Financial Sacrifice Offered for the Battle of Tabuk
The Battle of Tabuk took place in Rajab 9 AH and is also known as Jaish al-Usrah, i.e. the “Army of Hardship.” The details in relation to the financial sacrifice offered by Hazrat Uthman (ra) are as follows:
The Battle of Tabuk took place in 9 AH and is also known as Jaish al-Usrah, i.e. the “Army of Hardship.” The Holy Prophet (sa) made an appeal for contribution towards the preparation of this battle. Upon this, Hazrat Uthman (ra) presented his entire trade caravan of 100 camels including its litter and saddles which had been prepared to go to Syria. The Holy Prophet (sa) made another appeal, and again, in light of the provisions required for the expedition, Hazrat Uthman (ra) prepared another 100 camels along with their litters and saddles and presented it to the Holy Prophet (sa). The Holy Prophet (sa) yet again made another appeal and Hazrat Uthman (ra) for a third time prepared a further 100 camels, including their litter and saddles and presented them to the Holy Prophet (sa). When the Holy Prophet (sa) stepped down from his pulpit, he stated,
مَا عَلَى عُثْمَانَ مَا عَمِلَ بَعْدَ هَذِهِ ـ مَا عَلَى عُثْمَانَ مَا عَمِلَ بَعْدَ هَذِهِ
“There will be no retribution for whatever Uthman does from now on, there will be no retribution for whatever Uthman does from now on”
Apart from this, Hazrat Uthman (ra) presented 200 auqiyah of gold to the Holy Prophet (sa).
According to another narration, Hazrat Uthman (ra) presented himself before the Holy Prophet (sa) and placed 1,000 dinars in the Holy Prophet’s (sa) lap. The Holy Prophet (sa) placed his hands in the coins that were in his lap and whilst moving them around, he twice stated:
مَا ضَرَّ عُثْمَانَ مَا عَمِلَ بَعْدَ الْيَوْم
“There will be no retribution for whatever Uthman does from now on.”
According to another narration, Hazrat Uthman (ra) presented 10,000 dinars and the Holy Prophet (sa) prayed for Hazrat Uthman (ra) as follows:
غَفَرَ لَكَ يَا عُثْمَانَ مَا أَسْرَرتَ وَمَا أَعْلَنْتَ وَمَا هُوَ كَائِنٌ إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ مَا يُبَالِى مَا عَمِلَ بَعْدَهَا
“O Uthman! May Allah grant you His forgiveness for whatever you have done discreetly and openly and whatever you go onto to do till the Day of Judgment. As of today, he should not be concerned over any of his deeds.”
According to another narration, Hazrat Uthman (ra) presented 1,000 dinars and 70 horses for the preparation of this battle.
According to another narration, on this occasion the Holy Prophet (sa) stated to Hazrat Uthman (ra):
“O Uthman! May Allah grant you His forgiveness for whatever you have done discreetly and openly and whatever you go onto to do till the Day of Judgment. As of today, whatever he does, Allah will not hold him accountable.”
According to another narration, the Holy Prophet (sa), on this occasion, prayed for Hazrat Uthman (ra) as follows:
أَللّٰهُمَّ ارْضِ عَنْ عُثْمَانَ فَإِنِّى عَنْهُ رَاضٍ
“O Allah! Express Your pleasure for Uthman for I am also pleased with him.”
(Sharh Zurqani ala al-Mawahib al-Laduniyyah, Vol. 4, pp. 68, 66-71, Ghazwat Tabuk, Dar al-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 1996) (Sunan al-Tirmidhi, Kitab al-Manaqib, Bab ma fi Manaqib Uthman…, Hadith 3700 & 3701)