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.
At a glance
- Era
- The Prophetic Era
- Region
- Arabia
- Review
- Draft Completeness 1/5 · Help complete it
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 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
- Part of
- The expedition to Tabuk
People and things also explored
Abu Dharr lags behind and follows on footAbu Khaythama catches up with the ProphetAbu Ruhm and the stragglers of Ghifar and Aslamal-Jadd ibn Qays asks leave to stay behindAli is left in charge of the Prophet's familyThe Bedouin excuse-makersFour believers lag behind without doubtThe burial of Dhu al-Bijadayn at Tabuk
Sources
- al-Sira al-Nabawiyya — Ibn Hisham, al-Saqqa edition (1355/1936), 4/162-172
- al-Sira al-Nabawiyya — Ibn Hisham, al-Saqqa edition (1355/1936), 4/162
- al-Sira al-Nabawiyya — Ibn Hisham, al-Saqqa edition (1355/1936), 4/163
- al-Sira al-Nabawiyya — Ibn Hisham, al-Saqqa edition (1355/1936), 4/164-165
- al-Sira al-Nabawiyya — Ibn Hisham, al-Saqqa edition (1355/1936), 4/172
- al-Sira al-Nabawiyya — Ibn Hisham, al-Saqqa edition (1355/1936), 4/170
- 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. Accessed 2026-10-12.