Explanation of the words of Imam al-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) regarding what he quoted: "
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The Shaykh : In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful:
Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and all his Companions:
This is a portion of the long hadith of Ka'b ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him). It was previously mentioned that he did not lag behind the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) in any expedition he went on, except at Badr, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not go out for a battle, and except at Tabuk, whose hadith he mentioned (may Allah be pleased with him). He said (may Allah be pleased with him): meaning: the expedition of Tabuk. He was strong in body and wealthy in money, to the extent that he had two mounts for that expedition, and he had never gathered two mounts in any expedition before, ever. And he prepared and equipped himself (may Allah be pleased with him). And it was the custom of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): Bulugh al-Maram 11:12 meaning: he displayed the opposite of what he intended. This is part of his wisdom (peace and blessings be upon him) and his shrewdness in war, because if he displayed his direction, it would become clear to his enemy, so perhaps the enemy would prepare more for him, or perhaps the enemy would move away from the place the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) intended to go. So, for example, if he intended to go south, he would feign that he wanted to go north, or if he intended to go east, he would feign that he wanted to go west, so that the enemy would not learn of his secrets. Except in the expedition of Tabuk, where the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) made its matter clear, clarified it, and revealed it to his Companions. This was for several reasons. First: it was in severe heat, when the fruits were ripe, and souls are inclined to laziness and comfort.
Second: the distance was far. From Madinah to Tabuk were deserts, sand, thirst, and sun.
Third: the enemy was numerous. Their enemies were many, and they were the Romans, who gathered in a huge number according to what reached the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). So he made its matter clear and clarified it, and informed them that he was going out to Tabuk to a numerous enemy and a distant place, so that the people would prepare. So the Muslims went out with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), and no one lagged behind except those whom Allah defeated with hypocrisy, or only three men: Ka'b ibn Malik, Murarah ibn al-Rabi', and Hilal ibn Umayyah (may Allah be pleased with them). These were from the pure believers, but they lagged behind for a matter that Allah the Exalted willed. As for others who lagged behind, they were hypocrites immersed in hypocrisy. We ask Allah for safety. So the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) went out with his Companions, and they were numerous, toward the direction of Tabuk until he descended there. But Allah the Exalted did not bring him and his enemy together. Rather, he remained in that place for twenty days, then returned without war. The rest of the story will come, if Allah wills.
Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and all his Companions:
This is a portion of the long hadith of Ka'b ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him). It was previously mentioned that he did not lag behind the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) in any expedition he went on, except at Badr, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not go out for a battle, and except at Tabuk, whose hadith he mentioned (may Allah be pleased with him). He said (may Allah be pleased with him):
He was never in an expedition stronger or wealthier than in that expedition
إنه لم يكن في غزوة أقوى ولا أيسر من تلك الغزوةWhenever the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) intended to go out on a battle, he would pretend to head in a different destination.
أنه إذا أراد غزوة ورَّى بغيرهاSecond: the distance was far. From Madinah to Tabuk were deserts, sand, thirst, and sun.
Third: the enemy was numerous. Their enemies were many, and they were the Romans, who gathered in a huge number according to what reached the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). So he made its matter clear and clarified it, and informed them that he was going out to Tabuk to a numerous enemy and a distant place, so that the people would prepare. So the Muslims went out with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), and no one lagged behind except those whom Allah defeated with hypocrisy, or only three men: Ka'b ibn Malik, Murarah ibn al-Rabi', and Hilal ibn Umayyah (may Allah be pleased with them). These were from the pure believers, but they lagged behind for a matter that Allah the Exalted willed. As for others who lagged behind, they were hypocrites immersed in hypocrisy. We ask Allah for safety. So the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) went out with his Companions, and they were numerous, toward the direction of Tabuk until he descended there. But Allah the Exalted did not bring him and his enemy together. Rather, he remained in that place for twenty days, then returned without war. The rest of the story will come, if Allah wills.