Another group consisted of persons like Ka’b...

Another group consisted of persons like Ka’b, Hilal and Mararah who had full faith in Islam and were also desirous of participating in jihad, but as they had not yet collected their produce they decided that after collecting the produce they would join the warriors of Islam.

In the terminology of the Holy Qur’an (vide Surah al-Tawbah, 9:118) they are the same three violators who were severely reprimanded by the Prophet on return from Tabuk and the rebuke administered to them also served as an example for others.

Imam Ali Did Not Participate In This Battle One of the distinctions of the Commander of the Faithful is that he accompanied the Prophet and was his standard-bearer in all Islamic battles except in the Battle of Tabuk, he stayed in Medina and did not participate in jihad under the orders of the Prophet himself.

The Prophet took this decision because he knew very well that the hypocrites and some persons from amongst Quraysh were seeking an opportunity to bring about disorder and topple the newly established Islamic Government in his absence. Tabuk was the farthest point to which the Prophet travelled in connection with the battles in which he participated.

He realized perfectly that it was possible that during his absence anti-Islamic groups might create disturbance and might call their sympathizers from different places to join them for the success of their nefarious schemes. Hence, although he had nominated Muhammad bin Maslamah to act as his representative in Madina during his absence, he also said to Ali: “You are the guardian of the and my kinsfolk and the group of the Muhajirs, and none except myself and you are suited for this task” .

The stay of the Commander of the Faithful in Medina upset the conspirators very much because they realized that they could not put their schemes into practice in the presence of Ali who was continuously vigilant.

Hence, in order to ensure the exit of Ali from Medina, they decided upon another plan and circulated the rumour that the Prophet had asked Ali very earnestly to take part in jihad but the latter had declined to participate in this sacred battle on account of the very long journey and excessively hot weather. In order to contradict these people Ali saw the Prophet and placed the matter before him.

At this moment the Prophet uttered his historical sentence which is a clear proof of Ali’s Imamate and his immediate succession as Caliph after the demise of the Prophet. He said: “O my brother!