Feb 09
Battle of Tabook
Friday 29 Rajab, 1445
Feb 09
Friday 29 Rajab, 1445
The Battle of Tabuk, commonly remembered as “Ghazwa-e-Tabuk” (غَزوَة تَبوك), is one of the most significant victories for Muslims, though it ended without a formal battle between Muslims and the Roman Empire. It happened in 631 CE, corresponding to 9 AH. The event took place under unique circumstances that were not considered suitable for a battle in those days. It was October, which was generally a harvesting season for Dates, the staple food of the Arabs of that era. Additionally, it was a year of drought, and October 631 CE was extraordinarily hot. The Arabs usually avoided traveling and fighting during this time of the year.
Under these odd conditions, the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ instructed his companions to prepare for a military expedition. Unlike previous such campaigns, where the destination and target enemies were not disclosed until the last moment, this time the Prophet clearly announced that the expedition was against the Romans (Byzantines). Accordingly, Muslims were instructed to prepare for a long journey to the battlefield, approximately 700 kilometers (435 miles) from Medina.
The Battle of Tabuk is also referred to as “Ghazwatul Usra" (The Battle of hardship), but it was a strategically most significant military expedition, which also happens to be the last such campaign physically led by the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ. It not only demonstrated the strength of the newly established Islamic State but also showed the unwavering obedience to the Prophet's instructions and commands. The believers and true followers of the Prophet wholeheartedly participated in the preparations for this battle, both physically and financially. On the other hand, this campaign also exposed the hypocrites of Medina, who showed reluctance and avoided participating in it with one excuse or another.
In the 6th year after Hijrah, a historic agreement was made between the Quraysh of Mecca and the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ, which is remembered as “the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah. This treaty was a major breakthrough for the Muslims, as they were recognized as an emerging power in the politics of the Arabian Peninsula. Later on, the conquest of Mecca, followed by a victory in the Battle of Hunayn, formally established the Muslims as the major political and military power. Resultantly, Islam started spreading at a great pace, and many Arabian tribes embraced Islam and were included in the Islamic State.
The emergence of a powerful Islamic State in Medina was noted with concern by the then-superpower, the Roman Empire, also known as the Byzantine Empire. Syria was under the rule of the Roman Emperor Heraclius at that time. He saw the Islamic State's growing power and strength as an immediate threat. The Romans, therefore, started mobilizing their troops in the Levant. The Arabian Christian tribes, such as the Ghassanids, also joined them to launch a military campaign against the Islamic State.
The reports of this development soon reached the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ. It was reported that they would most likely launch an attack on Medina and that they were currently gathering a huge army in the area, then known as "Balqa", situated in present-day Jordan. The Prophet decided to take a proactive step. Instead of waiting for their attack on Medina, he decided to march towards them and prevent this attack within their territory.
Some modern historians and scholars hold that the news of the gathering of a huge army by Emperor Heraclius and his plans to attack Medina were not based on facts. However, the majority of the earlier historians, especially the Muslim scholars, confirm that the reports received by the Prophet were true.
When the Prophet announced the upcoming military campaign, his followers generally expressed their willingness to obey his instructions, despite the extreme weather conditions. The Prophet also disclosed the destination so that the Muslims could mentally and physically prepare for a long journey of about 435 miles.
The Muslims responded enthusiastically and started preparations wholeheartedly. Everyone contributed to the financial and logistical arrangements for this long journey. Some of the most prominent contributions are reported in the Hadith Collections as well:
Many other companions of the Prophet, including Abdur Rahman Ibn Awf رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ, also came up with substantial donations. Even those who had nothing to donate tried their best to contribute to this campaign, even if it was a small load of Dates. Every Muslim, whether rich or poor, was highly mobilized for this battle. Some of them came to the Prophet and said that they didn't have any camels or horses for the trip. They requested the Prophet to arrange mounts for them. When the Prophet told them that nothing was left with him for that purpose, they began crying and felt grieved that they could not participate in the battle. This is narrated in the 92nd Verse of Surah At-Tawba.
Translation - Nor will they be blamed who came to you for transport, to whom you said: "I cannot find any means of conveyance for you," and they went away in tears, grieving that they lacked the means to spend (on carriage).
The hypocrites of Medina started spreading confusion among the Muslims about the Battle of Tabuk. They tried to discourage the Muslims by saying that it was going to be a long journey and that it would be too severe in hot weather. In fact, they were trying to avoid participating in this battle over one excuse or another. Finally, they stayed behind. Their cowardly and hypocritical act is admonished in the 81st verse of Surah At-Tawba.
Translation - Those who were left behind rejoiced that they stayed at home against the wishes of God's Apostle, being averse to fighting in the way of God with their wealth and lives, and said: "Do not go in this heat." Tell them: "The heat of Hell is far more intense." If only they had cared to instruct themselves!
Similarly, several other verses of this Surah mention various aspects of this expedition in different contexts, such as verses 38, 39, 82, 83, 117, and 118.
Finally, the Muslim army, comprising 30,000 soldiers, led by the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ, started their journey towards Tabuk. It was the largest Muslim army till that time. Hazrat Ali رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ was not a part of this army on the instructions of the Prophet. He was entrusted with the responsibility for Medina's safety and security in the absence of the Prophet. He was also responsible for caring for the family of the Prophet, left behind in Medina.
Despite harsh weather conditions and a scarcity of supplies, they stood firm in their cause and continued their journey. On their way, the army passed by the ruins of the ancient nation of Thamud, at a place known as Al-Hijr, which is also mentioned in Surah Al-Hijr. Here, the Prophet instructed his followers not to eat or drink water from the wells of this place. He also ordered them to avoid entering these ruins, as they symbolize the people of Thamud's disobedience, which led to their destruction. After a difficult and testing travel, Muslims reached Tabuk in 15 days.
When the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ reached Tabuk along with his men, they found no Roman army there. It is believed that the Romans avoided direct combat with the emerging Muslim Power at that stage and therefore did not turn up at Tabuk.
The Prophet stayed at this place for 20 days. During this period, he managed treaties and alliances with various local tribes. Although there was no physical combat involved in this expedition, it is widely accepted as a victory of the Islamic State. It is seen as a significant political and diplomatic success. Many Christian tribes of Northern Arabia, the likes of Ailah, Jarba, and Adhruh, made agreements with the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ for peaceful co-existence by accepting to pay Jizya to the Muslim State.
So, the outcome of this historic military and political success was the extension of the influence of the Islamic State up to the northern part of the Arabian Peninsula, bordering the Byzantine Empire. The Prophet also assigned duties and responsibilities by appointing Governors for these areas. Another noticeable impact of this expedition was that Islam also started spreading in the farthest parts of the Arabian Peninsula.
After making necessary arrangements for the safety, stability, and security of these northern areas, the Prophet decided to terminate this expedition. After 20 days of hectic political activities, the Muslim army started its journey back to Medina.
While the hypocrites had already been exposed before and during this expedition, some of the companions were also unable to participate in this battle, most prominently, the incident involving three such companions. When the Prophet returned to Medina, these three openly and honestly confessed their fault. They admitted their negligence and submitted repentance. The Prophet punished them by asking the Muslims to break social relations with them. It lasted for 50 days. After that, they were forgiven for their negligence through the revelation of the 118th verse of Surah At-Tawba.
The Battle of Tabuk, also remembered as the Battle of Hardship, ended without a physical clash between the Roman Empire and the Muslim State of Medina. But it was a huge political and military success for the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ, as it consolidated the Islamic state and strengthened its military. It also led to the spread of Islam to the farthest northern parts of the Arabian Peninsula.
The Battle of Hardship (Ghazwa-e-Usra) was a milestone in the history of Islam, demonstrating the power of Muslims through their unwavering faith even in the hardest of times, their generosity in the Cause of Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ and most importantly, exposing hypocrisy. It also highlights the importance of diplomacy that prevailed over the war. Apart from that, the importance of repentance was also highlighted when the three companions honestly confessed their negligence and fault by staying back in Medina, who were eventually forgiven through a Quranic revelation.