Why is Surah At-Tawbah Named So? The Story of the Tabuk Expedition & A Lesson in Repentance

 Surah At-Tawbah is one of the most profound chapters of the Qur’an, carrying deep lessons of faith, sincerity, and divine forgiveness. Unlike other Surahs, it does not begin with Bismillah, emphasizing the severity of the topics discussed within. A key event that sheds light on why this Surah is named "Tawbah" (Repentance) is the Expedition of Tabuk, a major trial of faith for the companions of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

This article delves into the story of the Tabuk Expedition, the test of the believers, and the repentance of Hazrat Kaab Bin Malik and two other companions, highlighting the lessons this Surah teaches about sincerity, truthfulness, and divine mercy.

---

The Expedition of Tabuk – A Test of Faith

Tabuk, located approximately 950 kilometers from Madinah, was the destination of a significant military campaign led by Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). This expedition occurred during peak summer, making the journey extremely challenging due to the scorching heat and lack of resources. Additionally, it coincided with harvest season, a time when many companions had the opportunity to collect the fruits of their labor after months of hard work.

This expedition was not an ordinary battle; rather, it was a test of faith. The companions had to choose between their worldly comforts and their obedience to the Prophet’s command. True believers immediately prepared for the journey, while others hesitated or made excuses.

One of the most notable incidents of this expedition was the story of Hazrat Kaab Bin Malik, a companion who did not participate in the battle.

---

Hazrat Kaab Bin Malik’s Story – A Lesson in Repentance

Hazrat Kaab Bin Malik was a sincere companion of the Prophet (peace be upon him) but found himself caught in hesitation when the call for the Tabuk expedition was announced. Unlike the hypocrites who fabricated excuses, Hazrat Kaab Bin Malik had no valid reason for staying behind.

Procrastination & Missed Opportunity

Initially, Hazrat Kaab Bin Malik planned to join the army later, thinking that he had enough time since his horses were strong and swift. However, he kept delaying until the Prophet’s army had already departed, and he ultimately missed the entire expedition.

When the Prophet (peace be upon him) returned from Tabuk, those who had not participated came forward with excuses. The Prophet forgave them one by one. But when Hazrat Kaab Bin Malik was questioned, he chose honesty over falsehood and confessed:

"O Messenger of Allah, I had no excuse. I was simply lazy."

His truthfulness set him apart from the hypocrites, but it also resulted in a severe test.

---

Fifty Days of Isolation – A Trial of Faith

Upon hearing Hazrat Kaab Bin Malik’s confession, the Prophet (peace be upon him) did not immediately forgive him but instead instructed him to wait for Allah’s decision.

As a result, Hazrat Kaab Bin Malik and two other companions who had similarly failed to join the expedition were boycotted for fifty days.

• No one in Madinah spoke to them.
• Even their families distanced themselves.
• They felt abandoned and isolated, despite living among fellow Muslims.

Despite this emotional and social hardship, Hazrat Kaab Bin Malik did not waver in faith. He did not seek sympathy, nor did he regret his honesty. He patiently endured the trial, awaiting Allah’s decree.

After fifty days, divine revelation was sent down:

"And He (Allah) also forgave the three who remained behind..."
(Qur’an, Surah At-Tawbah 9:118)

This was a moment of immense joy and relief. The Prophet (peace be upon him) announced Allah’s forgiveness, and the entire community embraced Hazrat Kaab Bin Malik and the other two companions once again.

---

Lessons from Surah At-Tawbah & The Tabuk Expedition

1. Honesty is Rewarded, Even if Difficult

Hazrat Kaab Bin Malik could have fabricated an excuse like others, but he chose to speak the truth. Although he faced hardship, his sincerity led to divine forgiveness and honor in the Qur’an.

2. Obedience to Allah & His Messenger Takes Precedence Over Worldly Affairs

The harvest season and personal comfort tempted many to stay behind, but true faith requires sacrifice. The companions who joined the expedition immediately obeyed the Prophet’s call.

3. Repentance Brings Divine Mercy

Surah At-Tawbah highlights the power of sincere repentance. Even when someone makes a mistake, if they repent with a sincere heart, Allah’s mercy is vast and encompassing.

4. The Importance of Testing Believers

The boycott of Hazrat Kaab Bin Malik teaches us that faith is tested through trials. Only those who remain steadfast and trust Allah fully emerge victorious.

---

Final Reflections

The Expedition of Tabuk and the repentance of Hazrat Kaab Bin Malik provide timeless lessons on faith, sincerity, and divine mercy. The reason Surah At-Tawbah carries this name is because it highlights the concept of true repentance, proving that no matter how big a mistake is, if one sincerely turns back to Allah, His mercy will encompass them.

As believers, we must embrace honesty, prioritize faith over worldly gains, and trust Allah’s wisdom in times of trial. The story of Hazrat Kaab Bin Malik remains a beacon of truthfulness and Allah’s infinite mercy for all generations to come.

Continue Reading

Is wearing Taweez (Amulet) (Shirk) permissible in Islam with videoI

Is wearing Taweez permitted in Islam? Is it Shirk to wera Taweez in Islam? Why is Taweez worn in Islam? Is there any relevance to wearing Taweez in islam? What is the status of Black Magic in Islam? And you may have may such questions on Taweez (Amulet)

We bring you detail information on Taweez from Quran and Hadiths. We also bring you videos in for of Audio to explain better by Mufti Shahid Barkati

Video: Kya Taweez Pehana Shirk hain (Quran aur Hadees ki Roshni mein) 


What is Taweez?

The definition of a Ta’weez is simply ‘a written Du'a,’ which is from the Qur’an or Ahadith, and is for the one who cannot read or has not memorized that particular Du'a. It is written on a piece of paper and is worn around the neck.

We, the Ahle Sunnah believe, to wear a Taweez around the neck is permissible if the du’a contained in it is written from the Qur’an or Ahadith. Prophet Muhammad [May Allah bless him and grant him peace] used to recite du’a and then blew onto the sick person. The companions of the Prophet [May Allah bless him and grant Him peace] also did this and the companions wrote the du’a on a piece of paper and placed it around the neck of that person if they could not read it. Of course, the du’as from the Qur’an and Ahadith have the power to heal the sick. Some people say, if you wear the Taweez you are commiting shirk, but we will prove, with the help of Allah Almighty, that it is permissible to wear a Taweez.

Proof of Taweez from Quran

The Qur’an has the power of healing

Allah Almighty says in the Qur’an,

“…We send down in Qur’an that which is a healing and a mercy to the believers…”

(Surah Bani Israeel Verse 82).

Qadi Shawkani writes, if the Qur’an’s du’as are recited and blown on the sick, they will be cured. When the non-believers recite the Qur’an, their blasphemic disease will be cured. (Tafsir Fathul Qadir under Verse 82 Surah Bani Israeel).

Proof of wearing the Taweez

1) Hafidhh ibn Kathir and Qadi Shawkani writes:

Amr Ibn Shu’aib RadhiAllahu ‘anhu says, that ‘RasoolAllah (Sallallahu’ alaihi wa sallam) taught my Father and grandFather a Du'a which we would read before going to sleep, to protect us from fear and anguish. We told our elder children to recite this Du'a before going to sleep as well. But for those children who were not yet literate, we would write it and then put it around their necks.

[Musnad Ahmad Ibn Hanbal vol.2, Abu Dawud in Chapter of Medicine, Tafsir by Hafidhh Ibn Kathir of verse 97 of Surah Al-Mu’minoon and Qadi Shawkaani in Fath-ul-Qadeer under the same verse]

It is permissible to read du’a and blow upon the sick

2) Imam Bukhari and Imam Muslim writes:

When a person who was sick or in some distress they would go to the Prophet [May Allah bless him and grant Him peace] who would then place his hand on the area of the pain and recite a du’a and then blow onto him.
(Bukhari, Muslim chap on Tibb).

3) Imam Muslim writes: 

When the Prophet [May Allah bless him and grant Him peace] was ill for the last time, angel Jibreel [May Allah bless him and grant Him peace] came and recited du’a and blew on to the Prophet [May Allah bless him and grant Him peace]. (Muslim chapter on Tibb)

4) Imam Muslim writes:

Aisha (Radiall hu anhua) said when the Prophet [May Allah bless him and grant Him peace] was ill the last time, she recited Surah Al-Falaq and Surah Al-Naas and then blew on to the Prophet [May Allah bless him and grant Him peace]’s hands. The Prophet then blew this onto his own face and body because his hands had more blessing then Aisha’s (Radiall hu anha).

(Muslim chap on Tibb)

From the above narrations, it proves that to blow after reciting du’as onto the sick is Sunnah and the more pious the person is, the more healing power he has because he is blessed more than the less pious. 

5) Hafidhh ibn Taymiyyah writes:

It is permissible to [to recite du’as, and then] blow upon the sick in Islam, but the words must be from the Qur’an or Ahadith. If the words are not then it is not permissible.
[Al-Tawasul chapter on Blowing onto the Sick by Hafidh ibn Taymiyyah]

FAQS of wearing Taweez

Q) Some people say, “How is it allowed to blow dua’s onto the sick, when some Hadith say this is forbidden?” 

Allama Sa’idi has written the answer to this question in great detail he’s also put the opinion of all the other great scholars, and we will present this here.

Allama Gulam Rasool Sa’idi writes:

Imam Nawawi Rahmatullah in Sharh Muslim states: ‘there are two types of Ahadith concerning blowing. (Reciting a Du'a and then blowing onto a person.) One of the types is transmitted in Bukhari: ‘There will be people who will enter Paradise without any questioning, who have never been blown upon’. Imam Muslim Rahmatullah has also written a hadith in support of those who do not ask to be blown upon. Imam Bukhari Rahmatullah in the chapter on Tibb (Medicine) has written Du'as, which our Prophet [May Allah bless Him and grant Him peace] recited when doing ‘Damm’ (Reciting a Du'a and then blowing onto a person). Imam Muslim Rahmatullah states in the Chapter on Virtues of the Prophet [May Allah bless Him and grant Him peace] that: when our Prophet [May Allah bless Him and grant Him peace] was ill, the Angel Jibreel came to him and performed the blowing. The above types of Ahadith apparently seem to contradict each other but in reality there is no contradiction.

The former type of Hadith refers to the prohobition of having read something that is not from the Qur’an and Sunnah [ie, something that has pictures, diagrams and words not from the Qur’an] and then blow upon someone. The latter types of Ahadith which permit Damm refer to those Kalimaat (words or verses) which have been taught by the Prophet [May Allah bless Him and grant Him peace]. In the same way as above there are two types of Ahadith concerning Ta’weez. There are many narrations that forbid the use of Ta’weez and also many permitting their use. Imam Qurtubi Rahmatullah wrote in detail about both types of Ahadith concerning Ta'weez: ‘The Ta’weez that are forbidden are those Ta’weez from the time of ignorance, those which are Satanic and contain an element of Shirk'. (Mantar, Voodoo and Magic etc.) The Ta’weez, which are permitted are those written with Du'as, which are evident from Qur’an and Ahadith only. Here are the narrations, which show that it is permitted for a person to put a Ta’weez around his/her neck.

Allama Alusi Hanafi in his Tafsir of the Qur’an writes: According to Imam Malik Rahmatullah ‘It is permitted to put around the neck the Ta’weez written with the name of Allah? Imam Baqir also stated that it is permitted to put such a Ta’weez around the neck of a child. [Rooh-ul-Ma’ani, chapter 15" under verse 97 of Surah Mu'minoon]

Allama Shami Hanafi Rahmatullah writes: 

It is permitted to write a Ta’weez and put it around the neck. He further adds that it would be better if a person recites the Du'as taught by the Prophet (Sallallahu’ alaihi wa sallam.) But if a person cannot read or is too young to recite then it is permitted for that person to put it around the neck
[Rud-ul-Mukhtar chapter Qirat, Sharah Sahih Muslim chapter on Tib by Allama Sa’idi].

To conclude it can be said that those verses that oppose the Qur’an, Shari’ah, or the Sunnah are forbidden to read and also forbidden to put around the neck. But as for the Du'as and verses from the Qur’an and Sunnah it is permitted to be written and put around the neck of a small child or an illiterate or a sick person.

Continue Reading

Learn about Islam Religion - The Five pillars of Islam

What is Islam and What makes one a complete Muslim.

Islam is attainment of peace through submission to Allah. There are five pillars of Islam which form the base foundation of Islam and one who follows it makes a complete Muslim.

These are

1)KALAMA (FAITH): 

There is no god worthy of worship except God and Muhammad is His messenger.

This declaration of faith is called the Shahada, a simple formula which all the faithful pronounce.
In Arabic, the first part is

La ilaha illa Llah - 'there is no god except God';

ilaha (god) can refer to anything which we may be tempted to put in place of God - wealth, power, and the like. Then comes illa Llah: 'except God', the source of all Creation.

The second part of the Shahada is

Muhammadun rasulu'Llah: 'Muhammad is the messenger of God.'

A message of guidance has come through a man like ourselves.

2)PRAYER

Shalat is the name for the obligatory prayers which are performed five times a day, and are a direct link between the worshipper and God. The prayers are led by a learned person who knows the Quran, chosen by the congregation. These five prayers contain verses from the Quran, and are said in Arabic, the language of the Revelation, but personal supplication can be offered in one's own language. Because shalat is transliterated from arabic word, so it has multiple english spellings such as salat, salah, sholat, sholah or shalah.Some peoples also called shalat as namaz

Prayers are said at dawn, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset and nightfall, and thus determine the rhythm of the entire day. Although it is preferable to worship together in a mosque, a Muslim may pray almost anywhere, such as in fields, offices, factories and universities. Visitors to the Muslim world are struck by the centrality of prayers in daily life.

A translation of the Call to Prayer is:

God is most great. God is most great.
God is most great. God is most great.
I testify that there is no god except God.
I testify that there is no god except God.
I testify that Muhammad is the messenger of God.
I testify that Muhammad is the messenger of God.
Come to prayer! Come to prayer!
Come to success (in this life and the Hereafter)!
Come to success!
God is most great. God is most great.
There is no god except God.

3) THE 'ZAKAT'

One of the most important principles of Islam is that all things belong to God, and that wealth is therefore held by human beings in trust. The word zakat means both 'purification' and 'growth'. Our possessions are purified by setting aside a proportion for those in need, and, like the pruning of plants, this cutting back balances and encourages new growth.

4) THE FAST

Every year in the month of Ramadan, all Muslims fast from first light until sundown, abstaining from food, drink, and sexual relations. Those who are sick, elderly, or on a journey, and women who are pregnant or nursing are permitted to break the fast and make up an equal number of days later in the year. If they are physically unable to do this, they must feed a needy person for every day missed. Children begin to fast (and to observe the prayer) from puberty, although many start earlier.

5) PILGRIMAGE (HAJJ)

The annual pilgrimage to Makkah - the Hajj - is an obligation only for those who are physically and financially able to perform it. Nevertheless, about two million people go to Makkah each year from every corner of the globe providing a unique opportunity for those of different nations to meet one another. Although Makkah is always filled with visitors, the annual Hajj begins in the twelfth month of the Islamic year (which is lunar, not solar, so that Hajj and Ramadan fall sometimes in summer, sometimes in winter). Pilgrims wear special clothes: simple garments which strip away distinctions of class and culture, so that all stand equal before God.

Continue Reading

When was Islam's first mosque built

On reaching Quba, Rasoolullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam had a Mosque constructed. The Mosque was named ‘Musjid-e-Quba’. This Mosque was renovated on numerous occasions over numerous periods of time.

They reached Quba on the 8th of Rabi-ul-Awwal 13 Nabawi and remained there for fourteen days.

• Between 87 Hijri and 93 Hijri, Hazrat Umar bin Abdul Aziz renovated it whilst doing renovations of Musjid-e-Nabawi
• In 435 Hijri Abu Ya’la constructed the Mehraab (Pulpit) in the Mosque.
• In 555 Hijri, Jamaalud’deen Isfahaani did renovation to the Mosque
• In 681 Hijri there were further renovations done
• In 733 Hijri it was worked on again
• In 881 Hijri Qaatiba, the Egyptian King renovated it and rebuilt the Mehraab and Mimbar.
• In 1245 Hijri Sultan Mahmood Thaani Uthmani extended the Mosque giving it a face-lift.
• In 1351 Abdul Aziz did some renovations to the Mosque (Monthly Istiqaamat Magazine Kanpur – 1985)

A further renovation was also done by the Turks in 1389 Hijri and then further extensions continued.

Rasoolullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam arrived in Madinah Munawwarah on a Monday, the22nd of Rabi-ul-Awwal from Quba. Rasoolullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam made his Hijrat (migration) whilst riding on a camel called Qiswa. In the same year, from the 16 July 622 C.E. the beginning of the Hijri Calendar commenced, but it was only officially introduced during the era of Hazrat Umar-e-Farouk radhiallahu anhu on a Thursday, the 3rd of Jamadis Thaani 17 Hijri.

Continue Reading

WHO IS SAYYIDUNA ABU BAKR AL-SIDDIQ

SAYYIDUNA ABU BAKR AL-SIDDIQ IS FIRST ::..

» First man to accept Islam.

» First companion to publicize his Islam.

» First companion to preach Islam and bring the likes of the 10 promised Jannah to Islam excluding Sayyiuna Umar and Sayyiduna Ali (Allah is well pleased with them).

» First companion to migrate to Madinah Tayyibah.

» First companion to buy the land of a Masjid (Masjid Nabawi).

» First and always the first to support and help the Beloved of Allah Almighty (upon him peace and blessings).

» First and only companion to lead Muslims in prayer on the Beloved Prophet's instruction (upon him peace and blessings) during his life.

» First and only companion to sacrifice *all* of his wealth in the way of Islam (esp for the battle of Tabuk).

» First companion that always understood the hidden secrets and indications in the Beloved Prophet's speech (upon him peace and blessings) before anyone else.

» First Caliph (successor) of Islam.

» First Caliph to have been appointed whilst his father (Uthman, Abu Quhafah) was still alive.

» First Caliph to have complied the Noble Quran in a single book.

» First Caliph to have called the Quran a "Mus'haf".

» First Caliph to have conquered the Persians in Iraq and Romans in Sham.

» First Caliph to create the Muslim treasury (Baytul Maal).

» First Caliph to have his salary fixed by public opinion (by Abu ubaydah al-Ameen and Sayyiduna Umar).

» First Caliph to defend the belief of the Finality of Prophethood (Khatm e Nabuwwat) by defeating the false Prophet of Yamamah, Musaylamah Kaddhab.

» First and only known companion to pass away on the same day (Monday) as the Beloved Prophet (upon him peace and blessings) and at the same age (63 years).

» First companion to be buried next to the Beloved Prophet (upon him peace and blessings) in the house of his own daughter Sayyidah Aishah (may Allah be well pleased with her).

» First companion to rise from his grave with the Beloved Prophet (upon him peace and blessings) on Judgement Day hand in hand.

» First man to enter paradise when every door will desire for him to walk through it calling him proclaiming "welcome welcome".

» First and only companion that will see Allah Almighty on the day of judgement in a unique manner to everyone else (without shape or form).

» First and only Caliph who was titled "The Caliph of Rasulullah" (all others were called "Ameerul Mu'mineen")!

» First and only one called a "Companion" (Sahib) in the Noble Quran.

Allah Almighty is well pleased with him!

Continue Reading