Arabic (Original)
حَدَّثَنَا يَعْقُوبُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ أَخِي الزُّهْرِيِّ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ عَنْ عَمِّهِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ الزُّهْرِيِّ قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ كَعْبِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ أَنَّ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ كَعْبِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ وَكَانَ قَائِدَ كَعْبٍ مِنْ بَنِيهِ حِينَ عَمِيَ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ كَعْبَ بْنَ مَالِكٍ يُحَدِّثُ حَدِيثَهُ حِينَ تَخَلَّفَ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِي غَزْوَةِ تَبُوكَ فَقَالَ كَعْبُ بْنُ مَالِكٍ لَمْ أَتَخَلَّفْ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِي غَزْوَةٍ غَيْرِهَا قَطُّ إِلَّا فِي غَزْوَةِ تَبُوكَ غَيْرَ أَنِّي كُنْتُ تَخَلَّفْتُ فِي غَزْوَةِ بَدْرٍ وَلَمْ يُعَاتِبْ أَحَدًا تَخَلَّفَ عَنْهَا إِنَّمَا خَرَجَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يُرِيدُ عِيرَ قُرَيْشٍ حَتَّى جَمَعَ اللَّهُ بَيْنَهُمْ وَبَيْنَ عَدُوِّهِمْ عَلَى غَيْرِ مِيعَادٍ وَلَقَدْ شَهِدْتُ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ لَيْلَةَ الْعَقَبَةِ حِينَ تَوَافَقْنَا عَلَى الْإِسْلَامِ مَا أُحِبُّ أَنَّ لِي بِهَا مَشْهَدَ بَدْرٍ وَإِنْ كَانَتْ بَدْرٌ أَذْكَرَ فِي النَّاسِ مِنْهَا وَأَشْهَرَ وَكَانَ مِنْ خَبَرِي حِينَ تَخَلَّفْتُ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِي غَزْوَةِ تَبُوكَ لِأَنِّي لَمْ أَكُنْ قَطُّ أَقْوَى وَلَا أَيْسَرَ مِنِّي حِينَ تَخَلَّفْتُ عَنْهُ فِي تِلْكَ الْغَزَاةِ وَاللَّهِ مَا جَمَعْتُ قَبْلَهَا رَاحِلَتَيْنِ قَطُّ حَتَّى جَمَعْتُهَا فِي تِلْكَ الْغَزَاةِ وَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَلَّمَا يُرِيدُ غَزَاةً يَغْزُوهَا إِلَّا وَرَّى بِغَيْرِهَا حَتَّى كَانَتْ تِلْكَ الْغَزَاةُ فَغَزَاهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِي حَرٍّ شَدِيدٍ وَاسْتَقْبَلَ سَفَرًا بَعِيدًا وَمَفَازًا وَاسْتَقْبَلَ عَدُوًّا كَثِيرًا فَجَلَا لِلْمُسْلِمِينَ أَمْرَهُ لِيَتَأَهَّبُوا أُهْبَةَ عَدُوِّهِمْ فَأَخْبَرَهُمْ بِوَجْهِهِ الَّذِي يُرِيدُ وَالْمُسْلِمُونَ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ كَثِيرٌ لَا يَجْمَعُهُمْ كِتَابُ حَافِظٍ يُرِيدُ الدِّيوَانَ فَقَالَ كَعْبٌ فَقَلَّ رَجُلٌ يُرِيدُ يَتَغَيَّبُ إِلَّا ظَنَّ أَنَّ ذَلِكَ سَيُخْفَى لَهُ مَا لَمْ يَنْزِلْ فِيهِ وَحْيٌ مِنْ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَغَزَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ تِلْكَ الْغَزْوَةَ حِينَ طَابَتْ الثِّمَارُ وَالظِّلُّ وَأَنَا إِلَيْهَا أَصْعَرُ فَتَجَهَّزَ إِلَيْهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ مَعَهُ وَطَفِقْتُ أَغْدُو لِكَيْ أَتَجَهَّزَ مَعَهُ فَأَرْجِعَ وَلَمْ أَقْضِ شَيْئًا فَأَقُولُ فِي نَفْسِي أَنَا قَادِرٌ عَلَى ذَلِكَ إِذَا أَرَدْتُ فَلَمْ يَزَلْ كَذَلِكَ يَتَمَادَى بِي حَتَّى شَمَّرَ بِالنَّاسِ الْجِدُّ فَأَصْبَحَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ غَادِيًا وَالْمُسْلِمُونَ مَعَهُ وَلَمْ أَقْضِ مِنْ جَهَازِي شَيْئًا فَقُلْتُ الْجَهَازُ بَعْدَ يَوْمٍ أَوْ يَوْمَيْنِ ثُمَّ أَلْحَقُهُمْ فَغَدَوْتُ بَعْدَ مَا فَصَلُوا لِأَتَجَهَّزَ فَرَجَعْتُ وَلَمْ أَقْضِ شَيْئًا مِنْ جَهَازِي ثُمَّ غَدَوْتُ فَرَجَعْتُ وَلَمْ أَقْضِ شَيْئًا فَلَمْ يَزَلْ ذَلِكَ يَتَمَادَى بِي حَتَّى أَسْرَعُوا وَتَفَارَطَ الْغَزْوُ فَهَمَمْتُ أَنْ أَرْتَحِلَ فَأُدْرِكَهُمْ وَلَيْتَ أَنِّي فَعَلْتُ ثُمَّ لَمْ يُقَدَّرْ ذَلِكَ لِي فَطَفِقْتُ إِذَا خَرَجْتُ فِي النَّاسِ بَعْدَ خُرُوجِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَطُفْتُ فِيهِمْ يَحْزُنُنِي أَنْ لَا أَرَى إِلَّا رَجُلًا مَغْمُوصًا عَلَيْهِ فِي النِّفَاقِ أَوْ رَجُلًا مِمَّنْ عَذَرَهُ اللَّهُ وَلَمْ يَذْكُرْنِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ حَتَّى بَلَغَ تَبُوكَ فَقَالَ وَهُوَ جَالِسٌ فِي الْقَوْمِ بِتَبُوكَ مَا فَعَلَ كَعْبُ بْنُ مَالِكٍ قَالَ رَجُلٌ مِنْ بَنِي سَلِمَةَ حَبَسَهُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ بُرْدَاهُ وَالنَّظَرُ فِي عِطْفَيْهِ فَقَالَ لَهُ مُعَاذُ بْنُ جَبَلٍ بِئْسَمَا قُلْتَ وَاللَّهِ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَا عَلِمْنَا عَلَيْهِ إِلَّا خَيْرًا فَسَكَتَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَقَالَ كَعْبُ بْنُ مَالِكٍ فَلَمَّا بَلَغَنِي أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَدْ تَوَجَّهَ قَافِلًا مِنْ تَبُوكَ حَضَرَنِي بَثِّي فَطَفِقْتُ أَتَفَكَّرُ الْكَذِبَ وَأَقُولُ بِمَاذَا أَخْرُجُ مِنْ سَخَطِهِ غَدًا أَسْتَعِينُ عَلَى ذَلِكَ كُلَّ ذِي رَأْيٍ مِنْ أَهْلِي فَلَمَّا قِيلَ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَدْ أَظَلَّ قَادِمًا زَاحَ عَنِّي الْبَاطِلُ وَعَرَفْتُ أَنِّي لَنْ أَنْجُوَ مِنْهُ بِشَيْءٍ أَبَدًا فَأَجْمَعْتُ صِدْقَهُ وَصَبَّحَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَكَانَ إِذَا قَدِمَ مِنْ سَفَرٍ بَدَأَ بِالْمَسْجِدِ فَرَكَعَ فِيهِ رَكْعَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ جَلَسَ لِلنَّاسِ فَلَمَّا فَعَلَ ذَلِكَ جَاءَهُ الْمُتَخَلِّفُونَ فَطَفِقُوا يَعْتَذِرُونَ إِلَيْهِ وَيَحْلِفُونَ لَهُ وَكَانُوا بِضْعَةً وَثَمَانِينَ رَجُلًا فَقَبِلَ مِنْهُمْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَلَانِيَتَهُمْ وَيَسْتَغْفِرُ لَهُمْ وَيَكِلُ سَرَائِرَهُمْ إِلَى اللَّهِ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى حَتَّى جِئْتُ فَلَمَّا سَلَّمْتُ عَلَيْهِ تَبَسَّمَ تَبَسُّمَ الْمُغْضَبِ ثُمَّ قَالَ لِي تَعَالَ فَجِئْتُ أَمْشِي حَتَّى جَلَسْتُ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ فَقَالَ لِي مَا خَلَّفَكَ أَلَمْ تَكُنْ قَدْ اسْتَمَرَّ ظَهْرُكَ قَالَ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي لَوْ جَلَسْتُ عِنْدَ غَيْرِكَ مِنْ أَهْلِ الدُّنْيَا لَرَأَيْتُ أَنِّي أَخْرُجُ مِنْ سَخْطَتِهِ بِعُذْرٍ لَقَدْ أُعْطِيتُ جَدَلًا وَلَكِنَّهُ وَاللَّهِ لَقَدْ عَلِمْتُ لَئِنْ حَدَّثْتُكَ الْيَوْمَ حَدِيثَ كَذِبٍ تَرْضَى عَنِّي بِهِ لَيُوشِكَنَّ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى يُسْخِطُكَ عَلَيَّ وَلَئِنْ حَدَّثْتُكَ الْيَوْمَ بِصِدْقٍ تَجِدُ عَلَيَّ فِيهِ إِنِّي لَأَرْجُو قُرَّةَ عَيْنِي عَفْوًا مِنْ اللَّهِ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى وَاللَّهِ مَا كَانَ لِي عُذْرٌ وَاللَّهِ مَا كُنْتُ قَطُّ أَفْرَغَ وَلَا أَيْسَرَ مِنِّي حِينَ تَخَلَّفْتُ عَنْكَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَمَّا هَذَا فَقَدْ صَدَقَ فَقُمْ حَتَّى يَقْضِيَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى فِيكَ فَقُمْتُ وَبَادَرَتْ رِجَالٌ مِنْ بَنِي سَلِمَةَ فَاتَّبَعُونِي فَقَالُوا لِي وَاللَّهِ مَا عَلِمْنَاكَ كُنْتَ أَذْنَبْتَ ذَنْبًا قَبْلَ هَذَا وَلَقَدْ عَجَزْتَ أَنْ لَا تَكُونَ اعْتَذَرْتَ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ بِمَا اعْتَذَرَ بِهِ الْمُتَخَلِّفُونَ لَقَدْ كَانَ كَافِيَكَ مِنْ ذَنْبِكَ اسْتِغْفَارُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ لَكَ قَالَ فَوَاللَّهِ مَا زَالُوا يُؤَنِّبُونِي حَتَّى أَرَدْتُ أَنْ أَرْجِعَ فَأُكَذِّبَ نَفْسِي قَالَ ثُمَّ قُلْتُ لَهُمْ هَلْ لَقِيَ هَذَا مَعِي أَحَدٌ قَالُوا نَعَمْ لَقِيَهُ مَعَكَ رَجُلَانِ قَالَا مَا قُلْتَ فَقِيلَ لَهُمَا مِثْلُ مَا قِيلَ لَكَ قَالَ فَقُلْتُ لَهُمْ مَنْ هُمَا قَالُوا مُرَارَةُ بْنُ الرَّبِيعِ الْعَامِرِيُّ وَهِلَالُ بْنُ أُمَيَّةَ الْوَاقِفِيُّ قَالَ فَذَكَرُوا لِي رَجُلَيْنِ صَالِحَيْنِ قَدْ شَهِدَا بَدْرًا لِي فِيهِمَا أُسْوَةٌ قَالَ فَمَضَيْتُ حِينَ ذَكَرُوهُمَا لِي قَالَ وَنَهَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ عَنْ كَلَامِنَا أَيُّهَا الثَّلَاثَةُ مِنْ بَيْنِ مَنْ تَخَلَّفَ عَنْهُ فَاجْتَنَبَنَا النَّاسُ قَالَ وَتَغَيَّرُوا لَنَا حَتَّى تَنَكَّرَتْ لِي مِنْ نَفْسِي الْأَرْضُ فَمَا هِيَ بِالْأَرْضِ الَّتِي كُنْتُ أَعْرِفُ فَلَبِثْنَا عَلَى ذَلِكَ خَمْسِينَ لَيْلَةً فَأَمَّا صَاحِبَايَ فَاسْتَكَانَا وَقَعَدَا فِي بُيُوتِهِمَا يَبْكِيَانِ وَأَمَّا أَنَا فَكُنْتُ أَشَبَّ الْقَوْمِ وَأَجْلَدَهُمْ فَكُنْتُ أَشْهَدُ الصَّلَاةَ مَعَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَأَطُوفُ بِالْأَسْوَاقِ وَلَا يُكَلِّمُنِي أَحَدٌ وَآتِي رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَهُوَ فِي مَجْلِسِهِ بَعْدَ الصَّلَاةِ فَأُسَلِّمُ عَلَيْهِ فَأَقُولُ فِي نَفْسِي حَرَّكَ شَفَتَيْهِ بِرَدِّ السَّلَامِ أَمْ لَا ثُمَّ أُصَلِّي قَرِيبًا مِنْهُ وَأُسَارِقُهُ النَّظَرَ فَإِذَا أَقْبَلْتُ عَلَى صَلَاتِي نَظَرَ إِلَيَّ فَإِذَا الْتَفَتُّ نَحْوَهُ أَعْرَضَ حَتَّى إِذَا طَالَ عَلَيَّ ذَلِكَ مِنْ هَجْرِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ مَشَيْتُ حَتَّى تَسَوَّرْتُ حَائِطَ أَبِي قَتَادَةَ وَهُوَ ابْنُ عَمِّي وَأَحَبُّ النَّاسِ إِلَيَّ فَسَلَّمْتُ عَلَيْهِ فَوَاللَّهِ مَا رَدَّ عَلَيَّ السَّلَامَ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ يَا أَبَا قَتَادَةَ أَنْشُدُكَ اللَّهَ هَلْ تَعْلَمُ أَنِّي أُحِبُّ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ قَالَ فَسَكَتَ قَالَ فَعُدْتُ فَنَشَدْتُهُ فَسَكَتَ فَعُدْتُ فَنَشَدْتُهُ فَقَالَ اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَعْلَمُ فَفَاضَتْ عَيْنَايَ وَتَوَلَّيْتُ حَتَّى تَسَوَّرْتُ الْجِدَارَ فَبَيْنَمَا أَنَا أَمْشِي بِسُوقِ الْمَدِينَةِ إِذَا نَبَطِيٌّ مِنْ أَنْبَاطِ أَهْلِ الشَّامِ مِمَّنْ قَدِمَ بِطَعَامٍ يَبِيعُهُ بِالْمَدِينَةِ يَقُولُ مَنْ يَدُلُّنِي عَلَى كَعْبِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ قَالَ فَطَفِقَ النَّاسُ يُشِيرُونَ لَهُ إِلَيَّ حَتَّى جَاءَ فَدَفَعَ إِلَيَّ كِتَابًا مِنْ مَلِكِ غَسَّانَ وَكُنْتُ كَاتِبًا فَإِذَا فِيهِ أَمَّا بَعْدُ فَقَدْ بَلَغَنَا أَنَّ صَاحِبَكَ قَدْ جَفَاكَ وَلَمْ يَجْعَلْكَ اللَّهُ بِدَارِ هَوَانٍ وَلَا مَضْيَعَةٍ فَالْحَقْ بِنَا نُوَاسِكَ قَالَ فَقُلْتُ حِينَ قَرَأْتُهَا وَهَذَا أَيْضًا مِنْ الْبَلَاءِ قَالَ فَتَيَمَّمْتُ بِهَا التَّنُّورَ فَسَجَرْتُهُ بِهَا حَتَّى إِذَا مَضَتْ أَرْبَعُونَ لَيْلَةً مِنْ الْخَمْسِينَ إِذَا بِرَسُولِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَأْتِينِي فَقَالَ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَأْمُرُكَ أَنْ تَعْتَزِلَ امْرَأَتَكَ قَالَ فَقُلْتُ أُطَلِّقُهَا أَمْ مَاذَا أَفْعَلُ قَالَ بَلْ اعْتَزِلْهَا فَلَا تَقْرَبْهَا قَالَ وَأَرْسَلَ إِلَى صَاحِبَيَّ بِمِثْلِ ذَلِكَ قَالَ فَقُلْتُ لِامْرَأَتِي الْحَقِي بِأَهْلِكِ فَكُونِي عِنْدَهُمْ حَتَّى يَقْضِيَ اللَّهُ فِي هَذَا الْأَمْرِ قَالَ فَجَاءَتْ امْرَأَةُ هِلَالِ بْنِ أُمَيَّةَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَقَالَتْ لَهُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ هِلَالًا شَيْخٌ ضَائِعٌ لَيْسَ لَهُ خَادِمٌ فَهَلْ تَكْرَهُ أَنْ أَخْدُمَهُ قَالَ لَا وَلَكِنْ لَا يَقْرَبَنَّكِ قَالَتْ فَإِنَّهُ وَاللَّهِ مَا بِهِ حَرَكَةٌ إِلَى شَيْءٍ وَاللَّهِ مَا يَزَالُ يَبْكِي مِنْ لَدُنْ أَنْ كَانَ مِنْ أَمْرِكَ مَا كَانَ إِلَى يَوْمِهِ هَذَا قَالَ فَقَالَ لِي بَعْضُ أَهْلِي لَوْ اسْتَأْذَنْتَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِي امْرَأَتِكَ فَقَدْ أَذِنَ لِامْرَأَةِ هِلَالِ بْنِ أُمَيَّةَ أَنْ تَخْدُمَهُ قَالَ فَقُلْتُ وَاللَّهِ لَا أَسْتَأْذِنُ فِيهَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَمَا أَدْرِي مَا يَقُولُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِذَا اسْتَأْذَنْتُهُ وَأَنَا رَجُلٌ شَابٌّ قَالَ فَلَبِثْنَا بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ عَشْرَ لَيَالٍ كَمَالُ خَمْسِينَ لَيْلَةً حِينَ نُهِيَ عَنْ كَلَامِنَا قَالَ ثُمَّ صَلَّيْتُ صَلَاةَ الْفَجْرِ صَبَاحَ خَمْسِينَ لَيْلَةً عَلَى ظَهْرِ بَيْتٍ مِنْ بُيُوتِنَا فَبَيْنَمَا أَنَا جَالِسٌ عَلَى الْحَالِ الَّتِي ذَكَرَ اللَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى مِنَّا قَدْ ضَاقَتْ عَلَيَّ نَفْسِي وَضَاقَتْ عَلَيَّ الْأَرْضُ بِمَا رَحُبَتْ سَمِعْتُ صَارِخًا أَوْفَى عَلَى جَبَلِ سَلْعٍ يَقُولُ بِأَعْلَى صَوْتِهِ يَا كَعْبَ بْنَ مَالِكٍ أَبْشِرْ قَالَ فَخَرَرْتُ سَاجِدًا وَعَرَفْتُ أَنْ قَدْ جَاءَ فَرَجٌ وَآذَنَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ بِتَوْبَةِ اللَّهِ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى عَلَيْنَا حِينَ صَلَّى صَلَاةَ الْفَجْرِ فَذَهَبَ النَّاسُ يُبَشِّرُونَنَا وَذَهَبَ قِبَلَ صَاحِبَيَّ يُبَشِّرُونَ وَرَكَضَ إِلَيَّ رَجُلٌ فَرَسًا وَسَعَى سَاعٍ مِنْ أَسْلَمَ وَأَوْفَى الْجَبَلَ فَكَانَ الصَّوْتُ أَسْرَعَ مِنْ الْفَرَسِ فَلَمَّا جَاءَنِي الَّذِي سَمِعْتُ صَوْتَهُ يُبَشِّرُنِي نَزَعْتُ لَهُ ثَوْبَيَّ فَكَسَوْتُهُمَا إِيَّاهُ بِبِشَارَتِهِ وَاللَّهِ مَا أَمْلِكُ غَيْرَهُمَا يَوْمَئِذٍ فَاسْتَعَرْتُ ثَوْبَيْنِ فَلَبِسْتُهُمَا فَانْطَلَقْتُ أَتَأَمَّمُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَلْقَانِي النَّاسُ فَوْجًا فَوْجًا يُهَنِّئُونِي بِالتَّوْبَةِ يَقُولُونَ لِيَهْنِكَ تَوْبَةُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكَ حَتَّى دَخَلْتُ الْمَسْجِدَ فَإِذَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ جَالِسٌ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ حَوْلَهُ النَّاسُ فَقَامَ إِلَيَّ طَلْحَةُ بْنُ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ يُهَرْوِلُ حَتَّى صَافَحَنِي وَهَنَّأَنِي وَاللَّهِ مَا قَامَ إِلَيَّ رَجُلٌ مِنْ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ غَيْرَهُ قَالَ فَكَانَ كَعْبٌ لَا يَنْسَاهَا لِطَلْحَةَ قَالَ كَعْبٌ فَلَمَّا سَلَّمْتُ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ وَهُوَ يَبْرُقُ وَجْهُهُ مِنْ السُّرُورِ أَبْشِرْ بِخَيْرِ يَوْمٍ مَرَّ عَلَيْكَ مُنْذُ وَلَدَتْكَ أُمُّكَ قَالَ قُلْتُ أَمِنْ عِنْدِكَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَمْ مِنْ عِنْدِ اللَّهِ قَالَ لَا بَلْ مِنْ عِنْدِ اللَّهِ قَالَ وَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِذَا سُرَّ اسْتَنَارَ وَجْهُهُ كَأَنَّهُ قِطْعَةُ قَمَرٍ حَتَّى يُعْرَفَ ذَلِكَ مِنْهُ قَالَ فَلَمَّا جَلَسْتُ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ قَالَ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ مِنْ تَوْبَتِي أَنْ أَنْخَلِعَ مِنْ مَالِي صَدَقَةً إِلَى اللَّهِ تَعَالَى وَإِلَى رَسُولِهِ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَمْسِكْ بَعْضَ مَالِكَ فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَكَ قَالَ فَقُلْتُ إِنِّي أُمْسِكُ سَهْمِي الَّذِي بِخَيْبَرَ قَالَ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّمَا اللَّهُ تَعَالَى نَجَّانِي بِالصِّدْقِ وَإِنَّ مِنْ تَوْبَتِي أَنْ لَا أُحَدِّثَ إِلَّا صِدْقًا مَا بَقِيتُ قَالَ فَوَاللَّهِ مَا أَعْلَمُ أَحَدًا مِنْ الْمُسْلِمِينَ أَبْلَاهُ اللَّهُ مِنْ الصِّدْقِ فِي الْحَدِيثِ مُذْ ذَكَرْتُ ذَلِكَ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَحْسَنَ مِمَّا أَبْلَانِي اللَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى وَاللَّهِ مَا تَعَمَّدْتُ كَذِبَةً مُذْ قُلْتُ ذَلِكَ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِلَى يَوْمِي هَذَا وَإِنِّي لَأَرْجُو أَنْ يَحْفَظَنِي فِيمَا بَقِيَ قَالَ وَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى { لَقَدْ تَابَ اللَّهُ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ وَالْمُهَاجِرِينَ وَالْأَنْصَارِ الَّذِينَ اتَّبَعُوهُ فِي سَاعَةِ الْعُسْرَةِ مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا كَادَ يَزِيغُ قُلُوبُ فَرِيقٍ مِنْهُمْ ثُمَّ تَابَ عَلَيْهِمْ إِنَّهُ بِهِمْ رَءُوفٌ رَحِيمٌ وَعَلَى الثَّلَاثَةِ الَّذِينَ خُلِّفُوا حَتَّى إِذَا ضَاقَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ الْأَرْضُ بِمَا رَحُبَتْ وَضَاقَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ أَنْفُسُهُمْ وَظَنُّوا أَنْ لَا مَلْجَأَ مِنْ اللَّهِ إِلَّا إِلَيْهِ ثُمَّ تَابَ عَلَيْهِمْ لِيَتُوبُوا إِنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ التَّوَّابُ الرَّحِيمُ يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَكُونُوا مَعَ الصَّادِقِينَ } قَالَ كَعْبٌ فَوَاللَّهِ مَا أَنْعَمَ اللَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى عَلَيَّ مِنْ نِعْمَةٍ قَطُّ بَعْدَ أَنْ هَدَانِي أَعْظَمَ فِي نَفْسِي مِنْ صِدْقِي رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَوْمَئِذٍ أَنْ لَا أَكُونَ كَذَبْتُهُ فَأَهْلِكُ كَمَا هَلَكَ الَّذِينَ كَذَبُوهُ حِينَ كَذَبُوهُ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى قَالَ لِلَّذِينَ كَذَبُوهُ حِينَ كَذَبُوهُ شَرَّ مَا يُقَالُ لِأَحَدٍ فَقَالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى { 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 لَا يَرْضَى عَنْ الْقَوْمِ الْفَاسِقِينَ } قَالَ وَكُنَّا خُلِّفْنَا أَيُّهَا الثَّلَاثَةُ عَنْ أَمْرِ أُولَئِكَ الَّذِينَ قَبِلَ مِنْهُمْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ حِينَ حَلَفُوا فَبَايَعَهُمْ وَاسْتَغْفَرَ لَهُمْ فَأَرْجَأَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَمْرَنَا حَتَّى قَضَى اللَّهُ تَعَالَى فَبِذَلِكَ قَالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى { وَعَلَى الثَّلَاثَةِ الَّذِينَ خُلِّفُوا } وَلَيْسَ تَخْلِيفُهُ إِيَّانَا وَإِرْجَاؤُهُ أَمْرَنَا الَّذِي ذَكَرَ مِمَّا خُلِّفْنَا بِتَخَلُّفِنَا عَنْ الْغَزْوِ وَإِنَّمَا هُوَ عَمَّنْ حَلَفَ لَهُ وَاعْتَذَرَ إِلَيْهِ فَقَبِلَ مِنْهُ حَدَّثَنَا حَجَّاجٌ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا لَيْثُ بْنُ سَعْدٍ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي عُقَيْلُ بْنُ خَالِدٍ عَنْ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ أَنَّهُ قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ كَعْبِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ أَنَّ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ كَعْبِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ وَكَانَ قَائِدَ كَعْبٍ مِنْ بَنِيهِ حِينَ عَمِيَ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ كَعْبَ بْنَ مَالِكٍ يُحَدِّثُ حَدِيثَهُ حِينَ تَخَلَّفَ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِي غَزْوَةِ تَبُوكَ قَالَ كَعْبُ بْنُ مَالِكٍ لَمْ أَتَخَلَّفْ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِي غَزْوَةٍ غَزَاهَا قَطُّ إِلَّا فِي غَزْوَةِ تَبُوكَ غَيْرَ أَنِّي كُنْتُ تَخَلَّفْتُ عَنْ غَزْوَةِ بَدْرٍ وَلَمْ يُعَاتِبْ أَحَدًا تَخَلَّفَ عَنْهَا لِأَنَّهُ إِنَّمَا خَرَجَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يُرِيدُ الْعِيرَ الَّتِي كَانَتْ لِقُرَيْشٍ كَانَ فِيهَا أَبُو سُفْيَانَ بْنُ حَرْبٍ وَنَفَرٌ مِنْ قُرَيْشٍ ثُمَّ قَالَ تَعَالَ فَجِئْتُ أَمْشِي حَتَّى جَلَسْتُ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ فَقَالَ مَا خَلَّفَكَ أَلَمْ تَكُنْ قَدْ ابْتَعْتَ ظَهْرَكَ قُلْتُ بَلَى يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي وَاللَّهِ لَوْ جَلَسْتُ عِنْدَ غَيْرِكَ مِنْ أَهْلِ الدُّنْيَا لَرَأَيْتُ أَنِّي سَأَخْرُجُ مِنْ سَخْطَتِهِ بِعُذْرٍ وَلَقَدْ أُعْطِيتُ جَدَلًا فَذَكَرَ الْحَدِيثَ وَقَالَ فِيهِ إِنِّي لَأَرْجُو عَفْوَ اللَّهِ وَقَالَ فَقُلْتُ لِامْرَأَتِي الْحَقِي بِأَهْلِكِ فَكُونِي عِنْدَهُمْ حَتَّى يَقْضِيَ اللَّهُ فِي هَذَا الْأَمْرِ وَقَالَ سَمِعْتُ صَوْتَ صَارِخٍ أَوْفَى عَلَى أَعْلَى جَبَلِ سَلْعٍ بِأَعْلَى صَوْتِهِ يَا كَعْبُ بْنَ مَالِكٍ أَبْشِرْ قَالَ فَخَرَرْتُ سَاجِدًا وَعَرَفْتُ أَنَّهُ قَدْ جَاءَ فَرَجٌ وَآذَنَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ النَّاسَ بِالتَّوْبَةِ عَلَيْنَا حِينَ صَلَّى صَلَاةَ الْفَجْرِ فَذَكَرَ مَعْنَى حَدِيثِ ابْنِ أَخِي ابْنِ شِهَابٍ وَقَالَ فِيهِ وَأَقُولُ فِي نَفْسِي هَلْ حَرَّكَ شَفَتَيْهِ بِرَدِّ السَّلَامِ.
English Translation
Ya'qub ibn Ibrahim told us: the nephew of al-Zuhri, Muhammad ibn Abdullah, told us, from his uncle Muhammad ibn Muslim al-Zuhri, who said: Abd al-Rahman ibn Abdullah ibn Ka'b ibn Malik informed me that Abdullah ibn Ka'b ibn Malik - who used to guide Ka'b among his sons after he had gone blind - said: I heard Ka'b ibn Malik relate his story of when he stayed behind from the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, in the expedition of Tabuk. Ka'b ibn Malik said: "I never stayed behind from the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, in any expedition he undertook, except the expedition of Tabuk - except that I had stayed behind from the battle of Badr, but he did not blame anyone who stayed behind from it, for the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, had only gone out intending the caravan of Quraysh, until Allah brought them together with their enemy without any prior appointment. And I was present with the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, on the night of al-Aqabah, when we pledged ourselves to Islam, and I would not exchange it for being present at Badr, even though Badr is more spoken of among the people and more renowned than it. As for my account of when I stayed behind from the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, in the expedition of Tabuk: I was never stronger or more at ease than when I stayed behind from him in that expedition. By Allah, I had never before that gathered two mounts together, until I gathered them for that expedition. And it was the habit of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, that whenever he intended an expedition, he would conceal it by mentioning another, until that expedition came; the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, undertook it in intense heat, facing a long journey, a waterless desert, and a numerous enemy, so he made the matter clear to the Muslims so that they might prepare accordingly, and he informed them of the direction he intended. The Muslims with the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, were many, not recorded in any register." Ka'b said: "Few were the men who wished to stay away without thinking that it would remain hidden, so long as no revelation came down about it from Allah, Mighty and Glorious. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, undertook that expedition when the fruits had ripened and the shade was pleasant, and I was inclined toward that. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, and the believers with him made ready for it, and I would go out each morning intending to make ready with them, but I would return having accomplished nothing, and I would say to myself, 'I am able to do that whenever I wish.' This continued until the people grew earnest, and the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, set out one morning, and the Muslims with him, and I had made none of my preparations. I said, 'I will prepare after a day or two, then catch up with them.' I went out after they had departed to make ready, but returned having done nothing of my preparations. Then I went out again and returned having done nothing. This went on until they hastened away and the expedition passed me by, and I resolved to set out and catch up with them - would that I had done so! But it was not decreed for me. Afterward, when I went out among the people following the departure of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, it grieved me that I saw no one but a man charged with hypocrisy, or a man whom Allah had excused. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, did not mention me until he reached Tabuk. Then, sitting among the people at Tabuk, he said: 'What has Ka'b ibn Malik done?' A man of Banu Salamah said: 'O Messenger of Allah, his two cloaks and his looking at his sides have detained him.' Mu'adh ibn Jabal said to him: 'What an evil thing you have said! By Allah, O Messenger of Allah, we know nothing of him but good.' The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, remained silent." Ka'b ibn Malik said: "When it reached me that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, was returning from Tabuk, my distress overcame me, and I began to think of falsehoods, saying, 'With what shall I escape his displeasure tomorrow?' and I sought help in that from every person of judgment among my family. But when it was said that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, was about to arrive, falsehood departed from me, and I knew that I could never escape it by any means, so I resolved on truthfulness. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, arrived in the morning - and it was his custom, whenever he returned from a journey, to begin at the mosque, praying two rak'ahs there, then sitting for the people. When he had done that, those who had stayed behind came to him, making excuses and swearing oaths to him - and they were some eighty-odd men. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, accepted their outward excuses, sought forgiveness for them, and left their inner state to Allah, Blessed and Exalted - until I came. When I greeted him with peace, he smiled the smile of one displeased, then said to me: 'Come.' So I came, walking, until I sat before him. He said to me: 'What kept you back? Had you not acquired your mount?' I said: 'O Messenger of Allah, if I were sitting before anyone else in this world, I would think I could escape his displeasure with some excuse, for I have been given eloquence in argument; but, by Allah, I know well that if I tell you today a lie with which you would be pleased with me, Allah would soon cause you to be displeased with me; and if I tell you today the truth, for which you will be angry with me, I hope for a good outcome from Allah. By Allah, I had no excuse. By Allah, I was never stronger or more at ease than when I stayed behind from you.' The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: 'As for this one, he has spoken the truth. Get up, until Allah decides your case.' So I got up, and men of Banu Salamah hurried and followed me, saying to me: 'By Allah, we never knew you to have committed any sin before this, and you have failed to make to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, the excuse that those who stayed behind made; the seeking of forgiveness by the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, for you would have sufficed for your sin.' By Allah, they continued to rebuke me until I wished to go back and accuse myself of lying. Then I said to them: 'Did anyone else meet with this besides me?' They said: 'Yes, two men met with the same as you; they said what you said, and they were told the same as you were told.' I said: 'Who are they?' They said: 'Murarah ibn al-Rabi' al-Amiri and Hilal ibn Umayyah al-Waqifi.' They mentioned to me two righteous men who had been present at Badr, in whom there was an example for me. So I went on when they mentioned them to me. And the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, forbade the Muslims from speaking to us three, of all those who had stayed behind, so the people avoided us, and they changed toward us until the earth itself seemed strange to me, as though it were not the earth I knew. We remained in that state for fifty nights. As for my two companions, they resigned themselves and stayed in their houses weeping, but I was the youngest and strongest of them, so I would attend the prayer with the Muslims and walk about in the markets, but no one would speak to me. I would come to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, while he was in his gathering after the prayer, and greet him with peace, and say to myself, 'Did he move his lips in returning the greeting or not?' Then I would pray near him, stealing glances at him; when I turned to my prayer he would look at me, but when I turned toward him he would turn away. When this prolonged shunning by the Muslims became too much for me, I walked until I climbed over the wall of Abu Qatadah's garden - he was my cousin and the dearest of people to me - and I greeted him with peace, but by Allah he did not return my greeting. I said to him: 'O Abu Qatadah, I adjure you by Allah, do you know that I love Allah and His Messenger?' He was silent. I asked him again, and he was silent. I asked him a third time, and 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 Madinah, a Nabataean from the Nabataeans of Syria, who had come to sell food in Madinah, was saying: 'Who will guide me to Ka'b ibn Malik?' The people began pointing him toward me, until he came to me and handed me a letter from the king of Ghassan. I was literate, and in it was: 'To proceed: it has reached us that your companion has treated you harshly. Allah has not placed you in a land of humiliation or loss; so join us, and we will console you.' I said, when I read it: 'This too is part of the trial.' So I took it to the oven and burned it in it. When forty nights of the fifty had passed, a messenger of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, came to me and said: 'The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, commands you to keep away from your wife.' I said: 'Shall I divorce her, or what shall I do?' He said: 'No, just keep away from her; do not approach her.' He sent the same to my two companions. I said to my wife: 'Go to your family and stay with them until Allah decides this matter.' Then the wife of Hilal ibn Umayyah came to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, and said: 'O Messenger of Allah, Hilal is an old, helpless man with no servant; would you dislike it if I served 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 ceased weeping from the time this happened to him until this day of his.' Some of my family said to me: 'Would that you sought permission from the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, regarding your wife, for he has permitted the wife of Hilal ibn Umayyah to serve him.' I said: 'By Allah, I will not seek the Messenger of Allah's permission concerning her, for I do not know what the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, would say if I asked him, since I am a young man.' We remained like that for ten more nights, completing fifty nights from when we were forbidden to be spoken to. Then I prayed the dawn prayer on the morning of the fiftieth night on the roof of one of our houses. While I sat in the state that Allah, Blessed and Exalted, has described of us, my soul constricted and the earth, despite its vastness, feeling too narrow for me, I heard a caller who had climbed Mount Sal' saying at the top of his voice: 'O Ka'b ibn Malik, rejoice!' I fell down prostrate, and I knew that relief had come. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, had announced that Allah had accepted our repentance when he prayed the dawn prayer, so the people went to give us the good news, and some went to my two companions to give them the news. A man spurred his horse toward me, and a runner from Aslam ran and climbed the mountain, and the voice was faster than the horse. When the one whose voice I had heard giving me the good news came to me, I took off my two garments and clothed him with them as a reward for his good news - by Allah, I owned nothing else that day - so I borrowed two garments and wore them, and set out heading for the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him. The people met me in successive groups, congratulating me on the acceptance of my repentance, saying: 'May Allah's acceptance of your repentance be pleasant for you,' until I entered the mosque, and there was the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, sitting in the mosque with the people around him. Talhah ibn Ubaydullah stood up and hurried to me, shook my hand, and congratulated me - by Allah, no one among the Emigrants stood up to me except him, and Ka'b never forgot this of Talhah." Ka'b said: "When I greeted the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, with peace, his face was beaming with joy, and he said: 'Rejoice in the best day that has come upon you since your mother bore you.' I said: 'Is this from you, O Messenger of Allah, or from Allah?' He said: 'No, rather from Allah.' And whenever the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, was pleased, his face would light up as if it were a piece of the moon, until that was recognized from him. When I sat before him, I said: 'O Messenger of Allah, part of my repentance is that I give up my property as charity to Allah, Exalted, and to His Messenger.' The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: 'Keep some of your property, for that is better for you.' I said: 'Then I will keep my share which is at Khaybar.' I said: 'O Messenger of Allah, Allah has saved me only through truthfulness, and part of my repentance is that I will not speak except the truth as long as I live.' By Allah, I do not know of any Muslim whom Allah has tested with truthfulness in speech better than He has tested me, since I said that to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him. By Allah, I have not intentionally told a lie since I said that to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, to this day of mine, and I hope that He will preserve me in what remains of my life. Then Allah, Blessed and Exalted, revealed: 'Allah has turned in mercy to the Prophet and the Emigrants and the Helpers who followed him in the hour of hardship, after the hearts of a party of them had almost inclined [to abandon it], and then He turned to them in mercy; indeed He is to them Kind and Merciful. And to the three who were left behind, until, when the earth, despite its vastness, became too narrow for them, and their own souls became too narrow for them, and they were certain that there was no refuge from Allah except in Him, then He turned to them in mercy so that they might repent; indeed Allah is the Accepter of repentance, the Merciful. O you who believe, fear Allah and be with the truthful.'" Ka'b said: "By Allah, Allah never bestowed upon me any blessing after He guided me to Islam greater in my own eyes than my truthfulness to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, on that day - that I did not lie to him and thereby perish as those who lied perished when they lied. For Allah, Blessed and Exalted, said of those who lied, when they lied, the worst thing ever said to anyone; Allah, Exalted, said: 'They will swear to you by Allah, when you return to them, so that you may leave them alone. So leave them alone; indeed they are impure, and their refuge is Hell as a recompense for what they used to earn. They swear to you so that you may be pleased with them; but if you are pleased with them, indeed Allah is not pleased with the disobedient people.'" He said: "We three had been left behind from the matter of those to whom the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, had granted acceptance when they swore to him, so he accepted their pledge and sought forgiveness for them, and the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, deferred our matter until Allah, Exalted, decided it. And that is why Allah, Exalted, said: 'and to the three who were left behind' - and this deferral of our matter was not, as He mentioned, because we were left behind from the expedition, but rather it concerns those who swore to him and made excuses to him and he accepted from them." Hajjaj told us: Layth ibn Sa'd told us, saying: Uqayl ibn Khalid told me, from Ibn Shihab, that he said: Abd al-Rahman ibn Abdullah ibn Ka'b ibn Malik informed me, that Abdullah ibn Ka'b ibn Malik - who used to guide Ka'b among his sons after he went blind - said: I heard Ka'b ibn Malik relate his story of when he stayed behind from the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, in the expedition of Tabuk. Ka'b ibn Malik said: "I never stayed behind from the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, in any expedition he undertook, except the expedition of Tabuk - except that I had stayed behind from the battle of Badr, and he did not blame anyone who stayed behind from it, because the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, had only gone out intending the caravan belonging to Quraysh, in which was Abu Sufyan ibn Harb and a group of Quraysh." Then he said: "'Come,' so I came, walking, until I sat before him. He said: 'What kept you back? Had you not purchased your mount?' I said: 'Yes, O Messenger of Allah. By Allah, if I were sitting before anyone else in this world, I would think I could escape his displeasure with some excuse, and I have indeed been given eloquence in argument.'" Then he related the rest of the hadith, and said in it: "I hope for the forgiveness of Allah," and said: "I said to my wife: 'Go to your family and stay with them until Allah decides this matter,'" and said: "I heard the voice of a caller who had climbed to the top of Mount Sal', at the top of his voice: 'O Ka'b ibn Malik, rejoice!' I fell down prostrate, and I knew that relief had come. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, announced to the people the acceptance of our repentance when he prayed the dawn prayer" - and he related the same meaning as the hadith of Ibn Shihab's nephew, and said in it: "I would say to myself, 'Did he move his lips in returning the greeting?'"