“…who followed him at the time of hardship” (Qur’an 9:117). They said: The Muslims set out on the campaign of Tabūk, two or three men sharing a single camel, and they marched in fierce heat. One day the thirst became so intense that they slaughtered their camels, squeezed the contents of the stomachs, and drank the moisture.

Mālik ibn Mighwal related—from Ṭalḥah ibn Muṣarrif, from Abū Ṣāliḥ, from Abū Hurayrah—that he said: “We were travelling with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ when the people’s provisions were exhausted, to the point that one of them thought of slaughtering some of his mounts….” The ḥadīth is recorded by Muslim.

Al-Aʿmash transmitted—from Abū Ṣāliḥ—from Abū Hurayrah, or from Abū Saʿīd (Al-Aʿmash was unsure)—who said: “On the day of the expedition to Tabūk hunger struck the people. They said, ‘Messenger of Allah, if only you would allow us to slaughter our riding camels so that we could eat their meat and oil ourselves with their fat.’ He replied, ‘Do so.’ Then ʿUmar came and said, ‘Messenger of Allah, if you do that the riding animals will become scarce. Instead, summon the people’s remaining provisions and pray that Allah place blessing in them.’ He answered, ‘Very well.’ He asked for a leather mat, spread it out, and called for what was left of their food. One man brought a handful of barley, another a handful of dates, another a piece of bread, until a small amount had accumulated on the mat. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ invoked blessing over it and then said, ‘Fill your vessels.’ They did not leave a single container in the entire camp without filling it; they ate until they were satisfied, and a surplus still remained. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ then proclaimed: ‘I bear witness that there is no god but Allah and that I am the Messenger of Allah. No servant meets Allah with these words, harbouring no doubt about them, but Paradise will not be withheld from him.’ Muslim also recorded this report.

ʿAmr ibn al-Ḥārith narrated—from Saʿīd ibn Abī Hilāl, from ʿUtbah ibn Abī ʿUtbah, from Nāfiʿ ibn Jubayr, from Ibn ʿAbbās—that someone said to ʿUmar (Allah be pleased with him), “Tell us about the ordeal of hardship.” He replied, “We marched to Tabūk in scorching heat and halted at a station where thirst so overwhelmed us that we thought our necks would break—indeed, it even happened that a man…”