Kaab bin Malik reported,

His account of when he stayed behind from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ during the expedition of Tabuk. He said,The Messenger of Allah ﷺ arrived back in the morning. Whenever he returned from a journey, he would begin by going to the mosque, where he would pray two units of prayer and then sit to receive the people. When he did so, those who had stayed behind came to him and began offering excuses and swearing oaths to him. They were just over eighty men. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ accepted what they outwardly professed, took their pledge of allegiance, asked forgiveness for them, and entrusted their inner intentions to Allah .Then I came forward, and when I greeted him, he smiled the smile of one who is angry. Then he said, "Come here." So I came until I sat before him.He said to me, "What kept you back? Had you not purchased your mount?"I said, "Messenger of Allah, by Allah, if I were sitting before anyone other than you from among the people of this world, I would think I could escape his anger with some excuse, for I have been given skill in argument. But by Allah, I know that if I tell you a false story today that pleases you, Allah will soon make you angry with me. And if I tell you a truthful account that displeases you, I still hope for the pardon of Allah in it. By Allah, I had no excuse. By Allah, I was never stronger or more well-off than when I stayed behind from you."The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "As for this one, he has spoken the truth. So get up until Allah decides about you."So I got up and went on. Abridged.

أخبرنا سليمان بن داود قال حدثنا ابن وهب عن يونس قال ابن شهاب وأخبرني عبد الرحمن بن كعب بن مالك أن عبد الله بن كعب قال سمعت

كعب بن مالك يحدث

حديثه حين تخلف عن رسول الله ﷺ في غزوة تبوك قال وصبح رسول الله ﷺ قادما وكان إذا قدم من سفر بدأ بالمسجد فركع فيه ركعتين ثم جلس للناس فلما فعل ذلك جاءه المخلفون فطفقوا يعتذرون إليه ويحلفون له وكانوا بضعا وثمانين رجلا فقبل رسول الله ﷺ علانيتهم وبايعهم واستغفر لهم ووكل سرائرهم إلى الله عز وجل حتى جئت فلما سلمت تبسم تبسم المغضب ثم قال تعال فجئت حتى جلست بين يديه فقال لي ما خلفك ألم تكن ابتعت ظهرك فقلت يا رسول الله إني والله لو جلست عند غيرك من أهل الدنيا لرأيت أني سأخرج من سخطه ولقد أعطيت جدلا ولكن والله لقد علمت لئن حدثتك اليوم حديث كذب لترضى به عني ليوشك أن الله عز وجل يسخطك علي ولئن حدثتك حديث صدق تجد علي فيه إني لأرجو فيه عفو الله 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 فمضيت مختصر