Bayhaqi 17869 — Those whom the ruler may not take on an expedition

Sayyiduna Abu al-Tufayl (may Allah be pleased with him) said: There was some friction between a man from the people of al-Aqabah and Sayyiduna Hudhayfah (may Allah be pleased with him), of the kind that happens between people. The man said: I ask you by Allah, how many were the people of al-Aqabah? The people said to Sayyiduna Hudhayfah (may Allah be pleased with him): Tell him, since he has asked. He said: We used to be told that they were fourteen; if you were among them, then they were fifteen. I bear witness by Allah that twelve of them are at war with Allah and His Messenger in the life of this world and on the Day the witnesses stand, and three were excused. They had said: We did not hear the crier of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), nor did we know what the people intended. He (peace and blessings be upon him) had been in a stony tract (harrah), and he walked on and said: "The water is little, so let no one get to it before me." Then he (peace and blessings be upon him) found that some people had got there before him, and he (peace and blessings be upon him) cursed them that day.
Imam al-Shafi'i (may Allah have mercy on him) said: Some of those present stayed behind; then, during the Tabuk campaign or on the return from it, Allah Almighty revealed news about them, and he recited these verses: "And if they had intended to go out, they would surely have made some preparation for it, but Allah disliked their setting out" [Surah al-Tawbah: 46], reading up to: "and they turn away while they are rejoicing." [Surah al-Tawbah: 50]
The Shaykh said: This is explained in the Maghazi.