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The march to Tabuk and back

مسير النبي إلى تبوك ورجوعه

The Prophet's march from Medina to Tabuk in Rajab of year nine and his return, by the halting-places Ibn Ishaq names: Thaniyyat al-Wada' where he camped, al-Jurf where Ali caught up, al-Hijr, and Tabuk where he stayed some ten nights, and Wadi al-Mushaqqaq on the way back. Ibn Ishaq does not order every stop; the return section (Dhi Awan) was completed in a later batch.

Depth

At a glance

Era
The Prophetic Era
Region
Arabia
Review
Draft Completeness 1/5 · Help complete it

Stations

Summary

Ibn Ishaq sketches the Prophet's march to Tabuk through scattered spots, not ordering them all in an explicit sequence. 1

The stations mentioned

  • Thaniyyat al-Wada': where the Prophet ﷺ pitched his camp on setting out. 2
  • Al-Jurf: where the Prophet camped and Ali ibn Abi Talib caught up with him. 3
  • Al-Hijr: where the Muslims camped and drew from its well, then were forbidden to drink from it. 4
  • Al-Akhdar: where Abu Ruhm travelled by night near the Prophet. 5
  • Tabuk: where the Prophet stayed some thirteen to nineteen nights. 6
  • Wadi al-Mushaqqaq: which the Prophet passed on his return. 7

Notes

The order of stations between al-Jurf, al-Hijr and Tabuk is taken from the narrative order; Ibn Ishaq gives neither explicit distances nor precise dates. 1

The narrative then continues to the halt at Dhu Awan and Masjid al-Dirar — the subject of the next batch.

Connections

Explore the connections

Part of
The expedition to Tabuk

People and things also explored

Abu Dharr lags behind and follows on foot· Abu Khaythama catches up with the Prophet· Abu Ruhm and the stragglers of Ghifar and Aslam· al-Jadd ibn Qays asks leave to stay behind· Ali is left in charge of the Prophet's family· The Bedouin excuse-makers· Four believers lag behind without doubt· The burial of Dhu al-Bijadayn at Tabuk

Sources

  1. al-Sira al-Nabawiyya — Ibn Hisham, al-Saqqa edition (1355/1936) , 4/162-172
  2. al-Sira al-Nabawiyya — Ibn Hisham, al-Saqqa edition (1355/1936) , 4/162
  3. al-Sira al-Nabawiyya — Ibn Hisham, al-Saqqa edition (1355/1936) , 4/163
  4. al-Sira al-Nabawiyya — Ibn Hisham, al-Saqqa edition (1355/1936) , 4/164-165
  5. al-Sira al-Nabawiyya — Ibn Hisham, al-Saqqa edition (1355/1936) , 4/172
  6. al-Sira al-Nabawiyya — Ibn Hisham, al-Saqqa edition (1355/1936) , 4/170
  7. al-Sira al-Nabawiyya — Ibn Hisham, al-Saqqa edition (1355/1936) , 4/171
Cite this page

islam.museum contributors. “The march to Tabuk and back”. islam.museum, https://islam.museum/en/journey/tabuk-march-out-and-back/. CC BY-SA 4.0. Last updated 2026-10-16.

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Related

Abu Dharr lags behind and follows on foot

Man after man fell behind the Prophet on the march, and he would say: leave him; if there is good in him, God will bring him up to you. Then Abu Dharr was reported to have fallen behind, his camel slowing him, so he took his baggage on his back and set out on foot following the Prophet's tracks. When a watcher saw him the Prophet said: let it be Abu Dharr; and it was he. The Prophet prayed for him and said that he walks alone, dies alone and is raised alone.