Ibn Sarh recounted the story of his staying behind from the Prophet ﷺ during the expedition of Tabuk. He said, "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ forbade the Muslims from speaking to the three of us. When this dragged on for me, I climbed over the wall of the garden belonging to Abu Qatada, who was my cousin, and I greeted him with peace. By Allah, he did not return my greeting."Then he went on to relate the account of the revelation of his repentance.
حدثنا ابن السرح أخبرنا ابن وهب قال أخبرني يونس عن ابن شهاب قال أخبرني عبد الرحمن بن عبد الله بن كعب بن مالك أن عبد الله بن كعب بن مالك وكان قائد كعب من بنيه حين عمي قال سمعت
ابن السرح قصة تخلفه عن النبي ﷺ في غزوة تبوك قال ونهى رسول الله ﷺ المسلمين عن كلامنا أيها الثلاثة حتى إذا طال علي تسورت جدار حائط أبي قتادة وهو ابن عمي فسلمت عليه فوالله ما رد علي السلام ثم ساق خبر تنزيل توبته
Muslim narrated it in the Book of Repentance, chapter on the hadith of the repentance of Kaab bin Malik and his two companions, no. 2769, from Ibn Sarh with this wording. Bukhari narrated an abridged version of it, no. 4676, from the hadith of Ibn Wahb. It has previously appeared as no. 2202 and no. 2773.