The Prophet orders the people to prepare to fight the Byzantines

Ibn Ishaq says the Prophet stayed in Medina from Dhu al-Hijja to Rajab, then ordered the people to prepare to invade the Byzantines — in a time of hardship, fierce heat and drought, when the fruits had ripened. His custom was to give a feigned name to every expedition, except the Tabuk expedition, which he made plain to the people because of the distance, the season's severity and the enemy's numbers. ¹

The Prophet stayed in Medina from Dhu al-Hijja to Rajab, then ordered the people to prepare to invade the Byzantines. ¹

Ibn Ishaq names those who related the expedition to him: al-Zuhri, Yazid ibn Ruman, Abdullah ibn Abi Bakr (may God be pleased with him), Asim ibn Umar ibn Qatada and others; he says each of them related what reached him, some telling what others did not. ¹

Ibn Ishaq describes the season: the people's hardship, the heat's severity, the land's drought, the fruit's ripeness — people preferred staying by their fruits and in their shade and hated going out. ¹

He adds that it was the Prophet's custom to feign his intended destination — except on the Tabuk expedition, which he made plain, telling them he intended the Byzantines, so they might take their full equipment. ¹

• A composite account: Ibn Ishaq combined the reports of several of his authorities, saying some tell what others do not (p. 159).