A Valuable Lesson on Obedience
Hazrat Ibn ‘Abbas (ra) relates that the Holy Prophet (sa) sent forth some companions on an expedition, among whom was Hazrat ‘Abdullah bin Rawaha (ra). It was a Friday and the other companions in this expedition had already left in the morning. He said “I shall offer my Jumu’ah Prayer with the Holy Prophet (sa) and then join them.” When the Holy Prophet (sa) saw him present in the mosque, after completing the Friday Prayers, he asked, “What is it that hindered you from leaving with your companions?” He answered “O Messenger of Allah! It was my earnest desire and wish to be present during the Friday Prayers with the Holy Prophet (sa) and listen to your sermon. Thereafter I will take another route and meet up with the group.” The Holy Prophet (sa) stated, “Even if you spent all that was in the earth, you would still not attain the reward of those who, in accordance with the instructions, departed in the morning for the expedition.”
(Sunan Al-Tirmidhi, Abwab Al-Jumu’ah, Bab Ma Ja-a Fi Safar Yaum Al-Jumu’ah, Hadith 527)
So here, the emphasis is on obedience being obligatory. It has been narrated that after this, whenever he went on an expedition or participated in a battle, Hazrat ‘Abdullah bin Rawaha (ra) was always the first to join the group and the last to return to Medina.
(Usdul Ghabah, Vol. 3, p. 236, Abdullah (ra) bin Rawaha, Darul Kutub Al-‘Ilmiyah, Beirut 1996)