Valuable Counsel Regarding Expeditions: The Matter of Provisions at the Battle of Tabuk

There is a narration about how the Holy Prophet (sa) would accept the counsel of Hazrat Umar (ra) regarding expeditions, and this narration is reported by either Hazrat Abu Hurairah (ra) or Hazrat Abu Saeed (ra). The narrator, A‘mash, was in doubt as to who exactly reported this narration.

Nonetheless, it is narrated that during the Battle of Tabuk, many people were extremely hungry. They sought permission from the Holy Prophet (sa) to slaughter their camels that were used to carry water as a food source and to utilise their fat. The Holy Prophet (sa) granted them permission. Upon this, Hazrat Umar (ra) arrived and humbly submitted, “O Messenger (sa) of Allah, if you allow this then the number of mounts will decrease. Instead, you could ask everyone to bring their food and provisions – whatever they may have to eat – and pray on the combined food for blessings. It may so happen that Allah the Almighty bestows His blessings upon it.” The Holy Prophet (sa) agreed with this suggestion.

The narrator continues that the Holy Prophet (sa) sent for a leather spread and laid it out and asked for the little provisions and food that remained to be brought. The narrator says that some brought a handful of corn bulbs or dates, and others brought pieces of bread etc., to the point that some small amounts of food were collected on the spread. The Holy Prophet (sa) prayed for the food to be blessed. He then instructed everyone to fill their dishes with it.

People began to fill their dishes until every single dish in the army was full. Everyone ate to their fill and there were leftovers, too. Then, the Holy Prophet (sa) said that he bore witness that there was none worthy of worship except Allah and that he was Allah’s messenger, and whoso went before God while doubtlessly bearing witness to these two things would not be prevented from Paradise. This narration is from [Sahih] Muslim.

(Sahih Muslim, Kitab al-Iman, Bab al-Dalil ‘ala anna man mata ‘ala al-Tauhid, Hadith 7373)

This same narration is reported in Bukhari by Yazid bin Abi Ubaid on the authority of Hazrat Salma (ra) bin Akwa. He narrates that during a journey, the people’s provisions had depleted and they sought permission from the Holy Prophet (sa) to slaughter their camels. The Holy Prophet (sa) granted them permission to do so. Following this, Hazrat Umar (ra) came to them and was informed [of what happened] by them, upon which he asked them how they would survive after consuming their camels.

Hazrat Umar (ra) then went to the Holy Prophet (sa) and asked as to how they would survive after consuming their camels. The Holy Prophet (sa) replied that he should announce to the people to bring their remaining provisions together.

The Holy Prophet (sa) prayed and blessed those remaining provisions. He called for the people to bring their dishes, and they began to fill them. When they had finished, the Holy Prophet (sa) said that he bore witness that there was none worthy of worship except Allah and that he was Allah’s messenger.

(Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-Jihad wa al-Siyar, Bab Haml al-Zad fi al-Ghazw, Hadith 2982)