Nonparticipation in the Battle of Tabuk
As mentioned previously, he was among the three companions who were unable to participate in the Battle of Tabuk and regarding whom God Almighty revealed the following verse of the Holy Quran:
وَّ عَلَی الثَّلٰثَۃِ الَّذِیۡنَ خُلِّفُوۡا ؕ حَتّٰۤی اِذَا ضَاقَتۡ عَلَیۡہِمُ الۡاَرۡضُ بِمَا رَحُبَتۡ وَ ضَاقَتۡ عَلَیۡہِمۡ اَنۡفُسُہُمۡ وَ ظَنُّوۡۤا اَنۡ لَّا مَلۡجَاَ مِنَ اللّٰہِ اِلَّاۤ اِلَیۡہِ ؕ ثُمَّ تَابَ عَلَیۡہِمۡ لِیَتُوۡبُوۡا ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰہَ ہُوَ التَّوَّابُ الرَّحِیۡمُ
“And [He has turned with mercy] to the three whose [case] was deferred, until the earth became too strait for them with [all] its vastness, and their souls were [also] straitened for them, and they became convinced that there was no refuge from Allah save unto Himself. Then He turned to them with mercy that they might turn [to Him]. Surely, it is Allah Who is Oft-Returning [with compassion and is] Merciful.” (Surah al-Taubah, Ch.9: V.118)
As it has been mentioned previously, all three of these companions – Hazrat Hilal (ra) bin Umaiyyah, Hazrat Murarah (ra) bin Rabee‘ and Hazrat Kaab (ra) bin Malik – were from among the Ansar.
(Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitabul Maghazi, Bab Hadith Kaab bin Malik, Hadith 4418) (Usdul Ghabah, Vol. 5, p. 129, Murarah bin Rabee’ra, Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 2003)
In reference to this incident, there is no separate account by Hazrat Murarah (ra). The only detailed account is by Hazrat Kaab bin Malik (ra), which was mentioned in the previous sermon in relation to Hazrat Hilal (ra) bin Umaiyyah, therefore there is no need to mention it again here.