YASIR QADHI, MUHAMMAD & TABUK

The Expedition of Tabuk took place in Rajab 9 AH and was the last expedition in the sirah of the Prophet. It was also the furthest the Prophet ever travelled with an army. The purpose of the expedition IS NOT ENTIRELY CLEAR, but scholars offer theories.

Some explain that the Romans were preparing a large army to attack the Muslims after the Chieftain of the Ghassanids sent a letter to Rome urging their support.¹⁰⁰³ However, it may be FAR-FETCHED for the Roman Empire to send thousands of troops to the Arabs.

Another theory explains that the Ghassanids themselves were the target of the attack,¹⁰⁰⁴ which is perhaps more plausible. However, it would not explain why the Prophet would embark in the hottest month of the year, which–as will be explained below–caused extreme hardship. The MOST CONCEIVABLE EXPLANATION, therefore, is that it was a command from Allah to test the believers.

The subtext of the expedition, in any case, was A PRE-EMPTIVE ATTACK ON ROMAN FORCES, and the Muslims were expecting a formidable foe.

The Expedition of Tabuk comprised the biggest army in the whole sirah, with sources claiming over 30,000 attendees.¹⁰⁰³ This may be an overestimation due to the enormous crowds and the impossible task of counting them.

The expedition took place in the scorching heat of summer, which is particularly severe in Arabia. The desert climate further exacerbated the heat, which grew almost unbearable. The Companions endured this for an entire month, as they travelled for over 1,000 miles.

Moreover, the Prophet embarked just before the harvest season. Most people did not enjoy a regular salary; rather, they earned their income on a yearly basis according to their harvest. The army left before the harvest and returned after the harvest, effectively forgoing an entire year’s income. (The Sirah of the Prophet: A Contemporary Analysis, adapted and edited by Dr. Salah Sharief [Wordsmith Press, 2^nd edition, 2024], Part IV: The Medinan Era, 27: The Expedition of Tabuk, pp. 378-379)  

The Expedition of Tabuk was a personal obligation (fard ‘ayn)ⁱ on every Muslim, as the Prophet explicitly commanded every capable adult male to attend. Moreover, the entirety of Surah al-Tawbah was revealed, which is the most direct surah in urging jihad.  Allah states, “O believers! What is the matter with you that when you are asked to march forth in the cause of Allah, you cling firmly to [your] land? Do you prefer the life of this world over the Hereafter? The enjoyment of this worldly life is insignificant compared to that of the Hereafter. If you do not march forth, He will afflict you with a painful torment and replace you with other people. You are not harming Him in the least. And Allah is Most Capable of everything.”¹⁰⁰⁹   

These strong commands corroborate the theory that the Expedition of Tabuk was a test from Allah, as the same type of language is not used in any other surah when encouraging Jihad. It was the final expedition with the Prophet, and Allah wanted to test the believers’ sincerity to the cause. The fact that NO FIGHTING took place but the expedition itself was extremely testing further adds to the notion that it was all a test.

ⁱ Islamic obligations are categorized into two: personal obligations (fard ‘ayn) and communal obligations (fard kifayah). Personal obligations, such as prayer and fasting, are mandated upon every single Muslim as long as they meet the requirements of the obligation. Communal obligations are required of a community, and once the obligation is fulfilled, the community is absolved of the responsibility. Examples include the Friday Sermon and the funeral prayer–if no-one performs these obligations, the whole community is deemed sinful, but if someone does, the community is absolved. (Ibid., 380)  

The Hypocrites also gave pitiful excuses not to attend the expedition both before and after. The Prophet asked al-Jadd ibn Qays, a notable Hypocrite and friend of ‘Abdullah ibn Ubayy, why he was not attending, to which he said, “O Messenger of Allah, can you not excuse me? By Allah, my people know that I have a weakness for women, and I am afraid that if I see the Roman women that I would not be able to control myself.”¹⁰¹⁵ Allah revealed, “There are some of them who say, ‘Exempt me and do not expose me to temptation.’ They have already fallen into temptation. And Hell will surely engulf the disbelievers.”¹⁰¹⁶ (Ibid., p. 382)