Making due preparation before taking action

Making due preparation before taking action

1989 5 May 14 Making due preparation before taking action (182) When Abu Bakr decided to wage war against the Byzantines, he conferred with certain of the Prophet’s companions, several of whom gave him their opinions. “O successor of the Prophet,” said Khalid ibn Said, “It is not for us to disobey you, or to differ among ourselves. When you tell us to go out, we shall go; when you give an order, we shall obey it.” Pleased by this response, Abu Bakr told Bilal to announce that they would go ahead with the war against the Byzantines. People then began to gather in preparation for the campaign. One day, Abu Bakr came along with a number of other companions to where the troops were camping, and noted that the number who had assembled to fight in the Byzantine was quite considerable. But they did not think that even this number would be really effective against the Byzantines and, when Abu Bakr once again sought advice, Umar declared that he did not think the number sufficient. Accordingly, the departure of the army was delayed, while a letter was written to Yemen for reinforcements.