In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.
Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.
The Abridgment of the Prophetic Biography (Seerah),
Authored by Shaykh Musa ibn Rashid al-'Azimi,
May Allah preserve him.
The Mobilization of the Muslims by the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) to Battle the Romans
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) summoned the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them)
And the surrounding Bedouin Arabs to prepare for the expedition against the Romans.
It was his customary practice (peace be upon him)
That whenever he intended an expedition, he would use ambiguity to conceal his real objective,
Except for two expeditions:
The Battle of Khaybar,
Because Allah had explicitly promised him its conquest in the text of the Qur'an;
And the Expedition of Tabuk,
So that they might properly prepare
Because of the formidable strength and vast numbers of their enemy,
As well as the immense distance and the scorching heat.
The two Shaykhs [al-Bukhari and Muslim] narrated in their Sahihs
On the authority of Ka'b ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him), who said:
"The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) rarely set out on an expedition without disguising his real objective,
Until that expedition arrived"—
Meaning the Expedition of Tabuk—
"Which the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) undertook in intense heat,
Facing a distant journey, perilous deserts, and a formidable enemy.
So he clarified the matter to the Muslims so that they might fully prepare for their campaign,
And informed them of the specific direction he intended."
The very first portion of the Qur'an revealed regarding the Expedition of Tabuk
Was the saying of Allah the Exalted:
“O ye who believe! What aileth you that when it is said unto you: Go forth in the way of Allah, ye are bowed down to the ground with heaviness. Take ye pleasure in the life of the world rather than in the Hereafter? The comfort of the life of the world is but little in the Hereafter.” (9:38)
“O ye who believe! What aileth you that when it is said unto you: Go forth in the way of Allah, ye are bowed down to the ground with heaviness. Take ye pleasure in the life of the world rather than in the Hereafter? The comfort of the life of the world is but little in the Hereafter.” (9:38)
“O ye who believe! What aileth you that when it is said unto you: Go forth in the way of Allah, ye are bowed down to the ground with heaviness. Take ye pleasure in the life of the world rather than in the Hereafter? The comfort of the life of the world is but little in the Hereafter.” (9:38)
“If ye go not forth He will afflict you with a painful doom, and will choose instead of you a folk other than you. Ye cannot harm Him at all. Allah is Able to do all things.” (9:39)
"And He will replace you with another people,
And you will not harm Him at all;
And Allah is over all things competent."
Al-Hafiz Ibn Kathir said:
"This marks the beginning of the censure directed at those who stayed behind from accompanying the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) in the Expedition of Tabuk,
At a time when the fruits had ripened and shade was most pleasant amid blistering heat
And the height of summer's drought"—
Meaning the sheer extremity of the heat.
The Prophet's Urging of Financial Contributions for the Army of Hardship (Jaysh al-'Usrah)
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) called upon the people to provide funds and mounts for the Army of Hardship,
Whereupon the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) vied with one another in spending in the path of Allah for this army.
Ibn Ishaq said:
"Then the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) became resolute in his expedition,
Ordering the people to equip themselves and make ready with utmost diligence,
And urging the wealthy to spend and provide mounts in the cause of Allah.
Thereupon, men of wealth provided mounts, seeking their reward with Allah."
The Foremost Companions Competing in Giving
The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) raced to contribute toward the Army of Hardship,
For this was ever their habit: striving eagerly for matters of the Hereafter.
Here are some of the monumental contributions made by certain Companions (may Allah be pleased with them).
The Competition Between Abu Bakr and 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with them)
Imam al-Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, and al-Hakim narrated with a good chain of transmission
On the authority of 'Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him), who said:
"The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) commanded us one day to give in charity,
And that coincided with some wealth I possessed.
So I said: 'Today I shall outstrip Abu Bakr, if ever I am to outstrip him.'
So I brought half of my wealth,
And the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) asked:
'What have you left for your family?'
I replied: 'An equal amount.'
He said: 'Then Abu Bakr arrived with everything he possessed,
And the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) asked:
'What have you left for your family?'
He replied: 'I have left them Allah and His Messenger.'
Thereupon I said: 'I shall never compete with you in anything again.'"
Imam Ibn al-Jawzi said:
"If an uninformed person objects, saying:
'Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) gave away his entire wealth!'
Then the response is:
Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) had active sources of livelihood and trade,
So even if he gave away all his capital,
He had the credit to borrow against it and sustain himself.
Thus, whoever is in such a position,
His giving away of all his wealth is not to be blameworthy."
The Contribution of 'Uthman ibn 'Affan (may Allah be pleased with him)
Ibn Ishaq said:
"And 'Uthman ibn 'Affan (may Allah be pleased with him) contributed an immense sum on that occasion,
The likes of which no one else matched."
Imam Ahmad narrated in his Musnad and al-Tirmidhi in his Jami' with a good chain of transmission
On the authority of 'Abd al-Rahman ibn Samurah (may Allah be pleased with him), who said:
"'Uthman ibn 'Affan (may Allah be pleased with him) came to the Prophet (peace be upon him)
With a thousand dinars in the fold of his garment,
When the Prophet (peace be upon him) was equipping the Army of Hardship,
And poured them into the lap of the Prophet (peace be upon him).
The Prophet (peace be upon him) began turning them over with his hand, saying:
'Nothing that Ibn 'Affan does after this day will harm him!'
Repeating it over and over."
The Contribution of 'Abd al-Rahman ibn 'Awf
May Allah be pleased with him.
Scholarly reports vary regarding the exact expenditure of 'Abd al-Rahman ibn 'Awf (may Allah be pleased with him) toward the Army of Hardship.
Al-Hafiz [Ibn Hajar] cited several reports on this in Fath al-Bari,
Then stated:
"There is considerable variance regarding the exact amount brought by 'Abd al-Rahman ibn 'Awf (may Allah be pleased with him),
But the soundest transmission on the matter specifies eight thousand dirhams."
Multiple Individuals Donating a Measure of a Sa'
The two Shaykhs narrated in their Sahihs
On the authority of Abu Mas'ud 'Uqbah ibn 'Amr al-Badri (may Allah be pleased with him), who said:
"When we were commanded to give charity,
We used to work as porters,
Carrying loads on our backs for wages,
And give charity from those modest earnings,
Or donate the entire wage itself.
Then Abu 'Aqil brought half a sa' [of dates],
While another man brought an amount larger than that.
Thereupon the hypocrites scoffed:
'Allah is surely free of need from this one's meager charity!'
And: 'That other person only gave out of ostentation!'
So Allah revealed:
'Those who criticize the voluntary contributors among the believers concerning their charities...'
“Those who point at such of the believers as give the alms willingly and such as can find naught to give but their endeavours, and deride them - Allah (Himself) derideth them. Theirs will be a painful doom.” (9:79)
“Those who point at such of the believers as give the alms willingly and such as can find naught to give but their endeavours, and deride them - Allah (Himself) derideth them. Theirs will be a painful doom.” (9:79)
“Those who point at such of the believers as give the alms willingly and such as can find naught to give but their endeavours, and deride them - Allah (Himself) derideth them. Theirs will be a painful doom.” (9:79)
'...and for them is a painful punishment.'"
In Sahih Muslim,
In the account of the repentance of Ka'b ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him),
Ka'b (may Allah be pleased with him) said:
"While he was thus engaged"—
Referring to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him)—
"On his way to Tabuk,
He caught sight of a man clad in white emerging through the shimmering mirage,
So the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
'Be Abu Khaythamah!'
And indeed, it was Abu Khaythamah al-Ansari (may Allah be pleased with him).
He was the one who had contributed the single sa' of dates
When the hypocrites derided him."
Al-Hafiz said in Fath al-Bari:
"This indicates that more than one person had brought a single sa',
Corroborated by the fact that most narrations mention
That he brought one sa'.
Similarly, it occurred in the Book of Zakat
That a man came and gave one sa' in charity,
Whereas in the primary hadith of this chapter,
Abu 'Aqil brought half a sa'."
Allah the Exalted's Rebuking of the Bedouins and the Hypocrites
A group of hypocrites came asking the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) for leave
To stay behind without any valid excuse,
And he granted them permission;
They numbered eighty-odd men.
“And those among the wandering Arabs who had an excuse came in order that permission might be granted them. And those who lied to Allah and His messenger sat at home. A painful doom will fall on those of them who disbelieve.” (9:90)
They offered their excuses to him, but Allah did not accept their excuses,
And they were eighty-two men.
So Allah revealed concerning them:
“Had it been a near adventure and an easy journey they had followed thee, but the distance seemed too far for them. Yet will they swear by Allah (saying): If we had been able we would surely have set out with you. They destroy their souls, and Allah knoweth that they verily are liars.” (9:42)
“Had it been a near adventure and an easy journey they had followed thee, but the distance seemed too far for them. Yet will they swear by Allah (saying): If we had been able we would surely have set out with you. They destroy their souls, and Allah knoweth that they verily are liars.” (9:42)
“Had it been a near adventure and an easy journey they had followed thee, but the distance seemed too far for them. Yet will they swear by Allah (saying): If we had been able we would surely have set out with you. They destroy their souls, and Allah knoweth that they verily are liars.” (9:42)
“Had it been a near adventure and an easy journey they had followed thee, but the distance seemed too far for them. Yet will they swear by Allah (saying): If we had been able we would surely have set out with you. They destroy their souls, and Allah knoweth that they verily are liars.” (9:42)
Al-Hafiz Ibn Kathir said:
"Allah the Exalted says, rebuking those who stayed behind from following the Prophet (peace be upon him)
In the Expedition of Tabuk,
Remaining behind after asking his permission,
Feigning to have valid excuses when they were nothing of the sort.
So He said:
“Had it been a near adventure and an easy journey they had followed thee, but the distance seemed too far for them. Yet will they swear by Allah (saying): If we had been able we would surely have set out with you. They destroy their souls, and Allah knoweth that they verily are liars.” (9:42)
Meaning: close at hand,
'They would have followed you'—
Meaning: they would have marched alongside you for such gain—
“Had it been a near adventure and an easy journey they had followed thee, but the distance seemed too far for them. Yet will they swear by Allah (saying): If we had been able we would surely have set out with you. They destroy their souls, and Allah knoweth that they verily are liars.” (9:42)
Meaning: the arduous trek to the Levant.
'And they will swear by Allah'—
Meaning: to you, when you return to them—
“Had it been a near adventure and an easy journey they had followed thee, but the distance seemed too far for them. Yet will they swear by Allah (saying): If we had been able we would surely have set out with you. They destroy their souls, and Allah knoweth that they verily are liars.” (9:42)
Meaning: 'Had we not had genuine excuses, we would have gone forth with you.'
Allah the Exalted said:
“Had it been a near adventure and an easy journey they had followed thee, but the distance seemed too far for them. Yet will they swear by Allah (saying): If we had been able we would surely have set out with you. They destroy their souls, and Allah knoweth that they verily are liars.” (9:42)
And Allah, Glorified and Exalted, admonished His Messenger (peace be upon him)
With a gentle admonition,
Whereupon the Exalted said:
'May Allah pardon you! Why did you grant them leave...'
“Allah forgive thee (O Muhammad)! Wherefor didst thou grant them leave ere those who told the truth were manifest to thee and thou didst know the liars?” (9:43)
Imam Ibn Jarir al-Tabari said:
"This is a censure from Allah, exalted be His mention,
Wherewith He admonished His Prophet (peace be upon him) for having granted permission to those hypocrites who sought leave to stay behind,
At the time he set out for Tabuk to battle the Romans."
The Remaining Behind of a Number of Sincere Companions
Then the expedition was firmly underway for the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), and he resolved to march,
Yet there was a small group among the Muslims whose resolution slackened regarding accompanying the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him),
Until they stayed behind without harboring any doubt or skepticism:
Among them were Ka'b ibn Malik, Murarah ibn al-Rabi',
Hilal ibn Umayyah, and Abu Lubabah Bashir ibn 'Abd al-Mundhir.
They were men of genuine faith whose Islam was beyond suspicion.
The Abridgment of the Prophetic Biography (Seerah).
Though the longings of all creation for one another may endure,
The yearning directed toward you surpasses all measure;
May Allah send blessings upon you whenever the call to prayer is raised,
And whenever lips move in continuous remembrance.