عَنْ عَبْدِ اللّهِ بْنِ كَعْبِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، وَكَانَ قَائِدَ كَعْبٍ رَضِيَ اللّهُ عَنْهُ مِنْ بَنِيهِ حِينَ عَمِيَ قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ كَعْبَ بْنَ مَالِكٍ رَضِيَ اللّهُ عَنْهُ يُحَدِّثُ بحَديثهِ حِينَ تَخَلَّفَ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللّهِ صلّى اللّه عليه وسلّم في غَزْوَةِ تَبُوكَ، قَالَ كَعْبٌ: لَمْ أتَخَلَّفْ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللّهِ صلّى اللّه عليه وسلّم فِي غَزْوَةٍ غَزَاهَا قَطُّ إِلَّا فِي غَزْوَةِ تَبُوكَ، غَيْرَ أَنِّي قَدْ تَخَلَّفْتُ فِي غَزْوَةِ بَدْرٍ، وَلَمْ يُعَاتَبْ أَحَدٌ تَخَلَّفَ عَنْهُ؛ إِنَّمَا خَرَجَ رَسُولُ اللّه صلّى اللّه عليه وسلّم والْمُسْلِمُونَ يُريدُونَ عِيرَ قُرَيْشٍ حَتَّى جَمَعَ اللّهُ تَعَالَى بَيْنَهُمْ وبَيْنَ عَدُوِّهمْ عَلَى غَيْرِ مِيعَادٍ، ولَقَدْ شَهِدْتُ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللّهِ صلّى اللّه عليه وسلّم لَيلَةَ الْعَقَبَةِ حِينَ تَوَاثَقْنَا عَلَى الْإِسْلَامِ، وَمَا أُحِبُّ أَنَّ لِي بِهَا مَشْهَدَ بَدْرٍ، وَإِنْ كَانَتْ بَدْرٌ أَذْكَرَ فِي النَّاسِ مِنْهَا. وَكَانَ مِنْ خَبَري حينَ تَخَلَّفْتُ عَنْ رسولِ اللّهِ صلّى اللّه عليه وسلّم فِي غَزْوَةِ تَبُوكَ أَنِّي لَمْ أَكُنْ قَطُّ أَقْوَى وَلَا أَيْسَرَ مِنِّي حِينَ تَخَلَّفْتُ عَنْهُ فِي تِلْكَ الْغَزْوَةِ، وَاللّهِ مَا جَمَعْتُ قَبْلَهَا رَاحِلَتَيْنِ قَطُّ حَتَّى جَمَعْتُهُمَا فِي تِلْكَ الْغَزْوَةِ، وَلَمْ يَكُنْ رَسُولُ اللّهِ صلّى اللّه عليه وسلّم يُرِيدُ غَزْوَةً إِلَّا وَرَّى بِغَيرِهَا حَتَّى كَانَتْ تِلْكَ الْغَزْوَةُ، فَغَزَاهَا رَسُولُ اللّهِ صلّى اللّه عليه وسلّم فِي حَرٍّ شَدِيدٍ، وَاسْتَقْبَلَ سَفَرًا بَعِيدًا وَمَفَازًا، وَاستَقْبَلَ عَدَدًا كَثِيرًا، فَجَلَّى لِلْمُسْلِمِينَ أَمْرَهُمْ لِيتَأَهَّبُوا أُهْبَةَ غَزْوِهِمْ، فَأَخْبَرَهُمْ بِوَجْهِهِمُ الَّذِي يُريدُ، وَالْمُسلِمُونَ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللّهِ كَثِيرٌ، وَلَا يَجْمَعُهُمْ كِتَابٌ حَافِظٌ - يُرِيدُ بِذَلِكَ: الدِّيوَانَ - قَالَ كَعْبٌ: فَقَلَّ رَجُلٌ يُريدُ أَنْ يَتَغَيَّبَ إِلَّا ظَنَّ أَنَّ ذَلِكَ سَيَخْفَى بِهِ مَا لَمْ يَنْزِلْ فِيهِ وَحْيٌ مِنَ اللّهِ، وَغَزَا رَسُولُ اللّهِ صلّى اللّه عليه وسلّم تِلْكَ الْغَزْوَةَ حِينَ طَابَتِ الثِّمَارُ وَالظِّلَالُ، فَأَنَا إِلَيْهَا أَصْعَرُ، فَتَجَهَّزَ رَسُولُ اللّهِ صلّى اللّه عليه وسلّم وَالمُسْلِمُونَ مَعَهُ، وَطَفِقْتُ أَغْدُو لِكَيْ أتَجَهَّزَ مَعَهُ، فَأَرْجِعُ وَلَمْ أقْضِ شَيْئًا، وَأَقُولُ فِي نَفْسِي: أَنَا قَادِرٌ عَلَى ذَلِكَ إِذَا أَرَدْتُ، فَلَمْ يَزَلْ يَتَمَادَى بِيَ حَتَّى اسْتَمَرَّ بِالنَّاسِ الْجِدُّ، فَأَصْبَحَ رَسُولُ اللّهِ صلّى اللّه عليه وسلّم غَادِيًا وَالْمُسْلِمُونَ مَعَهُ وَلَمْ أَقْضِ مِنْ جِهَازِي شَيْئًا، ثُمَّ غَدَوْتُ فَرَجَعْتُ وَلَمْ أقْضِ شَيْئًا، فَلَمْ يَزَلْ يَتَمَادَى بِيَ حَتَّى أَسْرَعُوا وَتَفَارَطَ الْغَزْوُ، فَهَمَمْتُ أَنْ أرْتَحِلَ فَأُدْرِكَهُمْ، فَيَا لَيْتَني فَعَلْتُ، ثُمَّ لم يُقَدَّرْ ذَلِكَ لِي، فَطَفِقْتُ إِذَا خَرَجْتُ فِي النَّاسِ بَعْدَ خُرُوجِ رَسُولِ اللّهِ صلّى اللّه عليه وسلّم يَحْزُنُنِي أَنِّي لَا أَرَى لِيَ أُسْوَةً، إِلَّا رَجُلًا مَغْمُوصًا عَلَيْهِ في النِّفَاقِ، أَوْ رَجُلًا مِمَّنْ عَذَرَ اللهُ تَعَالَى مِنَ الضُّعَفَاءِ، وَلَمْ يَذْكُرْنِي رَسُولُ اللّهِ صلّى اللّه عليه وسلّم حَتَّى بَلَغَ تَبُوكَ، فَقَالَ وَهُوَ جَالِسٌ فِي الْقَوْمِ بِتَبُوكَ: «مَا فَعَلَ كَعْبُ بْنُ مَالِكٍ؟» فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ مِنْ بَنِي سَلِمَةَ: يا رَسُولَ اللّهِ، حَبَسَهُ بُرْدَاهُ وَالنَّظَرُ فِي عِطْفَيْهِ، فَقَالَ لَهُ مُعَاذُ بْنُ جَبَلٍ رَضِيَ اللّهُ عَنْهُ: بِئْسَ مَا قُلْتَ! وَاللّهِ يَا رَسُولَ اللّهِ مَا عَلِمْنَا عَلَيْهِ إِلَّا خَيْرًا، فَسَكَتَ رَسُولُ اللّهِ صلّى اللّه عليه وسلّم فَبَيْنَا هُوَ عَلى ذَلِكَ رَأَى رَجُلًا مُبَيِّضًا يَزُولُ بِهِ السَّرَابُ، فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «كُنْ أَبَا خَيْثَمَةَ»، فَإذَا هُوَ أَبُو خَيْثَمَةَ الْأَنْصَارِيُّ، وَهُوَ الَّذِي تَصَدَّقَ بِصَاعِ التَّمْرِ حِيْنَ لَمَزَهُ الْمُنَافِقُونَ. قَالَ كَعْبٌ: فَلَمَّا بَلَغَنِي أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللّهِ صلّى اللّه عليه وسلّم قَدْ تَوَجَّهَ قَافِلًا مِنْ تَبُوكَ حَضَرَنِي بَثِّي، فَطَفِقْتُ أَتَذَكَّرُ الكَذِبَ، وَأَقُولُ: بِمَ أَخْرُجُ مِنْ سَخَطِهِ غَدًا؟ وَأَسْتَعِينُ عَلَى ذَلِكَ بِكُلِّ ذِي رَأْيٍ مِنْ أَهْلِي، فَلَمَّا قِيْلَ: إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللّهِ صلّى اللّه عليه وسلّم قَدْ أَظَلَّ قَادِمًا، زَاحَ عَنِّي الْبَاطِلُ، حَتَّى عَرَفْتُ أَنِّي لَنْ أَنْجُوَ مِنْهُ بِشَيءٍ أَبَدًا، فَأَجْمَعْتُ صِدْقَهُ، وَأَصْبَحَ رَسُولُ اللّهِ صلّى اللّه عليه وسلّم قَادِمًا، وَكَانَ إِذَا قَدِمَ مِنْ سَفَرٍ بَدَأَ بِالْمَسْجِدِ فَرَكَعَ فِيهِ رَكْعَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ جَلَسَ لِلنَّاسِ، فَلَمَّا فَعَلَ ذلِكَ جَاءَهُ الْمُخَلَّفُونَ يَعْتَذِرُونَ إِلَيْهِ، وَيَحْلِفُونَ لَهُ، وَكَانُوا بِضْعًا وَثَمَانِينَ رَجُلًا، فَقَبِلَ مِنْهُمْ عَلَانِيَتَهُمْ، وَبَايَعَهُمْ، واسْتَغْفَرَ لَهُمْ، وَوَكَلَ سَرَائِرَهُمْ إِلَى اللّهِ تَعَالَى، حَتَّى جِئْتُ، فَلَمَّا سَلَّمْتُ تَبَسَّمَ تَبَسُّمَ الْمُغْضَبِ، ثُمَّ قَالَ: «تَعَال»، فَجِئْتُ أَمْشِي حَتَّى جَلَسْتُ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ، فَقَالَ لِي: «مَا خَلَّفَكَ؟ أَلَمْ تَكُنْ قَدِ ابْتَعْتَ ظَهْرَكَ؟»، قَالَ: قُلْتُ: يَا رَسُولَ اللّهِ، إِنِّي وَاللّهِ لَوْ جَلَسْتُ عِنْدَ غَيْرِكَ مِنْ أَهْلِ الدُّنْيَا لَرَأيتُ أَنِّي سَأَخْرُجُ مِنْ سَخَطِهِ بِعُذْرٍ؛ لَقَدْ أُعْطِيتُ جَدَلًا، ولَكِنِّي وَاللّهِ لَقَدْ عَلِمْتُ لَئِنْ حَدَّثْتُكَ الْيَوْمَ حَدِيثَ كَذِبٍ تَرْضَى بِهِ عَنِّي لَيُوشِكَنَّ اللّهُ أَنْ يُسْخِطَكَ عَلَيَّ، وَإِنْ حَدَّثْتُكَ حَدِيثَ صِدْقٍ تَجِدُ عَلَيَّ فِيهِ إِنِّي لَأَرْجُو فِيهِ عُقْبَى اللّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ، وَاللّهِ مَا كَانَ لِيَ مِنْ عُذْرٍ، وَاللّهِ مَا كُنْتُ قَطُّ أَقْوَى وَلَا أَيْسَرَ مِنِّي حِينَ تَخَلَّفْتُ عَنْكَ. قَالَ: فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللّهِ صَلَّى اللّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «أَمَّا هَذَا فَقَدْ صَدَقَ، فَقُمْ حَتَّى يَقْضِيَ اللّهُ فِيكَ»، وَسَارَ رِجَالٌ مِنْ بَنِي سَلِمَةَ فاتَّبَعُونِي، فَقَالُوا لِي: وَاللّهِ مَا عَلِمْنَاكَ أَذْنَبْتَ ذَنْبًا قَبْلَ هذَا، لَقَدْ عَجَزْتَ فِي أَنْ لَا تَكُونَ اعْتَذَرْتَ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللّهِ صلّى اللّه عليه وسلّم بِمَا اعْتَذَرَ إِلَيْهِ الْمُخَلَّفُونَ، فَقَدْ كَانَ كَافِيكَ ذَنْبَكَ اسْتِغْفَارُ رَسُولِ اللّهِ صلّى اللّه عليه وسلّم لَكَ. قَالَ: فَوَاللّهِ مَا زَالُوا يُؤَنِّبُونَنِي حَتَّى أَرَدْتُّ أَنْ أَرْجِعَ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللّهِ صلّى اللّه عليه وسلم فَأُكَذِّبَ نَفْسِي، ثُمَّ قُلْتُ لَهُمْ: هَلْ لَقِيَ هذَا مَعِيَ مِنْ أَحَدٍ؟ قَالُوا: نَعَمْ، لَقِيَهُ مَعَكَ رَجُلانِ، قَالَا مِثْلَ مَا قُلْتَ، وَقيلَ لَهُمَا مِثْلَ مَا قِيلَ لَكَ، قَالَ: قُلْتُ: مَنْ هُمَا؟ قَالُوا: مُرَارَةُ بْنُ الرَّبِيعِ الْعَمْرِيُّ، وَهِلَالُ بْنُ أُمَيَّةَ الْوَاقِفِيُّ؟ قَالَ: فَذَكَرُوا لِيَ رَجُلَينِ صَالِحَينِ قَدْ شَهِدَا بَدْرًا، فِيهِمَا أُسْوَةٌ، قَالَ: فَمَضَيْتُ حِينَ ذَكَرُوهُما لِي، ونَهَى رَسُولُ اللّهِ صلّى اللّه عليه وسلّم عَنْ كَلَامِنَا أيُّهَا الثَّلَاثَةُ مِنْ بَيْنِ مَنْ تَخَلَّفَ عَنْهُ، فاجْتَنَبَنَا النَّاسُ -أوْ قَالَ: تَغَيَّرُوا لَنَا- حَتَّى تَنَكَّرَتْ لِي فِي نَفْسِي الْأَرْضُ، فَمَا هِيَ بِالْأرْضِ الَّتِي أَعْرِفُ، فَلَبِثْنَا عَلَى ذَلِكَ خَمْسِينَ لَيْلَةً. فَأَمَّا صَاحِبَايَ فَاسْتَكَانَا، وقَعَدَا فِي بُيُوتِهِمَا يَبْكِيَانِ، وَأَمَّا أَنَا فَكُنْتُ أَشَبَّ الْقَومِ، وَأَجْلَدَهُمْ، فَكُنْتُ أَخْرُجُ فَأَشْهَدُ الصَّلَاةَ مَعَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ، وَأَطُوفُ فِي الْأَسْوَاقِ وَلَا يُكَلِّمُنِي أَحَدٌ، وَآتِي رَسُولَ اللّهِ صلّى اللّه عليه وسلّم فَأُسَلِّمُ عَلَيْهِ وَهُوَ فِي مَجْلِسِهِ بَعْدَ الصَّلَاةِ، فَأَقُولُ فِي نَفسِي: هَلْ حَرَّكَ شَفَتَيْه برَدِّ السَّلَامِ أَمْ لَا؟ ثُمَّ أُصَلِّي قَرِيبًا مِنْهُ، وَأُسَارِقُهُ النَّظَرَ، فَإِذَا أَقْبَلْتُ عَلَى صَلَاتِي نَظَرَ إِلَيَّ، وَإِذَا الْتَفَتُّ نَحْوَهُ أَعْرَضَ عَنِّي، حَتَّى إِذَا طَالَ ذَلِكَ عَلَيَّ مِنْ جَفْوَةِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ مَشَيْتُ حَتَّى تَسَوَّرْتُ جِدَارَ حَائِطِ أَبِي قَتَادَةَ وَهُوَ ابْنُ عَمِّي وأَحَبُّ النَّاس إِلَيَّ، فَسَلَّمْتُ عَلَيهِ، فَوَاللّهِ مَا رَدَّ عَليَّ السَّلَامَ، فَقُلْتُ لَهُ: يَا أَبَا قَتَادَةَ، أنْشُدُكَ باللّهِ هَلْ تَعْلَمُنِي أُحِبُّ اللّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ؟ فَسَكَتَ، فَعُدْتُ فَنَاشَدْتُهُ، فَسَكَتَ، فَعُدْتُ فَنَاشَدْتُهُ، فَقَالَ: اللّهُ ورَسُولُهُ أَعْلَمُ، فَفَاضَتْ عَيْنَايَ، وَتَوَلَّيْتُ حَتَّى تَسَوَّرْتُ الْجِدَارَ، فَبَيْنَا أَنَا أَمْشِي فِي سُوقِ الْمَدِينَةِ إِذَا نَبَطِيٌّ مِنْ نَبَطِ أهْلِ الشَّامِ مِمَّنْ قَدِمَ بالطَّعَامِ يَبيعُهُ بِالمَدِينَةِ، يَقُولُ: مَنْ يَدُلُّ عَلَى كَعْبِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ؟ فَطَفِقَ النَّاسُ يُشِيرُونَ لَهُ إِلَيَّ حَتَّى جَاءنِي فَدَفَعَ إِلَيَّ كِتَابًا مِنْ مَلِكِ غَسَّانَ، وَكُنْتُ كَاتبًا، فَقَرَأْتُهُ، فإِذَا فِيهِ: أَمَّا بَعْدُ، فإِنَّهُ قَدْ بَلَغَنا أَنَّ صَاحِبَكَ قَدْ جَفَاكَ، وَلَمْ يَجْعَلْكَ اللّهُ بدَارِ هَوانٍ وَلَا مَضْيَعَةٍ، فَالْحَقْ بنَا نُوَاسِكَ، فَقُلْتُ حِينَ قَرَأْتُهَا: وَهَذِهِ أَيضًا مِنَ البَلاءِ، فَتَيَمَّمْتُ بِهَا التَّنُّورَ فَسَجَرْتُهَا، حَتَّى إِذَا مَضَتْ أَرْبَعُونَ مِنَ الْخَمْسينَ وَاسْتَلْبَثَ الْوَحْيُ إِذَا رسولُ رَسُولِ اللّهِ صلّى اللّه عليه وسلّم يَأْتِينِي، فَقَالَ: إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللّهِ صلّى اللّه عليه وسلّم يَأْمُرُكَ أَنْ تَعْتَزِلَ امْرَأَتَكَ، فَقُلْتُ: أُطَلِّقُهَا أَمْ مَاذَا أَفْعَلُ؟ فَقالَ: لَا، بَلِ اعْتَزِلْهَا فَلَا تَقْرَبَنَّهَا، وَأَرْسَلَ إِلَى صَاحِبَيَّ بِمِثْلِ ذَلِكَ، فَقُلْتُ لِامْرَأَتِي: الْحَقِي بِأهْلِكِ فَكُونِي عِنْدَهُمْ حَتَّى يَقْضِيَ اللّهُ في هَذَا الْأَمْرِ، فَجَاءَتِ امْرَأةُ هِلَالِ بْنِ أُمَيَّةَ رَسُولَ اللّهِ صلّى اللّه عليه وسلم فَقَالَتْ لَهُ: يَا رَسُولَ اللّهِ، إِنَّ هِلَالَ بْنَ أُمَيَّةَ شَيْخٌ ضَائِعٌ لَيْسَ لَهُ خَادِمٌ، فَهَلْ تَكْرَهُ أَنْ أَخْدُمَهُ؟ قَالَ: «لَا، وَلَكِنْ لَا يَقْرَبَنَّكِ»، فَقَالَتْ: إِنَّهُ وَاللّهِ مَا بِهِ مِنْ حَرَكَةٍ إِلَى شَيْءٍ، وَوَاللّهِ مَا زَالَ يَبْكِي مُنْذُ كَانَ مِنْ أمْرِهِ مَا كَانَ إِلَى يَومِهِ هَذَا، فَقَالَ لي بَعْضُ أَهْلِي: لَوِ اسْتَأْذَنْتَ رَسُولَ اللّهِ صلّى اللّه عليه وسلّم فِي امْرَأَتِكَ، فَقَدْ أَذِن لِامْرَأَةِ هِلَالِ بْنِ أُمَيَّةَ أَنْ تَخْدُمَهُ؟ فَقُلْتُ: لَا أَسْتَأذِنُ فِيهَا رَسُولَ اللّهِ صلّى اللّه عليه وسلّم وَمَا يُدْرِيني مَاذَا يقُولُ رَسُولُ اللّهِ صلّى اللّه عليه وسلّم إِذَا اسْتَأْذَنْتُهُ، وَأَنَا رَجُلٌ شَابٌّ! فَلَبِثْتُ بِذَلِكَ عَشْرَ لَيَالٍ، فَكَمُلَ لَنا خَمْسُونَ لَيْلَةً مِنْ حِينَ نُهِيَ عَنْ كَلَامِنَا، ثُمَّ صَلَّيْتُ صَلَاةَ الْفَجْرِ صَبَاحَ خَمْسِينَ لَيْلَةً عَلَى ظَهْرِ بَيْتٍ مِنْ بُيُوتِنَا، فَبَيْنَا أَنَا جَالِسٌ عَلَى الْحالِ الَّتي ذَكَرَ اللّه تَعَالَى مِنَّا، قَدْ ضَاقَتْ عَلَيَّ نَفْسي وَضَاقَتْ عَلَيَّ الْأَرْضُ بِمَا رَحُبَتْ، سَمِعْتُ صَوْتَ صَارِخٍ أَوْفَى عَلَى سَلْعٍ يَقُولُ بِأعْلَى صَوتِهِ: يَا كَعْبَ بْنَ مَالِكٍ، أبْشِرْ، فَخَرَرْتُ سَاجِدًا، وَعَرَفْتُ أنَّهُ قَدْ جَاءَ فَرَجٌ، فَآذَنَ رَسُولُ اللّهِ صلّى اللّه عليه وسلّم النَّاسَ بِتَوْبَةِ اللّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ عَلَيْنَا حِينَ صَلَّى صَلَاةَ الْفَجْرِ، فَذَهَبَ النَّاسُ يُبَشِّرُونَنَا، فَذَهَبَ قِبَلَ صَاحِبَيَّ مُبَشِّرونَ، وَرَكَضَ رَجُلٌ إِلَيَّ فَرَسًا، وَسَعَى سَاعٍ مِنْ أَسْلَمَ قِبَلِي، وَأَوْفَى عَلَى الْجَبَلِ، فَكانَ الصَّوْتُ أَسْرَعَ مِنَ الفَرَسِ، فَلَمَّا جَاءَنِي الَّذِي سَمِعْتُ صَوْتَهُ يُبَشِّرُنِي نَزَعْتُ لَهُ ثَوْبَيَّ فَكَسَوْتُهُمَا إِيَّاهُ بِبشَارَتِهِ، وَاللّهِ مَا أَمْلِكُ غَيْرَهُمَا يَوْمَئِذٍ، وَاسْتَعَرْتُ ثَوْبَيْنِ فَلَبسْتُهُمَا، وَانْطَلَقْتُ أَتَأَمَّمُ رَسُولَ اللّهِ صلّى اللّه عليه وسلّم يَتَلَقَّانِي النَّاسُ فَوْجًا فَوْجًا يُهنِّئونَنِي بِالتَّوْبَةِ، وَيَقُولُونَ لِي: لِتَهْنِكَ تَوْبَةُ اللّهُ عَلَيْكَ، حَتَّى دَخَلْتُ الْمَسْجِدَ فَإِذَا رَسُولُ اللّهِ صلّى اللّه عليه وسلّم جَالِسٌ حَوْلَهُ النَّاسُ، فَقَامَ طَلْحَةُ بْنُ عُبَيْدِ اللّهِ يُهَرْوِلُ حَتَّى صَافَحَنِي وَهَنَّأَنِي، وَاللّهِ مَا قَامَ رَجُلٌ مِنَ المُهَاجِرِينَ غَيرُهُ، فَكَانَ كَعْبٌ لَا يَنْسَاهَا لِطَلْحَةَ. قَالَ كَعْبٌ: فَلَمَّا سَلَّمْتُ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللّهِ صلّى اللّه عليه وسلّم قَالَ وَهُوَ يَبْرُقُ وَجْهُهُ مِنَ السُّرُورِ: «أَبْشِرْ بِخَيْرِ يَوْمٍ مَرَّ عَلَيْكَ مُذْ وَلَدَتْكَ أُمُّكَ»، فَقُلْتُ: أَمِنْ عِنْدِكَ يَا رَسُولَ اللّهِ أَمْ مِنْ عِندِ اللّه؟ قَالَ: «لَا، بَلْ مِنْ عِنْدِ اللّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ»، وَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللّهِ صلّى اللّه عليه وسلّم إِذَا سُرَّ اسْتَنَارَ وَجْهُهُ حَتَّى كَأَنَّ وَجْهَهُ قِطْعَةُ قَمَرٍ، وَكُنَّا نَعْرِفُ ذَلِكَ مِنْهُ، فَلَمَّا جَلَسْتُ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ قُلْتُ: يَا رَسُولَ اللّهِ، إِنَّ مِنْ تَوْبَتِي أَنْ أنْخَلِعَ مِنْ مَالِي صَدَقَةً إِلَى اللّهِ وَإِلَى رَسُولِهِ، فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللّهِ صلّى اللّه عليه وسلّم: «أَمْسِكَ عَلَيْكَ بَعْضَ مَالِكَ فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَكَ»، فَقُلْتُ: إِنِّي أُمْسِكُ سَهْمِي الَّذِي بِخَيْبَرَ، وَقُلْتُ: يَا رَسُولَ اللّهِ، إِنَّ اللّهَ تَعَالَى إِنَّمَا أنْجَانِي بِالصِّدْقِ، وَإِنَّ مِنْ تَوْبَتِي أَنْ لَا أُحَدِّثَ إِلَّا صِدْقًا مَا بَقِيتُ، فَوَاللّهِ مَا عَلِمْتُ أَحَدًا مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ أَبْلَاهُ اللّهُ تَعَالَى فِي صِدْقِ الْحَدِيثِ مُنْذُ ذَكَرْتُ ذَلِكَ لِرسُولِ اللّهِ صلّى اللّه عليه وسلّم أَحْسَنَ مِمَّا أَبْلَانِي اللّهُ تَعَالَى، وَاللّهِ مَا تَعَمَّدْتُ كِذْبَةً مُنْذُ قُلْتُ ذَلِكَ لِرسُولِ اللّهِ صلّى اللّه عليه وسلّم إِلَى يَومِيَ هَذَا، وَإِنِّي لَأَرْجُو أَنْ يَحْفَظَنِي اللّهُ تَعَالَى فِيمَا بَقِيَ، قَالَ: فأَنْزَلَ اللّهُ تَعَالَى: ﴿ لَقَدْ تَابَ اللّهُ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ وَالْمُهَاجِرِينَ وَالْأَنْصَارِ الَّذِينَ اتَّبَعُوهُ فِي سَاعَةِ الْعُسْرَةِ ﴾ حَتَّى بَلَغَ: ﴿ إِنَّهُ بِهِمْ رَؤُوفٌ رَحِيمٌ * وَعَلَى الثَّلَاثَةِ الَّذِينَ خُلِّفُوا حَتَّى إِذَا ضَاقَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ الْأَرْضُ بِمَا رَحُبَتْ ﴾ حَتَّى بَلَغَ: ﴿ اتَّقُوا اللهَ وَكُونُوا مَعَ الصَّادِقِينَ ﴾ [التوبة:١١٧-١١٩]، قَالَ كَعْبٌ: وَاللّهِ مَا أَنْعَمَ اللّهُ عَليَّ مِنْ نِعْمَةٍ قَطُّ بَعْدَ إِذْ هَدَانِي اللّهُ لِلْإِسْلَامِ أَعْظَمَ فِي نَفْسِي مِنْ صِدقِي رَسُولَ اللّهِ صلّى اللّه عليه وسلم أَنْ لَا أَكُونَ كَذَبْتُهُ، فَأَهْلِكَ كَمَا هَلَكَ الَّذِينَ كَذَبُوا؛ إِنَّ اللّهَ تَعَالَى قَالَ لِلَّذِينَ كَذَبُوا حِينَ أَنْزَلَ الْوَحْيَ شَرَّ مَا قَالَ لِأَحَدٍ، فَقَالَ اللّهُ تَعَالَى: ﴿ سَيَحْلِفُونَ بِاللّهِ لَكُمْ إِذَا انْقَلَبْتُمْ إِلَيْهِمْ لِتُعْرِضُوا عَنْهُمْ فَأَعْرِضُوا عَنْهُمْ إِنَّهُمْ رِجْسٌ وَمَأْوَاهُمْ جَهَنَّمُ جَزَاءً بِمَا كَانُوا يَكْسِبُونَ * يَحْلِفُونَ لَكُمْ لِتَرْضَوْا عَنْهُمْ فَإِنْ تَرْضَوْا عَنْهُمْ فَإِنَّ اللّهَ لَا يَرْضَى عَنِ الْقَوْمِ الْفَاسِقِينَ ﴾ [التوبة: ٩٥- ٩٦]، قَالَ كَعْبٌ: كُنَّا خُلِّفْنَا أَيُّهَا الثَّلَاثَةُ عَنْ أمْرِ أُولَئِكَ الَّذِينَ قَبِلَ مِنْهُمْ رَسُولُ اللّهِ صلّى اللّه عليه وسلّم حِينَ حَلَفُوا لَهُ فَبَايَعَهُمْ وَاسْتَغْفَرَ لَهُمْ وَأَرْجَأَ رَسُولُ اللّهِ صلّى اللّه عليه وسلّم أَمْرَنَا حَتَّى قَضَى اللّهُ تَعَالَى فِيهِ بِذَلِكَ، قَالَ اللّهُ تَعَالَى: ﴿ وَعَلَى الثَّلاثَةِ الَّذِينَ خُلِّفُوا ﴾؛ وَليْسَ الَّذِي ذَكَرَ مِمَّا خُلِّفْنَا تَخلُّفُنَا عَنِ الْغَزْوِ، وَإِنَّمَا هُوَ تَخْلِيفُهُ إِيَّانَا وَإِرْجَاؤُهُ أَمْرَنَا عَمَّنْ حَلَفَ لَهُ، وَاعْتَذَرَ إِلَيْهِ، فَقَبِلَ مِنْهُ. متفق عليه • وفي رواية: أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلّى اللّه عليه وسلّم خَرَجَ فِي غَزْوَةِ تَبْوكَ يَوْمَ الْخَمِيسِ، وَكَانَ يُحِبُّ أَنْ يَخْرُجَ يَوْمَ الْخَمِيسِ. • وفي رواية: وَكَانَ لَا يَقْدُمُ مِنْ سَفَرٍ إِلَّا نَهَارًا فِي الضُّحَى، فَإِذَا قَدِمَ بَدَأَ بِالْمَسْجِدِ فَصَلَّى فِيهِ رَكْعَتَيْنِ، ثُمَّ جَلَسَ فِيهِ.

On the authority of Abdullah ibn Ka'b ibn Malik -- who was Ka'b's guide from among his sons when Ka'b (may Allah be pleased with him) became blind -- who said: I heard Ka'b ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) narrate the account of when he stayed behind from the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) during the expedition of Tabuk. Ka'b said: I never stayed behind from the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) in any expedition he undertook except the expedition of Tabuk -- although I did stay behind from the Battle of Badr, but no one who stayed behind from it was blamed, for the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and the Muslims had only set out intending the caravan of Quraysh, until Allah the Most High brought them and their enemy together without prior arrangement. And I had witnessed with the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) the Night of al-'Aqabah when we pledged ourselves to Islam, and I would not exchange it for the Battle of Badr, even though Badr is more renowned among the people. As for my story when I stayed behind from the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) during the expedition of Tabuk: I had never been stronger or more prosperous than I was when I stayed behind from him in that expedition. By Allah, I had never owned two riding camels before, until I acquired them for that expedition. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) would never intend a campaign without concealing it under the guise of another, until that expedition came. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) undertook it in extreme heat, facing a long journey across a waterless desert against a great number, so he made the matter clear to the Muslims so they could prepare accordingly, and he told them the direction he intended. The Muslims with the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) were many, and no register could encompass them -- meaning a written record. Ka'b said: So few were the men who wanted to absent themselves thinking that their absence would go unnoticed unless revelation from Allah came down concerning them. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) undertook that expedition when the fruits had ripened and the shade was inviting, and I was inclined toward that comfort. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and the Muslims with him prepared, and I kept going out each morning intending to prepare with them, but I would return having accomplished nothing, saying to myself: 'I am capable of that whenever I wish.' This continued until the people had earnestly set off. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) departed in the morning with the Muslims and I had not prepared anything for my journey. I went out again and returned having done nothing. This continued until they had gone far ahead and the expedition had advanced beyond me. I considered setting out to catch up with them -- and how I wish I had done so -- but that was not decreed for me. After the departure of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), whenever I went out among the people, it grieved me that I could see no one like me except a man accused of hypocrisy or a man whom Allah had excused from among the weak. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) did not remember me until he reached Tabuk, where he said while sitting among the people: 'What happened to Ka'b ibn Malik?' A man from Banu Salimah said: 'O Messenger of Allah, his fine garments and his admiration of his own appearance held him back.' Mu'adh ibn Jabal (may Allah be pleased with him) said: 'What an evil thing you have said! By Allah, O Messenger of Allah, we know nothing of him except good.' The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) remained silent. While he was in that state, he saw a man in white whose form shimmered in the mirage. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: 'Be Abu Khaythamah!' And indeed it was Abu Khaythamah al-Ansari, the one who gave a sa' of dates in charity when the hypocrites mocked him. Ka'b said: When I learned that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) was heading back from Tabuk, deep anxiety struck me. I began thinking of lies, asking myself: 'How can I escape his anger tomorrow?' I sought the counsel of every wise person among my family. When it was said that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) was about to arrive, falsehood departed from me, and I knew that I could never escape through any lie. So I resolved upon truthfulness. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) arrived in the morning. Whenever he returned from a journey, he would begin at the mosque, pray two units of prayer, and then sit for the people. When he did so, those who had stayed behind came to him making excuses and swearing oaths. They were over eighty men. He accepted their outward declarations, took their pledges, sought forgiveness for them, and entrusted their inner states to Allah the Most High. Then I came, and when I greeted him, he smiled the smile of one who is displeased and said: 'Come.' So I came walking until I sat before him. He said to me: 'What kept you behind? Had you not already purchased your mount?' I said: 'O Messenger of Allah, by Allah, if I were sitting before anyone other than you among the people of this world, I would have found a way to escape his anger through an excuse, for I have been given the gift of eloquent argument. But by Allah, I knew that if I told you a lie today that would please you, Allah would soon cause you to be displeased with me. And if I told you the truth, which would cause you to be angry with me, I still hope for Allah's good outcome. By Allah, I had no excuse. By Allah, I was never stronger or more prosperous than when I stayed behind from you.' The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: 'As for this one, he has spoken the truth. Stand up until Allah decides your matter.' Men from Banu Salimah followed me and said: 'By Allah, we never knew you to have committed a sin before this. You were incapable of simply making the excuse that the other laggards made to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him); the Prophet's seeking forgiveness for you would have sufficed for your sin.' They kept rebuking me until I considered going back to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) to deny my own words. Then I asked them: 'Did anyone else receive the same treatment as me?' They said: 'Yes, two men said the same as you and were told the same: Murarah ibn al-Rabi' al-'Amri and Hilal ibn Umayyah al-Waqifi.' They mentioned to me two righteous men who had fought at Badr, and in them was a model to follow. So I continued on my course when they mentioned them to me. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) forbade people from speaking to us three, from among all those who had stayed behind. The people shunned us -- or, as he said, they changed toward us -- until the very earth felt strange to me; it was not the earth I knew. We remained in this state for fifty nights. As for my two companions, they withdrew and sat in their homes weeping. But I was the youngest and most resilient of the three. I would go out to attend the prayers with the Muslims and walk through the markets, but no one would speak to me. I would come to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and greet him while he was in his gathering after the prayer, asking myself: 'Did he move his lips to return my greeting or not?' Then I would pray near him and steal glances at him; when I turned to my prayer, he would look at me, and when I turned toward him, he would look away. When the Muslims' shunning had gone on too long for me, I walked until I climbed over the garden wall of Abu Qatadah -- he was my cousin and the dearest of people to me -- and I greeted him. By Allah, he did not return my greeting. I said: 'O Abu Qatadah, I beseech 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 climbing back over the wall. While I was walking through the market of Madinah, a Nabataean farmer from the people of Syria, who had come to sell food in Madinah, was calling out: 'Who can direct me to Ka'b ibn Malik?' People began pointing him toward me until he came to me and handed me a letter from the King of Ghassan. I was a literate man, so I read it. It said: 'To proceed: It has reached us that your master has treated you harshly. Allah has not placed you in a land of humiliation or loss. Come join us and we will console you.' When I read it, I said: 'This, too, is part of the trial.' I took it to the oven and burned it. When forty of the fifty days had passed, and the revelation was delayed, a messenger from the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) came to me and said: 'The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) commands you to separate from your wife.' I said: 'Shall I divorce her, or what shall I do?' He said: 'No, just separate from her and do not approach her.' He sent the same message to my two companions. I said to my wife: 'Go to your family and stay with them until Allah decides this matter.' The wife of Hilal ibn Umayyah came to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and said: 'O Messenger of Allah, Hilal ibn Umayyah is a frail old man with no servant. Do you object to my serving him?' He said: 'No, but he must not approach you.' She said: 'By Allah, he has no desire for anything. By Allah, he has not stopped weeping since this affair began until this day.' Some of my family suggested: 'Why not ask the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) about your wife, since he has permitted Hilal ibn Umayyah's wife to serve him?' I said: 'I will not ask the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) about her. I do not know what the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) would say if I asked, since I am a young man.' I remained in that state for ten more nights, completing fifty nights from the time we were forbidden from being spoken to. Then I prayed the Fajr prayer on the morning of the fiftieth night on the roof of one of our houses. While I was sitting in the state that Allah the Most High described of us -- my soul had become constricted and the earth had become narrow for me despite its vastness -- I heard the voice of a caller who had climbed Mount Sal' calling at the top of his voice: 'O Ka'b ibn Malik, rejoice!' I fell down in prostration, knowing that relief had come. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) had announced to the people that Allah the Almighty had accepted our repentance when he prayed the Fajr prayer. People went to give us glad tidings; bearers of good news went to my two companions, and a man rode his horse toward me, while a runner from the tribe of Aslam hastened toward me and climbed the mountain, and his voice was faster than the horse. When the man whose voice I had heard came to give me the glad tidings, I removed my two garments and clothed him with them in gratitude for his good news. By Allah, I owned nothing else that day. I borrowed two garments and put them on, then set out heading toward the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). People met me in groups, congratulating me on the repentance, saying: 'May Allah's acceptance of your repentance bring you joy!' I entered the mosque to find the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) sitting surrounded by the people. Talhah ibn Ubaydillah rose and rushed to shake my hand and congratulate me. By Allah, no other man among the Emigrants stood up for me. Ka'b never forgot that gesture of Talhah's. Ka'b said: When I greeted the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), his face was shining with joy. He said: 'Rejoice with the best day that has ever come upon you since your mother gave birth to you!' I said: 'Is this from you, O Messenger of Allah, or from Allah?' He said: 'No, rather it is from Allah the Almighty.' The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), when he was pleased, his face would shine as if it were a piece of the moon, and we used to recognize that in him. When I sat before him, I said: 'O Messenger of Allah, as part of my repentance, I wish to divest myself of all my wealth as charity to Allah and His Messenger.' The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: 'Keep some of your wealth for yourself; that is better for you.' I said: 'Then I shall keep my share in Khaybar.' And I said: 'O Messenger of Allah, Allah has saved me through truthfulness, and as part of my repentance, I vow to speak nothing but the truth for as long as I live.' By Allah, I know of no Muslim whom Allah has tested in the truthfulness of speech more graciously than He tested me, from the time I said that to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). By Allah, I have not intentionally told a lie from the day I said that to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) until this day of mine, and I hope that Allah will preserve me in what remains. Allah the Most High then revealed: 'Allah has turned in mercy to the Prophet, and to the Emigrants, and to the Helpers who followed him in the hour of hardship' until He reached: 'Indeed, He is to them Most Kind, Most Merciful. And [He also turned in mercy to] the three who were left behind until the earth, despite its vastness, became constricted for them' until He reached: 'Fear Allah and be with the truthful' [al-Tawbah: 117-119]. Ka'b said: By Allah, no blessing that Allah bestowed upon me after guiding me to Islam was greater in my soul than my truthfulness to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), that I did not lie to him and so perish as those who lied perished. For Allah the Most High said about those who lied, when He revealed the revelation, the worst that He said to anyone. Allah the Most High said: 'They will swear by Allah to you when you return to them so that you may turn away from them. So turn away from them; indeed, they are an abomination, and their refuge is Hell as recompense for what they used to earn. They swear to you so that you might be pleased with them. But even if you are pleased with them, indeed Allah is not pleased with the defiantly disobedient people' [al-Tawbah: 95-96]. Ka'b said: We three were set apart from those whom the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) accepted when they swore to him, took their pledge, and sought forgiveness for them. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) deferred our matter until Allah the Most High decided it. About that, Allah the Most High said: 'And [He also turned in mercy to] the three who were left behind.' What is referred to by being 'left behind' is not our staying behind from the expedition, but rather his deferral of our matter and his postponing it from those who swore to him and made excuses, which he accepted." Agreed upon (narrated by al-Bukhari and Muslim). In a narration: The Prophet (peace be upon him) set out on the expedition of Tabuk on a Thursday, and he preferred to depart on a Thursday. In another narration: He would not return from a journey except during the daytime in the forenoon; when he arrived, he would begin at the mosque, pray two units of prayer, and then sit there.