The Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—set out to confront the Byzantines, who followed Christianity, when word reached him that they were mustering forces against him. He advanced and remained at Tabuk for twenty nights, but he neither encountered any plot nor met an enemy, so he returned. This expedition occurred in the intense heat, just as the fruits had ripened, and the hypocrites preferred the life of this world over the Hereafter. They therefore stayed behind, seeking shade, fresh dates, and dried dates, and the distance seemed too arduous for them—may Allah protect us.
The true believers, however, marched with the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—and neither the length of the journey nor the allure of ripe fruit could weaken their resolve.
Yet Kaʿb ibn Mālik—may Allah be pleased with him—remained behind from the Expedition of Tabuk without any legitimate excuse, even though he was among the sincere believers. Hence his statement, “I never failed to accompany the Messenger of Allah—peace and blessings be upon him—in any campaign he undertook,” meaning that Kaʿb—may Allah be pleased with him—had taken part in every military expedition of the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—and was therefore one of those who strive in the path of Allah, “except the Battle of Badr.” He and others were absent from Badr because the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—had left Madinah with no intention of fighting; therefore, only three hundred and some odd men accompanied him. Their sole aim was to intercept a Quraysh caravan—camels laden with goods that had come from Syria, were heading to Mecca, and would pass by Madinah. The Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—went out to seize this caravan because the Meccans had driven him and his Companions from their homes and property. Their wealth, therefore, was lawful booty for the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him, and it was permissible for him to go forth and take it; there was no aggression in this on the part of the Messenger of Allah—peace and blessings be upon him—and his Companions,