al-Jadd ibn Qays asks leave to stay behind
استئذان الجد بن قيس في التخلف
October 630 CE · Rajab 9 AH
Al-Jadd ibn Qays of Banu Salima asked the Prophet whether he had any part in fighting the Banu al-Asfar, meaning the Byzantines, and excused himself as a man too fond of women who feared temptation; the Prophet turned away from him and gave him leave. Ibn Ishaq says a verse of Sura al-Tawba was revealed about him, explaining that his falling into temptation by staying behind was greater than what he feared.
At a glance
- Era
- The Prophetic Era
- Region
- Arabia
- Review
- Draft Completeness 1/5 · Help complete it
In time
In space
Map: Natural Earth, public domain · places and route from the graph
Summary
The Prophet asked al-Jadd ibn Qays of Banu Salima whether he had any part in fighting the Banu al-Asfar — the Byzantines — and he excused himself as a man too fond of women who feared temptation; the Prophet turned away from him and gave him leave. Ibn Ishaq says a verse of Sura al-Tawba was revealed about him, explaining that his falling into temptation by staying behind was greater than what he feared. 1
The account
The Prophet, amid his preparations, asked al-Jadd ibn Qays of Banu Salima: do you have it in you this year to fight the Banu al-Asfar? — "Banu al-Asfar" meaning the Byzantines, in the editors' footnote. 2
Al-Jadd answered: will you give me leave and not expose me to temptation? He explained that his people knew his fondness for women and that he feared he could not hold back if he saw the women of the Banu al-Asfar. 2
The Prophet turned away from him and said: you have leave. 1
Ibn Ishaq says that verse 49 of Sura al-Tawba was revealed about al-Jadd ibn Qays, and he explains its meaning: the one who feared temptation from the women of the Banu al-Asfar fell into a greater temptation by staying behind the Prophet. 3
What was revealed on the event
- Qur'an 9:49: revealed about al-Jadd ibn Qays, according to Ibn Ishaq (p. 160).
Markers of weakness and doubt
- The ruling on al-Jadd ibn Qays and the reason for his staying behind come from Ibn Ishaq's interpretation, not from the Prophet's own words; they are attributed to him.
Connections
- Had participant
- Al-Jadd ibn QaysMuhammad
- Occurred at
- Medina
- Part of
- The expedition to Tabuk
- Revealed in
- Qur'an 9:49
People and things also explored
The builders of the mosque ask the Prophet to pray in itThe Prophet orders the people to prepare to fight the ByzantinesThe three who were left behind after TabukThe Weepers: seven who asked to be carriedUthman funds the army of hardshipThe expedition to TabukMuhammadMedina
Sources
- al-Sira al-Nabawiyya — Ibn Hisham, al-Saqqa edition (1355/1936), 4/159-160
- al-Sira al-Nabawiyya — Ibn Hisham, al-Saqqa edition (1355/1936), 4/159
- al-Sira al-Nabawiyya — Ibn Hisham, al-Saqqa edition (1355/1936), 4/160
Cite this page
islam.museum contributors. “al-Jadd ibn Qays asks leave to stay behind”. islam.museum, https://islam.museum/en/event/al-jadd-ibn-qays-asks-to-stay-behind/. CC BY-SA 4.0. Accessed 2026-10-12.