The Expedition of Tabuk, also known as the Expedition of Usra, was a military campaign led by the Islamic prophet Muhammad in October 630 CE (9 AH).
The Expedition of Tabuk, led by Prophet Muhammad in October 630 CE, was a response to the threat of a Roman attack. The rapid spread of Islam and recent Muslim victories alarmed the Roman Emperor, who assembled a force of 4,000 soldiers and allied tribes in Syria. Despite facing hardships in Madina, including near-famine conditions, Prophet Muhammad mobilized 30,000 troops—10,000 mounted and 20,000 infantrymen—funded by zakat. Each tribe was assigned a standard for the campaign. Ali ibn Abi Talib, who took part in many other expeditions with Muhammad, did not join the Tabuk expedition at Muhammad’s direction because he was entrusted with the command of Medina.
The Roman army, consisting of 4,000 mounted soldiers and infantry, equipped with the latest armor, encamped on the Syrian frontier. Border tribes, including the Lakham, ‘Amilah, Ghassan, and Jazam, joined them, and the army’s vanguard advanced to Balqa’.
In this critical situation, donating wealth went beyond mere charity; it took on a prestigious role due to the scarcity of resources needed to sustain the vast army. At this point, the allure of divine promise intervened when the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) proclaimed to the Muslims, “Whoever equips the army of hardship, for him is paradise.”
Eagerly responding to this call, the companions rushed to fulfill Allah’s command by generously preparing the army. Among them was Usman ibn Affan (may Allah be pleased with him), who hurried home and swiftly returned with a thousand dinars, placing them in the hands of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). He then equipped the Prophet’s army with three hundred camels, each fully provisioned with weapons and gear, effectively providing for one-third of the army, as each camel could carry ten Muslim fighters.
The Tabuk expedition presented a complex challenge for the Muslim community. Although many companions successfully passed the internal psychological test of responding to the Prophet’s call (peace be upon him), facing the strength of the Romans was still a daunting task. Despite this, the Muslims mustered their resolve to meet the challenge. They also faced another significant obstacle: the psychological warfare waged by certain hypocrites.
Here were the hypocrites, who advised one another, “Don’t fight in this scorching heat.” In response to their situation, Allah (SWT) revealed the following.
“And they said: “March not forth in the heat.” Say: “The Fire of Hell is more intense in heat, if only they could understand” [At-Tauba, 9:81]
Under the Prophet’s leadership, they assigned the banners: Abu Bakr held the grand banner, Az-Zubair carried the great banner. Usaid ibn Al-Hudair had the Aws banner, and Abu Dujana bore the Khazraj banner. Ibn Asakir also noted Habab ibn Al-Mundhir Al-Jumahi.
The tribes were allocated to their banners, each with its leader. The army was guarded by Ubada ibn Bashir, while Alqamah ibn Al-Faghoo’a Al-Khuza’i guided the Prophet to Tabuk.
The expedition from the city to Tabuk was the longest and most challenging of the Prophet’s era. The army faced harsh conditions, including scorching heat, scarce water, and dwindling supplies. The companions endured severe hardship, often surviving on minimal rations.
In the battle of Tabuk, the Muslims who, for various reasons, were unable to participate in the Battle of Tabuk. Among them were three sincere Companions who did not join the battle due to certain circumstances. This caused them regret and they repented. They were given a period of 50 days to repent. After which it was confirmed that their repentance had been accepted. Allah, in His Mercy, is always ready to accept repentance as discussed in surah Taubah.
The impressive show of force led the Romans to flee, achieving the expedition’s goal without combat. Subsequently, regions like Dumat Al-Jandal and Aila (modern-day Aqaba) submitted to the Prophet’s authority. They established a treaty that defined their rights and duties.
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