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اللؤلؤ والمرجان
Lu'lu' wal-Marjan
كتاب التوبةBook of Repentance
باب حديث توبة كعب بن مالك وصاحبيهStory of the Repentance of Ka’b ibn Malik and His Two Companions
Hadith 1762
اُردوEn
1762 صحيح حديث كَعْبِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ قَالَ: لَمْ أَتَخَلَّفْ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، فِي غَزْوَةٍ غَزَاهَا، إِلاَّ فِي غَزْوَةِ تَبُوكَ غَيْرَ أَنِّي كُنْتُ تَخَلَّفْتُ فِي غَزْوَةِ بَدْرٍ، وَلَمْ يُعَاتِبْ أَحَدًا تَخَلَّفَ عَنْهَا إِنَّمَا خَرَجَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يُرِيدُ عِيرَ قُرَيْشٍ حَتَّى جَمَعَ اللهُ بَيْنَهُمْ وَبَيْنَ عَدُوِّهِمْ عَلَى غَيْرِ مِيعَادٍ وَلَقَدْ شَهِدْتُ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، لَيْلَةَ الْعَقبَةِ حِينَ تَوَاثَقْنَا عَلَى الإِسْلاَمِ وَمَا أُحِبُّ أَنَّ لِي بِهَا مَشْهَدَ بَدْرٍ، وَإِنْ كَانَتْ بَدْرٌ أَذْكَرَ فِي النَّاسِ مِنْهَا كَانَ مِنْ خَبَرِي أَنِّي لَمْ أَكُنْ قَطُّ أَقْوَى وَلاَ أَيْسَرَ حِينَ تَخَلَّفْتُ عَنْهُ فِي تِلْكَ الْغَزَاةِ وَاللهِ مَا اجْتَمَعَتْ عِنْدِي قَبْلَهُ رَاحِلَتَانِ قَطُّ، حَتَّى جَمَعْتُهُمَا فِي تِلْكَ الْغَزْوَةِ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، يُرِيدُ غَزْوَةً إِلاَّ وَرَّى بِغَيْرِهَا حَتَّى كَانَتْ تِلْكَ الْغَزْوَةُ غَزَاهَا رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، فِي حَرٍّ شَدِيدٍ، وَاسْتَقْبَلَ سَفَرًا بَعِيدًا، وَمَفَازًا، وَعَدُوًّا كَثِيرًا فَجَلَّى لِلْمُسْلِمِينَ أَمْرَهُمْ لِيَتَأَهَّبُوا أُهْبَةَ غَزْوِهِمْ فَأَخَبْرَهُمْ بِوَجْهِهِ الَّذِي يُرِيدُ وَالْمُسْلِمُونَ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ كَثِيرٌ وَلاَ يَجْمَعُهُمْ كِتَابٌ حَافِظٌ (يُرِيدُ الدِّيوَانَ) قَالَ كَعْبٌ: فَمَا رَجُلٌ يُرِيدُ أَنْ يَتَغَيَّبَ إِلاَّ ظَنَّ أَن سَيَخْفَى لَهُ، مَا لَمْ يَنْزِلْ فِيهِ وَحْيُ اللهِ وَغَزَا رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، تِلْكَ الْغَزْوَةَ، حِينَ طَابَتِ الثِّمَارُ وَالظِّلاَلُ وَتَجَهَّزَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَالْمُسْلِمُونَ مَعَهُ فَطَفِقْتُ أَغْدُو لِكَيْ أَتَجَهَّزَ مَعَهُمْ فَأَرْجِعُ وَلَمْ أَقْضِ شَيْئًا فَأَقُولُ فِي نَفْسِي: أَنَا قَادِرٌ عَلَيْهِ فَلَمْ يَزَلْ يَتَمَادَى بِي، حَتَّى اشْتَدَّ بِالنَّاسِ الْجِدُّ فَأَصْبَحَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، وَالْمُسْلِمُونَ مَعَهُ وَلَمْ أَقْضِ مِنْ جَهَازِي شَيْئًا فَقُلْتُ: أَتَجَهَّزُ بَعْدَهُ بِيَوْمٍ أَوْ يَوْمِيْنِ، ثُمَّ أَلْحَقهُمْ فَغَدَوْتُ بَعْدَ أَنْ فَصَلوا، لأَتَجَهَّزَ، فَرَجَعْتُ وَلَمْ أَقْضِ شَيْئًا ثُمَّ غَدَوْتُ ثُمَّ رَجَعْتُ وَلَمْ أَقْضِ شَيْئًا فَلَمْ يَزَلْ بِي حَتَّى أَسْرَعوا، وَتَفَارَطَ الْغَزْوُ وَهَمَمْتُ أَنْ أَرْتَحِلَ فَأدْرِكَهُمْ وَلَيْتَنِي فَعَلْتُ فَلَمْ يُقَدَّرْ لِي ذَلِكَ فَكنْتُ، إِذَا خَرَجْتُ فِي النَّاسِ، بَعْدَ خرُوجِ رَسُولِ اللهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، فَطفْتُ فِيهِمْ، أَحْزَنَنِي أَنِّي لاَ أَرَى إِلاَّ رَجُلاً مَغْمُوصًا عَلَيْهِ النِّفَاقُ، أَوْ رَجلاً مِمَّنْ عَذَرَ اللهُ مِنَ الضُّعَفَاءِ وَلَمْ يَذْكُرْنِي رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ حَتَّى بَلَغَ تَبُوكَ فَقَالَ، وَهُوَ جَالِسٌ فِي الْقَوْمِ بِتَبُوكَ: مَا فَعَل كَعْبٌ فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ مِنْ بَنِي سَلِمَةَ: يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ حَبَسَهُ بُرْدَاهُ وَنَظَرُه فِي عِطْفِهِ فَقَالَ مُعَاذُ بْنُ جَبَلٍ: بِئْسَ مَا قُلْتَ وَاللهِ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ مَا عَلِمْنَا عَلَيْهِ إِلاَّ خَيْرًا فَسَكَتَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ كَعْبُ بْنُ مَالِكٍ: فَلَمَّا بَلَغَنِي أَنَّهُ تَوَجَّهَ قَافِلاً، حَضَرَنِي هَمِّي وَطَفِقْتُ أَتَذَكَّرُ الْكَذِبَ، وَأَقُولُ: بِمَاذَا أَخْرُجُ مِنْ سَخَطِهِ غَدًا وَاسْتَعَنْتُ عَلَى ذَلِكَ بِكُلِّ ذِي رَأْيِ مِنْ أَهْلِي فَلَمَّا قِيلَ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَدْ أَظَلَّ قَادِمًا، زَاحَ عَنِّي الْبَاطِلُ، وَعَرَفْتُ أَنِّي لَنْ أَخْرُجَ مِنْهُ أَبَدًا بِشَيْءٍ فِيهِ كَذِبٌ، فَأَجْمَعْتُ صِدقَهُ وَأَصْبَحَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَادِمًا وَكَانَ، إِذَا قَدِمَ مِنْ سَفَرٍ، بَدَأَ بِالْمَسْجِدِ، فَيَرْكَعُ فِيهِ رَكْعَتَيْنِ، ثُمَّ جَلَسَ لِلنَّاسِ فَلَمَّا فَعَلَ ذَلِكَ، جَاءَهُ الْمُخَلَّفُونَ، فَطَفِقُوا يَعْتَذِرُونَ إِلَيْهِ، وَيَحْلِفُونَ لَهُ وَكَانوا بِضْعَةً وَثَمَانِينَ رَجُلاً فَقَبِلَ مِنْهُمْ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَلاَنِيَتَهُمْ، وَبَايَعَهُمْ، وَاسْتَغْفَرَ لَهُمْ، وَوَكَلَ سَرَائِرَهُمْ إِلَى اللهِ فَجِئْتُهُ فَلَمَّا سَلَّمْتُ عَلَيْهِ، تَبَسَّمَ تَبَسُّمَ الْمُغْضَبِ ثُمَّ قَالَ تَعَالَ فَجِئْتُ أَمْشِي، حَتَّى جَلَسْتُ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ فَقَالَ لِي مَا خَلَّفَكَ أَلَمْ تَكُنْ قَدِ ابْتَعْتَ ظهْرَكَ فَقُلْتُ: بَلَى إِنِّي، وَاللهِ لَوْ جَلَسْتُ عِنْدَ غَيْرِكَ مِنْ أَهْلِ الدُّنْيَا، لَرَأَيْتُ أَنْ سَأخْرُجُ مِنْ سَخَطِهِ بِعُذْرٍ وَلَقَدْ أُعْطِيتُ جَدَلاً وَلكِنِّي، وَاللهِ لَقَدْ عَلِمْتُ لَئِنْ حَدَّثْتُكَ الْيَوْمَ حَدِيثَ كَذِبٍ، تَرْضى بِهِ عَنِّي، لَيُوشِكَنَّ اللهُ أَنْ يُسْخِطَكَ عَلَيَّ وَلَئِنْ حَدَّثْتُكَ حَدِيثَ صِدْقٍ تَجِدُ عَلَيَّ فِيهِ، إِنِّي لأَرْجُو فِيهِ عَفْوَ اللهِ لاَ وَاللهِ مَا كَانَ لِي مِنْ عُذْرٍ وَاللهِ مَا كُنْتُ قَطُّ أَقْوَى، وَلاَ أَيْسَرَ مِنِّي، حِينَ تَخَلَّفْتُ عَنْكَ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: أَمَّا هذَا، فَقَدْ صَدَقَ فَقُمْ حَتَّى يَقْضِيَ اللهُ فِيكَ فَقُمْتُ وَثَارَ رِجَالٌ مِنْ بَنِي سَلِمَةَ، فَاتَّبَعُونِي فَقَالُوا لِي: وَاللهِ مَا عَلِمْنَاكَ كُنْتَ أَذْنَبْتَ ذَنْبًا قَبْلَ هذَا وَلَقَدْ عَجَزْتَ أَنْ لاَ تَكُونَ اعْتَذَرْتَ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ بِمَا اعْتَذَرَ إِلَيْهِ الْمُتَخَلِّفُونَ قَدْ كَانَ كَافِيَكَ ذَنْبَكَ اسْتِغْفَارُ رَسُولِ اللهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ لَكَ فَوَاللهِ مَا زَالُوا يُؤَنِّبُونِي، حَتَّى أَرَدْتُ أَنْ أَرْجِعَ فَأُكَذِّبَ نَفْسِي ثُمَّ قلْتُ لَهُمْ: هَلْ لَقِيَ هذَا مَعِي أَحَدٌ قَالُوا: نَعَمْ رَجُلاَنِ قَالاَ مِثْلَ مَا قُلْتَ، فَقِيلَ لَهُمَا مِثْلُ مَا قِيلَ لَكَ فَقُلْتُ: مَنْ هُمَا قَالُوا: مُرَارَةُ بْنُ الرَّبِيعِ الْعَمْرِيُّ، وَهِلاَلُ بْنُ أُمَيَّةَ الْوَاقِفِيُّ فَذَكَرَوا لِي رَجُلَيْنِ صَالِحَيْنِ، قَدْ شَهِدَا بَدْرًا، فِيهِمَا أُسْوَةٌ فَمَضَيْتُ حِينَ ذَكَرُوهُمَا لِي وَنَهى رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ عَنْ كَلاَمِنَا، أَيُّهَا الثَّلاَثَةُ، مِنْ بَيْنِ مَنْ تَخَلَّفَ عَنْهُ فَاجْتَنَبنَا النَّاسُ، وَتَغَيَّرُوا لَنَا، حَتَّى تَنَكَّرَتْ فِي نَفْسِي الأَرْضُ، فَمَا هِيَ الَّتِي أَعْرِفُ فَلَبِثْنَا عَلَى ذَلِكَ خَمْسِينَ لَيْلَةً فَأَمَّا صَحِبَاي، فَاسْتَكَانَا، وَقَعَدَا فِي بُيُوتِهِمَا، يَبْكِيَانِ وَأَمَّا أَنا فَكنْتُ أَشَبَّ الْقَوْمِ، وَأَجْلَدَهُمْ فَكُنْتُ أَخْرُجُ فَأَشْهَدُ الصَّلاَةَ مَعَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ، وَأَطُوفُ فِي الأَسْوَاقِ وَلاَ يُكلِّمُنِي أَحَدٌ وَآتِي رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَأُسَلِّمُ عَلَيْهِ، وَهُوَ فِي مَجْلِسِهِ بَعْدَ الصَّلاَةِ فَأَقُولُ فِي نَفْسِى: هَلْ حَرَّكَ شَفَتَيْهُ بِرَدِّ السَّلاَمِ عَلَيَّ، أَمْ لاَ ثُمَ أُصَلِي قَرِيبًا مِنْهُ، فَأُسَارِقُهُ النَّظَرَ فَإِذَا أَقْبَلْتُ عَلَى صَلاَتِي، أَقْبَلَ إِلَيَّ وَإِذَا الْتَفَتُّ نَحْوَهُ، أَعْرَضَ عَنِّي حَتَّى إِذَا طَالَ عَلَيَّ ذَلِكَ مِنْ جَفْوَةِ النَّاسِ، مَشَيْتُ حَتَّى تَسَوَّرْتُ جِدَارَ حَائِطِ أَبِي قَتَادَةَ، وَهُوَ ابْنُ عَمِّي، وَأَحَبُّ النَّاسِ إِلَيَّ، فَسَلَّمْتُ عَلَيْهِ فَوَاللهِ مَا رَدَّ عَلَيَّ السَّلاَمَ فَقُلْتُ: يَا أَبَا قَتَادَةَ أَنْشُدُكَ بِاللهِ هَلْ تَعْلَمُنِي أُحِبُّ اللهَ وَرَسُولَهُ فَسَكَتَ فَعُدْتُ لَهُ، فَنَشَدْتُهُ فَسَكَتَ فَعُدْتُ لَهُ فَنَشَدْتُهُ، فَقَالَ: اللهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَعْلَمُ فَفَاضَتْ عَيْنَايَ، وَتَوَلَّيْتُ حَتَّى تَسَوَّرْتُ الْجِدَارَ قَالَ: فَبَيْنَا أَنَا أَمْشِي بِسُوقِ الْمَدِينَةِ، إِذَا نَبَطِيٌّ مِنْ أَنْبَاطِ أَهْلِ الشَّامِ، مِمَّنْ قَدِمَ بِالطَّعَامِ يَبِيعُهُ بِالْمَدِينَةِ، يَقُولُ: مَنْ يَدُلُّ عَلَى كَعْبِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ فَطَفِقَ النَّاسُ يُشِيرُونَ لَهُ حَتَّى إِذَا جَاءَنِي، دَفَعَ إِلَيَّ كِتَابًا مِنْ مَلِكِ غَسَّانَ فَإِذَا فِيهِ: أَمَّا بَعْدُ فَإِنَّهُ قَدْ بَلَغَنِي أَنَّ صَاحِبَكَ قَدْ جَفَاكَ وَلَمْ يَجْعَلْكَ اللهُ بِدَارِ هَوَانٍ، وَلاَ مَضْيَعَةٍ فَالْحَقْ بِنَا نُوَاسِكَ فَقلْتُ لَمَّا قَرَأْتُهَا: وَهذَا أَيْضًا مِنَ الْبَلاَءِ فَتَيَمَّمْتُ بِهَا التَّنُّورَ فَسَجَرْتُهُ بِهَا حَتَّى إِذَا مَضَتْ أَرْبَعُونَ لَيْلَةً مِنَ الْخَمْسِينَ، إِذَا رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَأْتِينِي فَقَالَ: إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَأْمُرُكَ أَنْ تَعْتَزِلَ امْرَأَتَكَ فَقُلْتُ: أُطَلِّقُهَا أَمْ مَاذَا أَفْعَلُ قَالَ: لاَ بَلِ اعْتَزِلْهَا، وَلاَ تَقْرَبْهَا وَأَرْسَلَ إِلَى صَاحِبَيَّ مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ فَقُلْتُ لامْرَأَتِي: الْحَقِي بِأَهْلِكِ، فَكُونِي عِنْدَهُمْ حَتَّى يَقْضِيَ اللهُ فِي هذَا الامْرِ قَالَ كَعْبٌ: فَجَاءَتِ امْرَأَةُ هِلاَلِ بْنِ أُمَيَّةَ، رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، فَقَالَتْ: يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ إِنَّ هِلاَلَ بْنَ أُمَيَّةَ شَيْخٌ ضَائِعٌ، لَيْسَ لَهُ خَادِمٌ فَهَلْ تَكْرَهُ أَنْ أَخْدُمَهُ قَالَ: لاَ وَلكِنْ لاَ يَقْرَبْكِ قَالَتْ: إِنَّهُ، وَاللهِ مَا بِهِ حَرَكَةٌ إِلَى شَيْءٍ وَاللهِ مَا زَالَ يَبْكِي مُنْذُ كَانَ مِنْ أَمْرِهِ مَا كَانَ، إِلَى يَوْمِهِ هذَا فَقَالَ لِي بَعْضُ أَهْلِي: لَوِ اسْتَأْذَنْتَ رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِي امْرَأَتِكَ، كَمَا أَذِنَ لاِمْرَأَةِ هِلاَلِ بْنِ أُمَيَّةَ أَنْ تَخْدُمَهُ فَقُلْتُ: وَاللهِ لاَ أسْتأْذِنُ فِيهَا رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَمَا يُدْرِينِي مَا يَقُولُ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، إِذَا اسْتَأْذَنْتهُ فِيهَا، وَأَنَا رَجُلٌ شَابٌّ فَلَبِثْت بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ عَشْرَ لَيَالٍ، حَتَّى كَمَلَتْ لَنَا خَمْسُونَ لَيْلَةً، مِنْ حِينَ نَهى رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَنْ كَلاَمِنَا فَلَمَّا صَلَّيْتُ صَلاَةَ الْفَجْرِ، صُبْحَ خَمْسِينَ لَيْلَةً، وَأَنَا عَلَى ظَهْرِ بَيْتٍ مِنْ بُيُوتِنَا فَبَيْنَا أَنَا جِالِسٌ عَلَى الْحَالِ الَّتِي ذَكَرَ اللهُ، قَدْ ضَاقَتْ عَلَيَّ نَفْسِي، وَضَاقَتْ عَلَيَّ الأَرْضُ بِمَا رَحُبَتْ سَمِعْتُ صَوْتَ صَارِخٍ، أَوْفَى عَلَى جَبَلِ سَلْعٍ، بِأَعْلَى صَوْتِهِ: يَا كَعْبُ بْنَ مَالِكٍ أَبْشِرْ قَالَ: فَخَرَرْتُ سَاجِدًا، وَعَرَفْتُ أَنْ قَدْ جَاءَ فَرَجٌ وَآذَنَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ بِتَوْبَةِ اللهِ عَلَيْنَا، حِينَ صَلّى صَلاَةَ الْفَجْرِ فَذَهَبَ النَّاسُ يُبَشِّرُونَنَا، وَذَهَبَ قِبَلَ صَاحِبَيَّ مبَشِّرُونَ، وَرَكَضَ إِلَيَّ رَجُلٌ فَرَسًا، وَسَعَى سَاعٍ مِنْ أَسْلَمَ، فَأَوْفَى عَلَى الْجَبَلِ وَكَانَ الصَّوْتُ أَسْرَعَ مِنَ الفَرَسِ فَلَمَّا جَاءَنِي الَّذِي سَمِعْتُ صَوْتَهُ يُبَشِّرُنِي نَزَعْتُ لَهُ ثَوْبَيَّ، فَكَسَوْتُهُ إِيَّاهُمَا بِبُشْرَاهُ وَاللهِ مَا أَمْلِكُ غَيْرَهُمَا يَوْمَئِذٍ وَاسْتَعَرْتُ ثَوْبَيْنِ، فَلَبِسْتُهُمَا وَانْطَلَقْتُ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَيَتَلَقَّانِي النَّاسُ فَوْجًا فَوْجًا، يُهَنُّونِي بِالتَّوْبَةِ يَقُولُونَ: لِتَهْنِكَ تَوْبَةُ اللهِ عَلَيْكَ قَالَ كَعْبٌ: حَتَّى دَخَلْتُ الْمَسْجِدَ فَإِذَا رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ جَالِسٌ حَوْلَهُ النَّاسُ فَقَامَ إِلَيَّ طَلْحَةُ بْنُ عُبَيْدِ اللهِ يُهَرْوِلُ، وَهَنَّانِي وَاللهِ مَا قَامَ إِلَيَّ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ غَيْرَهُ وَلاَ أَنْسَاهَا لِطَلْحَةَ قَالَ كَعْبٌ: فَلَمَّا سَلَّمْتُ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، وَهُوَ يَبْرُقُ وَجْهُهُ مِنَ السُّرُورِ: أَبْشِرْ بَخَيْرِ يَوْمٍ مَرَّ عَلَيْكَ مُنْذُ وَلَدَتْكَ أُمُّكَ قَالَ: قُلْت أَمِنْ عِنْدِكَ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ أَمْ مِنْ عِنْدِ اللهِ قَالَ: لاَ بَلْ مِنْ عِنْدِ اللهِ وَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، إِذَا سُرَّ اسْتَنَارَ وَجْهُهُ، حَتَّى كَأَنَّهُ قِطْعَةُ قَمَرٍ وَكُنَّا نَعْرِفُ ذلِكَ مِنْهُ فَلَمَّا جَلَسْتُ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ، قُلْتُ: يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ إِنَّ مِنْ تَوْبَتِي أَنْ أَنْخَلِعَ مِنْ مَالِي صَدَقَةً إِلَى اللهِ وَإِلَى رَسُولِ اللهِ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: أَمْسِكَ عَلَيْكَ بَعْضَ مَالِكَ، فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَكَ قُلْتُ: فَإِنِّي أُمْسِكُ سَهْمِي الَّذِي بِخَيْبَرَ فَقُلْتُ: يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ إِنَّ اللهَ إِنَّمَا نَجَّانِي بِالصِّدْقِ، وَإِنَّ مِنْ تَوْبَتِي أَنْ لاَ أُحَدِّثَ إِلاَّ صِدْقًا مَا بَقِيتُ فَوَاللهِ مَا أَعْلَمُ أَحَدًا مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ أَبْلاَهُ اللهُ فِي صِدْقِ الْحَدِيثِ، مُنْذُ ذَكَرْتُ ذَلِكَ لِرَسُولِ اللهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، أَحْسَنَ مِمَّا أَبْلاَنِي مَا تَعَمَّدْتُ، مُنْذُ ذَكَرْتُ ذَلِكَ لِرَسُولِ اللهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِلَى يَوْمِي هذَا، كَذِبًا وَإِنِّي لأَرْجُو أَنْ يَحْفَظَنِي اللهُ فِيمَا بَقِيتُ وأَنْزَلَ اللهُ عَلَى رَسُولِهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ (لَقَدْ تَابَ اللهُ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ وَالْمُهَاجِرِينَ) إِلَى قَوْلَهِ (وَكُونوا مَعَ الصَّادِقِينَ) فَوَاللهِ مَا أَنْعَمَ اللهُ عَلَيَّ مِنْ نِعْمَةٍ قَطُّ، بَعْدَ أَنْ هَدَانِي لِلإِسْلاَمٍ، أَعْظَمَ فِي نَفْسِي مِنْ صِدْقِي لِرَسُولِ اللهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَنْ لاَ أَكُونَ كَذَبْتُهُ، فَأَهْلِكَ كَمَا هَلَكَ الَّذِينَ كَذَبُوا فَإِنَّ اللهَ قَالَ لِلَّذِينَ كَذَبُوا، حِينَ أَنْزَلَ الْوَحْيَ، شَرَّ مَا قَالَ لأَحَدٍ فَقَالَ، تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى (سَيَحْلِفُونَ بِاللهِ لَكُمْ إِذَا انْقَلَبْتمْ) إِلَى قَوْلِهِ (فَإِنَّ اللهَ لاَ يَرْضى عَنِ الْقَوْمِ الْفَاسِقِينَ) قَالَ كَعْبٌ: وَكُنَّا تَخَلَّفْنَا، أَيُّهَا الثَّلاَثَةُ، عَنْ أَمْرِ أُولئِكَ الَّذِينَ قَبِلَ مِنْهُمْ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، حِينَ حَلَفُوا لَهُ، فَبَايَعَهُم وَاسْتَغْفَرَ لَهُمْ وَأَرْجَأَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَمْرَنَا، حَتَّى قَضَى اللهُ فِيهِ فَبِذلِكَ قَالَ اللهُ (وَعَلَى الثَّلاَثَةِ الَّذِينَ خُلِّفُوا) وَلَيْسَ الَّذِي ذَكَرَ اللهُ مِمَّا خُلِّفْنَا عَنِ الْغَزْو، إِنَّمَا هُوَ تَخْلِيفُهُ إِيَّانَا، وَإِرْجَاؤُهُ أَمْرَنَا، عَمَّنْ حَلَفَ لَهُ، وَاعْتَذَرَ إِلَيْهِ، فَقَبِلَ مِنْهُ
Hazrat Ka‘b bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that, except for the expedition of Tabuk, there was no other expedition in which I did not participate with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). However, I was also not present at the Battle of Badr, but regarding those who could not participate in Badr, the Prophet (peace be upon him) did not express any displeasure, because at that time he had only set out in search of the Quraysh caravan. But by Allah’s command, without any prior preparation, he encountered the enemy. I was present with the Prophet (peace be upon him) on the night of ‘Aqabah (with the Ansar). That was the night when we pledged allegiance to Islam (in Makkah), and to me, that event is even dearer than Badr, even though Badr is more talked about among people. My situation was that I had never been as strong and wealthy in my life as I was at that time, yet I could not join the Prophet (peace be upon him) in the expedition of Tabuk. By Allah! Before that, I never possessed two camels together, but at that time I had two camels. Whenever the Prophet (peace be upon him) set out for an expedition, he would use ambiguous words (about his destination), but when the time for this expedition came, the heat was intense, the journey was very long, the route was through wilderness, and the enemy’s army was large! All difficulties were apparent. Therefore, the Prophet (peace be upon him) informed the Muslims in great detail about this expedition so that they could prepare accordingly. He even indicated the direction in which he intended to go. Many Muslims were with him—so many that it was difficult to record all their names in any register. Ka‘b (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that if anyone wanted not to participate in this expedition, he could think that his absence would not be noticed, except if revelation came about him. When the Prophet (peace be upon him) was setting out for this expedition, it was the season when fruits were ripe and people would rest in the shade. The Prophet (peace be upon him) was busy preparing, and so were the Muslims. But every day I would think, “Tomorrow I will prepare,” and thus I kept postponing it every day. I was sure that I would prepare, as I had the means, and so time passed. Eventually, people completed their preparations, and the Prophet (peace be upon him) set out with the Muslims. By that time, I had not made any preparations. Even then, I consoled myself, thinking, “Tomorrow or the day after, I will prepare and join the army.” The day after the departure, I thought of preparing, but did not do so. Then I thought of preparing on the third day, but again did not do so. Thus, time passed, and the Muslim army advanced far ahead. Participation in the expedition became a distant matter for me, and I kept intending to set out and catch up with them. If only I had done so! But it was not destined for me. After the Prophet (peace be upon him) had left, whenever I went out, I felt great sorrow, for I would only see people whose faces showed hypocrisy, or those whom Allah had excused due to disability or weakness. The Prophet (peace be upon him) did not ask anyone about me, but when he reached Tabuk, he inquired in a gathering, “What did Ka‘b do?” A man from Banu Salamah said, “O Messenger of Allah! His pride kept him from coming (he was taken by his beauty or clothes).” At this, Mu‘adh bin Jabal (may Allah be pleased with him) said, “You have spoken badly. O Messenger of Allah! By Allah, we know nothing about him except good.” The Prophet (peace be upon him) remained silent.
Ka‘b bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: When I learned that the Prophet (peace be upon him) was returning, I became anxious and began to think of a false excuse to save myself from his displeasure the next day. I consulted every wise person in my house about it, but when I learned that the Prophet (peace be upon him) was very close to Madinah, all false thoughts left my mind, and I became certain that I could not save myself by lying in this matter. So I firmly resolved to speak the truth. In the morning, the Prophet (peace be upon him) arrived. When he returned from a journey, it was his habit to first go to the mosque and pray two rak‘ahs, then sit with the people. When he finished this, people who had not participated in the expedition began to come to him, swearing oaths and presenting their excuses. They were about eighty in number. The Prophet (peace be upon him) accepted their outward statements, took their pledges, prayed for their forgiveness, and left their inner affairs to Allah. After that, I came. I greeted him, and he smiled—a smile in which there was displeasure. He said, “Come.” I walked a few steps and sat before him. He asked me, “Why did you not join the expedition? Did you not buy a mount?” I replied, “I had a mount, by Allah! If I were sitting before anyone in the world other than you, I could have made up an excuse to save myself from his displeasure. I know how to speak eloquently. But by Allah! I know that if I tell you a lie today to please you, soon Allah will make you angry with me. Instead, if I tell you the truth, you may be displeased with me, but I hope for Allah’s forgiveness. No, by Allah! I had no excuse. By Allah, I was never more free of burden than at that time, yet I did not join you.” The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “He has spoken the truth. Now go until Allah decides about you.” I got up, and some men from Banu Salamah followed me, saying, “By Allah, we do not know that you ever committed a sin before this, but you have been negligent. Why did you not present an excuse to the Prophet (peace be upon him) as others did? The Prophet’s (peace be upon him) seeking forgiveness for your sin would have been enough.” By Allah, they reproached me so much that I thought of going back to the Prophet (peace be upon him) and making up a false excuse. Then I asked them, “Did anyone else do as I did?” They said, “Yes, two men did as you did and received the same answer.” I asked, “Who are they?” They said, “Murarah bin Rabi‘ al-‘Amri and Hilal bin Umayyah al-Waqifi (may Allah be pleased with them).” They named two righteous men who had participated in Badr. Their example became a model for me. When they mentioned these elders, I went home, and the Prophet (peace be upon him) forbade people from speaking to us. Of those who did not participate in the expedition, only we three were left! People began to avoid us, and everyone changed. It seemed as if the whole world had changed for us, and we had nothing to do with it. For fifty days, we remained in this state. My two companions stopped leaving their homes and only wept, but I had the strength to go out, join the Muslims in prayer, and walk in the markets, but no one spoke to me. I would also go to the Prophet (peace be upon him), greet him, and when he sat in a gathering after prayer, I would try to see if his blessed lips moved in response to my greeting or not. Then I would pray near him and look at him out of the corner of my eye. When I was busy in my prayer, the Prophet (peace be upon him) would look at me, but when I looked at him, he would turn away. Finally, when people’s avoidance increased, one day I climbed the wall of Abu Qatadah’s (may Allah be pleased with him) garden—he was my cousin and I had a close relationship with him. I greeted him, but by Allah, he did not reply. I said, “Abu Qatadah! I ask you by Allah, do you not know how much I love Allah and His Messenger (peace be upon him)?” He did not reply. I asked him again by Allah, but he remained silent. Then I invoked Allah’s name and asked him the same question. This time he only said, “Allah and His Messenger know best.” At this, I broke into tears and climbed down from the wall.
Ka‘b (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: One day, I was walking in the market of Madinah when a farmer from Syria, who had come to sell grain, was asking, “Where does Ka‘b bin Malik live?” People pointed towards me, so he came and gave me a letter from the king of Ghassan. It read: “To proceed: We have learned that your companion (i.e., the Prophet, peace be upon him) has treated you harshly. Allah has not created you to be humiliated or your right to be lost. Come to us, and we will treat you well.” When I read this letter, I said, “This is another test.” I threw the letter into the oven and burned it. Of those fifty days, when forty had passed, the Messenger of Allah’s (peace be upon him) messenger came to me and said, “The Prophet (peace be upon him) has ordered you not to go near your wife.” I asked, “Should I divorce her, or what should I do?” He said, “No, just separate from her and do not go near her.” The same order was sent to my two companions (who had made excuses as I did). I told my wife, “Go to your parents and stay there until Allah decides about this matter.” Ka‘b (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: The wife of Hilal bin Umayyah (who was also boycotted) came to the Prophet (peace be upon him) and said, “O Messenger of Allah! Hilal bin Umayyah is very old and weak, and he has no servant. If I serve him, will you dislike it?” The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Only do not let him approach you.” She said, “By Allah, he cannot move for anything. Since this displeasure has befallen him, his tears have not stopped.” Some of my family said, “Just as the Prophet (peace be upon him) allowed Hilal bin Umayyah’s wife to serve him, you should also seek permission from the Prophet (peace be upon him).” I said, “No, by Allah! I will not seek permission for this from the Prophet (peace be upon him). I am young, and I do not know what the Prophet (peace be upon him) will say if I ask for permission.” Thus, ten more days passed, and since the Prophet (peace be upon him) had forbidden people from speaking to us, fifty days were completed.
On the morning of the fiftieth night, after I had prayed Fajr and was sitting on the roof of my house, as Allah has mentioned, I was suffocating, and the earth, despite its vastness, seemed constrained for me. Then I heard the voice of a caller, who had climbed Mount Sala‘ and was calling out loudly, “O Ka‘b bin Malik! Glad tidings to you!” When I heard this, I fell in prostration, and I was certain that relief had come. After Fajr prayer, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) had announced the acceptance of our repentance before Allah. People began to come to me with glad tidings, and they also went to my two companions to give them the good news. One man (Zubair bin al-‘Awwam, may Allah be pleased with him) came riding his horse, while a companion from the tribe of Aslam climbed the mountain and called out (the news), and his voice was faster than the horse. When the companion who had called out from Mount Sala‘ came to me with the glad tidings, I took off my two garments and gave them to him in joy. By Allah, at that time, I had nothing else (worthy of giving) except those two garments. Then I borrowed two garments from Abu Qatadah (may Allah be pleased with him), wore them, and went to the Prophet (peace be upon him). Groups of people met me on the way, congratulating me on the acceptance of my repentance, saying, “Congratulations on the acceptance of your repentance before Allah.” Ka‘b (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: Finally, I entered the mosque, and the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) was sitting there, surrounded by the Companions. Talhah bin ‘Ubaydullah (may Allah be pleased with him) rushed towards me, shook my hand, and congratulated me. By Allah, none of the Muhajirun present stood up except him. I will never forget Talhah’s kindness. Ka‘b (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: When I greeted the Prophet (peace be upon him), he said (his blessed face was shining with happiness and joy), “Rejoice in the best day you have ever had since your birth.” I said, “O Messenger of Allah! Is this glad tidings from you or from Allah?” He said, “No, rather from Allah.” Whenever the Prophet (peace be upon him) was pleased about something, his blessed face would shine as if it were a piece of the moon. We would recognize his happiness from his blessed face. When I sat before him, I said, “O Messenger of Allah! Out of gratitude for the acceptance of my repentance, should I give all my wealth in charity for Allah and His Messenger?” He said, “But keep some of your wealth; that is better for you.” I said, “Then I will keep my share from Khaybar.” Then I said, “O Messenger of Allah! Allah has saved me because I spoke the truth. Out of gratitude for the acceptance of my repentance, I pledge that as long as I live, I will only speak the truth.” By Allah, since I made this pledge before the Prophet (peace be upon him), I do not know of any Muslim whom Allah has blessed as much for speaking the truth as He has blessed me. Since I made this pledge before the Prophet (peace be upon him), I have never intended to lie, and I hope Allah will protect me from it for the rest of my life. Allah revealed a verse about us to His Messenger: “Indeed, Allah turned in mercy to the Prophet, the Muhajirun, and the Ansar who followed him in the hour of difficulty, after the hearts of a party of them had almost inclined [to doubt], but He turned to them in mercy. Surely, He is to them Most Kind, Most Merciful.” By Allah, after the guidance of Islam, in my view, there is no greater favor from Allah upon me than my truthfulness before the Prophet (peace be upon him), for I did not lie and thus did not destroy myself, as those who lied were destroyed. During the time of revelation, Allah pronounced such a severe warning against those who lied as He did not for anyone else. He said: “They will swear by Allah to you when you return...” up to “for Allah is not pleased with the rebellious people.” Ka‘b (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: Thus, we three remained apart from those who had sworn oaths before the Prophet (peace be upon him), and he accepted their excuses, took their pledges, and prayed for their forgiveness. The Prophet (peace be upon him) left our matter for Allah to decide, and Allah Himself decided it. Allah’s statement (wa ‘ala al-thalathati alladhina khullifu) means that our case was deferred and we were given respite. It does not mean that we lagged behind from jihad, but rather that we were left behind those who swore oaths and presented their excuses, and the Prophet (peace be upon him) accepted their excuses.
Ka‘b bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: When I learned that the Prophet (peace be upon him) was returning, I became anxious and began to think of a false excuse to save myself from his displeasure the next day. I consulted every wise person in my house about it, but when I learned that the Prophet (peace be upon him) was very close to Madinah, all false thoughts left my mind, and I became certain that I could not save myself by lying in this matter. So I firmly resolved to speak the truth. In the morning, the Prophet (peace be upon him) arrived. When he returned from a journey, it was his habit to first go to the mosque and pray two rak‘ahs, then sit with the people. When he finished this, people who had not participated in the expedition began to come to him, swearing oaths and presenting their excuses. They were about eighty in number. The Prophet (peace be upon him) accepted their outward statements, took their pledges, prayed for their forgiveness, and left their inner affairs to Allah. After that, I came. I greeted him, and he smiled—a smile in which there was displeasure. He said, “Come.” I walked a few steps and sat before him. He asked me, “Why did you not join the expedition? Did you not buy a mount?” I replied, “I had a mount, by Allah! If I were sitting before anyone in the world other than you, I could have made up an excuse to save myself from his displeasure. I know how to speak eloquently. But by Allah! I know that if I tell you a lie today to please you, soon Allah will make you angry with me. Instead, if I tell you the truth, you may be displeased with me, but I hope for Allah’s forgiveness. No, by Allah! I had no excuse. By Allah, I was never more free of burden than at that time, yet I did not join you.” The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “He has spoken the truth. Now go until Allah decides about you.” I got up, and some men from Banu Salamah followed me, saying, “By Allah, we do not know that you ever committed a sin before this, but you have been negligent. Why did you not present an excuse to the Prophet (peace be upon him) as others did? The Prophet’s (peace be upon him) seeking forgiveness for your sin would have been enough.” By Allah, they reproached me so much that I thought of going back to the Prophet (peace be upon him) and making up a false excuse. Then I asked them, “Did anyone else do as I did?” They said, “Yes, two men did as you did and received the same answer.” I asked, “Who are they?” They said, “Murarah bin Rabi‘ al-‘Amri and Hilal bin Umayyah al-Waqifi (may Allah be pleased with them).” They named two righteous men who had participated in Badr. Their example became a model for me. When they mentioned these elders, I went home, and the Prophet (peace be upon him) forbade people from speaking to us. Of those who did not participate in the expedition, only we three were left! People began to avoid us, and everyone changed. It seemed as if the whole world had changed for us, and we had nothing to do with it. For fifty days, we remained in this state. My two companions stopped leaving their homes and only wept, but I had the strength to go out, join the Muslims in prayer, and walk in the markets, but no one spoke to me. I would also go to the Prophet (peace be upon him), greet him, and when he sat in a gathering after prayer, I would try to see if his blessed lips moved in response to my greeting or not. Then I would pray near him and look at him out of the corner of my eye. When I was busy in my prayer, the Prophet (peace be upon him) would look at me, but when I looked at him, he would turn away. Finally, when people’s avoidance increased, one day I climbed the wall of Abu Qatadah’s (may Allah be pleased with him) garden—he was my cousin and I had a close relationship with him. I greeted him, but by Allah, he did not reply. I said, “Abu Qatadah! I ask you by Allah, do you not know how much I love Allah and His Messenger (peace be upon him)?” He did not reply. I asked him again by Allah, but he remained silent. Then I invoked Allah’s name and asked him the same question. This time he only said, “Allah and His Messenger know best.” At this, I broke into tears and climbed down from the wall.
Ka‘b (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: One day, I was walking in the market of Madinah when a farmer from Syria, who had come to sell grain, was asking, “Where does Ka‘b bin Malik live?” People pointed towards me, so he came and gave me a letter from the king of Ghassan. It read: “To proceed: We have learned that your companion (i.e., the Prophet, peace be upon him) has treated you harshly. Allah has not created you to be humiliated or your right to be lost. Come to us, and we will treat you well.” When I read this letter, I said, “This is another test.” I threw the letter into the oven and burned it. Of those fifty days, when forty had passed, the Messenger of Allah’s (peace be upon him) messenger came to me and said, “The Prophet (peace be upon him) has ordered you not to go near your wife.” I asked, “Should I divorce her, or what should I do?” He said, “No, just separate from her and do not go near her.” The same order was sent to my two companions (who had made excuses as I did). I told my wife, “Go to your parents and stay there until Allah decides about this matter.” Ka‘b (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: The wife of Hilal bin Umayyah (who was also boycotted) came to the Prophet (peace be upon him) and said, “O Messenger of Allah! Hilal bin Umayyah is very old and weak, and he has no servant. If I serve him, will you dislike it?” The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Only do not let him approach you.” She said, “By Allah, he cannot move for anything. Since this displeasure has befallen him, his tears have not stopped.” Some of my family said, “Just as the Prophet (peace be upon him) allowed Hilal bin Umayyah’s wife to serve him, you should also seek permission from the Prophet (peace be upon him).” I said, “No, by Allah! I will not seek permission for this from the Prophet (peace be upon him). I am young, and I do not know what the Prophet (peace be upon him) will say if I ask for permission.” Thus, ten more days passed, and since the Prophet (peace be upon him) had forbidden people from speaking to us, fifty days were completed.
On the morning of the fiftieth night, after I had prayed Fajr and was sitting on the roof of my house, as Allah has mentioned, I was suffocating, and the earth, despite its vastness, seemed constrained for me. Then I heard the voice of a caller, who had climbed Mount Sala‘ and was calling out loudly, “O Ka‘b bin Malik! Glad tidings to you!” When I heard this, I fell in prostration, and I was certain that relief had come. After Fajr prayer, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) had announced the acceptance of our repentance before Allah. People began to come to me with glad tidings, and they also went to my two companions to give them the good news. One man (Zubair bin al-‘Awwam, may Allah be pleased with him) came riding his horse, while a companion from the tribe of Aslam climbed the mountain and called out (the news), and his voice was faster than the horse. When the companion who had called out from Mount Sala‘ came to me with the glad tidings, I took off my two garments and gave them to him in joy. By Allah, at that time, I had nothing else (worthy of giving) except those two garments. Then I borrowed two garments from Abu Qatadah (may Allah be pleased with him), wore them, and went to the Prophet (peace be upon him). Groups of people met me on the way, congratulating me on the acceptance of my repentance, saying, “Congratulations on the acceptance of your repentance before Allah.” Ka‘b (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: Finally, I entered the mosque, and the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) was sitting there, surrounded by the Companions. Talhah bin ‘Ubaydullah (may Allah be pleased with him) rushed towards me, shook my hand, and congratulated me. By Allah, none of the Muhajirun present stood up except him. I will never forget Talhah’s kindness. Ka‘b (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: When I greeted the Prophet (peace be upon him), he said (his blessed face was shining with happiness and joy), “Rejoice in the best day you have ever had since your birth.” I said, “O Messenger of Allah! Is this glad tidings from you or from Allah?” He said, “No, rather from Allah.” Whenever the Prophet (peace be upon him) was pleased about something, his blessed face would shine as if it were a piece of the moon. We would recognize his happiness from his blessed face. When I sat before him, I said, “O Messenger of Allah! Out of gratitude for the acceptance of my repentance, should I give all my wealth in charity for Allah and His Messenger?” He said, “But keep some of your wealth; that is better for you.” I said, “Then I will keep my share from Khaybar.” Then I said, “O Messenger of Allah! Allah has saved me because I spoke the truth. Out of gratitude for the acceptance of my repentance, I pledge that as long as I live, I will only speak the truth.” By Allah, since I made this pledge before the Prophet (peace be upon him), I do not know of any Muslim whom Allah has blessed as much for speaking the truth as He has blessed me. Since I made this pledge before the Prophet (peace be upon him), I have never intended to lie, and I hope Allah will protect me from it for the rest of my life. Allah revealed a verse about us to His Messenger: “Indeed, Allah turned in mercy to the Prophet, the Muhajirun, and the Ansar who followed him in the hour of difficulty, after the hearts of a party of them had almost inclined [to doubt], but He turned to them in mercy. Surely, He is to them Most Kind, Most Merciful.” By Allah, after the guidance of Islam, in my view, there is no greater favor from Allah upon me than my truthfulness before the Prophet (peace be upon him), for I did not lie and thus did not destroy myself, as those who lied were destroyed. During the time of revelation, Allah pronounced such a severe warning against those who lied as He did not for anyone else. He said: “They will swear by Allah to you when you return...” up to “for Allah is not pleased with the rebellious people.” Ka‘b (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: Thus, we three remained apart from those who had sworn oaths before the Prophet (peace be upon him), and he accepted their excuses, took their pledges, and prayed for their forgiveness. The Prophet (peace be upon him) left our matter for Allah to decide, and Allah Himself decided it. Allah’s statement (wa ‘ala al-thalathati alladhina khullifu) means that our case was deferred and we were given respite. It does not mean that we lagged behind from jihad, but rather that we were left behind those who swore oaths and presented their excuses, and the Prophet (peace be upon him) accepted their excuses.
