Holy Prophet of Islam - Hazrat Muhammad Mustafa — Page 216
sa 216. The Holy Prophet of Islam, Hadrat Muhammad Mustafa campaign of Tabūk. Ka'b said: "I did not remain behind the sa sa sa sa. Messenger of Allāh in any battle except the Battle of Tabūk, and I failed to take part in the Battle of Badr, and in that case there was no question of any penalty for anyone who had not participated in it, for in fact, the Holy Prophet and the Muslims had gone out in search of the caravan of Quraish, but Allāh brought about a confrontation between them and their enemies unexpectedly. I was present with the Messenger of Allah the night of 'Aqabah, when we pledged for Islām. I would not exchange 'Aqabah with Badr, forall the fame of Badr as compared with 'Aqabah. My failure to accompany the Holy Prophet" in the campaign of Tabük fell out in this wise. I was stronger and more affluent at the time of this campaign than at any other time. I had then two riding camels, and never before did I have two. Whenever the Holy Prophet* decided on a campaign he would not disclose his real objective till the last moment. In this case, as the season was one of intense heat, the journey was long across the desert and the enemy was in great strength; he warned the Muslims clearly and told them his objective so that they should be fully prepared. A large number of. Companions" were ready to accompany the Messenger of Allāh. . No register would have sufficed for setting down the particulars of all of them. Most of those who were minded to keep away imagined that they would get away with it, unless their defection was disclosed through Divine revelation. Also the fruit on the trees had ripened and their shade was thick and this too occupied my mind. sa sa. The Messenger of Allāh and the Muslims who were to accompany him occupied themselves with their preparations and I would go out in the morning meaning to do the same along with him but would return without settling anything, saying to myself: 'There is plenty of time. I can get ready whenever I wish. ' This went on and the Muslims completed their preparations, and one day the Messenger of Allah started with them on his march, and I had not yet done anything to prepare myself. I still continued in my sa