Abdullah bin Kaab bin Malik reported,

I heard Kaab bin Malik recount his story when he stayed behind from the expedition of Tabuk. Kaab said, "I never failed to accompany the Messenger of Allah ﷺ on any expedition he undertook except for the expedition of Tabuk, though I had also stayed behind from the expedition of Badr. But no one was reproached for staying behind from Badr, since the Messenger of Allah ﷺ had only set out seeking the caravan of Quraysh, until Allah brought him and his enemy together unexpectedly. I was present with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ on the night of Aqaba when we pledged ourselves to Islam, and I would not exchange it for being present at Badr, even though Badr is more often spoken of among the people."As for my situation, I had never been stronger or more prosperous than when I stayed behind from him on that expedition. By Allah, I had never possessed two riding camels at once before then, until I had them both for that expedition. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ would never set out on an expedition without disguising it by hinting at another, until that expedition came, which the Messenger of Allah ﷺ undertook in intense heat, facing a long journey, a desolate land, and a large enemy. So he made the matter clear to the Muslims so that they could prepare themselves properly for their expedition, and he informed them of the direction he intended. The Muslims with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ were many, and no register kept track of them all."Kaab continued, "There was hardly a man who wished to be absent who did not think he could escape notice, so long as no revelation came down from Allah about him. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ undertook that expedition when the fruits were ripe and the shade was pleasant. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ and the Muslims with him made their preparations, and I would set out in the morning intending to prepare myself with them, but I would return without having accomplished anything, saying to myself, 'I am able to do it whenever I wish.' I kept procrastinating until people had grown serious in their preparations."The Messenger of Allah ﷺ set out in the morning with the Muslims, and I had not finished any of my preparations. I said to myself, 'I will prepare a day or two after him and then catch up with them.' So I went out the morning after they had departed in order to prepare, but I returned without having done anything. Then I went out again and returned without doing anything. This continued until they had pressed on quickly and the expedition was beyond reach. I considered setting out and catching up with them, and I wish I had done so, but it was not destined for me."After the departure of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, whenever I went out among the people and walked through them, it grieved me to see only men suspected of hypocrisy or men whom Allah had excused among the weak. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ did not mention me until he reached Tabuk. While he was sitting among the people at Tabuk, he asked, 'What has Kaab done?'"A man from Banu Salama said, 'Messenger of Allah, his two cloaks and his admiration of his own appearance have held him back.'"Muaz bin Jabal said, 'What an evil thing you have said. By Allah, Messenger of Allah, we know nothing of him but good.'"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ remained silent."Kaab bin Malik continued, "When I learned that he had set out on his return journey, my distress overwhelmed me. I began to think up lies, saying to myself, 'How shall I escape his anger tomorrow?' I sought help in this from every wise person in my family. But when it was said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was about to arrive, falsehood vanished from me, and I knew that I could never escape him with anything containing a lie. So I resolved to tell him the truth."The Messenger of Allah ﷺ arrived in the morning. Whenever he returned from a journey, he would begin by going to the mosque and praying two units of prayer there, and then sit for the people. When he did so, those who had stayed behind came to him, began making excuses, and swearing oaths to him. They were over eighty men. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ accepted their outward statements, took their pledge, sought forgiveness for them, and left their inner intentions to Allah."Then I came to him. When I greeted him, he smiled the smile of one who is angry, and said, 'Come here.' I came walking until I sat before him."He said to me, 'What kept you behind? Had you not bought your mount?'"I replied, 'Yes. By Allah, if I were sitting before anyone other than you among the people of this world, I would think I could escape his anger with an excuse, for I have been given the gift of argument. But by Allah, I know that if I tell you a lie today with which you would be pleased, Allah will soon make you angry with me. And if I tell you a truthful account by which you will be displeased with me, I hope for the pardon of Allah in it. No, by Allah, I had no excuse. By Allah, I have never been stronger or more prosperous than when I stayed behind from you.'"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, 'As for this man, he has spoken truthfully. So get up until Allah decides concerning you.'"I rose, and some men of Banu Salama got up and followed me. They said to me, 'By Allah, we have never known you to commit a sin before this. You were unable to offer the Messenger of Allah ﷺ the kind of excuse those who stayed behind offered him. The Messenger of Allah's ﷺ seeking forgiveness for you would have sufficed for your sin.' By Allah, they did not stop reproaching me until I wished to go back and contradict myself."Then I asked them, 'Has anyone else met the same fate as I?'"They replied, 'Yes, two men said the same as you said and were told the same as you were told.'"I asked, 'Who are they?'"They said, 'Murara bin Rabi al-Amri and Hilal bin Umaya al-Waqifi.'"They mentioned to me two righteous men who had been present at Badr, in whom there was a model for me. So I went on my way when they mentioned them."The Messenger of Allah ﷺ forbade the Muslims from speaking to the three of us alone, out of all those who had stayed behind from him. So the people avoided us and changed toward us, until the very earth seemed strange to me. It was not the earth I knew. We remained in this state for fifty nights."As for my two companions, they submitted and stayed in their houses weeping. As for me, I was the youngest and most resilient of the three. I would go out and attend the prayer with the Muslims, walk through the markets, and no one would speak to me. I would come to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and greet him while he sat in his gathering after the prayer, asking myself, 'Did he move his lips returning my greeting or not?' Then I would pray near him and steal glances at him. When I turned to my prayer, he would look at me, but when I looked toward him, he would turn away from me."When this coldness of the people had lasted long upon me, I walked until I climbed over the wall of the garden of Abu Qatada, who was my cousin and the dearest of people to me. I greeted him, but by Allah, he did not return my greeting."I said, 'Abu Qatada, I adjure you by Allah, do you not know that I love Allah and His Messenger?'"He remained silent. I repeated the question, and he remained silent. I repeated it again."He said, 'Allah and His Messenger know best.'"My eyes overflowed with tears, and I turned away and climbed back over the wall."While I was walking in the market of Madina, suddenly a Nabatean from the people of Sham, who had come bringing food to sell in Madina, was saying, 'Who can direct me to Kaab bin Malik?' The people began pointing me out to him until he came and handed me a letter from the king of Ghassan. In it was written, 'To proceed, it has reached me that your companion has treated you harshly. Allah has not placed you in a house of humiliation or waste, so come join us, and we will console you.'"When I read it, I said, 'This too is part of the trial.' I took it to the oven and burned it."When forty of the fifty nights had passed, a messenger from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ came to me and said, 'The Messenger of Allah ﷺ commands you to keep apart from your wife.'"I asked, 'Shall I divorce her, or what shall I do?'"He said, 'No, just keep apart from her and do not approach her.' He sent the same message to my two companions."I said to my wife, 'Go to your family and stay with them until Allah decides this matter.'"Kaab continued, "The wife of Hilal bin Umaya came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and said, 'Messenger of Allah, Hilal bin Umaya is a helpless old man who has no servant. Do you mind if I serve him?'"He said, 'No, but he must not approach you.'"She said, 'By Allah, he has no inclination toward anything. By Allah, he has not stopped weeping from the time of his affair until this day of his.'"Some of my family said to me, 'Why don't you ask the Messenger of Allah's ﷺ permission concerning your wife, just as he gave permission to Hilal bin Umaya's wife to serve him?'"I said, 'By Allah, I will not ask the Messenger of Allah's ﷺ permission concerning her, for what do I know what the Messenger of Allah ﷺ might say if I asked him about her, when I am a young man?'"I remained in this state for ten more nights, until fifty nights were complete from when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ had forbidden the people from speaking to us. After I had prayed the dawn prayer on the morning of the fiftieth night, I was on the roof of one of our houses. While I was sitting in the state Allah described, with my own soul straitened upon me and the earth straitened despite its vastness, I heard the voice of a caller who had climbed 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 had announced to the people Allah's acceptance of our repentance after he had prayed the dawn prayer. The people went to bring us the good news, and bearers of the good news went to my two companions. A man rode toward me on a horse, and another from Aslam ran toward me and climbed the mountain. The voice was swifter than the horse. When the one whose voice I had heard came to me with the good news, I took off my two garments and clothed him in them as a reward for his news. By Allah, I owned nothing else that day. So I borrowed two garments and put them on, and set off toward the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. The people met me in groups, congratulating me on the acceptance of my repentance, saying, 'May Allah's acceptance of your repentance be a joy to you.'"Kaab continued, "When I entered the mosque, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was sitting with people around him. Talha bin Ubaydullah rose and hurried toward me, shook my hand, and congratulated me. By Allah, no man from among the Muhajirun rose to me except him, and I will never forget that of Talha."Kaab said, "When I greeted the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, his face shining with joy, 'Rejoice in the best day that has passed over you since your mother bore you.'"I asked, 'Is this from you, Messenger of Allah, or from Allah?'"He said, 'No, it is from Allah.'"When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was pleased, his face would shine until it seemed like a piece of the moon, and we used to recognize this in him."When I sat before him, I said, 'Messenger of Allah, as part of my repentance I will give up my wealth as charity to Allah and His Messenger.'"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, 'Keep some of your wealth for yourself, for that is better for you.'"I said, 'Then I will keep my share at Khaybar.' I added, 'Messenger of Allah, Allah has saved me only through truthfulness. Part of my repentance is that I will speak nothing but the truth as long as I live.'"By Allah, I do not know of any Muslim whom Allah has tested in truthful speech better than He has tested me, since I mentioned that to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. I have not deliberately told a single lie from the time I said that to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ until this day of mine, and I hope that Allah will preserve me from it for what remains of my life."Allah revealed to His Messenger ﷺ, 'Allah has certainly turned in mercy to the Prophet and the Muhajirun and the Ansar...' until His words 'and be among the truthful' [Tawba 9:117–119]."By Allah, Allah has never bestowed any favor upon me, after guiding me to Islam, greater in my own estimation than my truthfulness to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ that day, in not lying to him and thereby perishing as those who lied perished. For Allah said about those who lied, when He sent down the revelation, the worst that He said about anyone. Allah said, 'They will swear to you by Allah when you return to them...' until His words 'for indeed, Allah is not pleased with the defiantly disobedient people' [Tawba 9:95–96]."We three were set apart from the affair of those whose excuses the Messenger of Allah ﷺ had accepted when they swore to him, so he took their pledge and sought forgiveness for them. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ postponed our affair until Allah decided concerning it. By that, Allah said, 'And to the three who were left behind' [Tawba 9:118]. What Allah mentioned was not our staying behind from the expedition. Rather, it was his deferring our case and postponing it from those who had sworn to him and offered excuses to him, which he accepted from them."

حدثنا يحيى بن بكير حدثنا الليث عن عقيل عن ابن شهاب عن 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 كعب بن مالك يحدث حين تخلف عن قصة تبوك قال كعب لم أتخلف عن رسول الله ﷺ في غزوة غزاها إلا في غزوة تبوك غير أني كنت تخلفت في غزوة بدر ولم يعاتب أحدا تخلف عنها إنما خرج رسول الله ﷺ يريد عير قريش حتى جمع الله بينهم وبين عدوهم على غير ميعاد ولقد شهدت مع رسول الله ﷺ ليلة العقبة حين تواثقنا على الإسلام وما أحب أن لي بها مشهد بدر وإن كانت بدر أذكر في الناس منها كان من خبري أني لم أكن قط أقوى ولا أيسر حين تخلفت عنه في تلك الغزاة والله ما اجتمعت عندي قبله راحلتان قط حتى جمعتهما في تلك الغزوة ولم يكن رسول الله ﷺ يريد غزوة إلا ورى بغيرها حتى كانت تلك الغزوة غزاها رسول الله ﷺ في حر شديد واستقبل سفرا بعيدا ومفازا وعدوا كثيرا فجلى للمسلمين أمرهم ليتأهبوا أهبة غزوهم فأخبرهم بوجهه الذي يريد والمسلمون مع رسول الله ﷺ كثير ولا يجمعهم كتاب حافظ يريد الديوان قال كعب فما رجل يريد أن يتغيب إلا ظن أن سيخفى له ما لم ينزل فيه وحي الله وغزا رسول الله ﷺ تلك الغزوة حين طابت الثمار والظلال وتجهز رسول الله ﷺ والمسلمون معه فطفقت أغدو لكي أتجهز معهم فأرجع ولم أقض شيئا فأقول في نفسي أنا قادر عليه فلم يزل يتمادى بي حتى اشتد بالناس الجد فأصبح رسول الله ﷺ والمسلمون معه ولم أقض من جهازي شيئا فقلت أتجهز بعده بيوم أو يومين ثم ألحقهم فغدوت بعد أن فصلوا لأتجهز فرجعت ولم أقض شيئا ثم غدوت ثم رجعت ولم أقض شيئا فلم يزل بي حتى أسرعوا وتفارط الغزو وهممت أن أرتحل فأدركهم وليتني فعلت فلم يقدر لي ذلك فكنت إذا خرجت في الناس بعد خروج رسول الله ﷺ فطفت فيهم أحزنني أني لا أرى إلا رجلا مغموصا عليه النفاق أو رجلا ممن عذر الله من الضعفاء ولم يذكرني رسول الله ﷺ حتى بلغ تبوك فقال وهو جالس في القوم بتبوك ما فعل كعب فقال رجل من بني سلمة يا رسول الله حبسه برداه ونظره في عطفه فقال معاذ بن جبل بئس ما قلت والله يا رسول الله ما علمنا عليه إلا خيرا فسكت رسول الله ﷺ قال كعب بن مالك فلما بلغني أنه توجه قافلا حضرني همي وطفقت أتذكر الكذب وأقول بماذا أخرج من سخطه غدا واستعنت على ذلك بكل ذي رأي من أهلي فلما قيل إن رسول الله ﷺ قد أظل قادما زاح عني الباطل وعرفت أني لن أخرج منه أبدا بشيء فيه كذب فأجمعت صدقه وأصبح رسول الله ﷺ قادما وكان إذا قدم من سفر بدأ بالمسجد فيركع فيه ركعتين ثم جلس للناس فلما فعل ذلك جاءه المخلفون فطفقوا يعتذرون إليه ويحلفون له وكانوا بضعة وثمانين رجلا فقبل منهم رسول الله ﷺ علانيتهم وبايعهم واستغفر لهم ووكل سرائرهم إلى الله فجئته فلما سلمت عليه تبسم تبسم المغضب ثم قال تعال فجئت أمشي حتى جلست بين يديه فقال لي ما خلفك ألم تكن قد ابتعت ظهرك فقلت بلى إني والله لو جلست عند غيرك من أهل الدنيا لرأيت أن سأخرج من سخطه بعذر ولقد أعطيت جدلا ولكني والله لقد علمت لئن حدثتك اليوم حديث كذب ترضى به عني ليوشكن الله أن يسخطك علي ولئن حدثتك حديث صدق تجد علي فيه إني لأرجو فيه عفو الله لا والله ما كان لي من عذر والله ما كنت قط أقوى ولا أيسر مني حين تخلفت عنك فقال رسول الله ﷺ أما هذا فقد صدق فقم حتى يقضي الله فيك فقمت وثار رجال من بني سلمة فاتبعوني فقالوا لي والله ما علمناك كنت أذنبت ذنبا قبل هذا ولقد عجزت أن لا تكون اعتذرت إلى رسول الله ﷺ بما اعتذر إليه المتخلفون قد كان كافيك ذنبك استغفار رسول الله ﷺ لك فوالله ما زالوا يؤنبوني حتى أردت أن أرجع فأكذب نفسي ثم قلت لهم هل لقي هذا معي أحد قالوا نعم رجلان قالا مثل ما قلت فقيل لهما مثل ما قيل لك فقلت من هما قالوا مرارة بن الربيع العمري وهلال بن أمية الواقفي فذكروا لي رجلين صالحين قد شهدا بدرا فيهما أسوة فمضيت حين ذكروهما لي ونهى رسول الله ﷺ المسلمين عن كلامنا أيها الثلاثة من بين من تخلف عنه فاجتنبنا الناس وتغيروا لنا حتى تنكرت في نفسي الأرض فما هي التي أعرف فلبثنا على ذلك خمسين ليلة فأما صاحباي فاستكانا وقعدا في بيوتهما يبكيان وأما أنا فكنت أشب القوم وأجلدهم فكنت أخرج فأشهد الصلاة مع المسلمين وأطوف في الأسواق ولا يكلمني أحد وآتي رسول الله ﷺ فأسلم عليه وهو في مجلسه بعد الصلاة فأقول في نفسي هل حرك شفتيه برد السلام علي أم لا ثم أصلي قريبا منه فأسارقه النظر فإذا أقبلت على صلاتي أقبل إلي وإذا التفت نحوه أعرض عني حتى إذا طال علي ذلك من جفوة الناس مشيت حتى تسورت جدار حائط أبي قتادة وهو ابن عمي وأحب الناس إلي فسلمت عليه فوالله ما رد علي السلام فقلت يا أبا قتادة أنشدك بالله هل تعلمني أحب الله ورسوله فسكت فعدت له فنشدته فسكت فعدت له فنشدته فقال الله ورسوله أعلم ففاضت عيناي وتوليت حتى تسورت الجدار قال فبينا أنا أمشي بسوق المدينة إذا نبطي من أنباط أهل الشأم ممن قدم بالطعام يبيعه بالمدينة يقول من يدل على كعب بن مالك فطفق الناس يشيرون له حتى إذا جاءني دفع إلي كتابا من ملك غسان فإذا فيه أما بعد فإنه قد بلغني أن صاحبك قد جفاك ولم يجعلك الله بدار هوان ولا مضيعة فالحق بنا نواسك فقلت لما قرأتها وهذا أيضا من البلاء فتيممت بها التنور فسجرته بها حتى إذا مضت أربعون ليلة من الخمسين إذا رسول رسول الله ﷺ يأتيني فقال إن رسول الله ﷺ يأمرك أن تعتزل امرأتك فقلت أطلقها أم ماذا أفعل قال لا بل اعتزلها ولا تقربها وأرسل إلى صاحبي مثل ذلك فقلت لامرأتي الحقي بأهلك فتكوني عندهم حتى يقضي الله في هذا الأمر قال كعب فجاءت امرأة هلال بن أمية رسول الله ﷺ فقالت يا رسول الله إن هلال بن أمية شيخ ضائع ليس له خادم فهل تكره أن أخدمه قال لا ولكن لا يقربك قالت إنه والله ما به حركة إلى شيء والله ما زال يبكي منذ كان من أمره ما كان إلى يومه هذا فقال لي بعض أهلي لو استأذنت رسول الله ﷺ في امرأتك كما أذن لامرأة هلال بن أمية أن تخدمه فقلت والله لا أستأذن فيها رسول الله ﷺ وما يدريني ما يقول رسول الله ﷺ إذا استأذنته فيها وأنا رجل شاب فلبثت بعد ذلك عشر ليال حتى كملت لنا خمسون ليلة من حين نهى رسول الله ﷺ عن كلامنا فلما صليت صلاة الفجر صبح خمسين ليلة وأنا على ظهر بيت من بيوتنا فبينا أنا جالس على الحال التي ذكر الله قد ضاقت علي نفسي وضاقت علي الأرض بما رحبت سمعت صوت صارخ أوفى على جبل سلع بأعلى صوته يا كعب بن مالك أبشر قال فخررت ساجدا وعرفت أن قد جاء فرج وآذن رسول الله ﷺ بتوبة الله علينا حين صلى صلاة الفجر فذهب الناس يبشروننا وذهب قبل صاحبي مبشرون وركض إلي رجل فرسا وسعى ساع من أسلم فأوفى على الجبل وكان الصوت أسرع من الفرس فلما جاءني الذي سمعت صوته يبشرني نزعت له ثوبي فكسوته إياهما ببشراه والله ما أملك غيرهما يومئذ واستعرت ثوبين فلبستهما وانطلقت إلى رسول الله ﷺ فيتلقاني الناس فوجا فوجا يهنوني بالتوبة يقولون لتهنك توبة الله عليك قال كعب حتى دخلت المسجد فإذا رسول الله ﷺ جالس حوله الناس فقام إلي طلحة بن عبيد الله يهرول حتى صافحني وهناني والله ما قام إلي رجل من المهاجرين غيره ولا أنساها لطلحة قال كعب فلما سلمت على رسول الله ﷺ قال رسول الله ﷺ وهو يبرق وجهه من السرور أبشر بخير يوم مر عليك منذ ولدتك أمك قال قلت أمن عندك يا رسول الله أم من عند الله قال لا بل من عند الله وكان رسول الله ﷺ إذا سر استنار وجهه حتى كأنه قطعة قمر وكنا نعرف ذلك منه فلما جلست بين يديه قلت يا رسول الله إن من توبتي أن أنخلع من مالي صدقة إلى الله وإلى رسول الله قال رسول الله ﷺ أمسك عليك بعض مالك فهو خير لك قلت فإني أمسك سهمي الذي بخيبر فقلت يا رسول الله إن الله إنما نجاني بالصدق وإن من توبتي أن لا أحدث إلا صدقا ما بقيت فوالله ما أعلم أحدا من المسلمين أبلاه الله في صدق الحديث منذ ذكرت ذلك لرسول الله ﷺ أحسن مما أبلاني ما تعمدت منذ ذكرت ذلك لرسول الله ﷺ إلى يومي هذا كذبا وإني لأرجو أن يحفظني الله فيما بقيت وأنزل الله على رسوله ﷺ {لقد تاب الله على النبي والمهاجرين والأنصار} إلى قوله {وكونوا مع الصادقين} فوالله ما أنعم الله علي من نعمة قط بعد أن هداني للإسلام أعظم في نفسي من صدقي لرسول الله ﷺ أن لا أكون كذبته فأهلك كما هلك الذين كذبوا فإن الله قال للذين كذبوا حين أنزل الوحي شر ما قال لأحد فقال تبارك وتعالى {سيحلفون بالله لكم إذا انقلبتم} إلى قوله {فإن الله لا يرضى عن القوم الفاسقين} قال كعب وكنا تخلفنا أيها الثلاثة عن أمر أولئك الذين قبل منهم رسول الله ﷺ حين حلفوا له فبايعهم واستغفر لهم وأرجأ رسول الله ﷺ أمرنا حتى قضى الله فيه فبذلك قال الله {وعلى الثلاثة الذين خلفوا} وليس الذي ذكر الله مما خلفنا عن الغزو إنما هو تخليفه إيانا وإرجاؤه أمرنا عمن حلف له واعتذر إليه فقبل منه