with him on any other campaign so many people as gathered with him for this one. No one stayed behind except women and children, those excused because they were unable to go forth, or hypocrites. The three whose repentance was accepted also stayed behind, and there were not (1) in Medina any believing men over whom he could appoint a deputy, as he had done on every other occasion. Rather, this appointment was less significant than (2) those he customarily made, because no able-bodied believing men remained in Medina over whom he might appoint anyone, as had been the case throughout his other campaigns. On those occasions, many able-bodied believing men would remain in Medina, and he would appoint whomever he chose as his deputy over them.

This was true of every appointment of a deputy he made (3) during his military expeditions, such as the Greater and Lesser campaigns of Badr, the campaigns of Banū al-Mustaliq, al-Ghābah, and Khaybar, the Conquest of Mecca, and his other campaigns in which no fighting occurred. Such campaigns numbered more than ten, and he appointed a deputy for all but a few of them. He also appointed deputies for the Farewell Hajj and two umras before the campaign of Tabūk.

On every such occasion, those in Medina included men superior to those who remained behind during the campaign of Tabūk. Consequently, every appointment before this one was over men superior to those over whom Alī was appointed. This was why Alī—may Allah be pleased with him—went out to the Prophet in tears and said, “Are you leaving me behind with the women and children?”

It is also said that some hypocrites maligned him and said, “He left him behind only because he hates him.”

The Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—then made it clear to him: “I appointed you as my deputy only because of your trustworthiness in my sight,