ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Biography of Imam `alĪ Ibn AbĪ-tĀlib Ghazwah of TabŪk One trading caravan from Syria spread a rumor in al-Madinah that the Caesar of Rome, Heracles, was planning to attack al-Madinah and the Christian tribe, Banū-Ghassan, Banū-Lakhm, Banū-Qazm and Banū-Amilah were gathering under his flag. Banū-Ghassan, they said, had converted their territory, Syria, as a cantonment to mobilize the armies of Rome and Syria.

They also said that the reconnoitering troops have reached as close as the area of Balqa’. The Prophet (a.s) on the basis of these reports started the preparations to meet the enemy. He ordered the Muslims to prepare for stopping the advancing enemy. All the wars that the Muslims fought were inside the country and they had not faced any external opponent. This campaign was to be fought on foreign soil, and was against a distant Emperor whose conquests extended to Persia and beyond.

On hearing the Prophet’s orders, the men, instead of feeling the thrill of the prospective battles, were crestfallen. The reason for this mood was that they were facing a drought of late and only during the current season, the crop was good and nearing harvest. They were not in a mood to travel leaving behind their ready crops. Besides, the summer heat was severe and harsh for travel through the desert. In such circumstances, the Muslims started making excuses to avoid going on the campaign.

(9:38)” When pressure mounted over the Muslims with admonishing, Verses, and they saw no way out other than joining the contingent, then some willingly and others not so willingly got ready to go. Some others malingered and stayed back at their homes. The Prophet (a.s) took help from within al-Madinah and other areas to get together a contingent of 30,000 men and during the month of Rajab 9H left al-Madinah and their first halt was at Thaniyyat al-Wida`.

`Abdullah ibn Ubay, with his men, too was with the contingent and camped in the low-lying area of Thaniyyat al-Wida`.