OCCASION OF THE REVELATION (VERSE NO. 38 - 39)

      The immediate reference is to the expedition of TABUK, according to the narration of IBN-ABBAS. This was when the prophet returned from TAEF, and prepared Muslims for an expedition to TABUK.

      Usually the prophet kept the objects and destination of his expeditions secret and strictly confidential, in order to keep the enemy unaware, but this time and in the case of TABUK, he acted openly, due to the importance of the matter, and frankly said to the Muslims that he was going to fight against Roman Emperor! This was to make Muslims know that they proceed on an important strive (JIHAD) and to prepare themselves accordingly for the great content. After all; the distance between Medina and the Roman Border was too long, and too difficult a journey in that awful heat of Arabian summer season. Such matters would show the long expedition difficult and troublesome, and so they were reluctant and slow to co-operate; so much so that their hesitation annoyed the prophet. Therefore the above verses came down to encourage Muslims in a poundeing manner to join the expedition.

THE INCIDENT OF TABUK

      After the conquest of Mecca and the defeat of the HAVAZINS, the prophet's power and influence wide spread all over the Arabian Peninsula, and reached the borders of the two super powers of the time; Roman Empire, and the Persian Kingdom.

      Herecleus, the Roman Emperor, was more anxious of the ever increasing influence of Mohammad within the reach of his borders. In his usual going round about; the Emperor came to Syria and stayed in HAMS; a point between Damescus and Halab, which was of nice climate and great many green gardens. There he obtained some first hand informations about the new prophet and his progressive and revolutionary movements. Studying the informations; he thought it necessary to annihilate and destroy Mohammad and his new religious movements, which to him seemed to be young and apt to breakage! He therefore, ordered an army of 40 thousands forces to be mobilized and well equipped, in order to overwhelm Mohammad and his troops.

      Some Christain tribes like; LAKHM, JOZAM, OMELEH and GHOSSAN, established the central group of the anti- Mohammad Roman army. This huge army encamped in a place called BELGH, in TABUK, and were held there in attention and ready to fight when the Emperor's order was issued.

      On the other hand, the prophet was never heedless or negligent of that which was going on, around him. He had collected all the necessary informations about the movements and the tactics and strategies of the Romans. He therefore ordered the believers to prepare themselves for a hard and very important war, for knowing how dangerous his content with the Roman Empire and the Byzantiens could be. The prophet therefore collected as large a force as possible, and set out for the fear of the Byzantine invasion. This expedition was called that of the hardship; for it was in a summer time of a long famine, and also the season of collecting the harvests; and people being very busy in their farms. Therefore many were unwilling to leave their home and hearth, and make for the journey of more than 400 miles. They sought excuses to get rid of the journey and even some nominal Muslims like JAD- IBN- GHAIS, claimed exemption from service in TABUK'S expedition, on plea that they could not withstand the charms of the Syrian girls and resist their beauty! Of course such flimsy pretexts were for fear of the prospect of meeting the trained and well equipped armies of the great Roman Empire, and so they made all sorts of lying excuses for their lack of faith. (QURAN: S 9: 42-49) & (s 9: 91-92)

      When Mohammad's army reached TABUK, a good news was received that the Emperor's forces had retreated inside their borders, and within their own dominion; and that the Roman Emperor was having a rest in the region of Hems, a place suitable for summer hours in Syria. Muslims took the news this way, that they had grown in such a power that Roman Emperor avoided to encounter with them; and later the idea proved to be true. In fact the late battle of MUTEH had given the necessary lesson to the Byzantines.

      So the main tribes and the most important clans who lived round about there in TABUK, considered the existing situation and they preferred to have peace with the Messenger of God. The prophet, too, was pleased with that and signed different peace treaties with different tribes in accordance with their dignities and social positions. Muslims troops returned to Medina safe and sound, and to some extent victorious.   TRANSLATOR'S NOTE

AGAIN TO THE BATTLE - FIELD

      Tabuk is a place near the frontier of Arabia, close to what was the Byzantine territory, in the province of Syria, and at present it is the border of Saudi Arabia and some 610 Km. north- west of Medina. The incident was in the year A.H. 9 and one year after the conquest of Mecca.

      Here in the above verses, Muslims are firstly reproached for their hesitation saying:

      ``O, believers! What is wrong with you that, when you are told to go forth in the way of Allah, you stick heavily to the ground and do not move....''

      Then in the next verse they are threatened that:

      ``If you do not go forth, Allah will punish you a painful punishment, and replace you with some other people.''

      God's punishment is concealed in our wrongs and evil deeds, because giving way to enemy is giving way to death, captivity, and humiliating life, if the enemy let you live.

      As to the other people who are said may replace the Arab Muslims, some commentators understand them to be the Persians, who later converted and did excellent services to Islam, and loved the household and near kins of the prophet tenderly.