Labarin ya isa ga Manzon Allah ﷺ cewa Romawa suna shirin kai hari a Arewacin Larabawa domin share tunanin dabarar janyewa mai ban mamaki da rundunar Musulmi ta yi a yakin Mu'tah. A wannan karon ya yanke shawarar ya fuskanci wannan barazanar ta waje da kansa ﷺ, sai ya shirya wani tsari da aka tsara domin a karshe ya kawo karshen duk burin da shugabannin Romawa ke da shi na tsoma baki a al'amuran Musulmai, ko duk wani tunani da suka yi na kai hari a kasashensu ﷺ.

News reached the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) that the Romans were preparing to raid the North of the Arabian Peninsula in order to wipe out the memory of the spectacular tactical withdrawal which the Muslim army had staged in the battle of Mu’tah. This time he (pbuh) decided to face the foreign threat himself, so he (pbuh) drew up a plan designed to finally kill off any ambitions that the Roman leaders held about interfering in the affairs of the Muslims or any thoughts that they may have entertained about raiding their lands.

Ya kasance ƙarshen lokacin bazara, zafi yana da tsanani kuma fari yana aiki. Nisan da ke tsakanin Madina da al-Sham yana da tsawo kuma yana da wahala, kuma ba lokacin tafiya ba ne. Saboda haka, tafiyar za ta bukaci haƙuri. Manzon Allah ﷺ, yana la'akari da waɗannan abubuwan, ya bayyana wa mutanensa inda za su nufa, abin da ba shi da al'ada a gare shi, domin su yi shirye-shirye masu isa. A sauran yaƙe-yaƙensa, Manzon Allah ﷺ kullum yakan ɓoye manufofinsa, yana ɓad da maƙiya ta hanyar dabarun yaudara.

It was the end of the summer, the heat was intense and there was a drought in effect. The distance between Madinah and al-Sham was long and hard and it was not the season for traveling. Therefore, the journey would require endurance. The Messenger of Allah (pbuh), taking these factors into account, uncharacteristically disclosed the destination to his men in order for them to make adequate preparations. In his other military encounters the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) always kept his aims a secret, misleading the enemy by adopting a strategy of deceptive maneuvers.

Sai dai a wannan karo, saboda yanayin da ake ciki, Manzon Allah ﷺ ya bayyana aniyarsa ta yakar Rumawa a kan iyakokinsu tun daga ranar farko. Ya aika a kira dukkan kabilu, yana umurtar su da su shirya yaki domin a tara mujahidai da yawa gwargwadon iko. Ya umurci Musulmai masu dukiya da su ciyar daga abin da Allah (SWT) ya azurta su da shi, domin, idan zai yiwu, a sanya wa rundunar Musulmai makamai har hakora. Manzon Allah ﷺ ya kuma fara zuga da kuma karfafa mutane su shiga jihadi. Amsar Musulmai ta bambanta. Wadanda suka karbi Musulunci zukatansu cike da shiriya da haske, sun garzaya zuwa kiran Manzon Allah ﷺ da himma da jarumta sosai. Wasu daga cikinsu talakawa ne, ba ma wanda yake da alfadari da zai hau ba, wasu kuma masu arziki ne, sun kawo dukiyarsu duka suka mika wa Manzon Allah ﷺ. Wadannan su ne suka sadaukar da kansu da zuciya daya don yin yaki a tafarkin Allah (SWT), suna marmarin shahada a kowane lokaci. Amma wadanda suka karbi Musulunci ba don komai ba sai saboda tsoro ko amfanin kansu, tsoron Musulmai ko fatan samun rabon ganima, su ne suka yi sanyin jiki a amsarsu, kuma su ne suka fara neman uzuri. Suka fara rada wa juna game da farmakin da za a yi a wannan kasa mai nisa wacce ke dafuwa a zafin rana. Wadannan su ne munafukai. Suka ce wa juna, "Kada ku yi yaki a wannan zafi." Allah (SWT) ya saukar da wannan game da halin da suka shiga, cewa,

However, on this occasion, in view of the extenuating circumstances, the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) declared his intention to fight the Romans alongside their borders from the first day. He (pbuh) sent for all the tribes asking them to prepare for war so that as many Mujahideen as possible could be gathered. He (pbuh) ordered the wealthy Muslims to spend from what Allah (swt) had generously provided them with in order to arm, if possible, the Muslim army to the teeth. The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) also began inciting and exhorting people to join in the Jihad. In reply the Muslim response varied. Those who had embraced Islam with their hearts full of guidance and light hurried to the call of Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) with great zeal and courage. Some of them were poor, not even possessing a mule to ride on, and others were rich, they brought all their possessions and handed them to the Messenger of Allah (pbuh). It was these who volunteered wholeheartedly to fight in the way of Allah (swt), longing all the while for martyrdom. But those who had embraced Islam for no other reason than out of fear or personal gain - fear of the Muslims or anticipation of gaining a share of the booty - those were lukewarm in their response and they were the ones who began finding excuses. They whispered among themselves about the raid that was to take place in this far off land that cooked in the burning heat. These were the hypocrites. They said to each other, “Do not fight in this heat.” Allah (swt) revealed the following concerning their predicament,

"Suka ce: "Kada ku fita a cikin zafi." Ka ce: "Wutar Jahannama ta fi tsanani a zafi, da ma ace sun fahimta."" [At-Tauba, 9:81].

“And they said: “March not forth in the heat.” Say: “The Fire of Hell is more intense in heat, if only they could understand” [At-Tauba, 9:81].

Manzon Allah ﷺ ya ce wa Jadd ibn Qays, "Shin kana so ka yi yaƙi da Banu Asfar, Jadd?" Jadd ya amsa, "Za ka ba ni dama in zauna a baya, kada ka jarabce ni? Domin kowa ya sani ina matuƙar sha'awar mata, kuma ina tsoron idan na ga matan Rum ba zan iya riƙe kaina ba." Da ya ji haka, Manzon Allah ﷺ ya juya masa baya. Game da shi ne Allah (SWT) ya saukar da ayar nan,

The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said to Jadd ibn Qays, “Would you like to fight the Banu Asfar, Jadd?” Jadd replied, “Will you allow me to stay behind and not tempt me, for everyone knows that I am strongly addicted to women and I am afraid that if I see the Roman women I shall not be able to control myself ?” On hearing this the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) turned away from him. It was about him that Allah (swt) revealed the following verse,

Kuma daga cikinsu akwai wanda ya ce: "Ka yi mini izini (in ba ni yaƙi) kuma kada ka jarrabe ni." To, lalle sun riga sun fāɗa cikin fitina. Kuma lalle Jahannama tana kewaye da kāfirai.

“And among them is he who says: “Grant me leave (to be exempted from Jihad) and put me not into trial” Surely, they have fallen into trial. And verily, Hell is surrounding the disbelievers.” [At-Tauba, 9:49].

Munafukai ba su tsaya nan ba; sun fara tunzura mutane kada su shiga Jihad, saboda haka Manzon Allah ﷺ ya yanke shawarar ya magance su da tsanani kuma ya koya musu darasi. Lokacin da labari ya isa gare shi cewa wasu daga cikin munafukai suna taruwa a gidan Suwaylim Bayahude, inda suke shirya makirci da shigar da shakka a zukatan mutane ta hanyar kiransu su zauna a baya kada su yi yaƙi, sai ya ﷺ aika Talhah ɗan 'Ubaydullah zuwa gare su tare da wata ƙungiya daga cikin Sahabbansa ﷺ, suka kuma ƙone gidan. Kowa ya gudu daga wurin, kuma ɗaya daga cikinsu ya karya ƙafarsa yayin da yake gudu daga ginin. Wannan ya zama gargaɗi ga wasu, kuma babu ɗaya daga cikin munafukai da ya kuskura ya sake aikata irin wannan tayar da fitina.

The hypocrites did not stop there, they began inciting people not to join in the Jihad and so the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) decided to deal with them harshly and teach them a lesson. When news reached him that some of the hypocrites were meeting in the house of Suwaylim the Jew, where they were plotting and introducing doubt into the peoples’ minds by urging them to stay behind and not fight, he (pbuh) sent Talhah ibn ‘Ubaydullah to them along with a group of his (pbuh) Sahabah and they burned the house down. Everyone fled the scene and one of them broke his leg while escaping from the building. This served as a warning to others and none of the hypocrites dared to repeat such sedition again.

Ƙarfin hali da tsananin ƙudurin da Manzon Allah ﷺ ya nuna wajen shirya rundunar sun yi tasiri sosai a cikin jama'a, sai ga adadi mai yawa na mayaƙa sun taru. Gabaɗaya, kusan mutum dubu talatin ne suka amsa kiran Jihadi. An sanya wa rundunar suna "rundunar al-'Usrah" (wahala ko tsanani), saboda an nemi ta fuskanci runduna mai ƙarfi ta Romawa Bizantine a cikin zafin bazara, nesa da Madina. Rundunar kuma tana buƙatar kuɗi masu yawa. Rundunar da aka tara ta yi sallah a bayan Abu Bakr, yayin da Manzon Allah ﷺ ya kammala al'amuran da ba su ƙare ba a Madina, ya kuma ba da umarninsa a lokacin rashinsa. Umarnin sun kasance cewa Muhammad ɗan Maslama zai kula da Madina, Ali kuma zai zauna a baya ya kula da matan Manzon Allah ﷺ. Sa'an nan Manzon Allah ﷺ ya koma cikin rundunar ya karɓi jagoranci. Nan da nan aka bayar da umarnin ci gaba. Suka ci gaba tare baki ɗaya, cikin wani nuni mai ban mamaki na ƙarfi da iko, wanda mutanen da suka rage a Madina suka gani. Mata suka hau saman rufin gidaje don yi wa wannan babbar rundunar mayaƙan Mujahidai sallama.

The firmness and forcefulness with which the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) went about preparing the army produced a deep effect on the public and a very large number of troops were gathered. In all, about thirty thousand people answered the call to Jihad. The army was named the army of ‘al-‘Usrah (crisis or hardship) because it was asked to face a formidable Byzantine force in the summer heat far away from Madinah. The army also required massive financing. The assembled army was led in prayer by Abu Bakr, while the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) sorted out his unfinished business in Madinah and issued his instructions during his absence. These were that Muhammad ibn Maslamah would be in charge of Madinah and ‘Ali would remain behind to look after the wives of Allah’s Messenger. The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) then rejoined the army and took command. Thereupon, the order went out to move forward. They proceeded to advance en masse in a spectacular display of strength and might which was witnessed by the people remaining in Madinah. Women climbed onto the rooftops to see off this massive force of Mujahideen.

Rundunar ta ci gaba da tafiya babu gajiyawa zuwa al-Sham, ba tare da tunanin komawa baya ba, ba tare da zafi, ƙishirwa ko yunwa sun dame ta ba. Wasu daga cikin waɗanda suka yi baya sun burge da wannan jarumtaka da ƙarfin hali, don haka ba da daɗewa ba suka shiga cikin rundunar, suka nufi Tabuk inda sojojin Rum suka sauka a sansani cikin shirin kai hari kan Musulmi. Sai dai, a lokacin da Rumawa suka ji labarin girman da ƙarfin rundunar Musulmi, sai tunanin yakin Mu'tah ya bayyana a idanunsu. Suka tuna jarumtaka da azamar Musulmi duk da ƙarancin makamansu da rashin yawansu. Kasancewar Manzon Allah ﷺ a kan gaban rundunar Musulmi a wannan karon ya sa tsoro ya kama su. Sun firgita kwarai, wannan kuwa ya sa suka yi gaggawar komawa cikin cikin ƙasar al-Sham da mafakar katangunsu. Bayan janyewarsu daga Tabuk, sansanonin Rumawa a iyakar al-Sham sun zama babu kowa. Da Manzon Allah ﷺ ya ji haka, sai ya shiga Tabuk ba tare da wata matsala ba, ya mamaye ta ba tare da yaƙi ba, ya kafa sansani a can. Ya zaɓi kada ya bi Rumawa, sai dai ya wadatu da mamaye Tabuk da iko da yankunan iyaka da ke kusa. Rundunar Musulmi ta zauna a Tabuk kimanin wata guda tana magance sauran dakarun da suka so yaƙi ko su yi tsayayya da su. Manzon Allah ﷺ ya aika saƙonni zuwa ga shugabanni da gwamnonin da ke ƙarƙashin ikon Rumawa a yankin. Ya rubuta wa Yuhanna ɗan Ru'mah, gwamnan Aylah, da mutanen al-Jarba' da na Adhrah, yana umartarsu da su miƙa wuya ko su fuskanci mamayewa, sai suka miƙa wuya suka yi masa biyayya. Suka yi sulhu da Manzon Allah ﷺ, suka biya Jizyah. Bayan ya cika manufarsa gaba ɗaya, sai Manzon Allah ﷺ ya koma Madinah.

The army moved relentlessly towards al-Sham, not entertaining any second thoughts, unperturbed by the heat, thirst or famine. Some of those who lagged behind were moved by this display of strength and courage and so they soon joined the force and marched towards Tabuk where the Roman armies were encamped ready to raid the Muslims. However, when the Romans heard about the size and strength of the Muslim army, the recollection of Mu’tah flashed before their eyes. They recalled the bravery and resolve of the Muslims despite their inferior weapons and lack of numbers. The fact that this time the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) was at the head of the Muslim army sent shivers down their spines. They were simply terrified and this led to them rushing back into the interior of al-Sham and the safety of their fortresses. After their withdrawal from Tabuk the Roman positions on the border of al-Sham became deserted. When the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) heard this he moved unmolested into Tabuk, occupied it without a fight and encamped there. He (pbuh) chose not to chase the Romans, but contented himself with the occupation of Tabuk and control of the nearby border regions. The Muslim force remained in Tabuk for about a month dealing with those remaining forces who wished to fight or resist them. He (pbuh) sent messages to the leaders and governors who were under Roman control in the area. He (pbuh) wrote to Yuhanna ibn Ru’mah governor of Aylah, the people al-Jarba’ and of Adhrah telling them to submit or face invasion and they yielded to him and obeyed. They made peace with the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) and paid the Jizyah. Having completely fulfilled his objective the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) then returned to Madinah.

A cikin rashinsa, munafukai sun yi amfani da halin da ake ciki wajen yada jita-jita da haifar da rarrabuwa a tsakanin muminai. Sun karfafa ayyukansu na tayar da hankali a cikin al'umma ta hanyar gina "masallaci" a Thu Awan, wani gari da ke nesa da Madina da kimanin awa daya tafiya (a lokacin hasken rana). Ana amfani da "masallacin" wajen tsugunar da munafukan da suka yi kokarin karkatar da kalmomin Allah da kuma neman haifar da rarrabuwa a cikin al'umma ta hanyar yada labarai masu guba. Masu gina "masallacin" sun je wurin Manzon Allah ﷺ yayin da yake shirin tafiya yakin Tabuk, suna rokonsa ya zo ya yi sallah a wurin. Ya ﷺ ya ce musu su jira har sai ya dawo daga tafiyarsa. A lokacin dawowarsa, Manzon Allah ﷺ ya ji labarin ayyukansu na mugunta, kuma an bayyana masa gaskiyar game da "masallacin". An umarci a rushe "masallacin", aka kuma kone shi gaba daya. An hukunta munafukan da tsanani sosai. Saboda abin da suka fuskanta, sun firgita, kuma ba su sake tunanin shiga irin wadannan ayyuka ba.

In his absence, the hypocrites took advantage of the situation to spread rumors and cause division among the believers. They strengthened their seditious operations within the society by building a “masjid” in Thu Awan, a town about an hour journey (during daylight hours) from Madinah. The “masjid” was used to shelter the hypocrites who tried to distort the words of Allah and who attempted to cause division in society by spreading poisonous tales. The owners of the “masjid” had approached the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) as he was preparing for the expedition to Tabuk asking him to come and pray there. He (pbuh) asked them to wait until he returned from his trip. On returning the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) heard of their mischievous deeds and the truth about the “masjid” was revealed to him. The “masjid” was ordered to be destroyed and it was categorically burned down. The hypocrites were dealt with very harshly indeed. In light of their experience they became terrified and never again thought to indulge in such ventures.

Yaƙin Tabuk ya nuna cikar ikon Musulmai a dukkan Tsibirin Larabawa. Maganar Allah ta bazu ko'ina a ƙasar, Manzon Allah ﷺ kuma ya tabbatar da mulkinsa, ya kafa ikonsa ba tare da wanda ya rage da zai ƙalubalance shi ba. Bayan wannan lokaci, ƙungiyoyin kabilun Larabawa suka rinƙa zuwa wajensa cikin taro-taro, suna rantsuwar biyayya gare shi da kuma bayyana Musulunci.

The Tabuk expedition marked the completion of the Muslims’ authority over the whole of the Arabian Peninsula. The word of Allah spread all over the land and Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) secured his (pbuh) dominance and established his (pbuh) authority without anyone remaining to challenge him. After this time, the congregations of Arab tribes came to him in crowds pledging their obedience and declaring their Islam.