Battle of Tabuk: Educational Lessons and Faith-Based Stances Ahmed Massad

The Battle of Tabuk: “The call of Islam rose and its banner was raised high on the shoulders of men whom God honoured by having them draw their swords in defence, not in aggression, shedding the blood of the aggressor and having their own blood shed for the sake of raising the word of God and making it supreme through the ages. In the Battle of Tabuk – in the hour of hardship – that honour shone on the Prophet (peace be upon him) and his Companions. He and his Companions were commanded to raise the banner of their religion over hills whose people wished to turn their plotting against Islam; so the Prophet (peace be upon him) and his Companions put their trust in their Lord, resolved to act, and set out for the desert of Tabuk to repel a Roman attack that was planning to annihilate the Muslims and extinguish the light of their call, so that this light would not breach the fortresses of their crumbling state and rise above the walls they had built around their peoples. In this battle the Messenger (peace be upon him) and his Companions set for us the greatest example of giving and sacrifice to preserve, carry and spread God's call, so that its reach would extend to the east and west of the earth. In this book – dear reader – we will journey in our imagination across the deserts of the Arabian Peninsula towards the field of Tabuk with the first patient believers, feeling their pain, breathing the fragrance of their faith, and listening to the counsel of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and his educational guidance to them.”