Abdullah bin Kaab bin Malik, who served as Kaab's guide from among his sons after Kaab lost his sight, said, "I heard Kaab bin Malik narrating his account of when he stayed behind from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ during the expedition of Tabuk."Kaab bin Malik said, "I never stayed behind from any expedition the Messenger of Allah ﷺ undertook, except the expedition of Tabuk, though I had also stayed behind from the expedition of Badr. But no one was reproached for staying back from Badr, because the Messenger of Allah ﷺ had only set out intending to intercept the Quraysh caravan in which Abu Sufyan bin Harb and a group of the Quraysh were traveling."Then he said, "Come here."So I came forward, walking until I sat down before him.He asked, "What kept you behind? Had you not already purchased your mount?"I replied, "Yes, Messenger of Allah. By Allah, if I were sitting before anyone else among the people of this world, I would think I could escape his displeasure with some excuse, for I have been granted skill in argument."He went on with the hadith and said in it, "But I truly hope for Allah's pardon."He said, "I told my wife, 'Go to your family and stay with them until Allah decides this matter.'"He said, "I heard the voice of a caller who had climbed to the top of Mount Sala, calling out at the top of his voice, 'Kaab bin Malik, rejoice with good news!' I fell down in prostration and knew that relief had come. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ announced to the people that Allah had accepted our repentance after he had prayed the Fajr prayer."He then mentioned the meaning of the hadith of Ibn Shihab's nephew and included in it, "And I was saying to myself, did he move his lips in returning the greeting?"
حدثنا حجاج قال حدثنا ليث بن سعد قال حدثني عقيل بن خالد عن ابن شهاب أنه قال أخبرني عبد الرحمن بن عبد الله بن
أن عبد الله بن كعب بن مالك وكان قائد كعب من بنيه حين عمي قال سمعت كعب بن مالك يحدث حديثه حين تخلف عن رسول الله ﷺ في غزوة تبوك قال كعب بن مالك لم أتخلف عن رسول الله ﷺ في غزوة غزاها قط إلا في غزوة تبوك غير أني كنت تخلفت عن غزوة بدر ولم يعاتب أحدا تخلف عنها لأنه إنما خرج رسول الله ﷺ يريد العير التي كانت لقريش كان فيها أبو سفيان بن حرب ونفر من قريش ثم قال تعال فجئت أمشي حتى جلست بين يديه فقال ما خلفك ألم تكن قد ابتعت ظهرك قلت بلى يا رسول الله إني والله لو جلست عند غيرك من أهل الدنيا لرأيت أني سأخرج من سخطته بعذر ولقد أعطيت جدلا فذكر الحديث وقال فيه إني لأرجو عفو الله وقال فقلت لامرأتي الحقي بأهلك فكوني عندهم حتى يقضي الله في هذا الأمر وقال سمعت صوت صارخ أوفى على أعلى جبل سلع بأعلى صوته يا كعب بن مالك أبشر قال فخررت ساجدا وعرفت أنه قد جاء فرج وآذن رسول الله ﷺ الناس بالتوبة علينا حين صلى صلاة الفجر فذكر معنى حديث ابن أخي ابن شهاب وقال فيه وأقول في نفسي هل حرك شفتيه برد السلام