Sahih Muslim Book - 49, Hadith - 7016

حَدَّثَنِى أَبُو الطَّاهِرِ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ عَمْرِو بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرِو بْنِ سَرْحٍ مَوْلَى بَنِى أُمَيَّةَ أَخْبَرَنِى ابْنُ وَهْبٍ أَخْبَرَنِى يُونُسُ عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ قَالَ ثُمَّ غَزَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- غَزْوَةَ تَبُوكَ وَهُوَ يُرِيدُ الرُّومَ وَنَصَارَى الْعَرَبِ بِالشَّامِ. قَالَ ابْنُ شِهَابٍ فَأَخْبَرَنِى عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ كَعْبِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ أَنَّ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ كَعْبٍ كَانَ قَائِدَ كَعْبٍ مِنْ بَنِيهِ حِينَ عَمِىَ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ كَعْبَ بْنَ مَالِكٍ يُحَدِّثُ حَدِيثَهُ حِينَ تَخَلَّفَ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- فِى غَزْوَةِ تَبُوكَ قَالَ كَعْبُ بْنُ مَالِكٍ لَمْ أَتَخَلَّفْ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- فِى غَزْوَةٍ غَزَاهَا قَطُّ إِلاَّ فِى غَزْوَةِ تَبُوكَ غَيْرَ أَنِّى قَدْ تَخَلَّفْتُ فِى غَزْوَةِ بَدْرٍ وَلَمْ يُعَاتِبْ أَحَدًا تَخَلَّفَ عَنْهُ إِنَّمَا خَرَجَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- وَالْمُسْلِمُونَ يُرِيدُونَ عِيرَ قُرَيْشٍ حَتَّى جَمَعَ اللَّهُ بَيْنَهُمْ وَبَيْنَ عَدُوِّهُمْ عَلَى غَيْرِ مِيعَادٍ وَلَقَدْ شَهِدْتُ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- لَيْلَةَ الْعَقَبَةِ حِينَ تَوَاثَقْنَا عَلَى الإِسْلاَمِ وَمَا أُحِبُّ أَنَّ لِى بِهَا مَشْهَدَ بَدْرٍ وَإِنْ كَانَتْ بَدْرٌ أَذْكَرَ فِى النَّاسِ مِنْهَا وَكَانَ مِنْ خَبَرِى حِينَ تَخَلَّفْتُ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- فِى غَزْوَةِ تَبُوكَ أَنِّى لَمْ أَكُنْ قَطُّ أَقْوَى وَلاَ أَيْسَرَ مِنِّى حِينَ تَخَلَّفْتُ عَنْهُ فِى تِلْكَ الْغَزْوَةِ وَاللَّهِ مَا جَمَعْتُ قَبْلَهَا رَاحِلَتَيْنِ قَطُّ حَتَّى جَمَعْتُهُمَا فِى تِلْكَ الْغَزْوَةِ فَغَزَاهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- فِى حَرٍّ شَدِيدٍ وَاسْتَقْبَلَ سَفَرًا بَعِيدًا وَمَفَازًا وَاسْتَقْبَلَ عَدُوًّا كَثِيرًا فَجَلاَ لِلْمُسْلِمِينَ أَمْرَهُمْ لِيَتَأَهَّبُوا أُهْبَةَ غَزْوِهِمْ فَأَخْبَرَهُمْ بِوَجْهِهِمُ الَّذِى يُرِيدُ وَالْمُسْلِمُونَ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- كَثِيرٌ وَلاَ يَجْمَعُهُمْ كِتَابُ حَافِظٍ - يُرِيدُ بِذَلِكَ الدِّيوَانَ - قَالَ كَعْبٌ فَقَلَّ رَجُلٌ يُرِيدُ أَنْ يَتَغَيَّبَ يَظُنُّ أَنَّ ذَلِكَ سَيَخْفَى لَهُ مَا لَمْ يَنْزِلْ فِيهِ وَحْىٌ مِنَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَغَزَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- تِلْكَ الْغَزْوَةَ حِينَ طَابَتِ الثِّمَارُ وَالظِّلاَلُ فَأَنَا إِلَيْهَا أَصْعَرُ فَتَجَهَّزَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- وَالْمُسْلِمُونَ مَعَهُ وَطَفِقْتُ أَغْدُو لِكَىْ أَتَجَهَّزَ مَعَهُمْ فَأَرْجِعُ وَلَمْ أَقْضِ شَيْئًا. وَأَقُولُ فِى نَفْسِى أَنَا قَادِرٌ عَلَى ذَلِكَ إِذَا أَرَدْتُ. فَلَمْ يَزَلْ ذَلِكَ يَتَمَادَى بِى حَتَّى اسْتَمَرَّ بِالنَّاسِ الْجِدُّ فَأَصْبَحَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- غَادِيًا وَالْمُسْلِمُونَ مَعَهُ وَلَمْ أَقْضِ مِنْ جَهَازِى شَيْئًا ثُمَّ غَدَوْتُ فَرَجَعْتُ وَلَمْ أَقْضِ شَيْئًا فَلَمْ يَزَلْ ذَلِكَ يَتَمَادَى بِى حَتَّى أَسْرَعُوا وَتَفَارَطَ الْغَزْوُ فَهَمَمْتُ أَنْ أَرْتَحِلَ فَأُدْرِكَهُمْ فَيَا لَيْتَنِى فَعَلْتُ ثُمَّ لَمْ يُقَدَّرْ ذَلِكَ لِى فَطَفِقْتُ إِذَا خَرَجْتُ فِى النَّاسِ بَعْدَ خُرُوجِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- يَحْزُنُنِى أَنِّى لاَ أَرَى لِى أُسْوَةً إِلاَّ رَجُلاً مَغْمُوصًا عَلَيْهِ فِى النِّفَاقِ أَوْ رَجُلاً مِمَّنْ عَذَرَ اللَّهُ مِنَ الضُّعَفَاءِ وَلَمْ يَذْكُرْنِى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- حَتَّى بَلَغَ تَبُوكًا فَقَالَ وَهُوَ جَالِسٌ فِى الْقَوْمِ بِتَبُوكَ « مَا فَعَلَ كَعْبُ بْنُ مَالِكٍ ». قَالَ رَجُلٌ مِنْ بَنِى سَلِمَةَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ حَبَسَهُ بُرْدَاهُ وَالنَّظَرُ فِى عِطْفَيْهِ. فَقَالَ لَهُ مُعَاذُ بْنُ جَبَلٍ بِئْسَ مَا قُلْتَ وَاللَّهِ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَا عَلِمْنَا عَلَيْهِ إِلاَّ خَيْرًا. فَسَكَتَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- فَبَيْنَمَا هُوَ عَلَى ذَلِكَ رَأَى رَجُلاً مُبَيِّضًا يَزُولُ بِهِ السَّرَابُ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- « كُنْ أَبَا خَيْثَمَةَ ». فَإِذَا هُو أَبُو خَيْثَمَةَ الأَنْصَارِىُّ وَهُوَ الَّذِى تَصَدَّقَ بِصَاعِ التَّمْرِ حِينَ لَمَزَهُ الْمُنَافِقُونَ. فَقَالَ كَعْبُ بْنُ مَالِكٍ فَلَمَّا بَلَغَنِى أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- قَدْ تَوَجَّهَ قَافِلاً مِنْ تَبُوكَ حَضَرَنِى بَثِّى فَطَفِقْتُ أَتَذَكَّرُ الْكَذِبَ وَأَقُولُ بِمَ أَخْرُجُ مِنْ سَخَطِهِ غَدًا وَأَسْتَعِينُ عَلَى ذَلِكَ كُلَّ ذِى رَأْىٍ مِنْ أَهْلِى فَلَمَّا قِيلَ لِى إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- قَدْ أَظَلَّ قَادِمًا زَاحَ عَنِّى الْبَاطِلُ حَتَّى عَرَفْتُ أَنِّى لَنْ أَنْجُوَ مِنْهُ بِشَىْءٍ أَبَدًا فَأَجْمَعْتُ صِدْقَهُ وَصَبَّحَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- قَادِمًا وَكَانَ إِذَا قَدِمَ مِنْ سَفَرٍ بَدَأَ بِالْمَسْجِدِ فَرَكَعَ فِيهِ رَكْعَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ جَلَسَ لِلنَّاسِ فَلَمَّا فَعَلَ ذَلِكَ جَاءَهُ الْمُخَلَّفُونَ فَطَفِقُوا يَعْتَذِرُونَ إِلَيْهِ وَيَحْلِفُونَ لَهُ وَكَانُوا بِضْعَةً وَثَمَانِينَ رَجُلاً فَقَبِلَ مِنْهُمْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- عَلاَنِيَتَهُمْ وَبَايَعَهُمْ وَاسْتَغْفَرَ لَهُمْ وَوَكَلَ سَرَائِرَهُمْ إِلَى اللَّهِ حَتَّى جِئْتُ فَلَمَّا سَلَّمْتُ تَبَسَّمَ تَبَسُّمَ الْمُغْضَبِ ثُمَّ قَالَ « تَعَالَ ». فَجِئْتُ أَمْشِى حَتَّى جَلَسْتُ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ فَقَالَ لِى « مَا خَلَّفَكَ ». أَلَمْ تَكُنْ قَدِ ابْتَعْتَ ظَهْرَكَ ». قَالَ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنِّى وَاللَّهِ لَوْ جَلَسْتُ عِنْدَ غَيْرِكَ مِنْ أَهْلِ الدُّنْيَا لَرَأَيْتُ أَنِّى سَأَخْرُجُ مِنْ سَخَطِهِ بِعُذْرٍ وَلَقَدْ أُعْطِيتُ جَدَلاً وَلَكِنِّى وَاللَّهِ لَقَدْ عَلِمْتُ لَئِنْ حَدَّثْتُكَ الْيَوْمَ حَدِيثَ كَذِبٍ تَرْضَى بِهِ عَنِّى لَيُوشِكَنَّ اللَّهُ أَنْ يُسْخِطَكَ عَلَىَّ وَلَئِنْ حَدَّثْتُكَ حَدِيثَ صِدْقٍ تَجِدُ عَلَىَّ فِيهِ إِنِّى لأَرْجُو فِيهِ عُقْبَى اللَّهِ وَاللَّهِ مَا كَانَ لِى عُذْرٌ وَاللَّهِ مَا كُنْتُ قَطُّ أَقْوَى وَلاَ أَيْسَرَ مِنِّى حِينَ تَخَلَّفْتُ عَنْكَ. قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- « أَمَّا هَذَا فَقَدْ صَدَقَ فَقُمْ حَتَّى يَقْضِىَ اللَّهُ فِيكَ ». فَقُمْتُ وَثَارَ رِجَالٌ مِنْ بَنِى سَلِمَةَ فَاتَّبَعُونِى فَقَالُوا لِى وَاللَّهِ مَا عَلِمْنَاكَ أَذْنَبْتَ ذَنْبًا قَبْلَ هَذَا لَقَدْ عَجَزْتَ فِى أَنْ لاَ تَكُونَ اعْتَذَرْتَ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- بِمَا اعْتَذَرَ بِهِ إِلَيْهِ الْمُخَلَّفُونَ فَقَدْ كَانَ كَافِيَكَ ذَنْبَكَ اسْتِغْفَارُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- لَكَ. قَالَ فَوَاللَّهِ مَا زَالُوا يُؤَنِّبُونَنِى حَتَّى أَرَدْتُ أَنْ أَرْجِعَ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- فَأُكَذِّبَ نَفْسِى - قَالَ - ثُمَّ قُلْتُ لَهُمْ هَلْ لَقِىَ هَذَا مَعِى مِنْ أَحَدٍ قَالُوا نَعَمْ لَقِيَهُ مَعَكَ رَجُلاَنِ قَالاَ مِثْلَ مَا قُلْتَ فَقِيلَ لَهُمَا مِثْلُ مَا قِيلَ لَكَ - قَالَ - قُلْتُ مَنْ هُمَا قَالُوا مُرَارَةُ بْنُ رَبِيعَةَ الْعَامِرِىُّ وَهِلاَلُ بْنُ أُمَيَّةَ الْوَاقِفِىُّ - قَالَ - فَذَكَرُوا لِى رَجُلَيْنِ صَالِحَيْنِ قَدْ شِهِدَا بَدْرًا فِيهِمَا أُسْوَةٌ - قَالَ - فَمَضَيْتُ حِينَ ذَكَرُوهُمَا لِى. قَالَ وَنَهَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- الْمُسْلِمِينَ عَنْ كَلاَمِنَا أَيُّهَا الثَّلاَثَةُ مِنْ بَيْنِ مَنْ تَخَلَّفَ عَنْهُ - قَالَ - فَاجْتَنَبَنَا النَّاسُ - وَقَالَ - تَغَيَّرُوا لَنَا حَتَّى تَنَكَّرَتْ لِى فِى نَفْسِىَ الأَرْضُ فَمَا هِىَ بِالأَرْضِ الَّتِى أَعْرِفُ فَلَبِثْنَا عَلَى ذَلِكَ خَمْسِينَ لَيْلَةً فَأَمَّا صَاحِبَاىَ فَاسْتَكَانَا وَقَعَدَا فِى بُيُوتِهِمَا يَبْكِيَانِ وَأَمَّا أَنَا فَكُنْتُ أَشَبَّ الْقَوْمِ وَأَجْلَدَهُمْ فَكُنْتُ أَخْرُجُ فَأَشْهَدُ الصَّلاَةَ وَأَطُوفُ فِى الأَسْوَاقِ وَلاَ يُكَلِّمُنِى أَحَدٌ وَآتِى رَسُولَ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- فَأُسَلِّمُ عَلَيْهِ وَهُوَ فِى مَجْلِسِهِ بَعْدَ الصَّلاَةِ فَأَقُولُ فِى نَفْسِى هَلْ حَرَّكَ شَفَتَيْهِ بِرَدِّ السَّلاَمِ أَمْ لاَ ثُمَّ أُصَلِّى قَرِيبًا مِنْهُ وَأُسَارِقُهُ النَّظَرَ فَإِذَا أَقْبَلْتُ عَلَى صَلاَتِى نَظَرَ إِلَىَّ وَإِذَا الْتَفَتُّ نَحْوَهُ أَعْرَضَ عَنِّى حَتَّى إِذَا طَالَ ذَلِكَ عَلَىَّ مِنْ جَفْوَةِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ مَشَيْتُ حَتَّى تَسَوَّرْتُ جِدَارَ حَائِطِ أَبِى قَتَادَةَ وَهُوَ ابْنُ عَمِّى وَأَحَبُّ النَّاسِ إِلَىَّ فَسَلَّمْتُ عَلَيْهِ فَوَاللَّهِ مَا رَدَّ عَلَىَّ السَّلاَمَ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ يَا أَبَا قَتَادَةَ أَنْشُدُكَ بِاللَّهِ هَلْ تَعْلَمَنَّ أَنِّى أُحِبُّ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ قَالَ فَسَكَتَ فَعُدْتُ فَنَاشَدْتُهُ فَسَكَتَ فَعُدْتُ فَنَاشَدْتُهُ فَقَالَ اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَعْلَمُ. فَفَاضَتْ عَيْنَاىَ وَتَوَلَّيْتُ حَتَّى تَسَوَّرْتُ الْجِدَارَ فَبَيْنَا أَنَا أَمْشِى فِى سُوقِ الْمَدِينَةِ إِذَا نَبَطِىٌّ مِنْ نَبَطِ أَهْلِ الشَّامِ مِمَّنْ قَدِمَ بِالطَّعَامِ يَبِيعُهُ بِالْمَدِينَةِ يَقُولُ مَنْ يَدُلُّ عَلَى كَعْبِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ - قَالَ - فَطَفِقَ النَّاسُ يُشِيرُونَ لَهُ إِلَىَّ حَتَّى جَاءَنِى فَدَفَعَ إِلَىَّ كِتَابًا مِنْ مَلِكِ غَسَّانَ وَكُنْتُ كَاتِبًا فَقَرَأْتُهُ فَإِذَا فِيهِ أَمَّا بَعْدُ فَإِنَّهُ قَدْ بَلَغَنَا أَنَّ صَاحِبَكَ قَدْ جَفَاكَ وَلَمْ يَجْعَلْكَ اللَّهُ بِدَارِ هَوَانٍ وَلاَ مَضْيَعَةٍ فَالْحَقْ بِنَا نُوَاسِكَ. قَالَ فَقُلْتُ حِينَ قَرَأْتُهَا وَهَذِهِ أَيْضًا مِنَ الْبَلاَءِ. فَتَيَامَمْتُ بِهَا التَّنُّورَ فَسَجَرْتُهَا بِهَا حَتَّى إِذَا مَضَتْ أَرْبَعُونَ مِنَ الْخَمْسِينَ وَاسْتَلْبَثَ الْوَحْىُ إِذَا رَسُولُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- يَأْتِينِى فَقَالَ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- يَأْمُرُكَ أَنْ تَعْتَزِلَ امْرَأَتَكَ. قَالَ فَقُلْتُ أُطَلِّقُهَا أَمْ مَاذَا أَفْعَلُ قَالَ لاَ بَلِ اعْتَزِلْهَا فَلاَ تَقْرَبَنَّهَا - قَالَ - فَأَرْسَلَ إِلَى صَاحِبَىَّ بِمِثْلِ ذَلِكَ - قَالَ - فَقُلْتُ لاِمْرَأَتِى الْحَقِى بِأَهْلِكِ فَكُونِى عِنْدَهُمْ حَتَّى يَقْضِىَ اللَّهُ فِى هَذَا الأَمْرِ - قَالَ - فَجَاءَتِ امْرَأَةُ هِلاَلِ بْنِ أُمَيَّةَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- فَقَالَتْ لَهُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ هِلاَلَ بْنَ أُمَيَّةَ شَيْخٌ ضَائِعٌ لَيْسَ لَهُ خَادِمٌ فَهَلْ تَكْرَهُ أَنْ أَخْدُمَهُ قَالَ « لاَ وَلَكِنْ لاَ يَقْرَبَنَّكِ ». فَقَالَتْ إِنَّهُ وَاللَّهِ مَا بِهِ حَرَكَةٌ إِلَى شَىْءٍ وَوَاللَّهِ مَا زَالَ يَبْكِى مُنْذُ كَانَ مِنْ أَمْرِهِ مَا كَانَ إِلَى يَوْمِهِ هَذَا. قَالَ فَقَالَ لِى بَعْضُ أَهْلِى لَوِ اسْتَأْذَنْتَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- فِى امْرَأَتِكَ فَقَدْ أَذِنَ لاِمْرَأَةِ هِلاَلِ بْنِ أُمَيَّةَ أَنْ تَخْدُمَهُ - قَالَ - فَقُلْتُ لاَ أَسْتَأْذِنُ فِيهَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- وَمَا يُدْرِينِى مَاذَا يَقُولُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- إِذَا اسْتَأْذَنْتُهُ فِيهَا وَأَنَا رَجُلٌ شَابٌّ - قَالَ - فَلَبِثْتُ بِذَلِكَ عَشْرَ لَيَالٍ فَكَمُلَ لَنَا خَمْسُونَ لَيْلَةً مِنْ حِينَ نُهِىَ عَنْ كَلاَمِنَا - قَالَ - ثُمَّ صَلَّيْتُ صَلاَةَ الْفَجْرِ صَبَاحَ خَمْسِينَ لَيْلَةً عَلَى ظَهْرِ بَيْتٍ مِنْ بُيُوتِنَا فَبَيْنَا أَنَا جَالِسٌ عَلَى الْحَالِ الَّتِى ذَكَرَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ مِنَّا قَدْ ضَاقَتْ عَلَىَّ نَفْسِى وَضَاقَتْ عَلَىَّ الأَرْضُ بِمَا رَحُبَتْ سَمِعْتُ صَوْتَ صَارِخٍ أَوْفَى عَلَى سَلْعٍ يَقُولُ بِأَعْلَى صَوْتِهِ يَا كَعْبَ بْنَ مَالِكٍ أَبْشِرْ - قَالَ - فَخَرَرْتُ سَاجِدًا وَعَرَفْتُ أَنْ قَدْ جَاءَ فَرَجٌ. - قَالَ - فَآذَنَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- النَّاسَ بِتَوْبَةِ اللَّهِ عَلَيْنَا حِينَ صَلَّى صَلاَةَ الْفَجْرِ فَذَهَبَ النَّاسُ يُبَشِّرُونَنَا فَذَهَبَ قِبَلَ صَاحِبَىَّ مُبَشِّرُونَ وَرَكَضَ رَجُلٌ إِلَىَّ فَرَسًا وَسَعَى سَاعٍ مِنْ أَسْلَمَ قِبَلِى وَأَوْفَى الْجَبَلَ فَكَانَ الصَّوْتُ أَسْرَعَ مِنَ الْفَرَسِ فَلَمَّا جَاءَنِى الَّذِى سَمِعْتُ صَوْتَهُ يُبَشِّرُنِى فَنَزَعْتُ لَهُ ثَوْبَىَّ فَكَسَوْتُهُمَا إِيَّاهُ بِبِشَارَتِهِ وَاللَّهِ مَا أَمْلِكُ غَيْرَهُمَا يَوْمَئِذٍ وَاسْتَعَرْتُ ثَوْبَيْنِ. فَلَبِسْتُهُمَا فَانْطَلَقْتُ أَتَأَمَّمُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- يَتَلَقَّانِى النَّاسُ فَوْجًا فَوْجًا يُهَنِّئُونِى بِالتَّوْبَةِ وَيَقُولُونَ لِتَهْنِئْكَ تَوْبَةُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكَ. حَتَّى دَخَلْتُ الْمَسْجِدَ فَإِذَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- جَالِسٌ فِى الْمَسْجِدِ وَحَوْلَهُ النَّاسُ فَقَامَ طَلْحَةُ بْنُ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ يُهَرْوِلُ حَتَّى صَافَحَنِى وَهَنَّأَنِى وَاللَّهِ مَا قَامَ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ غَيْرُهُ. قَالَ فَكَانَ كَعْبٌ لاَ يَنْسَاهَا لِطَلْحَةَ. قَالَ كَعْبٌ فَلَمَّا سَلَّمْتُ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- قَالَ وَهُوَ يَبْرُقُ وَجْهُهُ مِنَ السُّرُورِ وَيَقُولُ « أَبْشِرْ بِخَيْرِ يَوْمٍ مَرَّ عَلَيْكَ مُنْذُ وَلَدَتْكَ أُمُّكَ ». قَالَ فَقُلْتُ أَمِنْ عِنْدِكَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَمْ مِنْ عِنْدِ اللَّهِ فَقَالَ « لاَ بَلْ مِنْ عِنْدِ اللَّهِ ». وَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- إِذَا سُرَّ اسْتَنَارَ وَجْهُهُ كَأَنَّ وَجْهَهُ قِطْعَةُ قَمَرٍ - قَالَ - وَكُنَّا نَعْرِفُ ذَلِكَ - قَالَ - فَلَمَّا جَلَسْتُ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ مِنْ تَوْبَتِى أَنْ أَنْخَلِعَ مِنْ مَالِى صَدَقَةً إِلَى اللَّهِ وَإِلَى رَسُولِهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم-. فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- « أَمْسِكْ بَعْضَ مَالِكَ فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَكَ ». قَالَ فَقُلْتُ فَإِنِّى أُمْسِكُ سَهْمِىَ الَّذِى بِخَيْبَرَ - قَالَ - وَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ إِنَّمَا أَنْجَانِى بِالصِّدْقِ وَإِنَّ مِنْ تَوْبَتِى أَنْ لاَ أُحَدِّثَ إِلاَّ صِدْقًا مَا بَقِيتُ - قَالَ - فَوَاللَّهِ مَا عَلِمْتُ أَنَّ أَحَدًا مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ أَبْلاَهُ اللَّهُ فِى صِدْقِ الْحَدِيثِ مُنْذُ ذَكَرْتُ ذَلِكَ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- إِلَى يَوْمِى هَذَا أَحْسَنَ مِمَّا أَبْلاَنِى اللَّهُ بِهِ وَاللَّهِ مَا تَعَمَّدْتُ كَذْبَةً مُنْذُ قُلْتُ ذَلِكَ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- إِلَى يَوْمِى هَذَا وَإِنِّى لأَرْجُو أَنْ يَحْفَظَنِىَ اللَّهُ فِيمَا بَقِىَ. قَالَ فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ (لَقَدْ تَابَ اللَّهُ عَلَى النَّبِىِّ وَالْمُهَاجِرِينَ وَالأَنْصَارِ الَّذِينَ اتَّبَعُوهُ فِى سَاعَةِ الْعُسْرَةِ مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا كَادَ يَزِيغُ قُلُوبُ فَرِيقٍ مِنْهُمْ ثُمَّ تَابَ عَلَيْهِمْ إِنَّهُ بِهِمْ رَءُوفٌ رَحِيمٌ وَعَلَى الثَّلاَثَةِ الَّذِينَ خُلِّفُوا حَتَّى إِذَا ضَاقَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ الأَرْضُ بِمَا رَحُبَتْ وَضَاقَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ أَنْفُسُهُمْ) حَتَّى بَلَغَ (يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَكُونُوا مَعَ الصَّادِقِينَ) قَالَ كَعْبٌ وَاللَّهِ مَا أَنْعَمَ اللَّهُ عَلَىَّ مِنْ نِعْمَةٍ قَطُّ بَعْدَ إِذْ هَدَانِى اللَّهُ لِلإِسْلاَمِ أَعْظَمَ فِى نَفْسِى مِنْ صِدْقِى رَسُولَ اللَّهُ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- أَنْ لاَ أَكُونَ كَذَبْتُهُ فَأَهْلِكَ كَمَا هَلَكَ الَّذِينَ كَذَبُوا إِنَّ اللَّهَ قَالَ لِلَّذِينَ كَذَبُوا حِينَ أَنْزَلَ الْوَحْىَ شَرَّ مَا قَالَ لأَحَدٍ وَقَالَ اللَّهُ ( سَيَحْلِفُونَ بِاللَّهِ لَكُمْ إِذَا انْقَلَبْتُمْ إِلَيْهِمْ لِتُعْرِضُوا عَنْهُمْ فَأَعْرِضُوا عَنْهُمْ إِنَّهُمْ رِجْسٌ وَمَأْوَاهُمْ جَهَنَّمُ جَزَاءً بِمَا كَانُوا يَكْسِبُونَ يَحْلِفُونَ لَكُمْ لِتَرْضَوْا عَنْهُمْ فَإِنْ تَرْضَوْا عَنْهُمْ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لاَ يَرْضَى عَنِ الْقَوْمِ الْفَاسِقِينَ) قَالَ كَعْبٌ كُنَّا خُلِّفْنَا أَيُّهَا الثَّلاَثَةُ عَنْ أَمْرِ أُولَئِكَ الَّذِينَ قَبِلَ مِنْهُمْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- حِينَ حَلَفُوا لَهُ فَبَايَعَهُمْ وَاسْتَغْفَرَ لَهُمْ وَأَرْجَأَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- أَمْرَنَا حَتَّى قَضَى اللَّهُ فِيهِ فَبِذَلِكَ قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ (وَعَلَى الثَّلاَثَةِ الَّذِينَ خُلِّفُوا) وَلَيْسَ الَّذِى ذَكَرَ اللَّهُ مِمَّا خُلِّفْنَا تَخَلُّفَنَا عَنِ الْغَزْوِ وَإِنَّمَا هُوَ تَخْلِيفُهُ إِيَّانَا وَإِرْجَاؤُهُ أَمْرَنَا عَمَّنْ حَلَفَ لَهُ وَاعْتَذَرَ إِلَيْهِ فَقَبِلَ مِنْهُ.

It was narrated that Ibn Shihab said: "Then the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) went out on the campaign of Tabuk, heading towards the Byzantines and the Arab-Christians of Ash-Sham." Ibn Shihab said: "And 'Abdur-Rahman bin 'Abdullah bin Ka'b bin Malik narrated, that 'Abdullah bin Ka'b - who was the one among his children who became Ka'b's guide when he became blind - said: 'I heard Ka'b bin Malik narrate the story of him staying behind when the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) went out on the campaign to Tabuk. Ka'b bin Malik said: "I did not stay behind from any campaign that the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) went out on, except the campaign of Tabuk. I also stayed behind from the campaign of Badr, but the Messenger of Allah did not admonish anyone who stayed behind from it. Rather the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) and the Muslims went out seeking the caravan of the Quraish, but Allah brought them and their enemy face-to-face without there being any intention of fighting. I was present with the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) on the night of Al'-Aqabah, when we swore our allegiance to Islam. That was not dearer to me than being present at Badr, although (the battle of) Badr was more famous among the people. When I stayed behind from going on the campaign to Tabuk with the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w), I was never stronger or better off than when I stayed behind from that campaign. By Allah, I had never had two mounts at the same time I had two mounts at the time of that campaign. The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) waged this campaign at a time of intense heat, and was undertaking a long journey in a waterless land, and aiming to confront an enemy greater in numbers. He made the situation clear to the Muslims so that they could fully prepare themselves for their campaign. He told them the direction in which he wanted to go. The Muslims who were with the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) were many, and there was no proper written record of them." Ka'b said: "Few men wanted to stay behind, and they thought that they could easily conceal themselves, so long as no Revelation came down from Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, concerning them. The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) went out on that campaign when the fruits were ripe and the shade was very attractive, and I had a fondness for those fruits. The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) made preparations, as did the Muslims with him. I would set out in the morning to make my preparations along with them, then I would come back and did not do anything. I said to myself: 'I can do that when I want to.' I kept on delaying that until the people were about to depart. The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) set out one morning and the Muslims set out with him, but I had not made any preparations. Then I went out and came back, and I did not do anything. I continued to do that until they had covered some distance, and I thought of riding and catching up with them. Would that I had done that, but that was not decreed for me. "When I went out among the people, after the departure of the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w), I would feel shocked and upset to see that there was no one else of my caliber, except a man who was accused of being a hypocrite or a man who had been excused because of physical weakness. The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) did not remember me until he reached Tabuk, then he said, while he was sitting among the people in Tabuk: 'What happened to Ka'b bin Malik?' A man from Banu Salamah said: 'O Messenger of Allah, his cloak and self admiration have detained him.' Mu'adh bin Jabal said to him: 'What a bad thing you have said! By Allah, O Messenger of Allah, we know nothing but good about him.' The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) remained silent and while he was like that, he saw a man dressed in white, shimmering like a mirage. The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) said: 'Be Abu Khaithamah' and it was Abu Khaithamah Al-Ansari, who was the one who gave a Sa' in charity and was mocked by the hypocrites.'' Ka'b bin Malik said: "When I heard that the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) was on his way back from Tabuk, I became very worried and I began to think of telling a lie, but then I said: 'How will I save myself from His wrath tomorrow?' I sought the advice of every wise man among my people. When I was told that the arrival of the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) was imminent, all false ideas left me, and I knew that nothing could save me from his wrath, so I decided to tell him the truth. The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) arrived in the morning, and whenever he returned from a journey, he would start by going to the Masjid and praying two Rak'ah there, then he would sit to talk to the people. When he had done that, those who had stayed behind came to him and started offering their excuses and swearing oaths to him. "There were eighty-odd men, and the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) accepted their excuses as they appeared to be, and he accepted their oaths of allegiance and prayed for forgiveness for them, and he left their inward intentions to Allah. Then I came, and when I greeted him with Salam, he smiled in the manner of one who is angry. Then he said: 'Come here.' So I came and sat before him, and he said to me: 'What kept you behind? Did you not buy amount?' I said: 'O Messenger of Allah, by Allah, if I sat before anyone in this world other than you, I would have saved myself from his anger with an excuse, for I have been given the ability to argue, but by Allah, I know that if I were to tell you a lie today that you accepted, soon Allah would make you angry with me, but if I tell you the truth today, you will be annoyed with me, yet I hope that Allah will cause it to end well. By Allah, I had no excuse. By Allah, I was never stronger or more well-off than when I stayed behind and did not accompany you.' The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) said: 'As for this one, he has spoken the truth. Get up and leave until Allah decides concerning you.' "So I left, and some men of Banu Salamah came rushing after me and said to me: 'By Allah, we never knew you to commit any sin before this, but you were unable to offer any excuse to the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) as the others who stayed behind did. It would have been sufficient for your sin if the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) had prayed for forgiveness for you.' "By Allah, they kept rebuking me until I wanted to go back to the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) and contradict myself. Then I said to them: 'Is there anyone else in the same position as me?' They said: 'Yes, there are two men in the same position as you; they said something like what you said, and they were told something like what you were told.' I said: 'Who are they?' They said: 'Murarah bin Rabi'ah Al'-Amiri and Hilal bin Umayyah Al-Waqifi.' They mentioned to me two righteous men who had been present at (the battle of) Badr, and there was an example for me in them. So I went away when they mentioned them to me. "The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) forbade the Muslims to speak to the three of us among those who had stayed behind. So the people shunned us, or their attitude towards us changed, until it seemed to me that the land itself had turned hostile towards me, and it was no longer the land that I knew. We stayed like that for fifty nights. As for my two companions, they stayed in their houses weeping, but I was the youngest and strongest of them. I would go out and attend the prayer, and go around in the marketplaces, and no one would speak to me. I would go to the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) and greet him with Salam, when he was sitting with the people after prayer, and I would say to myself: 'Did his lips move in response or not?' Then I would pray standing close to him, stealing glances at him. When I focused on my prayer, he would look at me, then when I looked at him he would turn away. Then when this harsh treatment of the Muslims had gone on for too long, I went and climbed the wall of the garden of Abu Qatadah, who was my paternal cousin and the dearest of people to me, and I greeted him with Salam but by Allah, he did not return the greeting. I said to him: 'O Abu Qatadah, I adjure you by Allah, do you know that I love Allah and His Messenger?' He remained silent, so I adjured him again, and he remained silent. Then I adjured him again and he said: 'Allah and His Messenger know best.' My eyes filled with tears, and I turned away and climbed back over the wall. "While I was walking in the marketplace of Al-Madinah, I saw a farmer from Ash-Sham, one of those who had brought foodstuff to sell in Al-Madinah. He was saying: 'Who will show me where Ka'b bin Malik is?' The people started to point me out to him, and he came to me and gave me a letter from the king of Ghassan. I was literate, so I read it and it said: "'We have heard that your companion is treating you cruelly, and you do not have to stay in a place where you are humiliated and have no rights. Come to us and we will support you.' When I read it, I said: 'This is also part of the test,' and went to the oven and threw it in. Then when forty of the fifty days had passed, and no Revelation had come, the envoy of the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) came to me and said: 'The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) has ordered you to keep away from your wife.' I said: 'Should I divorce her, or what should I do?' He said: 'No, just keep away from her, and do not come near her.' And he sent word to my two companions with similar orders. I said to my wife: 'Go to your family and stay with them until Allah decides concerning this matter.' The wife of Hilal bin Umayyah came to the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) and said to him: 'O Messenger of Allah, Hilal bin Umayyah is an old man who has no servant and no one to take care of him. Do you object if I serve him?' He said: 'No, but he should not come near you.' She said: 'By Allah, he has no such desire; he has not stopped weeping from the moment this happened until today.' "Some of my family said to me: 'Why don't you ask the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) for permission concerning your wife, for he has given the wife of Hilal bin Umayyah permission to serve him.' I said: 'I will not ask the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) for permission concerning her, for how can I know what the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) will say if I ask him for permission concerning her, when I am a young man?' I stayed like that for ten days, which completed fifty days from the time when it had become forbidden to speak to us. Then I prayed Fajr on the morning of the fiftieth day, on the roof of one of our houses. While I was sitting in the manner that Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, described us, my own self was straitened for me and the earth, vast as it is, was straitened for me, I heard the voice of someone shouting from the top of Mount Sal', saying at the top of his voice: 'O Ka'b bin Malik, be of good cheer!' I fell down in prostration, for I knew that a way out had come. "The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) had announced to the people that Allah had accepted our repentance when he prayed Fajr, and the people started to give us the glad tidings. They went to my two companions to tell them the glad tidings, and one man came to me galloping on his horse, and a man from Aslam came rushing to me, and he stood on top of the mountain and shouted. The man's voice was swifter than the horse. When the one whose voice I had heard giving me the glad tidings came to me, I took off my cloak and gave it to him in return for his good news. By Allah, I did not have any other garment at that time, and I had to borrow two garments and put them on. I set out to go to the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w), and I was met by the people, group after group, congratulating me for my repentance and saying: 'Congratulations for Allah's acceptance of your repentance.' Then I entered the Masjid and saw the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) sitting there with the people around him. Talhah bin 'Ubaidullah got up and ran towards me to shake my hand and congratulate me, but by Allah, no man among the Muhajirin got up except him." (The sub narrator said:) Ka'b never forgot that (gesture) of Talhah's. Ka'b said: "When I greeted the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) with Salam, he said, with his face shining with joy: 'Be of good cheer, for this is the best day you have ever had since the day your mother gave birth to you.' I said: 'Is it from you, O Messenger of Allah, or from Allah?' He said: 'No, it is from Allah.' When the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w)was happy, his face would shine, as if it were a piece of the moon, and we would recognize that. "When I sat before him, I said: 'O Messenger of Allah, as part of my repentance, I will give up my wealth as charity to Allah and His Messenger (s.a.w).' The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) said: 'Keep some of (the booty of) your wealth; that is better for you.' I said: 'I will keep my share of Khaibar.' Then I said: 'O Messenger of Allah, Allah saved me because I spoke the truth. As part of my repentance I shall speak nothing but the truth so long as I live.' By Allah, I do not know of anyone among the Muslims whom Allah put to a more severe test because of telling the truth, from the time I said that to the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) until today. By Allah, I have not told a lie from the time I said that to the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) until today, and I hope that Allah will protect me for the rest of my life." "And Allah revealed the words: 'Allah has forgiven the Prophet, the Muhajirun and the Ansar who followed him (Muhammad (s.a.w)) in the time of distress (Tabuk expedition)'... Until he reached: 'Certainly, He is unto them full of kindness, Most Merciful. And (He did forgive also) the three who did not join (the Tabuk expedition) till, for them the earth, vast as it is, was straitened and their own selves were straitened to them, and they perceived that there is no fleeing from Allah, and no refuge but with Him. Then, He forgave them (accepted their repentance), that they might beg for His Pardon (repent to Him). Verily, Allah is the One Who forgives and accepts repentance, Most Merciful." [until he reached]: "O you who believe! Be afraid of Allah, and be with those who are true (in words and deeds)" Ka'b said; "By Allah, Allah did not bestow any blessing upon me, after He guided me to Islam, that was greater in my view than the fact that I told the truth to the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w), and I did not lie and end up doomed as happened to those who lied, when there came Revelation in which Allah addressed those who had lied, and spoke the harshest words ever spoken to anyone. Allah said: "They will swear by Allah to you (Muslims) when you return to them, that you may turn away from them. So turn away from them. Surely, they are Rijsun [i.e. Najasun (impure) because of their evil deeds], and Hell is their dwelling place - a recompense for that which they used to earn. They (the hypocrites) swear to you (Muslims) that you may be pleased with them, but if you are pleased with them, certainly Allah is not pleased with the people who are Al-Fasiqun." Ka'b said: "Our case was deferred, the three of us, unlike the case of those whose apology the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) accepted when they swore to him, and he accepted their oath of allegiance and prayed for forgiveness for them. The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) deferred our case until Allah decided concerning it. Hence Allah said: "And (He did forgive also) the three who..." What Allah says here does not refer to our staying behind from the campaign, rather it refers to His delaying the decision concerning us, unlike those who swore an oath (to the Prophet (s.a.w)) and apologized to him, from whom he accepted that."