al-Dhahab al-Masbuk fi Tahqiq Riwayat Ghazwat Tabuk
- Author died
- 1418 AH
- Editions
- Maṭābi‘ al-Rashīd
al-Dhahab al-Masbuk fi Tahqiq Riwayat Ghazwat Tabuk (The Cast Gold in the Verification of the Narrations of the Expedition of Tabuk) is a specialized study in prophetic biography (sirah) and Hadith criticism by the scholar Abd al-Qadir bin Habib Allah al-Sindi (d. 1418 AH / 1997 CE), evaluating the historical accounts of the Expedition of Tabuk through traditional chain-of-transmission (isnad) analysis.
Background and Composition
The work originated as al-Sindi's master's thesis in the Department of Higher Studies at the Islamic University of Madinah, where he later taught at the College of Hadith and Islamic Studies. The thesis was directly supervised by Muhammad Khalil Harras. In his acknowledgments, al-Sindi also noted guidance and assistance from Muhammad al-Samahi regarding the arrangement of chapters, access to rare manuscripts provided by Muhammad Mustafa al-A'zami and Muhammad Nasif, and support from Muhammad Amin al-Misri and the staff of the Makka Haram Library.
Official publication approval was granted by the Saudi Ministry of Information branch in Medina in 1403 AH. The book was published in Kuwait by Maktabat al-Mu'alla in 1406 AH (1985–1986 CE), introduced by Muhammad bin Bakri bin Hasan al-Sumayri, a teacher at the Prophet's Mosque and member of the General Presidency of Scholarly Research and Ifta.
Scope and Structure
The book focuses on the events surrounding the Expedition of Tabuk—the final campaign undertaken by the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which commenced in Rajab 9 AH with an army verified by the author as numbering thirty thousand men. Al-Sindi identified approximately 120 distinct historical incidents associated with the campaign, extracting and authenticating 73 specific incidents distributed across 73 chapters.
The chapters follow the chronological sequence from the army's mobilization in Medina to its return, addressing topics such as:
- The causes of the expedition, its designation as Tabuk, and its title as the "Campaign of Hardship" (Ghazwat al-Usra).
- The distribution of military banners and the financial donations provided by individual Companions.
- The accounts of those who stayed behind, including Ka'b bin Malik and his companions, and the Quranic verses revealed regarding them.
- The machinations and attitudes of the hypocrites (al-munafiqun).
- Prophetic miracles occurring during the march and the army's passage through the dwellings of Thamud.
- Distinctive honors given to companions, such as the Prophet praying behind Abd al-Rahman bin Awf.
- Diplomatic treaties, notably the peace pact concluded with the ruler of Ayla.
- Legal rulings established on the journey, including performing ablution by washing limbs once each and using a barrier (sutra) during prayer.
- The army's reception upon returning to Medina with verses of welcome.
Methodology
Al-Sindi framed his research around the strict application of Hadith methodology (manhaj al-muhaddithin), prioritizing critical evaluation of biographical chains of transmission over uncritical compilation from historical chronicles. He aimed to purge historical accounts of fabricated, weak, or unverified additions. In his introductory critique, al-Sindi addressed modern historiographical approaches, challenging orientalist scholarship—such as arguments presented by Josef Horovitz—and emphasizing the necessity of verifying the integrity and narrators of historical reports.
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