Those who Stayed Behind

A Jew from Medina, whose name was Suwailam resided in a part of Medina named Jasoom, also known as Bi‘r Jasim. This was a water well belonging to Abul Haitham bin Tayyihan and was situated towards Syria. Its water was excellent and the Holy Prophet (sa) enjoyed drinking from it. The house belonging to this Jew was the centre for the hypocrites. The Holy Prophet (sa) was informed that this was where the hypocrites would gather and they were dissuading people from joining the Holy Prophet (sa) in the Battle of Tabuk.

The Holy Prophet (sa) instructed Hazrat Ammar bin Yasir (ra) to go to them and enquire about what they were saying to others. If they denied saying the aforementioned then he should let them know that he had been informed about what they had been spreading. When Hazrat Ammar (ra) arrived there and said what was instructed, consequently those individuals started coming to the Holy Prophet (sa) to present their excuses.

(Al-Siratun Nabawiyyah Li Ibn Hisham, p. 597, Ghazwah Tabuk, Dar ibn Hazm, Beirut, 2009) (Al-Sirat al-Halabiyyah, Vol. 3, p. 186, Bab Dhikr al-Bi‘aar allati shariba minha Rasulullah (sa), Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 1990) (Farhang Sirat, p. 84, Zawwar Academy Publications, Karachi, 2003)

Allah the Almighty has described their condition in the following words:

یَحۡذَرُ الۡمُنٰفِقُوۡنَ اَنۡ تُنَزَّلَ عَلَیۡہِمۡ سُوۡرَۃٌ تُنَبِّئُہُمۡ بِمَا فِیۡ قُلُوۡبِہِمۡ ؕ قُلِ اسۡتَہۡزِءُوۡا ۚ اِنَّ اللّٰہَ مُخۡرِجٌ مَّا تَحۡذَرُوۡنَ۔ وَ لَئِنۡ سَاَلۡتَہُمۡ لَیَقُوۡلُنَّ اِنَّمَا کُنَّا نَخُوۡضُ وَ نَلۡعَبُ ؕ قُلۡ اَ بِاللّٰہِ وَ اٰیٰتِہٖ وَ رَسُوۡلِہٖ کُنۡتُمۡ تَسۡتَہۡزِءُوۡنَ۔ لَا تَعۡتَذِرُوۡا قَدۡ کَفَرۡتُمۡ بَعۡدَ اِیۡمَانِکُمۡ ؕ اِنۡ نَّعۡفُ عَنۡ طَآئِفَۃٍ مِّنۡکُمۡ نُعَذِّبۡ طَآئِفَۃًۢ بِاَنَّہُمۡ کَانُوۡا مُجۡرِمِیۡنَ

“The hypocrites fear lest a Surah should be revealed against them, informing them of what is in their hearts. Say, ‘Mock ye! Surely, Allah will bring to light what you fear.’ And if thou question them, they will most surely say, ‘We were only talking idly and jesting.’ Say, ‘Was it Allah and His Signs and His Messenger that you mocked? Offer no excuse. You have certainly disbelieved after your believing. If we forgive a party from among you, a party shall we punish, for they have been guilty.’” (Surah al-Taubah, Ch.9: V.64-66)

Nevertheless, these were the conditions at the time prior to the departure [for the battle] and such schemes of not going were being plotted. The hypocrites were a part of this conspiracy and the Jews were also inciting them in this regard. Some presented their excuses prior to going to the battle, whilst others offered excuses when the Holy Prophet (sa) returned from battle. Nonetheless, the Holy Prophet (sa) entrusted their matter to Allah the Almighty. When the Holy Prophet(sa) returned from the Battle of Tabuk and reached a place near Medina, he stated, “There are some people in Medina [at present], who had accompanied us in every journey and in every valley.” The Companions (ra) submitted, “O Messenger (sa) of Allah! How could they have been with us if they are in Medina?” The Holy Prophet (sa) replied, “Indeed they are in Medina. However, they were hindered due to certain reasons or ailments.”

(Musnad Ahmad bin Hanbal, Vol. 4, p. 263, Musnad Anas bin Malik, Hadith 12032, Alamul Kutub, Beirut, 1998) (Musnad Ahmad bin Hanbal, Vol. 5, p. 132, Musnad Jabir bin Abdillah, Hadith 14731, Alamul Kutub, Beirut, 1998)

These people had genuine excuses not to go and they either fell ill or were hindered from going due to some other reason, even though they desired to go on this journey. This is why Allah the Almighty has counted them among those who participated in the battle. During the journey whilst returning from Tabuk, the Holy Prophet (sa) said, “I am returning swiftly. Hence, whoever from among you wishes to travel with me may do so and whoever wishes to stay behind (i.e., to return at their own pace) may do so.” The narrator says, “Following this, we departed until we were able to see Medina. Upon this, the Holy Prophet (sa) said, ‘This is Taa‘bah, which is pure and pleasant and this is Mount Uhud, which loves us and we love it.’ Following this, the Holy Prophet (sa) said, ‘The best household from among the Ansar is that of Banu Najjar, which is followed by the households of Banu Abdil Ashhal, Banu Abdil Harith bin Khazraj and Banu Sa‘ida…’ and the Holy Prophet (sa) went on to declare all of the households of Medina to be good.” The narrator relates that “Hazrat Sa‘d (ra) bin Ubadah joined us upon which Abu Usaid said, ‘Are you aware of the fact that the Holy Prophet (sa) has mentioned the excellence of the households of the Ansar and has kept us at the end?’ Hazrat Sa‘d (ra) went to the Holy Prophet (sa) and submitted, ‘O Messenger (sa) of Allah! You have mentioned the excellence of the households of the Ansar and have kept us at the end.’ Upon this, the Holy Prophet (sa) said, ‘Does it not suffice you that you are among the virtuous ones?’” This is a narration from Sahih Muslim.

(Sahih Muslim, Kitabul fada‘il, Bab Fi Mu‘jazat An-Nabi (sa), Hadith 1392)