Battle of Tabuk

The Causes and History of the Battle of Tabuk

The Prophet Muhammad's Command - peace be upon him - to engage in Jihad against the Romans was prompted by various reasons for the Battle of Tabuk, including the following:

1. Allah's command to His noble Messenger to engage in Jihad and the Prophet's response to this command. Allah says, "O you who have believed, fight those adjacent to you of the disbelievers and let them find in you harshness. And know that Allah is with the righteous". [Quran 9:123]. The Prophet chose the Romans because of their proximity to him and their significance in being invited to Islam due to their closeness to Islam and its people. Allah says, "Fight those who do not believe in Allah or in the Last Day and who do not consider unlawful what Allah and His Messenger have made unlawful and who do not adopt the religion of truth from those who were given the Scripture - [fight] until they give the jizyah willingly while they are humbled". [Quran 9:29].
2. Reports reached the Muslims that the people of Greater Syria intended to attack Medina. This prompted the Prophet to prepare the Muslims to face this enemy and get ready to confront them before they reached their land. Historians have mentioned this, and Ka'b ibn Malik said, "The Messenger of Allah seldom prepared for a battle without subsequently engaging in it, except for the Battle of Tabuk. The Messenger of Allah waged it in intense heat, facing a long and arduous journey and confronting numerous enemies. He made clear the situation to the Muslims so that they would prepare themselves against their enemy and informed them of his intended direction".

This battle occurred in the ninth year after Hijrah, in the month of Rajab, on a Thursday. It was the last battle led by the Prophet - peace be upon him - as narrated by Ka'b ibn Malik who said, "I never remained behind from accompanying the Prophet in any of his battles until the Battle of Tabuk, which was the last battle he fought".

Location of the Battle of Tabuk

Tabuk is a well-known place situated halfway between Medina and Damascus. It has been a renowned place both in ancient and modern times. Ya'qubi al-Hamawi mentioned it in his book, "Mu'jam al-Buldan," stating that it lies between Wadi al-Qura and Greater Syria. It is positioned between two mountains: Mount Hisma to its west and Mount Sharurah to its east. It is twelve stages away from Medina.

Some say Tabuk is the name of a blessing belonging to Bani Saad from Bani 'Adhra. Abu Zeid said that Tabuk is a fortress with a spring of water palm trees and a wall attributed to the Prophet, located about halfway to Greater Syria, between Al-Hajr and the beginning of Greater Syria, four stages from Al-Hajr.

The Events of the Tabuk Expedition

The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) managed to gather thirty thousand fighters from the Muhajireen, Ansar, people of Mecca, and other Arab tribes to set out on the Tabuk expedition. Allah, in His book, urged everyone to join, whether old or young, rich or poor. He said: "Go forth, whether light or heavy and strive with your wealth and your lives in the cause of Allah. That is better for you if you only knew". [Quran 9:41]

The events surrounding the Tabuk expedition can be divided into several sections as follows:

Preparations Before Setting Out to Tabuk

People responded to Allah and His Messenger's call for Jihad, leaving only the hypocrites and those with valid excuses due to weakness in the city. The expedition exposed the faith of the believers and the hypocrisy of the hypocrites because adversity always reveals people's true character. The expedition happened in intense heat, accompanied by a scarcity of water and provisions, and was a long journey. People fell into different categories in their response to the call for combat and spending on preparing the Muslim army:

1. The Sincere Believers: Some sincere Muslims gave all their wealth in charity, while others brought half of their wealth. The companion Uthman ibn Affan set a great example by contributing a thousand dinars and placing them in the Messenger of Allah's lap, which delighted him.
2. The Poor Muslims: Despite having little, poor Muslims also contributed what they could. However, the hypocrites mocked them, claiming that their contributions were insignificant. Even the rich were not exempt from scrutiny, accused of giving for show and reputation. However, Allah exposed them, saying: "Those who criticize the contributors among the believers concerning their charities and [criticize] the ones who find nothing [to spend] except their effort, so they ridicule them. Allah will ridicule them, and they will have a painful punishment". [Quran 9:79]
3. The Hypocrites: They tried to hide behind their donations, but Allah rejected their offerings and exposed their intentions, making it clear that He would not accept from them.
4. The First Category of Hypocrites: Those who made false excuses before setting out were reprimanded by Allah.
5. The Second Category of Hypocrites: Those who tried to demoralize those determined for Jihad by citing the heat were condemned by Allah.
6. The Incapacitated Muslims: Some Muslims, due to old age, illness, or poverty, were unable to join the Jihad. They were excused by Allah due to their sincerity and good intentions.
7. The Sincere but Unable Muslims: Some sincere but financially incapable believers sought aid from the Prophet to support their participation in Jihad. Despite his inability to assist them, the Prophet informed them that Allah had accepted their charity and forgiven them.
8. The Delayed Responders: Some people hesitated due to the timing of the general call for Jihad, which coincided with the harvest season and desire for shade. Allah reproached them for their hesitation.

Events on the Way to the Tabuk Expedition

The events on the way to the Tabuk expedition unfolded as follows:

• Setting out for the Roman Expedition: The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) set out with the Muslim army from Medina for the Roman expedition. He appointed the companion Muhammad ibn Maslamah to oversee Medina in his absence, leaving Ali ibn Abi Talib in charge of his family. However, the hypocrites claimed that the Prophet did not take Ali due to his being a burden, leaving him behind out of insignificance. When Ali heard of this, he armed himself and caught up with the Prophet, informing him of the hypocrites' words. The Prophet responded: "Wouldn’t you be satisfied to be to me like Aaron was to Moses, except that there is no prophet after me?"
• Prophet and Companions' Severe Hunger on the Way to Tabuk: As they journeyed to Tabuk, the Prophet and his companions faced extreme hunger due to their supplies running out. Despite their preparation during difficult times, they did not take enough provisions, leading to famine. They sought permission from the Prophet to slaughter the camels carrying them for food. However, Omar ibn al-Khattab suggested preserving the camels as they were their transportation. The Prophet advised them to gather what little they had and seek blessings through prayers. Allah blessed them, and they ate until they were full, with leftovers, upon which the Prophet said, "I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I am the Messenger of Allah. No slave meets Allah with this, having no doubt about it, except that Paradise becomes forbidden for him".
• Severe Thirst of the Prophet and Companions on the Way to Tabuk: The army faced an excruciating thirst on their journey. They asked the Prophet to pray for them, upon which he supplicated to God, causing rain to pour from the sky. They collected the water and quenched their thirst. One night, the Prophet informed them that they would approach Tabuk the next day. He instructed them not to touch the water until he arrived. They refrained from using it until the Prophet came and dipped his hands and face, and a gush of water surged. This incident was seen as a sign of God's mercy and provision.
• Hypocrites' Behavior During the Journey to Tabuk and Reflecting on Past Nations: The hypocrites persisted in their malicious ways even on the journey, expressing doubt when the Prophet's camel went missing. When the Prophet located the camel, they still doubted his prophethood. As they passed the region of Hijr (Thamud), the Prophet warned about reflecting on the consequences of past nations' misdeeds.
• Arrival in the Tabuk Region: The Prophet and the Muslim army reached Tabuk. He warned them of a severe impending wind. A strong wind blew, causing a man to be thrown against two mountains. However, there was no confrontation or battle in Tabuk as the Romans, despite their strength, were deterred by God, preferring safety over warfare.

Events of the Return from the Tabuk Expedition

Upon the Prophet's return from Tabuk, some hypocrites attempted to assassinate him and harmed him and his companions with their words. God revealed verses condemning their hypocrisy. The Prophet forgave those who apologized, and God's repentance was mentioned in the Quran.

When the Prophet returned to Medina, he said, "This is Ta'if, and this is Uhud, a mountain that loves us, and we love it." Women, children, and the people welcomed the largest army to march against the pagans in that era, singing "The Full Moon Rose Over Us". Upon entering the city, the Prophet first went to the mosque, prayed, and addressed the people. The repentance of Ka'ab ibn Malik and the other companions who lagged behind during the expedition was recorded in Surah At-Tawbah. This expedition, Tabuk, was also called the Expedition of Hardship and was the Prophet's final campaign, marked by a significant force of 30,000 soldiers and 10,000 horses.

Reasons Behind Naming the Battle of Tabuk

The term "Tabuk" in the Arabic language refers to digging or carving into something. The Battle of Tabuk was named after the water spring located in the area where the battle took place, known as 'Ain Tabuk. It derived its name because the Prophet Muhammad instructed his companions not to use its water upon reaching it. However, two of the companions initially reached the spring and inserted two arrows into it to increase its water flow. This digging and carving action is what "Bawak" refers to. The Battle of Tabuk was also known as the "Exposure" because it exposed the hypocrites. Divine verses were revealed, exposing their lies, such as their requests for permission and their disbelief after having faith, among other verses. This battle revealed their hostile methods, hidden animosity, and malicious intentions against the Prophet and the Muslims.

The Battle of Tabuk was also called the Battle of 'Usrah, a name mentioned in the Quran, referring to the difficult circumstances accompanying the expedition. This included the scarcity of riding animals compared to the large army, intense heat where they had to slaughter camels to drink the water stored in their bodies, and the difficulties in provisions and distance.

Regarding the participants in both factions, The Prophet led thirty thousand fighters to the Battle of Tabuk, while the Romans, led by a prominent Roman leader, marched with forty thousand fighters, being the most potent force at that time.

Results of the Battle of Tabuk

Several events occurred after the return of the Prophet and his companions victorious from the Battle of Tabuk, considered as results of this expedition:

• The Prophet sought forgiveness for the chief hypocrite, Abdullah ibn Ubay ibn Salul, upon his death, despite objections from Umar ibn al-Khattab. However, the Quran supported Umar's opinion.
• The Prophet demolished the mosque built by the hypocrite Adi ibn Hatim, known as the Mosque of Dirar.
• Abu Bakr al-Siddiq was sent by the Prophet to lead pilgrims and teach them the rituals of Hajj. When the polytheists were forbidden from Hajj, Abu Bakr sent men to inform people that it was prohibited to perform Hajj as polytheists and to perform Tawaf around the Kaaba while naked.
• After the return from Tabuk, the Prophet received numerous delegations, reaching seventy groups. By the ninth year of migration, Islam had spread across the Arabian Peninsula under the leadership of the Prophet.

Lessons Learned from the Battle of Tabuk

Examining the events of the Battle of Tabuk yields several lessons and insights:

• Hypocrisy eventually gets exposed, even if it takes time.
• The nature of war in Islam revolves around defense and deterring aggressors and is not about aggression or provocation but a message of liberation for all people, not just Arabs.
• The challenges faced during the expedition highlighted the true believers from the hypocrites, leading to the removal of deceitful individuals hindering progress, resulting in a united and strong army.
• The prompt support and generosity of wealthy companions for the cause of Allah and victory against enemies demonstrated the impact of faith in overcoming personal desires and initiating acts of goodwill.
• Faith can create miracles, as seen in the story of those companions who wanted to join the battle but couldn't, shedding tears due to missing the chance to fight alongside the Prophet. Although human nature tends to rejoice in avoiding risks and wars, their sincere faith immortalized their memory in the Quran.
• A genuine believer does not neglect their duty towards the Muslim community. Those who missed the Battle of Tabuk without a valid excuse later repented and learned from their mistake, facing a severe penalty but ultimately receiving forgiveness from Allah and His Messenger.