Four believers lag behind without doubt
تخلف أربعة من المؤمنين عن غير شك
October 630 CE · Rajab 9 AH
Ibn Ishaq records that a number of Muslims whose resolve lagged stayed behind the Prophet without doubt or suspicion, naming among them Ka'b ibn Malik, Murara ibn al-Rabi', Hilal ibn Umayya and Abu Khaythama, and describing them as truthful men whose Islam was not to be questioned.
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
Ibn Ishaq mentions that the resolve of a number of Muslims lagged behind the Prophet until they stayed behind him without doubt and without suspicion; he names Ka'b ibn Malik, Marara ibn al-Rabi', Hilal ibn Umayya and Abu Khaythama among them, describing them as truthful men whose Islam could not be questioned. 1
The account
The Prophet's journey settled in and he resolved to march; a number of Muslims' resolve had lagged behind him until they stayed behind him without doubt and without suspicion. 1
Among them: Ka'b ibn Malik ibn Abi Ka'b, brother of Banu Salama; Marara ibn al-Rabi', brother of Banu Amr ibn Awf; Hilal ibn Umayya, brother of Banu Waqif; and Abu Khaythama, brother of Banu Salim ibn Awf. 1
Ibn Ishaq describes them as truthful men whose Islam could not be questioned. 1
Markers of weakness and doubt
- (batch 7b update) The full story is at the three who were left behind.
- The story of the three (Ka'b, Marara and Hilal) is on pp. 175-181, deferred to batch 7; this event records only their naming.
Connections
- Had participant
- Abu Khaythama
- Occurred at
- Medina
- Part of
- The expedition to Tabuk
People and things also explored
Abu Khaythama catches up with the Prophetal-Jadd ibn Qays asks leave to stay behindThe Bedouin excuse-makersSome say: do not march in the heatThe 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 carried
Sources
- al-Sira al-Nabawiyya — Ibn Hisham, al-Saqqa edition (1355/1936), 4/162
Cite this page
islam.museum contributors. “Four believers lag behind without doubt”. islam.museum, https://islam.museum/en/event/believers-who-lagged-without-doubt/. CC BY-SA 4.0. Accessed 2026-10-12.