In the Battle of Tabuk, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) called upon all Muslims to participate in the battle because this battle was a battle of life and death for the Muslims. It was a big test for the Muslims. It was not easy to participate in the war at their own expense during the dry season. Although Muslims were a major political force at the time, leaving comfort and luxury to go to war was a major test of faith. The Muslim army set out. After reaching Sami al-Wadi, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) selected commandos for the battle. The Muslim army reached the battlefield but found no Roman troops there. No battle took place because the news of the arrival of the Prophet (peace be upon him) struck fear into the hearts of the Romans. So despite their large army, they did not go out to war. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) waited for them on the battlefield, but no one came. Then the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) conquered the city of Sham and some of its surrounding cities and collected the Jizya tax from them.
They came of their own accord and surrendered to the Muslims. However, the Prophet (peace be upon him) sent Khalid bin Walid to capture King Ukai. The Prophet (peace be upon him) told Khalid bin Walid that he would find Uqayt busy hunting cows, and that is exactly what happened when Uqayt left the fort on a full moon night to hunt cows, and he was arrested.
The Muslim empire expanded as the people of these small regions converted to Islam. They originally paid high taxes to the Roman emperors, which were around 25 percent, but much less than the jizya they were paying. Later, during the reign of Caliph bin Rashid, attacks were launched against the Romans from these regions.
While the Muslim army was on its way to Tabuk, they saw the ruins of the Thamud nation and they wanted to go there and drink water from their abandoned well, but the Prophet (peace be upon him) did not like that and said, “Do not drink water from the well of this accursed nation.”
It is impossible not to mention two incidents from the Battle of Tabuk. The first is that Tawf ibn Abdullah led the prayer behind the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him).
Once, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was late in starting the prayer, and the Muslims began the prayer under the leadership of Tawf ibn Abdullah. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) joined in the prayer and ordered Tawf ibn Abdullah to continue the prayer. However, Tawf ibn Abdullah was the only person behind whom the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) led the prayer.
The second incident is the Prophet’s (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) grief over Abdullah bin Zulayka (may Allah be pleased with him) death. Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: I saw the light of a torch at night. I went to the light and saw the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) standing with his dead body lying in front of Abdullah bin Zulayka (may Allah be pleased with him).
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) then said to Hazrat Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) and Umar bin Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) that we should bring your brother to us. Then he buried Abdullah bin Zulayka (may Allah be pleased with him) body and prayed for him, saying, “O Allah, I am pleased with him and You are pleased with him.”
Now we will discuss what the Battle of Tabuk was like from the perspective of the Quran. Almost all the verses related to the Battle of Tabuk were in Surah At-Tawbah. The rules or verses regarding jihad were revealed during the Battle of Tabuk. The rules or verses regarding jihad were revealed during the Battle of Tabuk.
The Battle of Tabuk was a difficult time because the weather was very dry and hostile and the Roman army was very strong.
Allah has already forgiven the Prophet and the Muhajireen and the Ansar who followed him in the hour of difficulty after the hearts of a party of them had almost inclined [to doubt], and then He forgave them. Indeed, He was to them Kind and Merciful.
(Quran 9:117)
The Prophet (peace be upon him) wanted all Muslims to participate in this war, so he called on all tribes to participate in the war. Allah Almighty has revealed some things that no one wants to admit easily.
O you who have believed, what is [the matter] with you that, when you are told to go forth in the cause of Allah, you adhere heavily to the earth? Are you satisfied with the life of this world rather than the Hereafter? But what is the enjoyment of worldly life compared to the Hereafter except a [very] little.
(Quran 9:38)
In this verse, Allah Almighty has also told us about the diseases of our hearts and their treatment. Diseases of the heart are meant to be attracted to the world. Jihad brings us good, but we dislike it. Allah has also said that if we turn away from this responsibility, what will be our consequences?
If you do not go forth, He will punish you with a painful punishment and will replace you with another people, and you will not harm Him at all. And Allah is over all things competent.
(Quran 9:39)
Allah Almighty is saying that abandoning Jihad is harmful and that is what we are seeing now. Because we have turned away from the “DIN” of Allah.
If you do not aid the Prophet – Allah has already aided him when those who disbelieved had driven him out [of Makkah] as one of two, when they were in the cave and he said to his companion, “Do not grieve; indeed Allah is with us.” And Allah sent down his tranquillity upon him and supported him with angels you did not see and made the word of those who disbelieved the lowest, while the word of Allah – that is the highest. And Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise.
(Quran 9:40)
Through this verse, Allah is reminding us of the incident when the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with them) migrated under extremely adverse conditions. And Allah protected His Messenger. How did the Companions view jihad?
Go forth, whether light or heavy, and strive with your wealth and your lives in the cause of Allah. That is better for you, if you only knew.
(Quran 9:41)
When the Quran was revealed, the companions were taking it very seriously because everyone would have to go to war or jihad. After it, Allah revealed this verse:
There is not upon the weak or upon the ill or upon those who do not find anything to spend any discomfort when they are sincere to Allah and His Messenger. There is not upon the doers of good any cause [for blame]. And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.
(Quran 9:91)
Although the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and his companions were enthusiastic about fighting, there were some people who did not want to go to war, but rather made excuses for not going to war. Allah Almighty says in the Quran about them:
And when a surah was revealed [enjoining them] to believe in Allah and to fight with His Messenger, those of wealth among them asked your permission [to stay back] and said, “Leave us to be with them who sit [at home].”
(Quran 9:86)
Some of the companions were unable to participate in the Battle of Tabuk despite their desire, while others did not have the money to participate in the battle because they were extremely poor.
Nor [is there blame] upon those who, when they came to you that you might give them mounts, you said, “I can find nothing for you to ride upon.” They turned back while their eyes overflowed with tears out of grief that they could not find something to spend [for the cause of Allah].
(Quran 9:92)
Those who believe in Allah and the Last Day would not ask permission of you to be excused from striving with their wealth and their lives. And Allah is Knowing of those who fear Him. Only those would ask permission of you who do not believe in Allah and the Last Day and whose hearts have doubted, and they, in their doubt, are hesitating.
(Quran 9:44-45)
In the above verse, Allah is saying that those who truly believe in Allah should come to fight sincerely without any excuse. On the other hand, there are some people who say on one hand that they are on the path of Islam, but on the other hand, they do not want to do any service to Islam.
