~Rajab, 9 AH (late July / early August, per the lecture's reckoning) · 9 AH
In brief
The Battle of Tabuk in Rajab 9 AH was the Prophet ﷺ's last and largest campaign, a march of some 650 km north to meet an expected Roman threat. It is also called the Army of Difficulty: the expedition fell in the hottest part of the year and at harvest time, and food and water ran short on the road. No fighting took place; the hardship was the march itself. Before leaving, the Prophet ﷺ called for donations, and the companions gave lavishly, Abu Bakr RA everything he owned and Uthman RA hundreds of camels and a caravan's worth of gold, while the hypocrites gave nothing and invented excuses to stay behind. At Tabuk the army camped for twenty days, during which the Prophet ﷺ preached, sent Khalid ibn al-Walid RA to secure the northern frontier by treaty, and several miracles of food and water were reported. The army returned to Madinah after fifty to sixty days. The best-remembered part of the story is what followed: dozens of men swore false excuses that the Prophet ﷺ accepted, but three honest companions, among them Ka'b ibn Malik RA, admitted they had simply stayed home. They were shunned by the whole community for fifty days until Allah revealed that their repentance was accepted.
Classical scholars offer several explanations for why the expedition happened, most of which Sh. Yasir Qadhi finds unpersuasive: a report (via Ibn Asakir, al-Baghawi and Ibn Kathir) that the Jews of Madinah enticed the Prophet ﷺ toward Syria cannot be true, since no Jews remained in Madinah by then and the Quranic verse [17:76] sometimes tied to it is a Makki verse; a report (via al-Haythami's Majma' al-Zawa'id) that Rome mobilized 40,000 troops is weak in isnad and implausible given Rome's indifference to the Arabs; and threats from the Christian Ghassanid Arabs allied to Rome (echoed in Umar ibn al-Khattab RA's alarm, on hearing something had happened, "Has the king of the Ghassanids attacked?!") or a wish to avenge Mu'tah and Ja'far ibn Abi Talib RA's death, both fail to explain why the army would march in the hottest month rather than waiting for cooler weather. Sh. Yasir Qadhi's own conclusion is that Tabuk was primarily a direct command from Allah to test the sahaba's faith, reading Surat al-Tawba's unusually blunt commands to fight [9:38-39, 9:41-42, 9:123] (a bluntness found nowhere else in the Quran) as revealed largely during this expedition, and noting that, unlike every earlier campaign, the Prophet ﷺ openly sent messengers to every neighboring tribe, even Makkah, asking for fighters rather than concealing his destination. The same test frames the fundraising beforehand: the scale of what Uthman ibn Affan RA, Abu Bakr RA, and Umar RA gave is presented less as a record of generosity than as further evidence of how completely the campaign separated sincere Iman from its counterfeit. Ka'b ibn Malik RA's story of repentance (narrated by him in the first person to his son and preserved at length in Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, and also reported by Ibn Ishaq and al-Tabari) is held up as one of the seerah's clearest lessons on sincerity: that nothing saves a believer from a mistake except truthfulness to Allah over the appearance of things to people, and that a righteous person's single lapse is not judged the same as habitual wrongdoing. It also illustrates the proper place of huquq-Allah over huquq-al-nabi ﷺ (Ka'b himself telling the Prophet ﷺ that even his forgiveness could not save him from Allah's displeasure if he lied) and models the adab of not naming a fellow Muslim's fault (Ka'b never names the man of Banu Salama who spoke against him). The lecturer notes classical scholars differ on how long the Prophet ﷺ camped at Tabuk before turning back, variously reported as between 10 and 19 days. Reflecting on why Allah commanded this expedition specifically, Sh. Yasir Qadhi concludes it was chiefly a preparation for what the sahaba would soon have to do without the Prophet ﷺ leading them by the hand: within a year of his death ﷺ, the first conquests of Islam moved in the very same direction, toward al-Sham, beginning with the conquest of Bayt al-Maqdis he ﷺ had foretold at Tabuk itself, and even on his deathbed ﷺ he dispatched the army of Usama ibn Zayd RA northward. The securing of the northern frontier against Rome, though a real byproduct, does not by itself explain marching 20,000 men to negotiate with tribes of a few hundred. Surat al-Tawba is one of the last surahs revealed and roughly two-thirds of it (from verse 38 onward) addresses Tabuk directly, making it the fullest single scriptural commentary on the expedition: the bluntness of its early verses functions as an explicit test of who was a true believer [Quran, 9:38-42], its middle section catalogues the munafiqun's excuses, mockery, and stinginess in detail, and its close [Quran, 9:117-119, 128-129] affirms Allah's mercy on the Prophet ﷺ, the Muhajirun and the Ansar who marched, and the three who were truthfully left behind.
He died during the encampment and the Prophet ﷺ went down into his grave.
The Tanukhi found the Prophet ﷺ sitting with his Companions at the well of Tabuk.
Khalid was sent from Tabuk to the fortress of Dawmat al-Jandal.
The army passed the ruins of Thamud on the way.
On the return march, at the mountain pass.
On the return march.
The last leg, and the welcome at Thaniyyat al-Wada'.
Delivered during the twenty days at Tabuk.
Other events recorded in 9 AH. Their order within the year is not established; use the storyline above for the sequence.
A summer call to march against Rome, and what each man could find to give.
This verse refers to the Battle of Tabuk: they left towards Syria in the blazing summer, and they were tested severely, so much so it is mentioned that two or more people were rationed one date per day. They would split that date amongst themselves, and then take the date pit and suck on it one after the other to get some taste.
Commenting on Surat al-Tawba 9:117.
Whoever finances the Jaysh al-Usrah, he shall be given Jannah.
This is fi sabiliLlah.
Sold his entire caravan just returned from Syria (goods, saddles, and camels) for about a thousand gold coins, then carried them to the masjid in his own thobe and poured them out before the Prophet ﷺ.
Wallahi, whatever Uthman does after today, it will not harm him.
Said as the Prophet ﷺ examined the pile of gold coins Uthman had just poured out before him, after selling his returning caravan to fund the Jaysh al-Usrah.
I shall give three hundred camels and all that is on them.
Pledged in stages during the Prophet ﷺ's khutbah calling for donations to the Jaysh al-Usrah: first a hundred camels, then two hundred, then finally three hundred, each time as the Prophet ﷺ continued to exhort the people to give.
Gave two hundred uqiyas of grain in charity for the Jaysh al-Usrah.
What did you leave for your family?
Asked after Abu Bakr RA brought his own contribution for the Jaysh al-Usrah, having just put the same question to Umar ibn al-Khattab RA.
I left them Allah and His Messenger.
I can never compete with Abu Bakr again after this.
O Umar, what have you left for your family?
Asked after Umar ibn al-Khattab RA brought half his wealth in charity for the Jaysh al-Usrah, competing to outgive Abu Bakr RA.
I have left a similar amount.
Ya Rasulullah, here is one handful of dates for you.
He kept the other handful to feed his family; he had spent the whole night drawing and selling water to earn these two handfuls of dates.
Do you think Allah needs this quantity of dates?
You are more in need of this quantity than anyone else!
All I have to give for the Jaysh al-Usrah is this sa' of dates.
Ya Rasulullah, I have no money to give you, but I give you my honor and dignity, that in the Way of Allah, I will defend you against those people who are irritating you.
Ulba had nothing to give after Allah revealed the verses defending the Ansari donor mocked over his two handfuls of dates. He pledged instead to defend the Prophet ﷺ against the munafiqun's mockery.
I have accepted your charity.
Wallahi, I will not give you anything to travel upon.
Spoken while the Prophet ﷺ was in an angry state over another matter, before he ﷺ had anything to give.
Take these two camels, and these two, and these two; I have just purchased them from Sa'd.
My tribe sent me to the Prophet ﷺ to collect camels for the expedition of Tabuk. I did not realize he ﷺ was in an angry state when I asked him for camels, and he ﷺ said he would not give me anything to travel upon. I returned distressed, not knowing his anger was over another matter; I thought I had done something wrong. So I told my tribe what he ﷺ had said. Barely had any time passed when Bilal came and said the Prophet ﷺ was calling for me.
Who is going to allow me to come with him on the expedition?
Asked daily at the marketplace; whoever had a camel always chose someone else.
Who will take me, and I will give him my share of the ghanima!
Said on the last day before the army departed.
We will take turns riding my camel, and we will share the meals together.
Yes, I agree to this.
I traveled with my best companion I ever had, and Allah gave us booty: some camels were given to me as my share of booty, so I brought them to the Ansari as promised.
Though no fighting took place at Tabuk, the Muslims still received some booty.
Bring them back. ... Bring them forward. ... Your camels are very gentle.
Examining the camels Wathila brought him, not yet realizing they were the very share promised to him.
These are not my camels, these are your camels: the share that I promised you.
Oh my dear nephew, go and take your camels, for I didn't intend this.
O Jad, are you not interested in going to fight the Romans?
O Messenger of Allah ﷺ, can you please excuse me? For by Allah, my people know that I have a weakness for women, and I am worried that if I see the women of the Bani al-Asfar, I will not have any patience.
I never remained behind the Prophet ﷺ from any expedition he undertook, except the Expedition of Tabuk and the Battle of Badr, though at Badr nobody was blamed for staying, since it was never meant to be a battle, only a raid on the Quraysh's caravan, and Allah brought us to our enemy without our intending it. I witnessed the night of Aqaba with the Prophet ﷺ, when we pledged our Islam, and that is more precious to me than Badr, even though Badr is more famous among the people; I would not trade it for Badr. As for Tabuk: I was never stronger or better provided for than I was when I stayed behind from it. By Allah, I had never owned two mounts together before that expedition. The Prophet ﷺ set out in fierce heat, on a long journey, over waterless country, to face a large army, so he told the Muslims plainly what they would face and where he was going, so they could prepare; the army was too large to be counted in any register. Any man meaning to stay behind thought he could go unnoticed unless Allah revealed it. The Prophet ﷺ marched out just as the fruit had ripened and the shade grown sweet, and I had a weakness for both. I would go out each morning meaning to make ready, then come back having done nothing, telling myself I could do it another day, until the army had gone too far to catch, and I had prepared nothing. I wish I had ridden after them; but it seems it was not decreed for me. After they left, whenever I went out among the people who remained, it grieved me that I saw no one but a man known for hypocrisy, or one Allah had excused for weakness.
Ali left behind, the men who caught up, and thirst on the road.
Ya Rasulullah, are you leaving me with the women and children, while the munafiqun mock me that I am not qualified to fight?
Stung by the hypocrites' taunt that the Prophet ﷺ had left him behind out of cowardice, despite his well-known bravery, Ali RA put on his armor, took up his sword, and caught up with the departing army to protest.
Are you not content to be with me like Harun was with Musa, except that there is no prophet after me? They are liars, for I have only left you to be in charge of those whom I have left behind: my family.
When the Prophet ﷺ went out towards Tabuk, after he had prayed Fajr with the people on the way, the people went back on their camels, and as the sun began to rise they began falling asleep on their mounts, and their camels started splitting up here and there. My own camel almost tripped, so I jerked it back with the reins, but that scared the Prophet ﷺ's camel and it began to run forward. He ﷺ was wearing his turban around his face; he took it off and looked behind to see who had done this, and he saw me.
Ya Mu'adh!
Labbayka, ya Nabiyyallah (Here I am, O Prophet of Allah).
Come here.
So I came close to him until our saddles were touching one another.
I didn't realize the people are so separated from us.
Ya Nabiyyallah, the people became sleepy and their camels took them helter-skelter.
And I too was sleeping.
Ya Rasulullah, give me permission to ask you something, a question which has caused me to think and ponder until I fell sick thinking about it.
Seeing that he and the Prophet ﷺ were now riding apart from everyone else, Mu'adh RA seized the moment.
Ask whatever you want.
Ya Nabiyyallah, tell me what I can do to enter Jannah, something only you can tell me.
Bakhin bakh! You have asked a great matter. And it is an easy thing if Allah wants good for you: believe in Allah and the Last Day, and offer the salah, and worship Allah alone, and do this until you die upon it.
He ﷺ repeated each of these declarations three times, and repeated the whole answer again when Mu'adh RA asked him to.
If you want, O Mu'adh, I will inform you about the head of this matter, its pillar, and its pinnacle.
Yes, of course! May my mother and father be given in your ransom!
The head of all of this is to testify that there is no god but Allah alone with no partner, and that Muhammad ﷺ is His servant and Messenger; the backbone is establishing the salah and giving zakat; and the pinnacle is jihad for the sake of Allah. I have been commanded to fight the people until they establish the salah, give the zakat, and testify the shahada; and if they do, then their lives and properties are protected in the rights of Allah. I swear by the One in whose Hands is my soul, no face becomes tired, nor does a foot become dusty in any deed that will raise it higher in Jannah after the fard salah, like jihad in the way of Allah. Nothing makes the Scales heavier, like spending money upon an animal in the way of Allah, or carrying people in the way of Allah.
What am I doing here? I am here in this pleasure while the Prophet ﷺ is in the heat?! Wallahi, I am not even going to sit down.
Said to himself on returning home and finding his wife had prepared a shaded, sprinkled rug and food for him, after he had delayed leaving for Tabuk.
May he be Abu Khaythama.
The Prophet ﷺ said this on catching sight of a lone rider crossing the shimmering heat toward the camp at Tabuk.
Why were you delayed?
Woe to you, Abu Khaythama!
Said after Abu Khaythama recounted the whole story of his delay, a gentle rebuke showing both relief and a warning of how close a call it had been.
Let it be Abu Dharr!
Said when the sahaba spotted a lone figure walking toward the army with a pack on his back.
May Allah have mercy upon Abu Dharr. He is walking by himself, he will die by himself, and he will be resurrected by himself.
Walked alone from Madinah to catch up with the army, carrying on his own back what should have been carried by his camel.
His camel had fallen sick or was on loan to someone; though he had intended to go, its absence delayed him, so after a few days he set out walking rather than miss the expedition.
Ya Rasulullah, make du'a for us.
Spoken amid the march to Tabuk, when the army was so gripped by thirst that some had begun slaughtering their camels to wring water from them.
If you wish. Then he ﷺ raised his hands in supplication, not lowering them until the sky poured with rain.
Tomorrow, you shall arrive at the spring of Tabuk, and you shall arrive there at the hot time of the day; but make sure you do not touch its water until I get there.
Tell us about the Expedition of Difficulty. What happened?
Ibn Abbas and others asking Umar ibn al-Khattab RA to recount the hardships of the march to Tabuk.
We left with the Prophet ﷺ to Tabuk in extremely hot weather, and we reached a place where we felt so thirsty we thought our throats would collapse. People went out in search of water and came back even more thirsty. Some sacrificed their camels to squeeze what water they could from the sack. Until finally Abu Bakr pleaded with the Prophet ﷺ to make du'a for us, and the Prophet's ﷺ hands did not come down until the sky began to pour with rain, and we filled all our containers with it.
There are people in Madinah such that you have not traveled even a step or gone through any valley except that they have accompanied you and they will get the reward as you.
Said of the sahaba, such as Ulba ibn Zayd and the Bakka'un, who wanted to march to Tabuk but had no mount to carry them.
Ya Rasulullah, even while they are in Madinah?
Even while they are in Madinah.
No enemy came; the Prophet ﷺ taught, prayed and prophesied instead.
We went on the expedition with the Prophet ﷺ in the year of Ghazwa Tabuk, combining our prayers as we drew close. When we reached the spring the next day, we found two men from our camp who had arrived before us. The Prophet ﷺ asked them, "Have you touched its water?" They said, "Yes." He ﷺ was angered by this and rebuked them (his exact words were not preserved, out of adab). Then he ﷺ commanded us to gather whatever water remained in one place. He ﷺ washed his hands and face in it, and the water began to gush out until the whole army drank from it.
Recalling the arrival at the spring of Tabuk, after which the expedition took its name.
O Mu'adh, it's only a matter of time: if you live long enough, you will see this very land become a land of greenery and gardens.
I saw during the Battle of Tabuk that the Prophet ﷺ performed wudu washing each limb only once.
Water was scarce during the encampment at Tabuk; the Prophet ﷺ would usually wash each limb three times.
Ya Rasulullah, how much should the sutrah be?
Asked after the sahaba had observed the Prophet ﷺ mark his place of prayer with a sutrah: sometimes a spear planted in the ground, sometimes the saddle of his camel.
It should be as large as the saddle of a camel.
Why don't you benefit from this animal? ... When you tan the skin, the skin becomes pure.
Said on passing a dead animal; the sahaba had objected that it was impure (najis) to make use of it.
Count six things before the Day of Judgment: my death; the conquest of Bayt al-Maqdis; two plagues that will eliminate you like scrapie; that you will be given so much money that a person will be given a hundred dinars and still not be satisfied; a fitnah that no house of the Arabs will be left unaffected by; and a truce between yourselves and the Bani al-Asfar. Then they will be treacherous and break the treaty, and they will come and fight you under eighty banners, with twelve thousand men under each banner.
Narrated by Awf ibn Malik.
The Prophet ﷺ woke to answer the call of nature before Fajr, and I went with him carrying water and a spear to give him shelter. When he came back I poured the water for him, and he washed his face and hands. He tried to wash his elbows, but his sleeves were too narrow, so he pulled his arms out from underneath his garment to wash them properly. As for the masah, he only put his fingers inside his turban and wiped over the rest of it, and when I bent down to take off his khuff he told me to leave them on. We then walked back to find that the sahaba had already begun Salat al-Fajr without us, led by Abd al-Rahman ibn Awf. When they recognized the Prophet ﷺ had arrived, Abd al-Rahman ibn Awf began to step back, but the Prophet ﷺ motioned for him to remain and complete the salah. Since the Prophet ﷺ had missed a rak'ah, he and I stood up afterward to pray the one we had missed.
Leave them on, for I wore them while I was in a state of purity.
Today, Allah has given me five things that He has not given anyone before me: I have been sent to all of mankind, while those before me were only sent to their own people. Allah made me victorious by awe, instilling fear in my enemies for a distance of one month's journey. Ghanima has been made lawful for me, and it was not for those before me. The whole earth has been made a purification and a place of prayer, so any person of my ummah who needs to pray may do wudu or tayammum and pray wherever he is. And Allah told me to ask for anything I wanted, and I have saved my request for you, my ummah, until the Day of Judgment: whoever among you says la ilaha illallah will receive it.
Delivered standing after a salah during the twenty days the army camped at Tabuk.
What has happened to Ka'b ibn Malik?
Ya Rasulullah, his two garments, and his looking at his own property, have kept him back.
What a bad thing you have said! Wallahi, we know nothing but good about him.
The hypocrites' mutterings, the camels' new strength, and the return to Madinah.
This is a man who thinks he is a prophet and tells you that revelation comes from the heavens, yet he does not even know where his own camel is.
Said when the Prophet ﷺ's camel went missing on the return march and the sahaba were sent out to search for it.
Some of you have said such-and-such. Wallahi, I am just a human, and I only know what Allah tells me. Allah has just told me that my camel is stuck in such-and-such a valley, its rein caught on a tree. Go and get it.
You are not going to accompany me, O enemy of Allah!
Said after another companion in his unit identified which man had made the remark about the Prophet ﷺ's camel.
If Islam is true, this means we are more misguided than donkeys.
He later swore under oath that he had never said this, but Allah exposed the lie in the same revelation.
O Allah, cause these animals to carry those who are in Your Path, for You are the One who carries on animals that are weak and animals that are strong, and on that which is wet and that which is dry, and over the land and in the ocean.
Prayed after the sahaba complained on the return march that their weakened animals could no longer carry them; the Prophet ﷺ had the animals brought to him and patted each one before this du'a.
Allah says: some of My servants woke up this morning believing in Me, and some of My servants have rejected Me. As for those who said the rain fell because of Allah's mercy, they are believers in Me. As for those who said the rain fell because of a particular star, they are believers in the star and rejecters of Me.
Delivered at Fajr after a night of rain the Prophet ﷺ had prayed for during a stretch of water scarcity on the return journey; some of the hypocrites had credited the rain to a star rather than to Allah.
It was his habit, whenever he ﷺ returned from a journey, to go first to the mosque and pray two rak'at before sitting among the people. So he did that morning, and those of us who had stayed behind came forward one by one to make our excuses and swear our oaths (more than eighty of us). The Prophet ﷺ accepted what they offered at face value, asked forgiveness for them, and left their true intentions to Allah.
What kept you behind? Had you not purchased a mount?
The Prophet ﷺ asked Ka'b this directly when his turn came, after the more than eighty who had already sworn their excuses had been dealt with.
Wallahi, ya Rasulullah, if I were sitting before anyone else in this world, I believe I could talk my way out of his anger with some excuse; I have been given a fluent enough tongue for that. But if I told you a lie today to please you, Allah would surely expose me to your anger tomorrow; and if I tell you the truth, though you may be angry with me today, I hope Allah will make its outcome good. By Allah, I have no excuse: I was never stronger or better provided for than when I stayed behind from you.
As for this man, he has spoken the truth. Get up, until Allah decides your case.
Ka'b ibn Malik's fifty days.
When word reached me that the Prophet ﷺ was on his way back from Tabuk, I was overwhelmed, and began thinking of every excuse I might give the next day, and asked the shrewdest men of my people for advice, but the moment I heard he had truly arrived, every false idea left my mind, and I knew nothing would save me but the truth. So I resolved to speak it.
As I left, some of my people from Banu Salama followed me and said I had never sinned before this, and that I should have made an excuse as the others did: a du'a from the Prophet ﷺ for my forgiveness would have been enough. They kept at me until I nearly went back to contradict myself. So I asked them: has anyone else met the same fate as me? They said yes: Murara ibn al-Rabi' and Hilal ibn Umayyah, both men of Badr, had said just what I said and been given the same answer. When they named those two to me, I did not change my mind; I would rather stand with them than with the hypocrites.
This was just after the Prophet ﷺ told Ka'b, having heard his confession, to leave and wait until Allah decided his case.
The Prophet ﷺ forbade all the Muslims from speaking to the three of us who had told the truth. The people's manner toward us changed so much that I felt a stranger in my own land. We stayed like that for fifty nights. Murara and Hilal shut themselves in their houses, weeping; but I was the youngest and strongest of us, so I went out, prayed with the people, and walked in the marketplace, though no one spoke to me. I would go and greet the Prophet ﷺ as he sat after the prayer, wondering if his lips moved in answer. When I prayed near him and kept my eyes on my prayer, he would look at me; but the moment I glanced at him, he would turn his face away.
I adjure you by Allah: don't you know that I love Allah and His Messenger ﷺ?
Ka'b said this to his cousin Abu Qatada, who had refused to return his greeting during the fifty-day boycott.
Allah and His Messenger ﷺ know best.
Who will show me where Ka'b ibn Malik is? ... I have a letter for you from the King of Ghassan.
Amma ba'd: it has reached us that your friend has treated you harshly. Allah would not have you live in a place of humiliation where your due is lost; join us, and we will make it up to you.
This, too, is a test.
Ka'b burned the letter from the King of Ghassan in his oven upon reading it.
The Prophet ﷺ commands you to keep away from your wife.
Should I divorce her, or what should I do?
No, only keep away from her, and do not go near her.
So I told my wife to go to her family and stay with them until Allah decided my case.
Some of my family said I should also ask the Prophet ﷺ for permission regarding my wife, since he had allowed it for Hilal's wife. I refused: I did not know what he ﷺ would say if I, a young man, asked him such a thing, and I would not risk it.
Ya Rasulullah, Hilal ibn Umayyah is an old man with no one to serve him. Would you disapprove if I looked after him?
No, but he must not come near you.
By Allah, he has no desire for that. By Allah, he has not stopped weeping from the day this began until now.
So I passed ten more nights that way, until fifty nights were complete since the people were forbidden to speak to us. On the morning of the fiftieth, I prayed Fajr on the roof of one of our houses, sitting just as Allah described us: my soul straitened within me, and the earth, for all its vastness, feeling too narrow to hold me.
This continued the fifty-day boycott, during which Ka'b, Murara, and Hilal were shunned by the Muslims of Madinah for staying behind from Tabuk.
O Ka'b ibn Malik, rejoice: glad tidings for you!
This came right after the Prophet ﷺ told the congregation at Fajr that Allah had accepted the repentance of Ka'b and his two companions.
I fell down in prostration, knowing relief had come. I had nothing else to give, so I took off my own two garments and dressed the man who brought me the news in them, then borrowed two more to wear myself, and set out for the Prophet ﷺ; people met me in crowds along the way, congratulating me on Allah's acceptance of my repentance.
When I entered the mosque, Talha ibn Ubaydillah got up and hurried over, took my hand, and congratulated me; he was the only man of the Muhajirun who stood up for me. I never forgot that of Talha.
Rejoice: this is the best day that has come upon you since the day your mother bore you!
Ya Rasulullah, is this forgiveness from you, or from Allah?
No, it is from Allah.
Ya Rasulullah, as part of my repentance I will give up all my wealth as sadaqa for the sake of Allah and His Messenger ﷺ.
Keep some of your property; that is better for you.
Then I will keep my share from Khaybar. Ya Rasulullah, Allah saved me because I spoke the truth, so as part of my repentance, I will speak nothing but the truth as long as I live.
By Allah, since that day I have never knowingly told a lie, and I hope Allah will preserve me in that for the rest of my life. And Allah revealed: Allah has turned in mercy to the Prophet ﷺ, and the Muhajirun and the Ansar who stood by him in the hour of difficulty, after the hearts of some of them had almost faltered; and to the three who were left behind, until the earth, for all its vastness, closed in on them, and their souls were straitened, until He turned to them in mercy so that they might repent, for Allah is the Accepter of Repentance, the Merciful. Our case was set apart from those who had sworn their oaths before him and been forgiven at once: Allah deferred our matter until He Himself decided it.
Ka'b said this after promising the Prophet ﷺ, once his repentance was accepted, that he would never lie again as long as he lived.
Fudala remembers the camels of Tabuk decades later.
By the time we got back to Madinah, our animals were so strong and energetic that we had to struggle to hold them back. I used to say to myself: this is the du'a of the Prophet ﷺ; he prayed for the wet and the dry, and I understood that, but how could it apply to the land and the ocean? Then we went on to conquer Syria, and after that we went to conquer Cyprus. I was there, and when I saw all the ships, I realized: this is the du'a of the Prophet ﷺ.
A later recollection, retold decades after the Battle of Tabuk.
لَّقَد تَّابَ اللَّهُ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ وَالْمُهَاجِرِينَ وَالْأَنصَارِ
“Allah has already forgiven the Prophet and the Muhajirin and the Ansar.”
Names the "time of difficulty" (sa'at al-usrah) from which Jaysh al-Usrah, the expedition's other name, is drawn.
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا قَاتِلُوا الَّذِينَ يَلُونَكُم مِّنَ الْكُفَّارِ وَلْيَجِدُوا فِيكُمْ غِلْظَةً ۚ وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَ الْمُتَّقِينَ
“O you who have believed, fight those surrounding you of the disbelievers and let them find in you harshness. And know that Allah is with the righteous.”
Cited by al-Tabari as the command to fight the neighboring Arabs before turning north, read as the trigger for the expedition.
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مَا لَكُمْ إِذَا قِيلَ لَكُمُ انفِرُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ اثَّاقَلْتُمْ إِلَى الْأَرْضِ ۚ أَرَضِيتُم بِالْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا مِنَ الْآخِرَةِ ۚ فَمَا مَتَاعُ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا فِي الْآخِرَةِ إِلَّا قَلِيلٌ
“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.”
Part of Surat al-Tawba's unusually blunt command to march, read as evidence Tabuk was commanded directly by Allah.
إِلَّا تَنفِرُوا يُعَذِّبْكُمْ عَذَابًا أَلِيمًا وَيَسْتَبْدِلْ قَوْمًا غَيْرَكُمْ وَلَا تَضُرُّوهُ شَيْئًا ۗ وَاللَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
“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.”
Part of Surat al-Tawba's unusually blunt command to march, read as evidence Tabuk was commanded directly by Allah.
انفِرُوا خِفَافًا وَثِقَالًا وَجَاهِدُوا بِأَمْوَالِكُمْ وَأَنفُسِكُمْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ
“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.”
Part of Surat al-Tawba's unusually blunt command to march, read as evidence Tabuk was commanded directly by Allah.
لَوْ كَانَ عَرَضًا قَرِيبًا وَسَفَرًا قَاصِدًا لَّاتَّبَعُوكَ وَلَٰكِن بَعُدَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ الشُّقَّةُ ۚ وَسَيَحْلِفُونَ بِاللَّهِ لَوِ اسْتَطَعْنَا لَخَرَجْنَا مَعَكُمْ يُهْلِكُونَ أَنفُسَهُمْ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ إِنَّهُمْ لَكَاذِبُونَ
“Had it been an easy gain and a moderate trip, the hypocrites would have followed you, but distant to them was the journey. And they will swear by Allah, "If we were able, we would have gone forth with you," destroying themselves [through false oaths], and Allah knows that indeed they are liars.”
Describes the munafiqun who avoided the expedition, part of the same Surat al-Tawba passage tied to Tabuk.
“Allah will not call you to account for your thoughtless oaths, but He will hold you accountable for deliberate oaths.”
Cited to explain why the Prophet ﷺ's oath not to give Abu Musa al-Ash'ari RA camels did not bind him once funds arrived.
عَفَا اللَّهُ عَنكَ لِمَ أَذِنتَ لَهُمْ حَتَّىٰ يَتَبَيَّنَ لَكَ الَّذِينَ صَدَقُوا وَتَعْلَمَ الْكَاذِبِينَ
“Allah will forgive you [O Prophet]! [But] why did you accept all of their excuses? You should have waited until you test those who have told the truth against those who have lied.”
Allah's mild rebuke of the Prophet ﷺ for accepting the excuse-makers' oaths at face value on his return from Tabuk.
سَيَحْلِفُونَ بِاللَّهِ لَكُمْ إِذَا انقَلَبْتُمْ إِلَيْهِمْ لِتُعْرِضُوا عَنْهُمْ ۖ فَأَعْرِضُوا عَنْهُمْ ۖ إِنَّهُمْ رِجْسٌ ۖ وَمَأْوَاهُمْ جَهَنَّمُ جَزَاءً بِمَا كَانُوا يَكْسِبُونَ
“When you return, they will swear to you by Allah so that you may leave them alone. So leave them alone—they are truly evil. Hell will be their home as a reward for what they have committed.”
Condemns the hypocrites who swore false oaths on the Prophet ﷺ's return from Tabuk to be left alone.
يَحْلِفُونَ لَكُمْ لِتَرْضَوْا۟ عَنْهُمْ ۖ فَإِن تَرْضَوْا۟ عَنْهُمْ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَرْضَىٰ عَنِ ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلْفَـٰسِقِينَ
“They will swear to you in order to please you. And even if you are pleased with them, Allah will never be pleased with the fasiqs.”
Condemns the hypocrites who swore false oaths on the Prophet ﷺ's return from Tabuk to be left alone.
وَعَلَى ٱلثَّلَـٰثَةِ ٱلَّذِينَ خُلِّفُوا۟ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا ضَاقَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلْأَرْضُ بِمَا رَحُبَتْ وَضَاقَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ أَنفُسُهُمْ وَظَنُّوٓا۟ أَن لَّا مَلْجَأَ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ إِلَّآ إِلَيْهِ ثُمَّ تَابَ عَلَيْهِمْ لِيَتُوبُوٓا۟ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ هُوَ ٱلتَّوَّابُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ
“And [Allah has also turned in mercy to] the three who were left behind, [whose guilt distressed them] until the earth, despite its vastness, seemed to close in on them, and their souls were torn in anguish, [until He accepted their repentance so that they could repent].”
Describes Ka'b ibn Malik RA, Murara ibn al-Rabi' RA and Hilal ibn Umayyah RA's anguish during their 50-day boycott before Allah accepted their repentance.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَكُونُوا۟ مَعَ ٱلصَّـٰدِقِينَ
“O believers! Be mindful of Allah and be with the truthful.”
Closes the passage on Ka'b, Murara and Hilal's repentance with a command to stand with the truthful.
الَّذِينَ يَلْمِزُونَ الْمُطَّوِّعِينَ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ فِي الصَّدَقَاتِ وَالَّذِينَ لَا يَجِدُونَ إِلَّا جُهْدَهُمْ فَيَسْخَرُونَ مِنْهُمْ ۙ سَخِرَ اللَّهُ مِنْهُمْ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ
“[There are] those who slander [some of] the believers for donating liberally, and mock others for giving only the little they can afford. Allah will throw their mockery back at them, and they will suffer a painful punishment.”
Revealed after the hypocrites mocked Abu Khaythama al-Ansari RA's small donation of dates toward the Jaysh al-Usrah.
لَّقَد تَّابَ اللَّهُ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ وَالْمُهَاجِرِينَ وَالْأَنصَارِ
“Allah has already forgiven the Prophet and the Muhajirin and the Ansar.”
Revealed about Allah turning in mercy to the Prophet ﷺ, the Muhajirun, and the Ansar who stood by him at Tabuk.
وَعَلَى ٱلثَّلَـٰثَةِ ٱلَّذِينَ خُلِّفُوا۟ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا ضَاقَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلْأَرْضُ بِمَا رَحُبَتْ وَضَاقَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ أَنفُسُهُمْ وَظَنُّوٓا۟ أَن لَّا مَلْجَأَ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ إِلَّآ إِلَيْهِ ثُمَّ تَابَ عَلَيْهِمْ لِيَتُوبُوٓا۟ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ هُوَ ٱلتَّوَّابُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ
“And [Allah has also turned in mercy to] the three who were left behind, [whose guilt distressed them] until the earth, despite its vastness, seemed to close in on them, and their souls were torn in anguish, [until He accepted their repentance so that they could repent].”
Revealed about the three who were left behind (Ka'b ibn Malik RA, Murara ibn al-Rabi' RA, Hilal ibn Umayyah RA) after their repentance was accepted.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَكُونُوا۟ مَعَ ٱلصَّـٰدِقِينَ
“O believers! Be mindful of Allah and be with the truthful.”
The closing exhortation of the passage revealed over Ka'b ibn Malik RA's repentance, calling believers to be with the truthful.
وَمِنْهُم مَّن يَقُولُ ائْذَن لِّي وَلَا تَفْتِنِّي ۚ أَلَا فِي الْفِتْنَةِ سَقَطُوا ۗ وَإِنَّ جَهَنَّمَ لَمُحِيطَةٌ بِالْكَافِرِينَ
“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.”
Revealed regarding al-Jad ibn Qays's excuse.
فَرِحَ الْمُخَلَّفُونَ بِمَقْعَدِهِمْ خِلَافَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ وَكَرِهُوا أَن يُجَاهِدُوا بِأَمْوَالِهِمْ وَأَنفُسِهِمْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَقَالُوا لَا تَنفِرُوا فِي الْحَرِّ ۗ قُلْ نَارُ جَهَنَّمَ أَشَدُّ حَرًّا ۚ لَّوْ كَانُوا يَفْقَهُونَ
“Those [hypocrites] who remained behind rejoiced for doing so in defiance of the Messenger of Allah, and hated [the prospect of] striving with their wealth and their lives in the cause of Allah. They said [to one another], 'Do not march forth in the heat.' Say, [O Prophet,] 'The Fire of Hell is far hotter!' If only they could comprehend!”
On the hypocrites rejoicing at staying behind from Tabuk.
فَلْيَضْحَكُوا۟ قَلِيلًا وَلْيَبْكُوا۟ كَثِيرًا جَزَآءًۢ بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَكْسِبُونَ
“So let them laugh a little -- they will weep much as a reward for what they have committed.”
This ayah is part of Surat al-Tawba's Tabuk-era passage addressing the hypocrites and excuse-makers who stayed behind or mocked the campaign, described at this event.
وَلَا عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ إِذَا مَآ أَتَوْكَ لِتَحْمِلَهُمْ قُلْتَ لَآ أَجِدُ مَآ أَحْمِلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ تَوَلَّوا۟ وَّأَعْيُنُهُمْ تَفِيضُ مِنَ ٱلدَّمْعِ حَزَنًا أَلَّا يَجِدُوا۟ مَا يُنفِقُونَ
“Nor [is there any blame on] those who came to you [O Prophet] for mounts, then when you said, 'I can find no mounts for you,' they left with eyes overflowing with tears out of grief that they had nothing to contribute.”
Revealed concerning the Bakka'un, who wept for having no mount to join the expedition.
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مَا لَكُمْ إِذَا قِيلَ لَكُمُ انفِرُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ اثَّاقَلْتُمْ إِلَى الْأَرْضِ ۚ أَرَضِيتُم بِالْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا مِنَ الْآخِرَةِ ۚ فَمَا مَتَاعُ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا فِي الْآخِرَةِ إِلَّا قَلِيلٌ
“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.”
This ayah is part of Surat al-Tawba's Tabuk-era passage addressing the hypocrites and excuse-makers who stayed behind or mocked the campaign, described at this event.
انفِرُوا خِفَافًا وَثِقَالًا وَجَاهِدُوا بِأَمْوَالِكُمْ وَأَنفُسِكُمْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ
“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.”
This ayah is part of Surat al-Tawba's Tabuk-era passage addressing the hypocrites and excuse-makers who stayed behind or mocked the campaign, described at this event.
لَا تَعْتَذِرُوا قَدْ كَفَرْتُم بَعْدَ إِيمَانِكُمْ ۚ إِن نَّعْفُ عَن طَائِفَةٍ مِّنكُمْ نُعَذِّبْ طَائِفَةً بِأَنَّهُمْ كَانُوا مُجْرِمِينَ
“Make no excuses. You have committed kufr after your Iman.”
This ayah is part of Surat al-Tawba's Tabuk-era passage addressing the hypocrites and excuse-makers who stayed behind or mocked the campaign, described at this event.
قُلْ أَنفِقُوا۟ طَوْعًا أَوْ كَرْهًا لَّن يُتَقَبَّلَ مِنكُمْ ۖ إِنَّكُمْ كُنتُمْ قَوْمًا فَـٰسِقِينَ
“Say, [O Prophet,] "[Whether you] donate willingly or unwillingly, it will never be accepted from you, for you have been a rebellious people."”
Part of the well-established hypocrites-who-stayed-behind-from-Tabuk passage of Surat al-Tawbah.
وَلَا تُعْجِبْكَ أَمْوَٰلُهُمْ وَأَوْلَـٰدُهُمْ ۚ إِنَّمَا يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ أَن يُعَذِّبَهُم بِهَا فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا وَتَزْهَقَ أَنفُسُهُمْ وَهُمْ كَـٰفِرُونَ
“And let neither their wealth nor children impress you [O Prophet]. Allah only intends to torment them through these things in this world, and [then] their souls will depart while they are disbelievers.”
Part of the well-established hypocrites-who-stayed-behind-from-Tabuk passage of Surat al-Tawbah.
وَقُلِ ٱعْمَلُوا۟ فَسَيَرَى ٱللَّهُ عَمَلَكُمْ وَرَسُولُهُۥ وَٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ ۖ وَسَتُرَدُّونَ إِلَىٰ عَـٰلِمِ ٱلْغَيْبِ وَٱلشَّهَـٰدَةِ فَيُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ
“Tell [them, O Prophet], "Do as you will. Your deeds will be observed by Allah, His Messenger, and the believers. And you will be returned to the Knower of the seen and unseen, then He will inform you of what you used to do."”
Part of the well-established hypocrites-who-stayed-behind-from-Tabuk passage of Surat al-Tawbah.
لَقَدِ ابْتَغَوُا الْفِتْنَةَ مِن قَبْلُ وَقَلَّبُوا لَكَ الْأُمُورَ حَتَّىٰ جَاءَ الْحَقُّ وَظَهَرَ أَمْرُ اللَّهِ وَهُمْ كَارِهُونَ
“They had already sought to spread discord before and devised every [possible] plot against you [O Prophet], until the Truth came and Allah's Will prevailed — much to their dismay.”
Part of the well-established hypocrites-who-stayed-behind-from-Tabuk passage of Surat al-Tawbah.
الْأَعْرَابُ أَشَدُّ كُفْرًا وَنِفَاقًا وَأَجْدَرُ أَلَّا يَعْلَمُوا حُدُودَ مَا أَنزَلَ اللَّهُ عَلَىٰ رَسُولِهِ ۗ وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ
“The Bedouins [around Madinah] are far worse in disbelief and hypocrisy, and less likely to know the laws revealed by Allah to His Messenger. And Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.”
Part of the well-established hypocrites-who-stayed-behind-from-Tabuk passage of Surat al-Tawbah.
أَلَمْ يَعْلَمُوا أَنَّهُ مَن يُحَادِدِ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ فَأَنَّ لَهُ نَارَ جَهَنَّمَ خَالِدًا فِيهَا ۚ ذَٰلِكَ الْخِزْيُ الْعَظِيمُ
“Do they not know that whoever opposes Allah and His Messenger will be in the Fire of Hell forever? That is the ultimate disgrace.”
Part of the well-established hypocrites-who-stayed-behind-from-Tabuk passage of Surat al-Tawbah.
وَٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَٱلْمُؤْمِنَـٰتُ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَآءُ بَعْضٍ ۚ يَأْمُرُونَ بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ ٱلْمُنكَرِ وَيُقِيمُونَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَيُؤْتُونَ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَيُطِيعُونَ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥٓ ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ سَيَرْحَمُهُمُ ٱللَّهُ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ
“The believers, both men and women, are guardians of one another. They encourage good and forbid evil, establish salah and pay zakat, and obey Allah and His Messenger. It is they who will be shown Allah's mercy. Surely Allah is Almighty, All-Wise.”
Part of the well-established hypocrites-who-stayed-behind-from-Tabuk passage of Surat al-Tawbah.
وَعَدَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْمُنَـٰفِقِينَ وَٱلْمُنَـٰفِقَـٰتِ وَٱلْكُفَّارَ نَارَ جَهَنَّمَ خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيهَا ۚ هِىَ حَسْبُهُمْ ۚ وَلَعَنَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ ۖ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ مُّقِيمٌ
“Allah has promised the hypocrites, both men and women, and the disbelievers, an everlasting stay in the Fire of Hell — it is sufficient for them. Allah has condemned them, and they will suffer a never-ending Punishment.”
Part of the well-established hypocrites-who-stayed-behind-from-Tabuk passage of Surat al-Tawbah.
إِنَّمَا يَسْتَأْذِنُكَ الَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ وَارْتَابَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ فَهُمْ فِي رَيْبِهِمْ يَتَرَدَّدُونَ
“No one would ask for exemption except those who have no faith in Allah or the Last Day, and whose hearts are in doubt, so they are torn by their doubts.”
Part of the well-established hypocrites-who-stayed-behind-from-Tabuk passage of Surat al-Tawbah.
وَإِذَا مَآ أُنزِلَتْ سُورَةٌ نَّظَرَ بَعْضُهُمْ إِلَىٰ بَعْضٍ هَلْ يَرَىٰكُم مِّنْ أَحَدٍ ثُمَّ ٱنصَرَفُوا۟ ۚ صَرَفَ ٱللَّهُ قُلُوبَهُم بِأَنَّهُمْ قَوْمٌ لَّا يَفْقَهُونَ
“Whenever a surah is revealed, they look at one another, [saying,] "Is anyone watching you?" Then they slip away. [It is] Allah [Who] has turned their hearts away because they are a people who do not comprehend.”
Part of the well-established hypocrites-who-stayed-behind-from-Tabuk passage of Surat al-Tawbah.
وَمِنَ الْأَعْرَابِ مَن يُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ وَيَتَّخِذُ مَا يُنفِقُ قُرُبَاتٍ عِندَ اللَّهِ وَصَلَوَاتِ الرَّسُولِ ۚ أَلَا إِنَّهَا قُرْبَةٌ لَّهُمْ ۚ سَيُدْخِلُهُمُ اللَّهُ فِي رَحْمَتِهِ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
“However, among the Bedouins are those who believe in Allah and the Last Day, and consider what they donate as a means of coming closer to Allah and [receiving] the prayers of the Messenger. It will certainly bring them closer. Allah will admit them into His mercy. Surely Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”
Part of the well-established hypocrites-who-stayed-behind-from-Tabuk passage of Surat al-Tawbah.
وَمَا كَانَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ لِيَنفِرُوا۟ كَآفَّةً ۚ فَلَوْلَا نَفَرَ مِن كُلِّ فِرْقَةٍ مِّنْهُمْ طَآئِفَةٌ لِّيَتَفَقَّهُوا۟ فِى ٱلدِّينِ وَلِيُنذِرُوا۟ قَوْمَهُمْ إِذَا رَجَعُوٓا۟ إِلَيْهِمْ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَحْذَرُونَ
“[However,] it is not necessary for the believers to march forth all at once. Only a party from each group should march forth, leaving the rest to gain religious knowledge then enlighten their people when they return to them, so that they [too] may beware [of evil].”
Part of the well-established hypocrites-who-stayed-behind-from-Tabuk passage of Surat al-Tawbah.
وَمِنَ ٱلْأَعْرَابِ مَن يَتَّخِذُ مَا يُنفِقُ مَغْرَمًا وَيَتَرَبَّصُ بِكُمُ ٱلدَّوَآئِرَ ۚ عَلَيْهِمْ دَآئِرَةُ ٱلسَّوْءِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ
“And among the Bedouins are those who consider what they donate to be a loss and await your misfortune. May ill-fortune befall them! And Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.”
Part of the well-established hypocrites-who-stayed-behind-from-Tabuk passage of Surat al-Tawbah.
فَلَا تُعْجِبْكَ أَمْوَٰلُهُمْ وَلَآ أَوْلَـٰدُهُمْ ۚ إِنَّمَا يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ لِيُعَذِّبَهُم بِهَا فِى ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَتَزْهَقَ أَنفُسُهُمْ وَهُمْ كَـٰفِرُونَ
“So let neither their wealth nor children impress you [O Prophet]. Allah only intends to torment them through these things in this worldly life, then their souls will depart while they are disbelievers.”
Part of the well-established hypocrites-who-stayed-behind-from-Tabuk passage of Surat al-Tawbah.
وَيَحْلِفُونَ بِاللَّهِ إِنَّهُمْ لَمِنكُمْ وَمَا هُم مِّنكُمْ وَلَٰكِنَّهُمْ قَوْمٌ يَفْرَقُونَ
“They swear by Allah that they are part of you, but they are not. They only say so out of fear.”
Part of the well-established hypocrites-who-stayed-behind-from-Tabuk passage of Surat al-Tawbah.
أَوَلَا يَرَوْنَ أَنَّهُمْ يُفْتَنُونَ فِى كُلِّ عَامٍ مَّرَّةً أَوْ مَرَّتَيْنِ ثُمَّ لَا يَتُوبُونَ وَلَا هُمْ يَذَّكَّرُونَ
“Do they not see that they are tried once or twice every year? Yet they neither repent nor do they learn a lesson.”
Part of the well-established hypocrites-who-stayed-behind-from-Tabuk passage of Surat al-Tawbah.
لَوْ يَجِدُونَ مَلْجَأً أَوْ مَغَارَاتٍ أَوْ مُدَّخَلًا لَّوَلَّوْا إِلَيْهِ وَهُمْ يَجْمَحُونَ
“If only they could find a refuge, or a cave, or any hiding-place, they would rush headlong toward it.”
Part of the well-established hypocrites-who-stayed-behind-from-Tabuk passage of Surat al-Tawbah.
وَمَا مَنَعَهُمْ أَن تُقْبَلَ مِنْهُمْ نَفَقَـٰتُهُمْ إِلَّآ أَنَّهُمْ كَفَرُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ وَبِرَسُولِهِۦ وَلَا يَأْتُونَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ إِلَّا وَهُمْ كُسَالَىٰ وَلَا يُنفِقُونَ إِلَّا وَهُمْ كَـٰرِهُونَ
“And what prevented their donations from being accepted is that they have lost faith in Allah and His Messenger, they never come to prayer except half-heartedly, and they never donate except resentfully.”
Part of the well-established hypocrites-who-stayed-behind-from-Tabuk passage of Surat al-Tawbah.
وَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ فِى قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌ فَزَادَتْهُمْ رِجْسًا إِلَىٰ رِجْسِهِمْ وَمَاتُوا۟ وَهُمْ كَـٰفِرُونَ
“But as for those with sickness in their hearts, it has increased them only in wickedness upon their wickedness, and they die as disbelievers.”
Part of the well-established hypocrites-who-stayed-behind-from-Tabuk passage of Surat al-Tawbah.
يَحْلِفُونَ بِاللَّهِ لَكُمْ لِيُرْضُوكُمْ وَاللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَحَقُّ أَن يُرْضُوهُ إِن كَانُوا مُؤْمِنِينَ
“They swear by Allah to you [believers] in order to please you, while it is the pleasure of Allah and His Messenger they should seek, if they are [true] believers.”
Part of the well-established hypocrites-who-stayed-behind-from-Tabuk passage of Surat al-Tawbah.
ٱلتَّـٰٓئِبُونَ ٱلْعَـٰبِدُونَ ٱلْحَـٰمِدُونَ ٱلسَّـٰٓئِحُونَ ٱلرَّٰكِعُونَ ٱلسَّـٰجِدُونَ ٱلْـَٔامِرُونَ بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ وَٱلنَّاهُونَ عَنِ ٱلْمُنكَرِ وَٱلْحَـٰفِظُونَ لِحُدُودِ ٱللَّهِ ۗ وَبَشِّرِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ
“[It is the believers] who repent, who are devoted to worship, who praise [their Lord], who fast, who bow down and prostrate themselves, who encourage good and forbid evil, and who observe the limits set by Allah. And give good news to the believers.”
Part of the well-established hypocrites-who-stayed-behind-from-Tabuk passage of Surat al-Tawbah.
أَلَمْ يَعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ هُوَ يَقْبَلُ ٱلتَّوْبَةَ عَنْ عِبَادِهِۦ وَيَأْخُذُ ٱلصَّدَقَـٰتِ وَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ هُوَ ٱلتَّوَّابُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ
“Do they not know that Allah alone accepts the repentance of His servants and receives [their] charity, and that Allah alone is the Accepter of Repentance, Most Merciful?”
Part of the well-established hypocrites-who-stayed-behind-from-Tabuk passage of Surat al-Tawbah.
إِنَّمَا ٱلسَّبِيلُ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ يَسْتَـْٔذِنُونَكَ وَهُمْ أَغْنِيَآءُ ۚ رَضُوا۟ بِأَن يَكُونُوا۟ مَعَ ٱلْخَوَالِفِ وَطَبَعَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمْ فَهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
“Blame is only on those who seek exemption from you although they have the means. They preferred to stay behind with the helpless, and Allah has sealed their hearts so they do not realize [the consequences].”
Part of the well-established hypocrites-who-stayed-behind-from-Tabuk passage of Surat al-Tawbah.
إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ ٱشْتَرَىٰ مِنَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَنفُسَهُمْ وَأَمْوَٰلَهُم بِأَنَّ لَهُمُ ٱلْجَنَّةَ ۚ يُقَـٰتِلُونَ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ فَيَقْتُلُونَ وَيُقْتَلُونَ ۖ وَعْدًا عَلَيْهِ حَقًّا فِى ٱلتَّوْرَىٰةِ وَٱلْإِنجِيلِ وَٱلْقُرْءَانِ ۚ وَمَنْ أَوْفَىٰ بِعَهْدِهِۦ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ ۚ فَٱسْتَبْشِرُوا۟ بِبَيْعِكُمُ ٱلَّذِى بَايَعْتُم بِهِۦ ۚ وَذَٰلِكَ هُوَ ٱلْفَوْزُ ٱلْعَظِيمُ
“Allah has indeed purchased from the believers their lives and wealth in exchange for Paradise. They fight in the cause of Allah and kill or are killed. This is a true promise binding on Him in the Torah, the Gospel, and the Quran. And whose promise is truer than Allah's? So rejoice in the exchange you have made with Him. That is [truly] the ultimate triumph.”
Part of the well-established hypocrites-who-stayed-behind-from-Tabuk passage of Surat al-Tawbah.
لَوْ خَرَجُوا فِيكُم مَّا زَادُوكُمْ إِلَّا خَبَالًا وَلَأَوْضَعُوا خِلَالَكُمْ يَبْغُونَكُمُ الْفِتْنَةَ وَفِيكُمْ سَمَّاعُونَ لَهُمْ ۗ وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ بِالظَّالِمِينَ
“Had they gone forth with you [believers], they would have been nothing but trouble for you, and would have scrambled around, seeking to spread discord in your midst. And some of you would have eagerly listened to them. And Allah has [perfect] knowledge of the wrongdoers.”
Part of the well-established hypocrites-who-stayed-behind-from-Tabuk passage of Surat al-Tawbah.
كَٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ كَانُوٓا۟ أَشَدَّ مِنكُمْ قُوَّةً وَأَكْثَرَ أَمْوَٰلًا وَأَوْلَـٰدًا فَٱسْتَمْتَعُوا۟ بِخَلَـٰقِهِمْ فَٱسْتَمْتَعْتُم بِخَلَـٰقِكُمْ كَمَا ٱسْتَمْتَعَ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُم بِخَلَـٰقِهِمْ وَخُضْتُمْ كَٱلَّذِى خَاضُوٓا۟ ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ حَبِطَتْ أَعْمَـٰلُهُمْ فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا وَٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ ۖ وَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْخَـٰسِرُونَ
“[You hypocrites are] like those [disbelievers] before you. They were far superior to you in might and more abundant in wealth and children. They enjoyed their share in this life. You have enjoyed your share, just as they did. And you have engaged in idle talk, just as they did. Their deeds have become void in this world and the Hereafter. And it is they who are the [true] losers.”
Part of the well-established hypocrites-who-stayed-behind-from-Tabuk passage of Surat al-Tawbah.
قُلْ هَلْ تَرَبَّصُونَ بِنَا إِلَّا إِحْدَى الْحُسْنَيَيْنِ ۖ وَنَحْنُ نَتَرَبَّصُ بِكُمْ أَن يُصِيبَكُمُ اللَّهُ بِعَذَابٍ مِّنْ عِندِهِ أَوْ بِأَيْدِينَا ۖ فَتَرَبَّصُوا إِنَّا مَعَكُم مُّتَرَبِّصُونَ
“Say, "Are you awaiting anything to befall us except one of the two best things: [victory or martyrdom]? But We are awaiting Allah to afflict you with torment either from Him or at our hands. So keep waiting! We too are waiting with you."”
Part of the well-established hypocrites-who-stayed-behind-from-Tabuk passage of Surat al-Tawbah.
قُل لَّن يُصِيبَنَا إِلَّا مَا كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَنَا هُوَ مَوْلَانَا ۚ وَعَلَى اللَّهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ
“Say, "Nothing will ever befall us except what Allah has destined for us. He is our Protector." So in Allah let the believers put their trust.”
Part of the well-established hypocrites-who-stayed-behind-from-Tabuk passage of Surat al-Tawbah.
أَعَدَّ ٱللَّهُ لَهُمْ جَنَّـٰتٍ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرُ خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيهَا ۚ ذَٰلِكَ ٱلْفَوْزُ ٱلْعَظِيمُ
“Allah has prepared for them Gardens under which rivers flow, to stay there forever. That is the ultimate triumph.”
Part of the well-established hypocrites-who-stayed-behind-from-Tabuk passage of Surat al-Tawbah.
ٱلْمُنَـٰفِقُونَ وَٱلْمُنَـٰفِقَـٰتُ بَعْضُهُم مِّنۢ بَعْضٍ ۚ يَأْمُرُونَ بِٱلْمُنكَرِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ ٱلْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَقْبِضُونَ أَيْدِيَهُمْ ۚ نَسُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ فَنَسِيَهُمْ ۗ إِنَّ ٱلْمُنَـٰفِقِينَ هُمُ ٱلْفَـٰسِقُونَ
“The hypocrites, both men and women, are all alike: they encourage what is evil, forbid what is good, and withhold [what is in] their hands. They neglected Allah, so He neglected them. Surely the hypocrites are the rebellious.”
Part of the well-established hypocrites-who-stayed-behind-from-Tabuk passage of Surat al-Tawbah.
إِن تُصِبْكَ حَسَنَةٌ تَسُؤْهُمْ ۖ وَإِن تُصِبْكَ مُصِيبَةٌ يَقُولُوا قَدْ أَخَذْنَا أَمْرَنَا مِن قَبْلُ وَيَتَوَلَّوا وَّهُمْ فَرِحُونَ
“If a blessing befalls you [O Prophet], they grieve, but if a disaster befalls you, they say, "We took our precaution in advance," and turn away, rejoicing.”
Part of the well-established hypocrites-who-stayed-behind-from-Tabuk passage of Surat al-Tawbah.
لَـٰكِنِ ٱلرَّسُولُ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ مَعَهُۥ جَـٰهَدُوا۟ بِأَمْوَٰلِهِمْ وَأَنفُسِهِمْ ۚ وَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ لَهُمُ ٱلْخَيْرَٰتُ ۖ وَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْمُفْلِحُونَ
“But the Messenger and the believers with him strove with their wealth and their lives. They will have all the best, and it is they who will be successful.”
Part of the well-established hypocrites-who-stayed-behind-from-Tabuk passage of Surat al-Tawbah.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّبِىُّ جَـٰهِدِ ٱلْكُفَّارَ وَٱلْمُنَـٰفِقِينَ وَٱغْلُظْ عَلَيْهِمْ ۚ وَمَأْوَىٰهُمْ جَهَنَّمُ ۖ وَبِئْسَ ٱلْمَصِيرُ
“O Prophet! Struggle against the disbelievers and the hypocrites, and be firm with them. Hell will be their home. What an evil destination!”
Part of the well-established hypocrites-who-stayed-behind-from-Tabuk passage of Surat al-Tawbah.
أَلَمْ يَأْتِهِمْ نَبَأُ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ قَوْمِ نُوحٍ وَعَادٍ وَثَمُودَ وَقَوْمِ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ وَأَصْحَـٰبِ مَدْيَنَ وَٱلْمُؤْتَفِكَـٰتِ ۚ أَتَتْهُمْ رُسُلُهُم بِٱلْبَيِّنَـٰتِ ۖ فَمَا كَانَ ٱللَّهُ لِيَظْلِمَهُمْ وَلَـٰكِن كَانُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَهُمْ يَظْلِمُونَ
“Have they not received the stories of those [destroyed] before them: the people of Noah, Ad, and Thamud, the people of Abraham, the residents of Madyan (مدين - Midian), and the overturned cities [of Lot]? Their Messengers came to them with clear proofs. Allah would have never wronged them, but it was they who wronged themselves.”
Part of the well-established hypocrites-who-stayed-behind-from-Tabuk passage of Surat al-Tawbah.
وَمِنْهُمُ الَّذِينَ يُؤْذُونَ النَّبِيَّ وَيَقُولُونَ هُوَ أُذُنٌ ۚ قُلْ أُذُنُ خَيْرٍ لَّكُمْ يُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَيُؤْمِنُ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَرَحْمَةٌ لِّلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مِنكُمْ ۚ وَالَّذِينَ يُؤْذُونَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ
“And there are others who hurt the Prophet by saying, "He listens to anyone." Say, [O Prophet,] "He listens to what is best for you. He believes in Allah, has faith in the believers, and is a mercy for those who believe among you." Those who hurt Allah's Messenger will suffer a painful punishment.”
Part of the well-established hypocrites-who-stayed-behind-from-Tabuk passage of Surat al-Tawbah.
وَعَدَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَٱلْمُؤْمِنَـٰتِ جَنَّـٰتٍ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرُ خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيهَا وَمَسَـٰكِنَ طَيِّبَةً فِى جَنَّـٰتِ عَدْنٍ ۚ وَرِضْوَٰنٌ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ أَكْبَرُ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ هُوَ ٱلْفَوْزُ ٱلْعَظِيمُ
“Allah has promised the believers, both men and women, Gardens under which rivers flow, to stay there forever, and splendid homes in the Gardens of Eternity, and —above all— the pleasure of Allah. That is [truly] the ultimate triumph.”
Part of the well-established hypocrites-who-stayed-behind-from-Tabuk passage of Surat al-Tawbah.
فَإِن رَّجَعَكَ اللَّهُ إِلَىٰ طَائِفَةٍ مِّنْهُمْ فَاسْتَأْذَنُوكَ لِلْخُرُوجِ فَقُل لَّن تَخْرُجُوا مَعِيَ أَبَدًا وَلَن تُقَاتِلُوا مَعِيَ عَدُوًّا ۖ إِنَّكُمْ رَضِيتُم بِالْقُعُودِ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ فَاقْعُدُوا مَعَ الْخَالِفِينَ
“If Allah returns you [O Prophet] to a group of them and they ask to go forth with you, say, "You will not ever go forth or fight an enemy along with me. You preferred to stay behind the first time, so stay with those [helpless] who remain behind."”
Part of the well-established hypocrites-who-stayed-behind-from-Tabuk passage of Surat al-Tawbah.
وَإِذَآ أُنزِلَتْ سُورَةٌ أَنْ ءَامِنُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ وَجَـٰهِدُوا۟ مَعَ رَسُولِهِ ٱسْتَـْٔذَنَكَ أُو۟لُوا۟ ٱلطَّوْلِ مِنْهُمْ وَقَالُوا۟ ذَرْنَا نَكُن مَّعَ ٱلْقَـٰعِدِينَ
“Whenever a surah is revealed stating, "Believe in Allah and struggle along with His Messenger," the rich among them would ask to be exempt, saying, "Leave us with those who remain behind."”
Part of the well-established hypocrites-who-stayed-behind-from-Tabuk passage of Surat al-Tawbah.
رَضُوا۟ بِأَن يَكُونُوا۟ مَعَ ٱلْخَوَالِفِ وَطُبِعَ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمْ فَهُمْ لَا يَفْقَهُونَ
“They preferred to stay behind with the helpless, and their hearts have been sealed so they do not comprehend.”
Part of the well-established hypocrites-who-stayed-behind-from-Tabuk passage of Surat al-Tawbah.
وَلَا يُنفِقُونَ نَفَقَةً صَغِيرَةً وَلَا كَبِيرَةً وَلَا يَقْطَعُونَ وَادِيًا إِلَّا كُتِبَ لَهُمْ لِيَجْزِيَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ أَحْسَنَ مَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ
“And whenever they make a donation, small or large, or cross a valley [in Allah's cause] — it is written to their credit, so that Allah may grant them the best reward for what they used to do.”
Part of the well-established hypocrites-who-stayed-behind-from-Tabuk passage of Surat al-Tawbah.
وَلَوْ أَرَادُوا الْخُرُوجَ لَأَعَدُّوا لَهُ عُدَّةً وَلَٰكِن كَرِهَ اللَّهُ انبِعَاثَهُمْ فَثَبَّطَهُمْ وَقِيلَ اقْعُدُوا مَعَ الْقَاعِدِينَ
“Had they [really] intended to march forth, they would have made preparations for it. But Allah disliked that they should go, so He let them lag behind, and it was said [to them], "Stay with those [helpless] who remain behind."”
Part of the well-established hypocrites-who-stayed-behind-from-Tabuk passage of Surat al-Tawbah.
وَإِذَا مَآ أُنزِلَتْ سُورَةٌ فَمِنْهُم مَّن يَقُولُ أَيُّكُمْ زَادَتْهُ هَـٰذِهِۦٓ إِيمَـٰنًا ۚ فَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ فَزَادَتْهُمْ إِيمَـٰنًا وَهُمْ يَسْتَبْشِرُونَ
“Whenever a surah is revealed, some of them ask [mockingly], "Which of you has this increased in faith?" As for the believers, it has increased them in faith and they rejoice.”
Part of the well-established hypocrites-who-stayed-behind-from-Tabuk passage of Surat al-Tawbah.
لَا يَسْتَأْذِنُكَ الَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ أَن يُجَاهِدُوا بِأَمْوَالِهِمْ وَأَنفُسِهِمْ ۗ وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ بِالْمُتَّقِينَ
“Those who believe in Allah and the Last Day do not ask for exemption from striving with their wealth and their lives. And Allah has perfect knowledge of those who are mindful [of Him].”
Part of the well-established hypocrites-who-stayed-behind-from-Tabuk passage of Surat al-Tawbah.
لَّيْسَ عَلَى ٱلضُّعَفَآءِ وَلَا عَلَى ٱلْمَرْضَىٰ وَلَا عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَجِدُونَ مَا يُنفِقُونَ حَرَجٌ إِذَا نَصَحُوا۟ لِلَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦ ۚ مَا عَلَى ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ مِن سَبِيلٍ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
“There is no blame on the weak, the sick, or those lacking the means [if they stay behind], as long as they are true to Allah and His Messenger. There is no blame on the good-doers. And Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”
Part of the well-established hypocrites-who-stayed-behind-from-Tabuk passage of Surat al-Tawbah.
أَلَمْ يَعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَعْلَمُ سِرَّهُمْ وَنَجْوَىٰهُمْ وَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلَّـٰمُ ٱلْغُيُوبِ
“Do they not know that Allah [fully] knows their [evil] thoughts and secret talks, and that Allah is the Knower of all unseen?”
Part of the well-established hypocrites-who-stayed-behind-from-Tabuk passage of Surat al-Tawbah.
وَجَآءَ ٱلْمُعَذِّرُونَ مِنَ ٱلْأَعْرَابِ لِيُؤْذَنَ لَهُمْ وَقَعَدَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَذَبُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ ۚ سَيُصِيبُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ مِنْهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ
“Some Bedouins [also] came with excuses, seeking exemption. And those who were untrue to Allah and His Messenger remained behind [with no excuse]. The unfaithful among them will be afflicted with a painful punishment.”
Part of the well-established hypocrites-who-stayed-behind-from-Tabuk passage of Surat al-Tawbah.
مَا كَانَ لِأَهْلِ ٱلْمَدِينَةِ وَمَنْ حَوْلَهُم مِّنَ ٱلْأَعْرَابِ أَن يَتَخَلَّفُوا۟ عَن رَّسُولِ ٱللَّهِ وَلَا يَرْغَبُوا۟ بِأَنفُسِهِمْ عَن نَّفْسِهِۦ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ لَا يُصِيبُهُمْ ظَمَأٌ وَلَا نَصَبٌ وَلَا مَخْمَصَةٌ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَلَا يَطَـُٔونَ مَوْطِئًا يَغِيظُ ٱلْكُفَّارَ وَلَا يَنَالُونَ مِنْ عَدُوٍّ نَّيْلًا إِلَّا كُتِبَ لَهُم بِهِۦ عَمَلٌ صَـٰلِحٌ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُضِيعُ أَجْرَ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ
“It was not [proper] for the people of Madinah and the Bedouins around them to avoid marching with the Messenger of Allah or to prefer their own lives above his. That is because whenever they suffer from thirst, fatigue, or hunger in the cause of Allah; or tread on a territory, unnerving the disbelievers; or inflict any loss on an enemy — it is written to their credit as a good deed. Surely Allah never discounts the reward of the good-doers.”
Part of the well-established hypocrites-who-stayed-behind-from-Tabuk passage of Surat al-Tawbah.
عَفَا اللَّهُ عَنكَ لِمَ أَذِنتَ لَهُمْ حَتَّىٰ يَتَبَيَّنَ لَكَ الَّذِينَ صَدَقُوا وَتَعْلَمَ الْكَاذِبِينَ
“Allah will forgive you [O Prophet]! [But] why did you accept all of their excuses? You should have waited until you test those who have told the truth against those who have lied.”
This ayah rebukes the Prophet ﷺ for granting permission before Allah judged the true intentions of those who stayed behind from Tabuk -- the exact moment the post narrates.
يَحْلِفُونَ لَكُمْ لِتَرْضَوْا۟ عَنْهُمْ ۖ فَإِن تَرْضَوْا۟ عَنْهُمْ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَرْضَىٰ عَنِ ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلْفَـٰسِقِينَ
“They will swear to you in order to please you. And even if you are pleased with them, Allah will never be pleased with the fasiqs.”
This ayah is part of the Qur'an's direct response to the excuse-making scene the post narrates, upon the army's return from Tabuk.
لَّقَد تَّابَ اللَّهُ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ وَالْمُهَاجِرِينَ وَالْأَنصَارِ
“Allah has already forgiven the Prophet and the Muhajirin and the Ansar.”
This is the specific, extremely well-documented asbab al-nuzul: Ka'b ibn Malik's own account (quoted in the post) of Allah's mercy after 50 days of being shunned -- the direct occasion for this ayah's revelation.
سَيَحْلِفُونَ بِاللَّهِ لَكُمْ إِذَا انقَلَبْتُمْ إِلَيْهِمْ لِتُعْرِضُوا عَنْهُمْ ۖ فَأَعْرِضُوا عَنْهُمْ ۖ إِنَّهُمْ رِجْسٌ ۖ وَمَأْوَاهُمْ جَهَنَّمُ جَزَاءً بِمَا كَانُوا يَكْسِبُونَ
“When you return, they will swear to you by Allah so that you may leave them alone. So leave them alone—they are truly evil. Hell will be their home as a reward for what they have committed.”
This ayah is part of the Qur'an's direct response to the excuse-making scene the post narrates, upon the army's return from Tabuk.
وَعَلَى ٱلثَّلَـٰثَةِ ٱلَّذِينَ خُلِّفُوا۟ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا ضَاقَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلْأَرْضُ بِمَا رَحُبَتْ وَضَاقَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ أَنفُسُهُمْ وَظَنُّوٓا۟ أَن لَّا مَلْجَأَ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ إِلَّآ إِلَيْهِ ثُمَّ تَابَ عَلَيْهِمْ لِيَتُوبُوٓا۟ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ هُوَ ٱلتَّوَّابُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ
“And [Allah has also turned in mercy to] the three who were left behind, [whose guilt distressed them] until the earth, despite its vastness, seemed to close in on them, and their souls were torn in anguish, [until He accepted their repentance so that they could repent].”
This is the specific, extremely well-documented asbab al-nuzul: Ka'b ibn Malik's own account (quoted in the post) of Allah's mercy after 50 days of being shunned -- the direct occasion for this ayah's revelation.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَكُونُوا۟ مَعَ ٱلصَّـٰدِقِينَ
“O believers! Be mindful of Allah and be with the truthful.”
This is the specific, extremely well-documented asbab al-nuzul: Ka'b ibn Malik's own account (quoted in the post) of Allah's mercy after 50 days of being shunned -- the direct occasion for this ayah's revelation.
يَحْلِفُونَ بِاللَّهِ مَا قَالُوا وَلَقَدْ قَالُوا كَلِمَةَ الْكُفْرِ وَكَفَرُوا بَعْدَ إِسْلَامِهِمْ وَهَمُّوا بِمَا لَمْ يَنَالُوا ۚ وَمَا نَقَمُوا إِلَّا أَنْ أَغْنَاهُمُ اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ مِن فَضْلِهِ ۚ فَإِن يَتُوبُوا يَكُ خَيْرًا لَّهُمْ ۖ وَإِن يَتَوَلَّوْا يُعَذِّبْهُمُ اللَّهُ عَذَابًا أَلِيمًا فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةِ ۚ وَمَا لَهُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ مِن وَلِيٍّ وَلَا نَصِيرٍ
“They swear by Allah that they never said anything [blasphemous], while they did in fact utter a blasphemy, lost faith after accepting Islam, and plotted what they could not carry out. It is only through resentment that they pay Allah and His Messenger back for enriching them out of His bounty! If they repent, it will be better for them. But if they turn away, Allah will torment them with a painful Punishment in this world and the Hereafter, and they will have no one on earth to protect or help them.”
This is the specific asbab al-nuzul: this ayah exposes the hypocrite's denial of exactly the remark quoted in the post.
يَعْتَذِرُونَ إِلَيْكُمْ إِذَا رَجَعْتُمْ إِلَيْهِمْ ۚ قُل لَّا تَعْتَذِرُوا لَن نُّؤْمِنَ لَكُمْ قَدْ نَبَّأَنَا اللَّهُ مِنْ أَخْبَارِكُمْ ۚ وَسَيَرَى اللَّهُ عَمَلَكُمْ وَرَسُولُهُ ثُمَّ تُرَدُّونَ إِلَىٰ عَالِمِ الْغَيْبِ وَالشَّهَادَةِ فَيُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ
“They will make excuses to you [believers] when you return to them. Say, "Make no excuses, [for] we will not believe you. Allah has already informed us about your [true] state [of faith]. Your [future] deeds will be observed by Allah and His Messenger as well. And you will be returned to the Knower of the seen and unseen, then He will inform you of what you used to do."”
This ayah is part of the Qur'an's direct response to the excuse-making scene the post narrates, upon the army's return from Tabuk.
وَآخَرُونَ اعْتَرَفُوا بِذُنُوبِهِمْ خَلَطُوا عَمَلًا صَالِحًا وَآخَرَ سَيِّئًا عَسَى اللَّهُ أَن يَتُوبَ عَلَيْهِمْ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
“And [there are] others who have acknowledged their sins. They had mixed a righteous deed with another that was bad. Perhaps Allah will turn to them in forgiveness. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.”
Part of the same cluster of ayat (Surah at-Tawbah 9:102-119) revealed regarding the Tabuk campaign's aftermath, narrated firsthand in the post.
فَرِحَ الْمُخَلَّفُونَ بِمَقْعَدِهِمْ خِلَافَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ وَكَرِهُوا أَن يُجَاهِدُوا بِأَمْوَالِهِمْ وَأَنفُسِهِمْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَقَالُوا لَا تَنفِرُوا فِي الْحَرِّ ۗ قُلْ نَارُ جَهَنَّمَ أَشَدُّ حَرًّا ۚ لَّوْ كَانُوا يَفْقَهُونَ
“Those [hypocrites] who remained behind rejoiced for doing so in defiance of the Messenger of Allah, and hated [the prospect of] striving with their wealth and their lives in the cause of Allah. They said [to one another], 'Do not march forth in the heat.' Say, [O Prophet,] 'The Fire of Hell is far hotter!' If only they could comprehend!”
This ayah is part of Surat al-Tawba's Tabuk-era passage addressing the hypocrites and excuse-makers who stayed behind or mocked the campaign, described at this event.
فَلْيَضْحَكُوا۟ قَلِيلًا وَلْيَبْكُوا۟ كَثِيرًا جَزَآءًۢ بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَكْسِبُونَ
“So let them laugh a little -- they will weep much as a reward for what they have committed.”
This ayah is part of Surat al-Tawba's Tabuk-era passage addressing the hypocrites and excuse-makers who stayed behind or mocked the campaign, described at this event.
وَمِنْهُم مَّنْ عَاهَدَ اللَّهَ لَئِنْ آتَانَا مِن فَضْلِهِ لَنَصَّدَّقَنَّ وَلَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الصَّالِحِينَ
“And there are some who had made a vow to Allah: "If He gives us from His bounty, we will surely spend in charity and be of the righteous."”
This ayah is part of Surat al-Tawba's Tabuk-era passage addressing the hypocrites and excuse-makers who stayed behind or mocked the campaign, described at this event.
فَلَمَّا آتَاهُم مِّن فَضْلِهِ بَخِلُوا بِهِ وَتَوَلَّوا وَّهُم مُّعْرِضُونَ
“But when He gave them out of His bounty, they withheld it and turned away indifferently.”
This ayah is part of Surat al-Tawba's Tabuk-era passage addressing the hypocrites and excuse-makers who stayed behind or mocked the campaign, described at this event.
فَأَعْقَبَهُمْ نِفَاقًا فِى قُلُوبِهِمْ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ يَلْقَوْنَهُۥ بِمَآ أَخْلَفُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ مَا وَعَدُوهُ وَبِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَكْذِبُونَ
“So He caused hypocrisy to plague their hearts until the Day they will meet Him, for breaking their promise to Allah and for their lies.”
This ayah is part of Surat al-Tawba's Tabuk-era passage addressing the hypocrites and excuse-makers who stayed behind or mocked the campaign, described at this event.
وَآخَرُونَ مُرْجَوْنَ لِأَمْرِ اللَّهِ إِمَّا يُعَذِّبُهُمْ وَإِمَّا يَتُوبُ عَلَيْهِمْ ۗ وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ
“And some others are left for Allah's decision, either to punish them or turn to them in mercy. And Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.”
This ayah is part of Surat al-Tawba's Tabuk-era passage addressing the hypocrites and excuse-makers who stayed behind or mocked the campaign, described at this event.