From time to time Nibataian traders from Syria would visit Medina to trade oil and brought news that Heraclius had set his sight upon conquering Medina and had gone so far as to advance a year's pay to his soldiers because he expected it to be a lengthy campaign. In addition to the rumors, disturbing reports reached Medina that Heraclius' army had already marched as far south as Balka and succeeded to secure the support of the Arab tribes of Ghassan, Judham, Lakm and Amilah.

The Vision of Heraclius

All but a few, privy to Heraclius, knew of a daunting vision Heraclius had during his campaign against the Persians. In the vision Heraclius had been told that a circumcised man would triumph in Syria, which he felt could be none other than the Prophet (sa) who had, some time ago, written him a letter in which he invited him to embrace Islam. It had been a vision of such compelling certainty that he could not dismiss it from his mind no matter how hard he tried. The vision bothered Heraclius to the extent that he restrained his army from marching any further south and issued orders to withdraw from Jerusalem to Homs as he was convinced that it would soon be conquered. In light of the vision he called for a meeting with his generals and proposed that a treaty should be made with the Prophet (sa) that gave him Syria in exchange for his promise not to advance beyond its northern limits. The generals were astounded, outraged at the proposal that he might even consider such a proposal and so Heraclius was forced to back down, although his vision was never far from his mind and bothered him constantly.

The Largest Army Yet in Islam

Matters could not be allowed to deteriorate so the Prophet (sa) mustered the largest, best-equipped army ever before in the history of Islam. Until that time it had always been the strategy of the Prophet (sa) never to disclose the true objective of a mission until the very last moment so that his plans would not fall into the wrong hands. In fact, he would often set out in the opposite direction to foil his enemies.

However, this time was the exception, it was imperative that adequate preparations be made for the long journey to Tabuk which would take place during the summer, a season of intense heat, across the scorching desert sands with its blinding brightness. It wasn't until later that registers were drawn up in which the names of the participants of a campaign were recorded, so for those reluctant to march with the Prophet (sa), there was always a place of refuge in the shadows of the lush groves of Medina and the knowledge that unless Allah made it known to the Prophet (sa) their absence would remain undetected.

To the hypocrites the thought of engaging the Roman army was daunting, especially as the enemy would have the advantage of being well rested whereas they would be weary from their arduous march and so they would congregate in the house of a Jew by the name of Suwailam and encourage others to join them. There were, however, some others who were not hypocrites that were slow to march with the Prophet (sa), their names were Ka'b, Malik's son; Abu Khaisamah; Murarah, Rabia Amiri's son, and Hilal, Umayyah Wakifi's son. Medina bustled with preparations and each day Ka'b would leave his home intending to prepare but never did.

Wealthier Muslims were generous in spending in the cause of Allah and provided money to buy provisions, weapons and whatever was necessary. Othman, alone, contributed enough money to provide mounts and equipment for ten thousand men. However, despite the generosity of the wealthy there remained seven very poor, anxious Muslims remaining without mounts; five of them were from the Ansar and two were Bedouins, one from the Muzaynah and the other from the Ghatafan. In desperation they came to the Prophet (sa) and begged him to provide them with mounts, but there were none left and so with heaviness of heart, sensitive to their great sorrow, he broke the news that they were to remain behind as the journey would be impossible without a mount. The companions were grief stricken and broke down, weeping. Their sincerity is recorded in the Koran:

"... And when you said: 'I can find no mounts for you,' they turned back, their eyes streaming with tears, grieving that they could not find the means to spend." (Koran 9:92)

The Arrival of the Bedouin Allies

Now that their Bedouin allies had arrived the army was thirty thousand strong with a cavalry of ten thousand. It was expedient for a camp outside the City to be established to accommodate them as there was no room in Medina, and so the faithful, long time friend of the Prophet (sa), Abu Bakr, was placed in charge of the arrangements. When the time came to set off the Prophet (sa) led his army out of Medina, leaving behind the women, children, hypocrites, the sick, the disabled, the seven who could not find mounts, those whose faith was weak, and Ka'b, Abu Khaisamah, Murarah and Hilal. In addition to those that stayed behind, was Ali who the Prophet (sa) had instructed to remain with his family.

Soon, the tongues of the hypocrites began to wag with false rumors that the Prophet (sa) found him a burden and did not wish for his company during the campaign. The words were so very hurtful that Ali could no longer bear them, for he loved the Prophet (sa) more than his own life, so he put on his armor and rode out to catch up with him, and did so before he reached the first halt, with the intent of seeking his permission to join him.

No sooner had he caught up with the Prophet (sa) he told him of the rumors whereupon the Prophet (sa) denounced them saying, "They lie. I asked you to remain for the sake of those I had left behind. So return, and represent me in my family and yours." The Prophet (sa) continued, "O Ali, are you not content that you should be to me as Aaron was to Moses, except that after me there is no prophet?" And so Ali returned with a contented heart to Medina.

The March Northwards

At dawn one morning thereafter, the Prophet (sa) was delayed and the time of prayer was about to expire. Everyone had assembled ready to pray behind him but when he did not appear, Abdur Rahman, Awf's son was elected to lead the prayer. At the beginning of the second unit of prayer the Prophet (sa) joined them and Abdur Rahman was about to step aside for him to lead the prayer, but the Prophet (sa) motioned that he should continued and prayed behind him.

After the congregation concluded the prayer, the Prophet (sa) rose and offered the missed unit. The Prophet (sa) then complemented Abdur Rahman saying, "You did very well, for indeed, a Prophet does not die until he has been led in prayer by a pious man of his people."

Abu Khaisamah

Several days later, to escape the sweltering summer heat Abu Khaisamah decided to take a stroll in his garden underneath the cool shade of the trees. However, he received little comfort from it as his conscience troubled him even more than it had previously done so, as he had begun to hate himself for not riding out with the Prophet (sa).

In the garden were two adobe houses belonging to his wives, as he approached them he noticed they had thrown water over them so as to keep them cool and that they had prepared a meal for him with a refreshing, cool drink of water poured from an earthenware jug.

As he stood at the entrance of one of the homes he exclaimed, "The Messenger of Allah (sa) faces the glare of the sun, and is exposed to hot winds, yet Abu Khaisamah enjoys the coolness of the shade, with his food prepared by two good women, living at ease in his home!"

Without further ado, he told his wives, "By Allah, I will not enter your homes until after I have joined the Messenger of Allah (sa), so prepare provisions for me." His wives brought food and water as he saddled his camel then he set off in all haste to join him.

The Ruins of Thamood

During the march across the desert the army took the route that would pass by the homes that once belonged to the people of Thamood. The fate of the people of Thamood was well known by the Muslims as Allah made mention of their disobedience to Him and their prophet in the Koran.

The only visible sign of their existence were their centuries old ruined homes hewn out of the cliffs. Before the army reached Thamood, the Prophet (sa) gave instructions that none were to stay there, nor yet drink or use its water.

“(Then) they hamstrung the shecamel and defied the order of their Lord saying to Salih: ‘Bring down that which you have promised us if you truly are one of the Messengers.’ Thereupon the earthquake seized them, at morning in their dwellings they were crouched, dead. He turned to them saying: ‘I conveyed to you my nation the Message of my Lord and gave you counsel, but you have no love for sincere advisers.’” (Koran 7:77-79)

The Spring of Tabook

At a halt several miles outside Tabuk, the Prophet (sa) told his army, "Allah willing, tomorrow, you will reach the spring of Tabuk. You will not reach it until the sun is hot. Whosoever reaches it must not touch its water until I arrive. However, two of the first men to reach the spring had not heard the Prophet's order and drank from it and used the water to make dough. Later in the day, when the rest of the army reached the spring, the spring had become no more than a trickle and the Prophet (sa) inquired why his ordered had been disobeyed and told them to throw the bread away.

Then, he gave instructions for the remaining water to be scooped up in handfuls and poured into a water-skin. After sufficient water had been collected, the Prophet (sa) washed his hands and face with it, then poured it over the rock that covered the mouth of the spring and as he did, he passed his hands over it whilst he supplicated to Allah. With a thunderous sound, water gushed forth and the entire army satisfied all their needs.

Muadah happened to be standing by the Prophet (sa) as the water gushed forth and the Prophet (sa) turned to him saying, "O Muadah, perhaps you will live to see this place become an oasis with many gardens." And so it was that in the years to follow the prophecy was fulfilled.

The Arrival of Abu Khaisamah

As the Prophet (sa) rested with his companions someone happened to mention that they had not seen Ka'b and asked where he was. A tribesman from the Salimah commented that he had not accompanied them because of his love of wealth, but Jabal's son jumped to his defense informing him that he only knew good things about him and chided the tribesman for speaking in such a manner. The Prophet (sa) made no comment. Not long after, the Prophet (sa) spotted a rider in the distance wearing a white cloak riding towards them and said, “Abu Khaisamah" and it was.

Unfounded Rumors

The Prophet (sa) stayed at Tabuk for twenty days and concluded that the rumors of the impending Roman attack were false. However, the march was far from wasted as he met with two settlements, one Christian and the other Jewish, whereupon a peace treaty was drawn up between them, which would, in return for an annual tax guarantee their protection.

The Stronghold At Dumat Al Jandal

Now that the danger was over, the Prophet (sa) sent Khalid together with a cavalry of four hundred and twenty on to Dumat Al Jandal that lay to the north-east of Tabuk, and was just five halts from Damascus. Dumat al Jandal was an important location on the road between Iraq and Medina as well as Syria. During this time, Khalid happened to be out hunting when, quite unexpectedly he came across Ukaydir, an Arab chieftain who owed allegiance to the Roman Empire. Khalid spoke to Ukaydir about Islam and shortly after they journeyed to Medina where he embraced Islam and allied himself to the Prophet (sa).