking the heavenly reward of them all on the Day of judgment.  He also fetched a thousand dinars (approximately) and cast them all into the lap of the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم. This enormous fortune was all spent in the cause of Allah by 'Uthman

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi:  The prophet turned them over and said: “From this day on nothing shall harm ‘Uthman regardless of what he does.”

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: The people came in haste to present themselves to the prophet, eager to participate in this invasion. Amongst them were 7 of the companions (may Allah be pleased with them)

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: They only asked the prophet to provide them with a mount as they are too poor to have one, but the prophet was very sorry that he hadn't any. He excused himself from them.

Sheikh Ali Paqees: Every 13-19 men mounted one camel alternatively. So when those poor Muslims approached the prophet asking for mounts to fight in the sake of Allah;,he sadly looked at them

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: They didn't have a thing, neither fortune nor mounts. Although the prophet urged his companion to participate in this war in the cause of Allah, and sacrifice their souls for the same cause, he couldn't afford but ask those poor men to go back for the distance was too vast for them to walk and he can't afford mounts for them.

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: Do you know what those sincere men did? They turned back with eyes overflowing with tears, due to the sorrow that they could not find the means to spend.

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: Even the Muslims' women didn't waste this chance of charity; they offered their golden bracelets, armlets, rings, ear rings, anklets and jewels and whichever they could afford only for the sake of Allah and to please their Lord.

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: Amongst the companions were very poor ones who couldn't offer a penny for the charity of Jihad, yet they would labor in the Muslims' market, carry goods and only take the minimum for his livings out of his already poor wages and give the rest to the prophet.

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: The companions obeyed the prophet, complied with his call and their Lord's command unto Jihad

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: There were such obvious evil stances by the hypocrites

Sheikh Ali Paqees: All started with them building, the Mosque of mischief and harm (Masjid Dirar)

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: It was built to be the place of the held meetings to plot stratagems against the believers and to disperse the Muslims from around the prophet and his companions

Sheikh Ali Paqees: They claimed that it was built to be a house of Allah where prayers is performed although the truth was that it was built to achieve disbelief and division among the Muslims and to serve as a gathering place for the enemies of Islam.

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: They asked the prophet to come and pray himself in the new built Mosque.

Sheikh Ali Paqees: but the prophet replied that he'll pray in it when he is back from Tabuk if Allah is willing; and he صلى الله عليه وسلم didn't come back but to demolish it.

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: for Allah revealed to his prophet their true ill intentions and designs of conspiracies.

Allah سبحانه وتعالى said:

{وَالَّذِينَ اتَّخَذُوا مَسْجِدًا ضِرَارًا وَكُفْرًا وَتَفْرِيقًا بَيْنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَإِرْصَادًا لِمَنْ حَارَبَ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ مِنْ قَبْلُ وَلَيَحْلِفُنَّ إِنْ أَرَدْنَا إِلَّا الْحُسْنَى وَاللَّهُ يَشْهَدُ إِنَّهُمْ لَكَاذِبُونَ}  [التوبة: 107]

 Interpretation of the Meaning:

"And as for those who put up a mosque by way of harming and disbelief, and to disunite the believers, and as an outpost for those who warred against Allâh and His Messenger (Muhammad SAW) aforetime, they will indeed swear that their intention is nothing but good. Allâh bears witness that they are certainly liars." [At-Tawbah: 107]

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: The Hypocrites ill deeds started shortly before the marching of the army. Ever since the prophet announced his resolution to wage war against Romans and march to Tabuk and followed by the prophet's order to the Muslims to prepare for the fight and inducing them to spend in the cause of Allah, the hypocrites started bad mouthing the charitable Muslims.

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: Some said to the Muslims to dishearten them, "Do you think that fighting the Romans the same as fighting the Arabs? How silly are you! By Allah we envisage you captured and tied in chains lead by the Romans"

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: A group among the hypocrites sought exemption from the Prophet by saying, “Our homes are unprotected” who shall defend our families. Let us stay and take care of our families. 

Allah said:

{...وَيَسْتَأْذِنُ فَرِيقٌ مِنْهُمُ النَّبِيَّ يَقُولُونَ إِنَّ بُيُوتَنَا عَوْرَةٌ وَمَا هِيَ بِعَوْرَةٍ إِنْ يُرِيدُونَ إِلَّا فِرَارًا} [الأحزاب: 13]

 Interpretation of the meaining: "and a group among them sought exemption from the Prophet by saying, “Our homes are unprotected” whereas their homes were not unprotected; they willed nothing except to flee." [Al-Ahzab: 13]

Sheikh Ali Paqees: When the hypocrites realized how charitable the prophet's companions are as they competed in spending their fortunes to prepare the army, they taunted them

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: They were accusing the wealthy Muslims of showing off and were mocking the charity of the poor by saying "Allah is not in need for the charity of those poor ones"

Allah said:

{الَّذِينَ يَلْمِزُونَ الْمُطَّوِّعِينَ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ فِي الصَّدَقَاتِ وَالَّذِينَ لَا يَجِدُونَ إِلَّا جُهْدَهُمْ فَيَسْخَرُونَ مِنْهُمْ سَخِرَ اللَّهُ مِنْهُمْ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ} [التوبة: 79]

 Interpretation of the meaining: "He also knows who taunt the believers that voluntarily give alms; they scoff at those who have nothing to give except what they earn through their hard toil. Allah scoffs at them in return. A grievous chastisement awaits them" [At-Tawbah: 79]

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: They would taunt every effort the companions spend in the cause of Allah (may Allah be pleased with the Companions)

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: Abu Mas'ud Al-Badri reported that when the verse of voluntarily charity was revealed to the prophet;,we competed in giving charity and spending our fortunes in the cause of Allah according to everyone's capability.

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: Even the poor ones amongst the companions would come to the prophet with the few they could afford to give: a handful of dates, barley, butter or raisins

Allah said:

{فَرِحَ الْمُخَلَّفُونَ بِمَقْعَدِهِمْ خِلَافَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ وَكَرِهُوا أَنْ يُجَاهِدُوا بِأَمْوَالِهِمْ وَأَنْفُسِهِمْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَقَالُوا لَا تَنْفِرُوا فِي الْحَرِّ قُلْ نَارُ جَهَنَّمَ أَشَدُّ حَرًّا لَوْ كَانُوا يَفْقَهُونَ} [التوبة: 81]

Interpretation of the meaining: "Those who were allowed to stay behind rejoiced at remaining behind and not accompanying the Messenger of Allah. They were averse to striving with their belongings and their lives in the Way of Allah and told others: "Do not go forth in this fierce heat." Tell them: "The Hell is far fiercer in heat." May be they would understand!" [At-Tawbah: 81]

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم marched northwards to Tabuk leading a great army of thirty thousand fighters

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: As for lack of provisions, members of the army at times had to slaughter camels — though they were so dear and scarce — so that they could drink the water of their stomach; that is why that army was called “The army of difficulty”.

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: On their way to Tabuk, the army of Islam passed by the native land of Thamud

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: who cut out (huge) rocks in the valley

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: The prophet ordered the army to accelerate their strides till they passed the valley out. He even said " Do not enter the houses of those who erred themselves lest what had happened to them would afflict you"

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: They watered from its well

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: But the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم told them not to drink of that water which was in the village of the transgressors whom Allah punished.

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: Due to the Shortage of water, the army’s need to it and the very hot weather and very hot sand made them very exhausted and thirsty, all made them complain to the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم about that.

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: They asked him to supplicate his Lord the most merciful and true to their request, the prophet sincerely and faithfully supplicated Allah. Allah sent a rainfall cloud thereon. It rained and so all people drank to their fullest and supplied themselves with their need of water.

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: The prophet leading the army reached somewhere near Tabuk's area.

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: the Prophet then said: “If Allah will, tomorrow you will arrive at Tabuk spring".

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: "You will not get there before daytime. So whoever reaches it should not touch its water till I come"

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: All the companions complied with the prophet's orders except for two men whom hurried and drank from the spring. The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم asked them: ‘Have you drunk its water?’

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: Both positively answered; both violated the prophet's commands. The prophet said what Allah inspired him to say, then he scooped up little water of that spring.

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: He صلى الله عليه وسلم drank from it and washed his face and took handfuls of it and then poured it back into the spring.

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: Consequently and due to the prophet's blessing hands, plenty of water spouted out of it.

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: The spring fizzed up and water sprouted out of it. The prophet called his companions to come and drink and so they did to their fullest and they filled up their containers and vessels, all due to the blessings of the prophet.

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: The prophet leading the Muslims' army reached Tabuk. They were to fought their enemy wherein, yet they didn't find the Romans.

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: Upon hearing of his arrival at Tabuk, The Romans became terrified. The prophet passed more than 20 days awaiting them in the battlefield, but they neither dared to come closer nor to fight against him صلى الله عليه وسلم

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: They realized they dared not to set out to fight against the prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم, while he lead that great army just to fight them.

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: On the contrary, they scattered and dispersed. The prophet and the Muslims became victorious even without fighting the Romans for Allah has sufficed the believers.

Scattered in territories, they didn't even fight

They were terrified and thus retired

How many Romans wept at Tabuk

With eyes that flooded with tears

His news surprised them like sheep

Liked the pasture but feared the fences

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: An incident occurred in the battlefield. Abdullah bin Mas‘ud  said,  One night, while I was sleeping, I got up in the middle of the night and I touched the prophet mattress. He صلى الله عليه وسلم wasn't there and it was cold, then I inspected both mattresses of Abu Bakr and 'Umar but both weren't sleeping there. As I turned I saw a flame of fire at one side of the camp, so I headed to it and there I found the prophet along with Abu Bakr and 'Umar. They dug a grave, which the Messenger of Allah descended and Abu Bakr and ‘Umar let it down to the prophet, who embraced the dead body and kissed him and then placed him well inside his grave. He said: “O Allah, I am pleased with him, so be pleased with him.” I said to myself "I wish that I was the one [who died and was placed] in that pit by the prophet's hands. So who was the dead man? He was 'Abdullah thul-Bijadain, whose hypocrite uncle hindered him and constricted him from joining the prophet's army that he pulled off his whole attire. He then fled from to join the prophet and a short distance before he reached him, his mother reached him. She cut her heavy coarse attire into two parts and took one of them and gave her son the other part to wrap himself in the other. Then, he went to the prophet. Hence, he was called Thul-Bijaadayn [the man of two coarse attires]. See how his life ended with the prophet saying "O Allah I'm pleased with him, so be pleased with him"

As he reached Tabuk, the residents there

Willing they came to him and not forcibly.

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: The prophet returned to Medina after 20 days he spent at Tabuk without fighting against the Romans for Allah سبحانه وتعالى sufficed the believers of fighting. The prophet returned victorious and assisted by his Lord.

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: The prophet along the Muslims' army neared the Medina.

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: As they neared it the prophet said "Here's Medina; Here's the good Taibah"

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: As the prophet reached Medina, their people became very delighted

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: As the news spread amongst the Medina, the women, children and youngsters all set out from their homes to celebrate the return of the army.

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: They rejoiced with the happy returning of the army.

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: The prophet's return from Tabuk was on Rajab, 9^th year A.H.

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: On the contrary, the hypocrites were upset because of that safe return.

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: As soon as the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم had entered Medina, he prayed two Rak‘a in his Masjid (Mosque) and then he sat to receive his people as the news spread that he arrived. The hypocrites who lagged behind were the first to meet him.

Sheikh Zaid al-Qoroon: offered various kinds of excuses and started swearing and making false oaths. The Prophet acknowledged their excuses and invoked Allah’s forgiveness for them but he entrusted their inner thoughts and Faith to Allah.

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: Those who didn't participate in this invasion were four kinds: those who were ordered to stay at Medina as Muhammad bin Maslamah, Siba'ah bin 'Arfatah and 'Ali bin Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with them) and the second kind are the excused ones; the sick Muslims, very old ones, the women and children as they can't fight; hence Allah neither addressed them with Jihad nor blamed them. The third kind are the sinful ones: Ka'b bin Malik; Hilal bin Umayyah and Mirarah bin A-Rabe'ah (May Allah be pleased with them)

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: Those three were faithful believers but they lagged behind without a legitimate excuse. When the prophet reached Medina they were delighted with his return but saddened for their lagging behind.

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: They talked to the prophet; and told him the plain truth that they didn't have any legitimate excuse to lag behind and regarding this the prophet said "As for those three, they are truthful"

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: But he صلى الله عليه وسلم wanted to teach them a lesson and refine them.

Sheikh Khaled al-Khalawy: Accordingly, the prophet soon bade his Companions not to talk to them.

Sheikh Abdullateaf Al-Ghamdi: They suffered this boycott for more than 50 days; talking to them and selling them or buying from them; they were all banned to the extent that the man of them may come to the Masjid (Mosque) to perform prayer and his eyes may lock eyes with the prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم and keep observing the prophet while praying and even as he finishes and leaving the Masjid without a single word uttered to him. He'll leave then wondering if the prophet heard his greeting but didn't answer it.

Sheikh Ali Paqees: Even their relatives would turn their backs on them. They stayed like that till 40 days were gone then the prophet ordered them to forsake their wives. They kept in such a state until Allah revealed to his Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم that their repentance was accepted. Allah, May He be Glorfied, said:

{وَعَلَى الثَّلَاثَةِ الَّذِينَ خُلِّفُوا حَتَّى إِذَا ضَاقَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ الْأَرْضُ بِمَا رَحُبَتْ وَضَاقَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ أَنْفُسُهُمْ وَظَنُّوا أَنْ لَا مَلْجَأَ مِنَ اللَّهِ إِلَّا إِلَيْهِ ثُمَّ تَابَ عَلَيْهِمْ لِيَتُوبُوا إِنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ التَّوَّابُ الرَّحِيمُ} [التوبة: 118]

Interpretation of the meaining: "And (He did forgive also) the three [who did not join the Tabûk expedition (whom the Prophet SAW)] left (i.e. he did not give his judgement in their case, and their case was suspended for Allâh's Decision) till for them the earth, vast as it is, was straitened and their ownselves were straitened to them, and they perceived that there is no fleeing from Allâh, and no refuge but with Him. Then, He accepted their repentance, that they might repent (unto Him). Verily, Allâh is the One Who accepts repentance, Most Merciful." [At-Tawbah: 118]