Events

• Took place in 9 AH;

• The Byzantines were wary of the growing Muslim power and wanted to defeat them before they became too big or powerful to conquer;

• The Nabateans brought news to Madina of a big and powerful army that Heraclius was preparing;

• The Prophet made a decision to go to war and meet the Byzantines on their border; they marched to Tabuk with 30,000 men;

• The Muslims had donated generously for this expedition;

  • ‘Uthman gave a lot of his wealth for the campaign and Ali was left behind to look after his family;

• The hypocrites remained behind:

  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! (Surah at-Taubah, 9:81)

• They faced many hardships on the way and had little water;

• Once at Tabuk they stayed some days, but the Byzantine army did not arrive;

• The Prophet (pbuh) made treaties with some of the tribes on the border;

• On return to Madina the Muslims’ reputation as a powerful force reached far and wide, and many delegations came to visit him after this event.

The Battle of Tabuk became a mission of peace instead of war. What can Muslims learn from this?

The Prophet (pbuh) had set off to fight the Byzantines. They did not show, and so there was no war. The Prophet (pbuh) made treaties with people along the border. Some lessons Muslims can learn could be:

• Muslims should favour peace over fighting
• Muslims should fight in defence just as the Prophet (pbuh) did, preferring to make peace with those in neighbouring regions
• Showing unity could help remove the need to fight.

Candidates may also answer this question on a personal level. Other valid responses should be credited