I heard my father Kaab bin Malik, who was one of the three whose repentance was accepted, say that he never stayed behind from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ on any expedition he undertook, except for two, the expedition of Hardship and the expedition of Badr.He said, "I resolved to be truthful with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ in the late morning. He rarely returned from a journey except in the late morning, and he would begin by going to the mosque, where he would pray two units of prayer. The Prophet ﷺ forbade speaking with me and with my two companions, and he did not forbid speaking with any of the others who had stayed behind besides us. So the people avoided talking to us. I remained in that state until the matter dragged on, and nothing weighed on me more than the thought that I might die without the Prophet ﷺ praying over me, or that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ might die and I would be left in that condition among the people, with none of them speaking to me, praying over me, or greeting me.Then Allah revealed our repentance to His Prophet ﷺ when the last third of the night remained. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was at the home of Umm Salama, and Umm Salama was kind and concerned regarding my situation.The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Umm Salama, Kaab has been forgiven."She asked, "Shall I send word to him to give him the good news?"He replied, "If you do, the people will crowd upon you and prevent you from sleeping the rest of the night."When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ prayed the dawn prayer, he announced Allah's acceptance of our repentance. Whenever he received good news, his face would shine until it was as if it were a piece of the moon.We three were the ones who had been left behind, regarding the matter which was accepted from us, in contrast to those who had offered excuses, when Allah revealed our forgiveness. As for those who lied to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ among those who stayed behind and offered false excuses, they were mentioned with the worst description ever applied to anyone. Allah, glorified be He, said, "They will make excuses to you when you return to them. Say, 'Make no excuses, we will never believe you. Allah has already informed us of your news. Allah and His Messenger will see your deeds.'" [Tawba 9:94]
حدثني محمد حدثنا أحمد ابن أبي شعيب حدثنا موسى بن أعين حدثنا إسحاق بن راشد أن الزهري حدثه قال أخبرني عبد الرحمن بن
سمعت أبي كعب بن مالك وهو أحد الثلاثة الذين تيب عليهم أنه لم يتخلف عن رسول الله ﷺ في غزوة غزاها قط غير غزوتين غزوة العسرة وغزوة بدر قال فأجمعت صدقي رسول الله ﷺ ضحى وكان قلما يقدم من سفر سافره إلا ضحى وكان يبدأ بالمسجد فيركع ركعتين ونهى النبي ﷺ عن كلامي وكلام صاحبي ولم ينه عن كلام أحد من المتخلفين غيرنا فاجتنب الناس كلامنا فلبثت كذلك حتى طال علي الأمر وما من شيء أهم إلي من أن أموت فلا يصلي علي النبي ﷺ أو يموت رسول الله ﷺ فأكون من الناس بتلك المنزلة فلا يكلمني أحد منهم ولا يصلي ولا يسلم علي فأنزل الله توبتنا على نبيه ﷺ حين بقي الثلث الآخر من الليل ورسول الله ﷺ عند أم سلمة وكانت أم سلمة محسنة في شأني معنية في أمري فقال رسول الله ﷺ يا أم سلمة تيب على كعب قالت أفلا أرسل إليه فأبشره قال إذا يحطمكم الناس فيمنعونكم النوم سائر الليلة حتى إذا صلى رسول الله ﷺ صلاة الفجر آذن بتوبة الله علينا وكان إذا استبشر استنار وجهه حتى كأنه قطعة من القمر وكنا أيها الثلاثة الذين خلفوا عن الأمر الذي قبل من هؤلاء الذين اعتذروا حين أنزل الله لنا التوبة فلما ذكر الذين كذبوا رسول الله ﷺ من المتخلفين واعتذروا بالباطل ذكروا بشر ما ذكر به أحد قال الله سبحانه {يعتذرون إليكم إذا رجعتم إليهم قل لا تعتذروا لن نؤمن لكم قد نبأنا الله من أخباركم وسيرى الله عملكم ورسوله} الآية