He narrated this when he had stayed behind from Tabuk and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ had forbidden anyone from speaking to us. I would come to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and greet him with salaam, asking myself whether he had moved his lips to return the greeting or not, until fifty nights had passed. Then the Prophet ﷺ announced that Allah had accepted our repentance, after he had finished the Fajr prayer.
حدثنا ابن بكير حدثنا الليث عن عقيل عن ابن شهاب عن عبد الرحمن بن عبد الله بن كعب أن عبد الله بن كعب قال سمعت
يحدث حين تخلف عن تبوك ونهى رسول الله ﷺ عن كلامنا وآتي رسول الله ﷺ فأسلم عليه فأقول في نفسي هل حرك شفتيه برد السلام أم لا حتى كملت خمسون ليلة وآذن النبي ﷺ بتوبة الله علينا حين صلى الفجر