1104 – Kaʿb ibn Mālik (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: “Whenever the Prophet ﷺ intended a military expedition, he would indicate another destination.” Agreed upon. (1)

— Vocabulary in the ḥadīth
– warra bi-ghayrihā: with an open wāw and a doubled rāʾ, ending in an alif maqṣūra; it means that he concealed the real objective, kept it hidden, spoke of it indirectly, and outwardly mentioned a different aim. The additional wording recorded by Abū Dāwūd clarifies this: “for he would say, ‘War is deception.’”

— Lessons drawn from the ḥadīth

1. This noble narration highlights an aspect of the Prophet’s ﷺ military leadership and strategic planning.
2. If he intended to raid a town or tribe to the north, for example, he would give the impression that he was heading south. He would openly ask about that southern route—its water sources, paths, and the tribes along it—so that observers would assume that was his actual destination.
3. The goal was to surprise the enemy while they were heedless, before any warning reached them and they could prepare. He wished to arrive before they had mustered any readiness.
4. Such surprise yields two benefits:
   First: Casualties on both sides are reduced, for when a clash between two evenly matched armies is averted, losses are light. The Prophet’s ﷺ wars were wars of mercy and benevolence; it was enough for him that the enemy yield and surrender so that mercy could replace severity and kindness to captives could take the place of vengeance.