Battle of Tabuk

the location of tabuk

The battle of Tabuk(غزوة تبوك) is the final ghazwa in which the Prophet (s) personally participated. It took place During Rajab and Sha'ban of the 9/630 in the region of Tabuk. As the Prophet (s) was heading toward Tabuk to fight Romans, some of the companions, specifically Munafiqun (hypocrites), refused to join the army or tried to weaken the morale of the army. Before the expedition, Prophet (s) appointed Imam 'Ali (a) as his successor in Madina in his absence. After a short tarriance of few days, the army of Islam came back to Madian from Tabuk without any actual confrontation with Romans. Some verses were revealed about Munafiqun exposing them and their secret intentions and plans.

the Cause of the Battle

Most of the works by early biographers contain accounts of the expedition of Tabuk. But these narrations differ on some important factors like the cause of this expedition. According to a famous account, Prophet's goal of this expedition was to counter the Romans' military activities in those lands.

Receiving News from Sham (the Levant)

It's been narrated that the Nabataeans who would travel to Medina to sell flour and oil, would also inform Muslims about the latest news of Sham; this way, the Muslims of Median were constantly aware of the situation in Sham.

One day, a Nabataean merchant said that Heraclius, then the Roman king, had prepared a great army by convincing some Arab tribes like: Lakhm, Judham, Ghassan and 'amila. Forefront troops had already camped in Balqa, northern Tabuk; and the roman king was in Hims. In other accounts, without mentioning this story, it's only been reported that the Prophet (s) left Medina to fight Romans. Ya'qubi believes the aim of the Prophet (s) in this military expedition had been to take the revenge for murdering Ja'far b. Abu Talib.

the Activities of Munafiqun (hypocrites) in Medina

After the Prophet (s) revealed his intentions to fight Romans, some of the Sahaba (his companions), specially the Munfiqun (the hypocrites) refused to join the army or tried to weaken the morale of other soldiers. It can be assumed that the great emphasis on going to this military expedition had been more a tactic of the Prophet (s) to expose some of Munafiqun and the reality behind their activities in Medina, than a response to a Roman threat.

There are historical indications that may support this view, such as: the extensive efforts of Munafiqun to weaken the morale of Muslim soldiers, embattling of 'abd Allah b. Ubay forces against the Muslim Army and based on one account, an attempt on the Prophet's life on his way back from Tabuk by some of Munafiqun.

Difficulties of the Expedition

The Prophet (s) wanted to hasten the formation of the army but there were problems such as the hot weather, long distance and the poverty of some of the companions; to the point that this expedition has been referred to as: Jaysh al-'usr (the army of hardship). That is why the Prophet (s), unlike other military expeditions, clearly explained his intentions and aims in order to get his people well-prepared. He first camped in Thany al-wida' near Medina and then left toward roman borders, to the north, in an army of more than thirty thousand soldiers.

Imam 'Ali (a) the successor of the Prophet (s)

Before living Medina, the Prophet (s) appointed Imam 'Ali (a) as his successor, or based on a report, as the guardian of his family in Media. Munafiqun who had planned for riot, regarded the presence of Imam 'Ali (a) in Medina as a major obstacle in their way; therefore they started their propaganda against the Imam. They said "the Prophet (s) is not pleased with 'Ali, that's why he's left him in Medina". The effect of such propaganda was to the point that in order to thwart it, Imam 'Ali (a) met the Prophet (s) in Juruf, somewhere near Median, and the Prophet (s) told him a phrase according to which, the kind of relation between the Prophet and Imam 'Ali is that of between Moses and Aaron, with the exception that there won't be any Prophethood after Prophet Muhammad (s). This narration, which later gained the title: Hadith al-Manzila (the saying of the Position), has been documented in traditional collections through numerous chains of transmission. Also this Prophetic saying has been cited as one of the decisive proofs for the immediate succession of Imam 'Ali after the Prophet (s). Interestingly, this was against the activities of Munafiqun shortly after the Prophet (s) had left Medina for a long journey.

Muslim Army in Tabuk

After some days, the Muslim army reached Tabuk area and stayed there for twenty days. There, based on Waqidi's report, it became clear that the reports about roman military expedition had not been correct. However, based on other accounts, the roman king sent some envoys to the Prophet (s) whom were kindly welcomed by the Prophet (s). Meanwhile, the Prophet (s) signed a peace treaty on the condition of receiving Jizya from Ukaydir 'ab al-Malik al-Kindi, the head of Duwama al-Jandal, and the inhabitants of Adruh, Jirba and Ayla.

Coming Back to Medina

The Prophet returned to Medina in the Ramadan of 9/630. He accepted the excuses of those who had refused to join the Army and made Istighfar (request Allah's forgiveness) for them. However, he ordered Muslims cut their relations with three of them; who were forgiven after revelation of verses 117 to 119 of Sura al-Tawba.

The Battle of Tabuk in Qur'an

The military expedition to Tabuk and its related verses (mainly in Sura al-Tawba) exposed the Munafiqun, their activities and subversive plans and had a great role in later spread of Islam through Arabian peninsula.

See also

The Prophet (s)

Medina

Munafiqun

References

Wāqidī, Muhammad Ibn 'Umar, Al-maghāzī lilwāqidī, London, Marsden Jones, 1966

'Urwa Ibn Zubayr, Maghāzī Rasūl Allāh, Rīyadh, Muhammad mustafā A'damī, 1401/1981

External Links

• The material for this article is mainly taken from غزوه تبوک in Farsi Wikishia.