I heard Kaab bin Malik recount, in its full length, the story of when he stayed behind from the Prophet ﷺ during the expedition of Tabuk. Ibn Bukayr's version of the report has him say, "I was present with the Prophet ﷺ on the night of Uqba, when we pledged ourselves firmly to Islam. I would not trade that occasion for being present at Badr, even though Badr is more frequently mentioned among the people."
سمعت كعب بن مالك يحدث حين تخلف عن النبي ﷺ في غزوة تبوك بطوله. قال ابن بكير في حديثه: ولقد شهدت مع النبي ﷺ ليلة العقبة حين تواثقنا على الإسلام. وما أحب أن لي بها مشهد بدر، وإن كانت بدر أذكر فى الناس منها.
Bukhari narrated it in the Book of Virtues (3889), from Yahya bin Bukayr, who said, Layth told us, from Aqeel, from Ibn Shihab, who said, Abdul-Rahman bin Abdullah bin Kaab bin Malik told me that Abdullah bin Kaab, who was Kaab's guide, mentioned it in this abridged form.As for his statement, "in full," he probably means the hadith narrated by Ibn Ishaq, which follows.