The Lessons from the Battle of Tabuk
26-07-2007
As Muslims
we must always remember there is a battle between the Haq (truth) and the Batil
(falsehood), and that the Haq will always win, and that this battle will
continue till the Day of Judgement. This is the Sunnah of Allah (swt). Allah (swt)
decreed that destiny.
The Haq must reject the Batil in order to be called the haq, just like a person
cannot be a Mu’min until they negate Kufr (disbelief), or claim they practice
the Sunnah (prophetic tradition) until they negate the bid’ah, or claim, to be
commanding Maruf (good) without also forbidding the Munkar (evil).
The Muslim rejects and hates for the sake of Allah (swt). Allah (swt) always
informs us about the Tamhees (test). Testing and sifting the believers from the
Kafiroon and the kabaith.
There will always a conspiracy by the kuffar against Islam and the Muslims. Like
the current Global Crusade against Islam and the Muslims. The Muslims are not
weak because they lack numbers or because they are waiting for any further Wahie
(revelation) to be revealed, but it is due to their lack of commitment. There is
no sacrifice from the Muslims today, whilst they the Kuffar want to remove the
Noor and the guidance of Allah (swt). “They intend to extinguish the Noor of
Allah (swt) with their mouths, But Allah will bring his light to perfection even
though the Kafiroon hate it” [EMQ 61:9].
Whatever Allah (swt) decreed is going to be fulfilled; like victory and
sovereignty for the believers. Always you will find at the end of the fight,
Islam and the Muslims are victorious. The kuffar may win a battle here and we
win one over there. Like Badr was for us and Uhud was for them. The victory is
in the end is for the believers. “When there comes the help of Allah and the
conquest” [EMQ 110: 1]
The enemies of Islam tried to destroy the Deen in the time of the Messenger
(saw). In our time the kuffar are taking longer to destroy us, we need to ask
why? “They will continue to fight you until they divert you from your Deen” [EMQ
2:217] this is the Shahadah (testimony) of Allah (swt). Allah further says “the
Jews and the Christians will never be pleased with you until you follow their
own Deen” [EMQ 2:120] their own policy to turn you into an apostate.
In the Battle of Mutah 3,000 Muslims fought 200,000 Kuffar. The numbers were not
the issue because still Allah (swt) made the Muslims victorious. Even today if
we are steadfast a few of us could defeat the many, for e.g. look to how the
Mujahideen got rid of the Soviets from Afghanistan.
If we go back 1,400 yrs to the Battles of Tabuk and Mutah there are many lessons
for us to learn.
In the year 9 Hijrah there was a huge gathering of Kuffar outside the Islamic
State. There was also the gathering of Munafiqeen inside the state. Like we have
Munafiqeen today, those who say “the Jews and the Christians are our brothers”
even denying ayah “the Jews and the Christians will never be pleased with you
until you follow their own Deen” [EMQ 2:120] yet Allah (swt) says they the Jews
and the Christians will never stop, they will continue until you become
apostate. We cannot therefore take what the Maulana’s say. There is no
justification to doubt Allah (swt) that is Takzeeb (lying on) Allah (swt).
The Battle of Tabuk
The Kuffar after being defeated in the Battle of Mutah planned to attack the
Islamic state. The victory at Mutah gave the Muslim Izzah (dignity), when the
Muslims were coming back; they were saying “we were like a mountain above a
mountain”. The Ummah went from victories like this to conquer the very strong
hold of the European nations until the adhan could be heard there. Fighting
group after group, to become the leading Ummah, unlike today we are a following
Ummah and even then with humiliation.
The Messenger (saw) called all the Muslims “Haya alal jihad” “O Muslim come to
jihad”. 30,000 Mujahideen responded to the call. Only 7 Muslims couldn’t respond
but had valid reasons. The Munafiqeen came to the Messenger (saw) with their
excuses, Allah (swt) says of them “Grant me leave and put me not on trial/fitnah
surely they have fallen in fitnah.” [EMQ 9:49] by not going to jihad they failed
the test and fell into fitnah, even though they had all the means; wealth,
health, etc. Amongst the Muslims those that could not go genuinely because they
had no means Allah (swt) says about them “they turned back, while their eyes
overflowing with tears of grief that they could not find anything to spend (for
jihad)” [EMQ 9:92]
The Messenger (saw) heard the Romans were coming, so he went out to meet them
before they entered the land. This is Prophetic advice for us, i.e. to hit the
kuffar before they come, don’t let them come to the area. The Messenger (saw)
put Ali ibn Abi Talib (ra) in charge of Ahlul bait, and then set off for Tabuk
taking with him 30,000 strong fighters.
The Munafiqeen still came to the Messenger (saw) and said they wanted to go,
whilst all the time mocking and jesting.
The division of hams (mocking) and lams (sarcastic) Munafiqeen.
1. Some said the Romans out number you.
2. Some said we are single men and we can’t control ourselves, blond women are
our weakness.
3. Some said they couldn’t fight in the hot weather.
“Say the Fire of the Hell is more intense” [EMQ 9:81] they want to play fitnah.
Messenger (saw) heard some of the Munafiqeen were making a conspiracy. They were
gathering in one house to prevent other people from going to Tabuk. The
Messenger (saw) sent Talha bin Ubaidullah (ra) to deal with them. Talha (ra)
went there with some people, surrounded the house of the Munafiqeen with fire
and hit them left, right and centre as they came out he hit them. The Munafiqeen
ran like coward, we don’t don't use the expression “like women”, women are brave
in Islam. The first shaheed (martyr) was Umm Ammar. She was stronger than Ammar
as she was willing to die for Islam and she did.
The Messenger (saw) moved his army and on the way met Diyar al-Thamud. The
people of Thamud, they were destroyed because they were oppressors. Allah (swt)
sent them his punishment, their trees were burnt, their houses turned upside
down, until only the ruins remained, their well has no water, only sand and
rock. The Messenger (saw) covered his face and cried and said to army “Do not
enter upon those Allah (swt) punished, unless crying, if you cannot cry don’t
pass near-by” this is Sunnah Muakkadah of the Messenger (saw). The Messenger
Muhammad (saw) said “You may get what these people got.”
This is what Allah (swt) informed us about regarding Thamud. What about to sit
with the oppressors today, and to be their own ministers? How can you help the
Zalim (oppressive) ruler, who is a Kafir murtad, how can some one be their own
bitanahs (advisors) how! The relaxation of the Muslim goes beyond the limit.
Allah (swt) says “Shirk is great Zulm” [EMQ 31:13] and Allah (swt) also says
“Incline not towards those who do Zulm lest the fire should touch you” [EMQ
11:113]
This expedition was one of great difficulty; even the Messenger (saw) tiredness
reached the highest level, to the point he even slept on own horses. The
Messenger (saw) almost fell down a few times whilst in this state. It is
reported in Sahih Muslim. He (saw) lay down on one side of his ride. Abu Qatadah
(ra) came near to him and held him and made him settled on his ride again. This
happened again and he Abu Qatadah held back the Messenger (saw) from falling and
on another occasion he did the same. The Messenger (saw) then woke and said
“who’s that”. Abu Qatadah replied “it is me, Abu Qatadah” the Messenger (saw)
then said “may Allah (swt) protect you like the way you protected the Messenger
of Allah (swt)”. After that it is reported that Abu Qatadah was protected
throughout the rest of his life and his family too. The one who does the good
deed will always get the reward.
The Romans heard the Muslims were coming. The Messenger (saw) kept sending the
message out to the Roman army that he was coming and pledge to kill them all.
This terrified the Romans who said “who is this that is coming, who can be so
strong to come out of the desert.” During the Caliphate of Umar (ra) the
Sahabahs (ra) asked Madad to send 4,000 men. Umar (ra) only sent 4 men saying
each man is equivalent to a 1,000. Indeed the 4 men went there assessed the
situation, divided resources and conquered Jerusalem.
When Messenger (saw) reach Tabuk the Romans were so terrified. The first
messenger sent to the Romans said “you should stop fighting and pay the jiziyah,
and submit or you will all be killed” this was disastrous to the ears of the
Romans. Allah (swt) says “they put their own plot, I put my plot”
The Messenger (saw) then sent to the Romans, Khalid bin Waleed (ra) with 400
soldiers to cause havoc. Khalid (ra) met Okida the King of Dawmanu Jandal.
Khalid (ra) surprised him. The Messenger (saw) had told Khalid to catch the king
when he goes hunting. Khalid (ra) took King Okida, who was terrified, and then
tied him up and took all his clothes and gold. The USA took Saddam and said “we
got him” But their plan back fired. Instead of making the people hate Saddam
they started to sympathise with him. They showed a broken man no money their
plan back fired, the US only want to score cheap points before the elections.
The Sahabahs (ra) when they saw the gold sent back by Khalid (ra) said “that is
Ajeeb (amazing)” the Messenger (saw) said “this is this strange? By my lord the
handkerchief of Saad in Jannah is better than that”. Khalid (ra) said to the
king “I can save your life as long as you pay a large amount in jiziyah” the
king agreed and was then released. Okida later betrayed this treaty in time of
Abu Bakr As-Siddique (ra). Khalid the captured Okida and killed him. The second
time Okida was captured in the battle. Khalid captured him and said “I wanted to
do that in time of Messenger (saw) but I left it for the sake of Allah (swt)”
The battle of Tabuk paved the way for the army of Usama (ra). Days after days
Allah (swt) honours this Ummah with another Usama. George W Bush always mention
name of Usama, it’s become such a phenomena.
The Battle of Tabuk gave us many lessons. The Messenger (saw) almost fell down
because of hunger. The Romans were defeated even though they had all the
artilleries and some say 350,000 men in their army. One lion in amongst a
thousand hyenas will terrify them all.
Messenger (saw) returned back after this victory. All the Jews & Christians
heard how Romans ran away from the Muslims. “Terrify the enemy of Allah (swt)” [EMQ
8:60] The Messenger (saw) prepared the Sahabah (ra) and said “Cry other wise
don’t pass the area of Tahmud”
Messenger (saw) said to the Sahabah (ra) “by Allah (swt) those in Madinah,
whenever you travel in jihad they were with you all the time”. Khalid (ra) said
“O Rasulallah if they with us, then why are they in Madinah”. The Messenger
(saw) said “yes, but they were still with and will you get same reward but they
had no means to reach you” even by increasing the numbers, by praising, by
creating public awareness, to terrify the enemies of Allah you will give you
reward. Those Muslims who stayed back in Madinah used to terrify the Munafiqeen
and the kuffar. The only good news we hear today is news brought to us by the
Mujahideen. The Taliban are still fighting. Sheikh Usama bin Laden and Al-Qaeda
still on the increase, USA aware of this, the only ones defeated are the
Munafiqeen. Allah (swt) says “Verily Allah will support the one who helps his
Deen”
If a person is knowledgeable but does not know how to use the ilm; it is of no
good, hence why Allah (swt) says “Al-Azizul Hakim”
Umar (ra) said “We are people that Allah dignified by Islam, any time we seek
dignity by other than Islam, Allah will humiliate us”
“Nahnu Qawmun Azzanallahu bil Islam, Fama bi taghayna laizzata min dunihi
azallan Allah”
The Messenger Muhammad (saw) said “I am the prophet of Malahim; slaughter and
fighting” and “Fighting will continue till the Day of Judgement, and will not
stop because some one unjust or just”
Allah (swt) says “Those Munafiq if they come out will not do anything but
complain” and “they will put between you fitnah, don’t take them with you”.
The Conspiracy to kill Messenger (saw) by the hypocrites was always there, even
on the way back from Tabuk. Abu Qatadah was there to protect him. There was a
group of hypocrites ready to kill the Messenger (saw), they said let us kill him
(saw). Twelve of them gathered and conspired to hit the Messenger’s mule, near
the valley, so that he would fall down and be killed. Hudaifah bin Yaman and Abu
Qatadah saw that the Messenger (saw) was close to edge. Hudaifa went and held
the reins of the Messenger’s mule. The hypocrites went to make noise and
unsettle the mule, the Messenger (saw) saw them and said “I’m coming to
slaughter you”.