Allah, the Exalted and Most Honored, criticizes the people of Al-Madinah and the bedouins around it, who did not participate in the battle of Tabuk with the Messenger of Allah . They sought to preserve themselves rather than comfort the Messenger during the hardship that he suffered in that battle. They incurred a loss in their share of the reward, since,

[لاَ يُصِيبُهُمْ ظَمَأٌ]

(they suffer neither Zama'), thirst,

[وَلاَ نَصَبٌ]

(nor Nasab), fatigue,

[وَلاَ مَخْمَصَةٌ]

(nor Makhmasah), hunger,

[وَلاَ يَطَأُونَ مَوْطِئًا يَغِيظُ الْكُفَّارَ]

(nor they take any step to raise the anger of disbelievers), by strategies of war that would terrify their enemy,

[وَلاَ يَنَالُونَ]

(nor inflict), a defeat on the enemy,

[إِلاَّ كُتِبَ لَهُمْ]

(but is written to their credit) as compensation for these steps that are not under their control, but a consequence of performing good deeds that earn them tremendous rewards,

[إِنَّ اللَّهَ لاَ يُضِيعُ أَجْرَ الْمُحْسِنِينَ]

(Surely, Allah wastes not the reward of the doers of good.) Allah said in a similar Ayah,

[إِنَّا لاَ نُضِيعُ أَجْرَ مَنْ أَحْسَنَ عَمَلاً]

(Certainly We shall not make the reward of anyone who does his (righteous) deeds in the most perfect manner to be lost)

[وَلاَ يُنفِقُونَ نَفَقَةً صَغِيرَةً وَلاَ كَبِيرَةً وَلاَ يَقْطَعُونَ وَادِيًا إِلاَّ كُتِبَ لَهُمْ لِيَجْزِيَهُمُ اللَّهُ أَحْسَنَ مَا كَانُواْ يَعْمَلُونَ ]

(121. Neither do they spend any contribution -- small or great -- nor cross a valley, but is written to their credit that Allah may recompense them with the best of what they used to do.) Allah said next,

[وَلاَ يُنفِقُونَ]

(Neithr do they spend), in reference to the fighters in Allah's cause,

[نَفَقَةً صَغِيرَةً وَلاَ كَبِيرَةً]

(any contribution -- small or great --), with regards to its amount,

[وَلاَ يَقْطَعُونَ وَادِيًا]

(nor cross a valley), while marching towards the enemy,

[إِلاَّ كُتِبَ لَهُمْ]

(but is written to their credit), for these actions that they take [and which are under their control],

[لِيَجْزِيَهُمُ اللَّهُ أَحْسَنَ مَا كَانُواْ يَعْمَلُونَ]

(that Allah may recompense them with the best of what they used to do.) Certainly, the Leader of the faithful, `Uthman bin `Affan, may Allah be pleased with him, acquired a tremendous share of the virtues mentioned in this honorable Ayah. He spent large amounts and tremendous wealth on this battle (Tabuk). Abdullah, the son of Imam Ahmad recorded that `Abdur-Rahman bin Khabbab As-Sulami said; "The Messenger of Allah gave a speech in which he encouraged spending on the army of distress (for Tabuk). I`Uthman bin `Affan, may Allah be pleased with him said; `I will give one hundred camels with their saddles and supplies.' Then he exhorted them some more. So `Uthman said; `I will give one hundred more camels with their saddles and supplies.' Then he descended one step of the Minbar and exhorted them some more. So `Uthman bin `Affan said; `I will give one hundred more camels with their saddles and supplies.' Then I saw Allah's Messenger with his hand moving like this - and `Abdus-Samad's [one of the narrators] hand went out like one in amazement - he said,

«مَا عَلَى عُثْمَانَ مَا عَمِلَ بَعْدَ هَذَا»

(It does not matter what `Uthman does after. ) It is also recorded in the Musnad that `Abdur-Rahman bin Samurah said, "`Uthman brought a thousand Dinars in his garment so that the Prophet could prepare supplies for the army of distress. `Uthman poured the money on the Prophet's lap, and the Prophet started turning it around with his hand and declaring repeatedly,

«مَا ضَرَّ ابْنَ عَفَّانٍ مَا عَمِلَ بَعْدَ الْيَوْم»

(The son of `Affan (i.e., `Uthman) will never be harmed by anything he does after today.)'' Qatadah commented on Allah's statement,

[وَلاَ يَقْطَعُونَ وَادِيًا إِلاَّ كُتِبَ لَهُمْ]

(nor cross a valley, but is written to their credit), "The farther any people march forth away from their families in the cause of Allah, the nearer they will be to Allah.''

[وَمَا كَانَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ لِيَنفِرُواْ كَآفَّةً فَلَوْلاَ نَفَرَ مِن كُلِّ فِرْقَةٍ مِّنْهُمْ طَآئِفَةٌ لِّيَتَفَقَّهُواْ فِى الدِّينِ وَلِيُنذِرُواْ قَوْمَهُمْ إِذَا رَجَعُواْ إِلَيْهِمْ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَحْذَرُونَ ]

(122. And it is not (proper) for the believers to go out (to fight - Jihad) all together. Of every troop of them, a party only should go forth, that they may get instructions in religion, and that they may warn their people when they return to them, so that they may beware (of evil).)