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المعجم الكبير للطبراني
Al-Mu'jam al-Kabir (Tabarani)
باب الكاف
Companions Whose Names Begin with Kaf (ك)
ابن كعب بن مالك، عن أبيه الزهري، عن ابن كعب
Ibn Kab bin Malik from his father Kab (may Allah be pleased with him) — al-Zuhri from Ibn Kab
Mu'jam Kabir Tabarani 16140 — I did not stay behind from the Messenger
اُردوEn
حَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ الدَّبَرِيُّ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّزَّاقِ، عَنْ مَعْمَرٍ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، قَالَ: أَخْبَرَنِي ابْنُ كَعْبِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ: «لَمْ أَتَخَلَّفْ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِي غَزْوَةٍ غَزَاهَا حَتَّى كَانَتْ غَزْوَةُ تَبُوكٍ، إِلَّا بَدْرًا، وَلَمْ يَعْتِبِ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَحَدًا تَخَلَّفَ عَنْ بَدْرٍ، إِنَّمَا خَرَجَ يُرِيدُ الْعِيرَ ? فَخَرَجَتْ قُرَيْشٌ مُغَوِّثِينَ لِعِيرِهِمْ، فَالْتَقَوْا عَنْ غَيْرِ مَوْعِدٍ كَمَا قَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى، وَلَعَمْرِي إِنَّ أَشْرَفَ مَشَاهِدِ رَسُولِ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِي النَّاسِ لَبَدْرٌ، وَمَا أُحِبُّ أَنِّي كُنْتُ شَهِدْتُهَا مَكَانَ بَيْعَتِي لَيْلَةَ الْعَقَبَةِ، حَيْثُ تَوَافَيْنَا عَلَى الْإِسْلَامِ»
: ثُمَّ لَمْ أَتَخَلَّفْ بَعْدُ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِي غَزْوَةٍ غَزَاهَا حَتَّى كَانَتْ غَزْوَةُ تَبُوكٍ، وَهِيَ آخِرُ غَزْوَةٍ غَزَاهَا، وَآذَنَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ النَّاسَ بِالرَّحِيلِ، فَأَرَادَ أَنْ يَتَأَهَّبُوا أُهْبَةَ غَزْوَتِهِمْ، وَذَلِكَ حِينَ طَابَ الظِّلَالُ وَطَابَتِ الثِّمَارُ، وَكَانَ قَلَّمَا أَرَادَ غَزْوَةً إِلَّا وَارَى خَبَرَهَا، وَكَانَ يَقُولُ : «الْحَرْبُ خُدْعَةٌ» ، فَأَرَادَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِي غَزْوَةِ تَبُوكٍ أَنْ يَتَأَهَّبَ النَّاسُ أُهْبَةً، وَأَنَا أَيْسَرُ مَا كُنْتُ، قَدْ جَمَعْتُ رَاحِلَتَيْنِ، وَأَنَا أَقْدَرُ شَيْءٍ فِي نَفْسِي عَلَى الْجِهَادِ وَخِفَّةِ الْحَاذِ، وَأَنَا فِي ذَلِكَ أَصْغُو إِلَى الظِّلَالِ وَطِيبِ الثِّمَارِ، فَلَمْ أَزَلْ كَذَلِكَ حَتَّى قَامَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ غَادِيًا بِالْغَدَاةِ، وَذَلِكَ يَوْمَ الْخَمِيسِ، وَكَانَ يُحِبُّ أَنْ يَخْرُجَ يَوْمَ الْخَمِيسِ، فَأَصْبَحَ غَادِيًا
فَقُلْتُ: أَنْطَلِقُ غَدًا إِلَى السُّوقِ فَأَشْتَرِي جَهَازِي، ثُمَّ أَلْحَقُ بِهِمْ، فَانْطَلَقْتُ إِلَى السُّوقِ مِنَ الْغَدِ، فَعَسُرَ عَلِيَّ بَعْضُ شَأْنِي، فَرَجَعْتُ، فَقُلْتُ: أَرْجِعُ غَدًا إِنْ شَاءَ اللهُ، فَلَمْ أَزَلْ كَذَلِكَ حَتَّى الْتَبَسَ بِيَ الذَّنْبُ، وَتَخَلَّفْتُ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، فَجَعَلْتُ أَمْشِي فِي الْأَسْوَاقِ وَأَطُوفُ بِالْمَدِينَةِ فَيُحْزِنُنِي أَنِّي لَا أَرَى أَحَدًا إِلَّا رَجُلًا تَخَلَّفَ مَغْمُوصًا عَلَيْهِ فِي النِّفَاقِ، وَكَانَ لَيْسَ أَحَدٌ تَخَلَّفَ إِلَا رَأَى أَنَّ ذَلِكَ سَيَخْفَى لَهُ، وَكَانَ النَّاسُ كَثِيرًا، لَا يَجْمَعُهُمْ دِيوَانٌ، وَكَانَ جَمِيعُ مَنْ تَخَلَّفَ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ بِضْعَةٌ وَثَمَانِينَ رَجُلًا، وَلَمْ يَذْكُرْنِي النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ حَتَّى بَلَغَ تَبُوكًا، فَلَمَّا بَلَغَ تَبُوكًا، قَالَ: «مَا فَعَلَ كَعْبُ بْنُ مَالِكٍ؟» ، قَالَ رَجُلٌ مِنْ قَوْمِي: خَلْفَهُ يَا نَبِيَّ اللهِ بُرْدَاهُ، وَالنَّظَرُ فِي عِطْفَيْهِ، فَقَالَ مُعَاذُ بْنُ جَبَلٍ: بِئْسَ مَا قُلْتَ، وَاللهِ يَا نَبِيَّ اللهِ مَا نَعْلَمُ إِلَّا خَيْرًا، فَبَيْنَمَا هُمْ كَذَلِكَ إِذَا هُمْ بِرَجُلٍ يَزُولُ بِهِ السَّرَابُ، فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «كُنْ أَبَا خَيْثَمَةَ» ، فَإِذَا هُوَ أَبُو خَيْثَمَةَ، فَلَمَّا قَضَى النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ غَزْوَةَ تَبُوكٍ، وَقَفَلَ وَدَنَا مِنَ الْمَدِينَةِ، جَعَلْتُ أَتَذَكَّرُ بِمَاذَا أَخْرُجُ مِنْ سَخَطِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَأَسْتَعِينُ عَلَى ذَلِكَ بِكُلِّ ذِي رَأْيٍ مِنْ أَهْلِي، حَتَّى إِذَا قِيلَ: النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مُصَبِّحُكُمْ غَدًا بِالْغَدَاةِ، زَاحَ عَنِّي الْبَاطِلُ، وَعَرَفْتُ أَنِّي لَا أَنْجُو إِلَّا بِالصِّدْقِ، فَدَخَلَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ ضُحًّى، فَصَلَّى فِي الْمَسْجِدِ رَكْعَتَيْنِ، وَكَانَ إِذَا جَاءَ مِنْ سَفَرٍ فَعَلَ ذَلِكَ، أَتَى الْمَسْجِدَ فَصَلَّى فِيهِ رَكْعَتَيْنِ، ثُمَّ جَلَسَ فَجَعَلَ يَأْتِيَهِ مَنْ تَخَلَّفَ فَيَحْلِفُونَ لَهُ وَيَعْتَذِرُونَ إِلَيْهِ فَيَسْتَغْفِرُ لَهُمْ، وَيَقْبَلُ عَلَانِيَتَهُمْ، وَيَكِلُ أَسْرَارَهُمْ إِلَى اللهِ، فَدَخَلْتُ الْمَسْجِدَ فَإِذَا هُوَ جَالِسٌ، فَلَمَّا رَآنِي تَبَسَّمَ تَبَسُّمَ الْمُغْضَبِ، فَجِئْتُ فَجَلَسْتُ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ، فَقَالَ: «أَلَمْ تَكُنِ ابْتَعْتَ ظَهْرَكَ؟» ، فَقُلْتُ: بَلَى يَا نَبِيَّ اللهِ، قَالَ: «فَمَا خَلَفَكَ؟» ، قُلْتُ: وَاللهِ لَوْ بَيْنَ أَيْدِي أَحَدٍ مِنَ النَّاسِ غَيْرِكَ جَلَسْتُ خَرَجْتُ مِنْ سَخْطَتِهِ عَلِيَّ بِعُذْرٍ، وَلَقَدْ أُوتِيتُ جَدَلًا، وَلَكِنْ قَدْ عَلِمْتُ يَا نَبِيَّ اللهِ أَنِّي إِنْ أَخْبَرْتُكَ الْيَوْمَ بِقَوْلٍ تَجِدُ عَلِيَّ فِيهِ وَهُوَ حَقٌّ، فَإِنِّي أَرْجُو عُقْبَى اللهِ، وَإِنْ حَدَّثْتُكَ الْيَوْمَ حَدِيثًا تَرْضَى عَنِّي فِيهِ وَهُوَ كَذِبٌ أَوْشَكَ اللهُ أَنْ يُطْلِعَكَ عَلَيَّ، وَاللهِ يَا نَبِيَّ اللهِ مَا كُنْتُ قَطُّ أَيْسَرَ، وَلَا أَخَفَّ حَاذًا مِنِّي حِينَ تَخَلَّفْتُ عَنْكَ، قَالَ: «أَمَّا هَذَا فَقَدْ صَدَقَكُمُ الْحَدِيثَ، قُمْ حَتَّى يَقْضِيَ اللهُ فِيكَ» ، فَقُمْتُ فَثَارَ عَلَى أَثَرِي نَاسٌ مِنْ قَوْمِي يُؤَنِّبُونِي، فَقَالُوا: وَاللهِ مَا نَعْلَمُكَ أَذْنَبْتَ ذَنْبًا قَطُّ قَبْلَ هَذَا، فَهَلَّا اعْتَذَرْتَ إِلَى نَبِيِّ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ بِعُذْرٍ يَرْضَى عَنْكَ، وَكَانَ اسْتِغْفَارُ رَسُولِ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ سَيَأْتِي مِنْ وَرَاءِ ذَلِكَ، وَلِمَ تَقِفُ نَفْسَكَ مَوْقِفًا لَا تَدْرِي مَا يُقْضَى لَكَ فِيهِ؟، فَلَمْ يَزَالُوا يُؤَنِّبُونِي حَتَّى هَمَمْتُ أَنْ أَرْجِعَ فَأُكَذِّبَ نَفْسِي، فَقُلْتُ: هَلْ قَالَ هَذَا الْقَوْلَ أَحَدٌ غَيْرِي؟، قَالُوا: نَعَمْ، قَالَهُ هِلَالُ بْنُ أُمَيَّةَ، وَمَرَارَةُ بْنُ رَبِيعَةَ، فَذَكَرُوا رَجُلَيْنِ صَالِحَيْنِ قَدْ شَهِدَا بَدْرًا، لِي فِيهِمَا أُسْوَةٌ، فَقُلْتُ: وَاللهِ لَا أَرْجِعُ إِلَيْهِ فِي هَذَا أَبَدًا وَلَا أُكَذِّبُ نَفْسِي، قَالَ: وَنَهَى النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَنْ كَلَامِنَا أَيُّهَا الثَّلَاثَةُ، قَالَ: فَجَعَلْتُ أَخْرُجُ إِلَى السُّوقِ فَلَا يُكَلِّمُنِي أَحَدٌ، وَتَنَكَّرَ لَنَا النَّاسُ حَتَّى مَا هُمْ بِالَّذِينَ نَعْرِفُ، وَتَنَكَّرَتْ لَنَا الْحِيطَانُ حَتَّى مَا هِيَ بِالْحِيطَانِ الَّتِي نَعْرِفُ، وَتَنَكَّرَتْ لَنَا الْأَرْضُ حَتَّى مَا هِيَ بِالْأَرْضِ الَّتِي نَعْرِفُ، وَكُنْتُ أَقْوَى أَصْحَابِي، فَكُنْتُ أَخْرُجُ فَأَطُوفُ فِي السُّوقِ وَآتِي الْمَسْجِدَ فَأَدْخُلُ، وَآتِي النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَأَقُولُ: هَلْ حَرَّكَ شَفَتَيْهِ بِالسَّلَامِ؟، فَإِذَا قُمْتُ أُصَلِّي إِلَى سَارِيَةٍ فَأَقْبَلْتُ قِبَلَ صَلَاتِي نَظَرَ إِلَيَّ بِمُؤَخَّرِ عَيْنَيْهِ، وَإِذَا نَظَرْتُ إِلَيْهِ أَعْرَضَ عَنِّي، قَالَ: وَاسْتَكَانَ صَاحِبَايَ فَجَعَلَا يَبْكِيَانِ اللَّيْلَ وَالنَّهَارَ لَا يُطْلِعَانِ رُءُوسَهُمَا، فَبَيْنَمَا أَنَا أَطُوفُ فِي السُّوقِ إِذَا رَجُلٌ نَصْرَانِيٌّ جَاءَ بِطَعَامٍ لَهُ يَبِيعُهُ يَقُولُ: مَنْ يَدُلُّنِي عَلَى كَعْبِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ؟، فَطَفِقَ النَّاسُ يُشِيرُونَ لَهُ إِلَيَّ، وَأَتَانِي بِصَحِيفَةٍ مِنْ مَلِكِ غَسَّانَ، فَإِذَا فِيهَا: أَمَّا بَعْدُ، فَإِنَّهُ بَلَغَنِي أَنَّ صَاحِبَكَ قَدْ جَفَاكَ، وَأَقْصَاكَ، وَلَسْتَ بِدَارِ مَضْيَعَةٍ، وَلَا هَوَانٍ، فَالْحَقْ بِنَا نُوَاسِكَ، فَقُلْتُ: هَذَا أَيْضًا مِنَ الْبَلَاءِ، وَالشَّرِّ فَسَجَرْتُ لَهَا التَّنُّورَ وَأَحْرَقْتُهَا فيهِ، فَلَمَّا مَضَتْ أَرْبَعُونَ لَيْلَةً إِذَا رَسُولٌ مِنَ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَدْ أَتَانِي، فَقَالَ: اعْتَزَلِ امْرَأَتَكَ، فَقُلْتُ: أُطَلِّقُهَا؟، قَالَ: لَا، وَلَكِنْ لَا تَقْرَبْهَا، فَجَاءَتِ امْرَأَةُ هِلَالِ بْنِ أُمَيَّةَ، فَقَالَتْ: يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ إِنَّ هِلَالَ بْنَ أُمَيَّةَ شَيْخٌ كَبِيرٌ ضَعِيفٌ، فَهَلْ تَأْذَنُ لِي أَنْ أَخْدُمَهُ؟، قَالَ: «نَعَمْ، وَلَكِنْ لَا يَقْرَبَنَّكِ» ، قَالَتْ: يَا نَبِيَّ اللهِ وَاللهِ مَا بِهِ مِنْ حَرَكَةٍ لِشَيْءٍ، مَا زَالَ مُتَّكِئًا يَبْكِي اللَّيْلَ وَالنَّهَارَ مُنْذُ كَانَ مِنْ أَمْرِهِ مَا كَانَ، قَالَ كَعْبٌ: فَلَمَّا طَالَ عَلِيَّ الْبَلَاءُ اقْتَحَمْتُ عَلَى أَبِي قَتَادَةَ حَائِطَهُ، وَهُوَ ابْنُ عَمِّي، فَسَلَّمْتُ عَلَيْهِ، فَلَمْ يَرُدَّ عَلِيَّ، فَقُلْتُ: أَنْشُدُكَ اللهَ يَا أَبَا قَتَادَةَ هَلْ تَعْلَمُ أَنِّي أُحِبُّ اللهَ وَرَسُولَهُ؟، فَسَكَتَ، ثُمَّ قُلْتُ أَيْضًا: أَنْشُدُكَ اللهَ يَا أَبَا قَتَادَةَ أَتَعْلَمُ أَنِّي أُحِبُّ اللهَ وَرَسُولَهُ؟، فَسَكَتَ، ثُمَّ قُلْتُ: أَنْشُدُكَ اللهَ يَا أَبَا قَتَادَةَ أَتَعْلَمُ أَنِّي أُحِبُّ اللهَ وَرَسُولَهُ؟، قَالَ: اللهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَعْلَمُ، فَلَمْ أَمْلِكْ نَفْسِي أَنْ بَكَيْتُ، ثُمَّ اقْتَحَمْتُ الْحَائِطَ خَارِجًا حَتَّى إِذَا مَضَتْ خَمْسُونَ لَيْلَةً مِنْ حِينِ نَهَى النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ النَّاسَ عَنْ كَلَامِنَا، صَلَّيْتُ عَلَى ظَهْرِ بَيْتٍ لَنَا صَلَاةَ الْفَجْرِ، ثُمُّ جَلَسْتُ وَأَنَا فِي الْمَنْزِلَةِ الَّتِي قَالَ اللهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ: قَدْ ضَاقَتْ عَلَيْنَا الْأَرْضُ بِمَا رَحُبَتْ وَضَاقَتْ عَلَيْنَا أَنْفُسُنَا، إِذْ سَمِعْتُ نِدَاءً مِنْ ذُرْوَةِ سَلْعٍ: أَنْ أَبْشِرْ يَا كَعْبُ بْنُ مَالِكٍ فَخَرَرْتُ سَاجِدًا، وَعَرَفْتُ أَنَّ اللهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ قَدْ جَاءَ بِالْفَرَجِ، ثُمَّ جَاءَ رَجُلٌ يَرْكُضُ عَلَى فَرَسٍ يُبَشِّرُنِي، فَكَانَ الصَّوْتُ أَسْرَعَ مِنْ فَرَسِهِ، فَأَعْطَيْتُهُ ثَوْبِي بِشَارَةً وَلَبِسَتُ ثَوْبَيْنِ آخَرَيْنِ، قَالَ: وَكَانَتْ تَوْبَتُنَا أُنْزِلَتْ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ ثُلُثَ اللَّيْلِ، فَقَالَتْ أُمُّ سَلَمَةَ: يَا نَبِيَّ اللهِ أَلَا نُبَشِّرُ كَعْبَ بْنَ مَالِكٍ؟، قَالَ: «إِذَنْ يَخْصِمُكُمُ النَّاسُ وَيَمْنَعُونَكُمُ النَّوْمَ سَائِرَ اللَّيْلَةِ» ، قَالَ: وَكَانَتْ أُمُّ سَلَمَةَ مُحْسِنَةً فِي شَأْنِي تَحْزَنُ بِأَمْرِي، فَانْطَلَقْتُ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَإِذَا هُوَ جَالِسٌ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ وَحَوْلَهُ الْمُسْلِمُونَ، وَهُوَ يَسْتَنِيرُ كَاسْتِنَارَةِ الْقَمَرِ، وَكَانَ إِذَا سُرَّ بِالْأَمْرِ اسْتَنَارَ، فَجِئْتُ حَتَّى جَلَسْتُ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ، فَقَالَ: «أَبْشِرْ يَا كَعْبُ بْنُ مَالِكٍ بِخَيْرِ يَوْمٍ أَتَى عَلَيْكَ مِنْ يَوْمِ وَلَدَتْكَ أُمُّكَ» ، قُلْتُ: يَا نَبِيَّ اللهِ أَمِنْ عِنْدِ اللهِ أَمْ مِنْ عِنْدَكَ؟، قَالَ: «بَلْ مِنْ عِنْدِ اللهِ» ، ثُمَّ تَلَا عَلَيْهِمْ: {لَقَدْ تَابَ اللهُ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ وَالْمُهَاجِرِينَ وَالْأَنْصَارِ} [التوبة: ١١٧] ، حَتَّى بَلَغَ {التَّوَّابُ الرَّحِيمُ} [التوبة: ١١٨] ، وَقَالَ: وَفِينَا أُنْزِلَتْ أَيْضًا: {اتَّقُوا اللهَ وَكُونُوا مَعَ الصَّادِقِينَ} [التوبة: ١١٩] ، قَالَ: قُلْتُ: يَا نَبِيَّ اللهِ إِنَّ مِنْ تَوْبَتِي أَنْ لَا أُحَدِّثَ إِلَّا صِدْقًا، وَأَنْ أُخْلَعَ مِنْ مَالِي كُلِّهِ صَدَقَةً إِلَى اللهِ وَإِلَى رَسُولِهِ، فَقَالَ: «أَمْسَكْ عَلَيْكَ بَعْضَ مَالِكَ، فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَكَ» ، قَالَ: قُلْتُ: فَإِنِّي أَمْسِكُ سَهْمِيَ الَّذِي بِخَيْبَرَ، قَالَ: فَمَا أَنْعَمَ اللهُ عَلِيَّ نِعْمَةً فِي الْإِسْلَامِ أَعْظَمُ مِنْ صِدْقِي رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ حِينَ صَدَقْتُهُ أَنَا وَصَاحِبَايَ أَنْ لَا نَكُونَ كَذَبْنَاهُ فَهَلَكْنَا كَمَا هَلَكُوا، وَإِنِّي لَأَرْجُو أَنْ لَا يَكُونَ اللهُ ابْتَلَى أَحَدًا فِي الصِّدْقِ مِثْلَ الَّذِي ابْتَلَانِي بِهِ، فَمَا تَعَمَّدْتُ بِكِذْبَةٍ بَعْدُ، وَإِنِّي لَأَرْجُو أَنْ يَحْفَظَنِي اللهُ فِيمَا بَقِيَ. قَالَ مَعْمَرٌ: قَالَ الزُّهْرِيُّ: «فَهَذَا مَا انْتَهَى إِلَيْنَا مِنْ حَدِيثِ كَعْبِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ»
: ثُمَّ لَمْ أَتَخَلَّفْ بَعْدُ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِي غَزْوَةٍ غَزَاهَا حَتَّى كَانَتْ غَزْوَةُ تَبُوكٍ، وَهِيَ آخِرُ غَزْوَةٍ غَزَاهَا، وَآذَنَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ النَّاسَ بِالرَّحِيلِ، فَأَرَادَ أَنْ يَتَأَهَّبُوا أُهْبَةَ غَزْوَتِهِمْ، وَذَلِكَ حِينَ طَابَ الظِّلَالُ وَطَابَتِ الثِّمَارُ، وَكَانَ قَلَّمَا أَرَادَ غَزْوَةً إِلَّا وَارَى خَبَرَهَا، وَكَانَ يَقُولُ : «الْحَرْبُ خُدْعَةٌ» ، فَأَرَادَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِي غَزْوَةِ تَبُوكٍ أَنْ يَتَأَهَّبَ النَّاسُ أُهْبَةً، وَأَنَا أَيْسَرُ مَا كُنْتُ، قَدْ جَمَعْتُ رَاحِلَتَيْنِ، وَأَنَا أَقْدَرُ شَيْءٍ فِي نَفْسِي عَلَى الْجِهَادِ وَخِفَّةِ الْحَاذِ، وَأَنَا فِي ذَلِكَ أَصْغُو إِلَى الظِّلَالِ وَطِيبِ الثِّمَارِ، فَلَمْ أَزَلْ كَذَلِكَ حَتَّى قَامَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ غَادِيًا بِالْغَدَاةِ، وَذَلِكَ يَوْمَ الْخَمِيسِ، وَكَانَ يُحِبُّ أَنْ يَخْرُجَ يَوْمَ الْخَمِيسِ، فَأَصْبَحَ غَادِيًا
فَقُلْتُ: أَنْطَلِقُ غَدًا إِلَى السُّوقِ فَأَشْتَرِي جَهَازِي، ثُمَّ أَلْحَقُ بِهِمْ، فَانْطَلَقْتُ إِلَى السُّوقِ مِنَ الْغَدِ، فَعَسُرَ عَلِيَّ بَعْضُ شَأْنِي، فَرَجَعْتُ، فَقُلْتُ: أَرْجِعُ غَدًا إِنْ شَاءَ اللهُ، فَلَمْ أَزَلْ كَذَلِكَ حَتَّى الْتَبَسَ بِيَ الذَّنْبُ، وَتَخَلَّفْتُ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، فَجَعَلْتُ أَمْشِي فِي الْأَسْوَاقِ وَأَطُوفُ بِالْمَدِينَةِ فَيُحْزِنُنِي أَنِّي لَا أَرَى أَحَدًا إِلَّا رَجُلًا تَخَلَّفَ مَغْمُوصًا عَلَيْهِ فِي النِّفَاقِ، وَكَانَ لَيْسَ أَحَدٌ تَخَلَّفَ إِلَا رَأَى أَنَّ ذَلِكَ سَيَخْفَى لَهُ، وَكَانَ النَّاسُ كَثِيرًا، لَا يَجْمَعُهُمْ دِيوَانٌ، وَكَانَ جَمِيعُ مَنْ تَخَلَّفَ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ بِضْعَةٌ وَثَمَانِينَ رَجُلًا، وَلَمْ يَذْكُرْنِي النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ حَتَّى بَلَغَ تَبُوكًا، فَلَمَّا بَلَغَ تَبُوكًا، قَالَ: «مَا فَعَلَ كَعْبُ بْنُ مَالِكٍ؟» ، قَالَ رَجُلٌ مِنْ قَوْمِي: خَلْفَهُ يَا نَبِيَّ اللهِ بُرْدَاهُ، وَالنَّظَرُ فِي عِطْفَيْهِ، فَقَالَ مُعَاذُ بْنُ جَبَلٍ: بِئْسَ مَا قُلْتَ، وَاللهِ يَا نَبِيَّ اللهِ مَا نَعْلَمُ إِلَّا خَيْرًا، فَبَيْنَمَا هُمْ كَذَلِكَ إِذَا هُمْ بِرَجُلٍ يَزُولُ بِهِ السَّرَابُ، فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «كُنْ أَبَا خَيْثَمَةَ» ، فَإِذَا هُوَ أَبُو خَيْثَمَةَ، فَلَمَّا قَضَى النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ غَزْوَةَ تَبُوكٍ، وَقَفَلَ وَدَنَا مِنَ الْمَدِينَةِ، جَعَلْتُ أَتَذَكَّرُ بِمَاذَا أَخْرُجُ مِنْ سَخَطِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَأَسْتَعِينُ عَلَى ذَلِكَ بِكُلِّ ذِي رَأْيٍ مِنْ أَهْلِي، حَتَّى إِذَا قِيلَ: النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مُصَبِّحُكُمْ غَدًا بِالْغَدَاةِ، زَاحَ عَنِّي الْبَاطِلُ، وَعَرَفْتُ أَنِّي لَا أَنْجُو إِلَّا بِالصِّدْقِ، فَدَخَلَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ ضُحًّى، فَصَلَّى فِي الْمَسْجِدِ رَكْعَتَيْنِ، وَكَانَ إِذَا جَاءَ مِنْ سَفَرٍ فَعَلَ ذَلِكَ، أَتَى الْمَسْجِدَ فَصَلَّى فِيهِ رَكْعَتَيْنِ، ثُمَّ جَلَسَ فَجَعَلَ يَأْتِيَهِ مَنْ تَخَلَّفَ فَيَحْلِفُونَ لَهُ وَيَعْتَذِرُونَ إِلَيْهِ فَيَسْتَغْفِرُ لَهُمْ، وَيَقْبَلُ عَلَانِيَتَهُمْ، وَيَكِلُ أَسْرَارَهُمْ إِلَى اللهِ، فَدَخَلْتُ الْمَسْجِدَ فَإِذَا هُوَ جَالِسٌ، فَلَمَّا رَآنِي تَبَسَّمَ تَبَسُّمَ الْمُغْضَبِ، فَجِئْتُ فَجَلَسْتُ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ، فَقَالَ: «أَلَمْ تَكُنِ ابْتَعْتَ ظَهْرَكَ؟» ، فَقُلْتُ: بَلَى يَا نَبِيَّ اللهِ، قَالَ: «فَمَا خَلَفَكَ؟» ، قُلْتُ: وَاللهِ لَوْ بَيْنَ أَيْدِي أَحَدٍ مِنَ النَّاسِ غَيْرِكَ جَلَسْتُ خَرَجْتُ مِنْ سَخْطَتِهِ عَلِيَّ بِعُذْرٍ، وَلَقَدْ أُوتِيتُ جَدَلًا، وَلَكِنْ قَدْ عَلِمْتُ يَا نَبِيَّ اللهِ أَنِّي إِنْ أَخْبَرْتُكَ الْيَوْمَ بِقَوْلٍ تَجِدُ عَلِيَّ فِيهِ وَهُوَ حَقٌّ، فَإِنِّي أَرْجُو عُقْبَى اللهِ، وَإِنْ حَدَّثْتُكَ الْيَوْمَ حَدِيثًا تَرْضَى عَنِّي فِيهِ وَهُوَ كَذِبٌ أَوْشَكَ اللهُ أَنْ يُطْلِعَكَ عَلَيَّ، وَاللهِ يَا نَبِيَّ اللهِ مَا كُنْتُ قَطُّ أَيْسَرَ، وَلَا أَخَفَّ حَاذًا مِنِّي حِينَ تَخَلَّفْتُ عَنْكَ، قَالَ: «أَمَّا هَذَا فَقَدْ صَدَقَكُمُ الْحَدِيثَ، قُمْ حَتَّى يَقْضِيَ اللهُ فِيكَ» ، فَقُمْتُ فَثَارَ عَلَى أَثَرِي نَاسٌ مِنْ قَوْمِي يُؤَنِّبُونِي، فَقَالُوا: وَاللهِ مَا نَعْلَمُكَ أَذْنَبْتَ ذَنْبًا قَطُّ قَبْلَ هَذَا، فَهَلَّا اعْتَذَرْتَ إِلَى نَبِيِّ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ بِعُذْرٍ يَرْضَى عَنْكَ، وَكَانَ اسْتِغْفَارُ رَسُولِ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ سَيَأْتِي مِنْ وَرَاءِ ذَلِكَ، وَلِمَ تَقِفُ نَفْسَكَ مَوْقِفًا لَا تَدْرِي مَا يُقْضَى لَكَ فِيهِ؟، فَلَمْ يَزَالُوا يُؤَنِّبُونِي حَتَّى هَمَمْتُ أَنْ أَرْجِعَ فَأُكَذِّبَ نَفْسِي، فَقُلْتُ: هَلْ قَالَ هَذَا الْقَوْلَ أَحَدٌ غَيْرِي؟، قَالُوا: نَعَمْ، قَالَهُ هِلَالُ بْنُ أُمَيَّةَ، وَمَرَارَةُ بْنُ رَبِيعَةَ، فَذَكَرُوا رَجُلَيْنِ صَالِحَيْنِ قَدْ شَهِدَا بَدْرًا، لِي فِيهِمَا أُسْوَةٌ، فَقُلْتُ: وَاللهِ لَا أَرْجِعُ إِلَيْهِ فِي هَذَا أَبَدًا وَلَا أُكَذِّبُ نَفْسِي، قَالَ: وَنَهَى النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَنْ كَلَامِنَا أَيُّهَا الثَّلَاثَةُ، قَالَ: فَجَعَلْتُ أَخْرُجُ إِلَى السُّوقِ فَلَا يُكَلِّمُنِي أَحَدٌ، وَتَنَكَّرَ لَنَا النَّاسُ حَتَّى مَا هُمْ بِالَّذِينَ نَعْرِفُ، وَتَنَكَّرَتْ لَنَا الْحِيطَانُ حَتَّى مَا هِيَ بِالْحِيطَانِ الَّتِي نَعْرِفُ، وَتَنَكَّرَتْ لَنَا الْأَرْضُ حَتَّى مَا هِيَ بِالْأَرْضِ الَّتِي نَعْرِفُ، وَكُنْتُ أَقْوَى أَصْحَابِي، فَكُنْتُ أَخْرُجُ فَأَطُوفُ فِي السُّوقِ وَآتِي الْمَسْجِدَ فَأَدْخُلُ، وَآتِي النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَأَقُولُ: هَلْ حَرَّكَ شَفَتَيْهِ بِالسَّلَامِ؟، فَإِذَا قُمْتُ أُصَلِّي إِلَى سَارِيَةٍ فَأَقْبَلْتُ قِبَلَ صَلَاتِي نَظَرَ إِلَيَّ بِمُؤَخَّرِ عَيْنَيْهِ، وَإِذَا نَظَرْتُ إِلَيْهِ أَعْرَضَ عَنِّي، قَالَ: وَاسْتَكَانَ صَاحِبَايَ فَجَعَلَا يَبْكِيَانِ اللَّيْلَ وَالنَّهَارَ لَا يُطْلِعَانِ رُءُوسَهُمَا، فَبَيْنَمَا أَنَا أَطُوفُ فِي السُّوقِ إِذَا رَجُلٌ نَصْرَانِيٌّ جَاءَ بِطَعَامٍ لَهُ يَبِيعُهُ يَقُولُ: مَنْ يَدُلُّنِي عَلَى كَعْبِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ؟، فَطَفِقَ النَّاسُ يُشِيرُونَ لَهُ إِلَيَّ، وَأَتَانِي بِصَحِيفَةٍ مِنْ مَلِكِ غَسَّانَ، فَإِذَا فِيهَا: أَمَّا بَعْدُ، فَإِنَّهُ بَلَغَنِي أَنَّ صَاحِبَكَ قَدْ جَفَاكَ، وَأَقْصَاكَ، وَلَسْتَ بِدَارِ مَضْيَعَةٍ، وَلَا هَوَانٍ، فَالْحَقْ بِنَا نُوَاسِكَ، فَقُلْتُ: هَذَا أَيْضًا مِنَ الْبَلَاءِ، وَالشَّرِّ فَسَجَرْتُ لَهَا التَّنُّورَ وَأَحْرَقْتُهَا فيهِ، فَلَمَّا مَضَتْ أَرْبَعُونَ لَيْلَةً إِذَا رَسُولٌ مِنَ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَدْ أَتَانِي، فَقَالَ: اعْتَزَلِ امْرَأَتَكَ، فَقُلْتُ: أُطَلِّقُهَا؟، قَالَ: لَا، وَلَكِنْ لَا تَقْرَبْهَا، فَجَاءَتِ امْرَأَةُ هِلَالِ بْنِ أُمَيَّةَ، فَقَالَتْ: يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ إِنَّ هِلَالَ بْنَ أُمَيَّةَ شَيْخٌ كَبِيرٌ ضَعِيفٌ، فَهَلْ تَأْذَنُ لِي أَنْ أَخْدُمَهُ؟، قَالَ: «نَعَمْ، وَلَكِنْ لَا يَقْرَبَنَّكِ» ، قَالَتْ: يَا نَبِيَّ اللهِ وَاللهِ مَا بِهِ مِنْ حَرَكَةٍ لِشَيْءٍ، مَا زَالَ مُتَّكِئًا يَبْكِي اللَّيْلَ وَالنَّهَارَ مُنْذُ كَانَ مِنْ أَمْرِهِ مَا كَانَ، قَالَ كَعْبٌ: فَلَمَّا طَالَ عَلِيَّ الْبَلَاءُ اقْتَحَمْتُ عَلَى أَبِي قَتَادَةَ حَائِطَهُ، وَهُوَ ابْنُ عَمِّي، فَسَلَّمْتُ عَلَيْهِ، فَلَمْ يَرُدَّ عَلِيَّ، فَقُلْتُ: أَنْشُدُكَ اللهَ يَا أَبَا قَتَادَةَ هَلْ تَعْلَمُ أَنِّي أُحِبُّ اللهَ وَرَسُولَهُ؟، فَسَكَتَ، ثُمَّ قُلْتُ أَيْضًا: أَنْشُدُكَ اللهَ يَا أَبَا قَتَادَةَ أَتَعْلَمُ أَنِّي أُحِبُّ اللهَ وَرَسُولَهُ؟، فَسَكَتَ، ثُمَّ قُلْتُ: أَنْشُدُكَ اللهَ يَا أَبَا قَتَادَةَ أَتَعْلَمُ أَنِّي أُحِبُّ اللهَ وَرَسُولَهُ؟، قَالَ: اللهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَعْلَمُ، فَلَمْ أَمْلِكْ نَفْسِي أَنْ بَكَيْتُ، ثُمَّ اقْتَحَمْتُ الْحَائِطَ خَارِجًا حَتَّى إِذَا مَضَتْ خَمْسُونَ لَيْلَةً مِنْ حِينِ نَهَى النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ النَّاسَ عَنْ كَلَامِنَا، صَلَّيْتُ عَلَى ظَهْرِ بَيْتٍ لَنَا صَلَاةَ الْفَجْرِ، ثُمُّ جَلَسْتُ وَأَنَا فِي الْمَنْزِلَةِ الَّتِي قَالَ اللهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ: قَدْ ضَاقَتْ عَلَيْنَا الْأَرْضُ بِمَا رَحُبَتْ وَضَاقَتْ عَلَيْنَا أَنْفُسُنَا، إِذْ سَمِعْتُ نِدَاءً مِنْ ذُرْوَةِ سَلْعٍ: أَنْ أَبْشِرْ يَا كَعْبُ بْنُ مَالِكٍ فَخَرَرْتُ سَاجِدًا، وَعَرَفْتُ أَنَّ اللهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ قَدْ جَاءَ بِالْفَرَجِ، ثُمَّ جَاءَ رَجُلٌ يَرْكُضُ عَلَى فَرَسٍ يُبَشِّرُنِي، فَكَانَ الصَّوْتُ أَسْرَعَ مِنْ فَرَسِهِ، فَأَعْطَيْتُهُ ثَوْبِي بِشَارَةً وَلَبِسَتُ ثَوْبَيْنِ آخَرَيْنِ، قَالَ: وَكَانَتْ تَوْبَتُنَا أُنْزِلَتْ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ ثُلُثَ اللَّيْلِ، فَقَالَتْ أُمُّ سَلَمَةَ: يَا نَبِيَّ اللهِ أَلَا نُبَشِّرُ كَعْبَ بْنَ مَالِكٍ؟، قَالَ: «إِذَنْ يَخْصِمُكُمُ النَّاسُ وَيَمْنَعُونَكُمُ النَّوْمَ سَائِرَ اللَّيْلَةِ» ، قَالَ: وَكَانَتْ أُمُّ سَلَمَةَ مُحْسِنَةً فِي شَأْنِي تَحْزَنُ بِأَمْرِي، فَانْطَلَقْتُ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَإِذَا هُوَ جَالِسٌ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ وَحَوْلَهُ الْمُسْلِمُونَ، وَهُوَ يَسْتَنِيرُ كَاسْتِنَارَةِ الْقَمَرِ، وَكَانَ إِذَا سُرَّ بِالْأَمْرِ اسْتَنَارَ، فَجِئْتُ حَتَّى جَلَسْتُ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ، فَقَالَ: «أَبْشِرْ يَا كَعْبُ بْنُ مَالِكٍ بِخَيْرِ يَوْمٍ أَتَى عَلَيْكَ مِنْ يَوْمِ وَلَدَتْكَ أُمُّكَ» ، قُلْتُ: يَا نَبِيَّ اللهِ أَمِنْ عِنْدِ اللهِ أَمْ مِنْ عِنْدَكَ؟، قَالَ: «بَلْ مِنْ عِنْدِ اللهِ» ، ثُمَّ تَلَا عَلَيْهِمْ: {لَقَدْ تَابَ اللهُ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ وَالْمُهَاجِرِينَ وَالْأَنْصَارِ} [التوبة: ١١٧] ، حَتَّى بَلَغَ {التَّوَّابُ الرَّحِيمُ} [التوبة: ١١٨] ، وَقَالَ: وَفِينَا أُنْزِلَتْ أَيْضًا: {اتَّقُوا اللهَ وَكُونُوا مَعَ الصَّادِقِينَ} [التوبة: ١١٩] ، قَالَ: قُلْتُ: يَا نَبِيَّ اللهِ إِنَّ مِنْ تَوْبَتِي أَنْ لَا أُحَدِّثَ إِلَّا صِدْقًا، وَأَنْ أُخْلَعَ مِنْ مَالِي كُلِّهِ صَدَقَةً إِلَى اللهِ وَإِلَى رَسُولِهِ، فَقَالَ: «أَمْسَكْ عَلَيْكَ بَعْضَ مَالِكَ، فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَكَ» ، قَالَ: قُلْتُ: فَإِنِّي أَمْسِكُ سَهْمِيَ الَّذِي بِخَيْبَرَ، قَالَ: فَمَا أَنْعَمَ اللهُ عَلِيَّ نِعْمَةً فِي الْإِسْلَامِ أَعْظَمُ مِنْ صِدْقِي رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ حِينَ صَدَقْتُهُ أَنَا وَصَاحِبَايَ أَنْ لَا نَكُونَ كَذَبْنَاهُ فَهَلَكْنَا كَمَا هَلَكُوا، وَإِنِّي لَأَرْجُو أَنْ لَا يَكُونَ اللهُ ابْتَلَى أَحَدًا فِي الصِّدْقِ مِثْلَ الَّذِي ابْتَلَانِي بِهِ، فَمَا تَعَمَّدْتُ بِكِذْبَةٍ بَعْدُ، وَإِنِّي لَأَرْجُو أَنْ يَحْفَظَنِي اللهُ فِيمَا بَقِيَ. قَالَ مَعْمَرٌ: قَالَ الزُّهْرِيُّ: «فَهَذَا مَا انْتَهَى إِلَيْنَا مِنْ حَدِيثِ كَعْبِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ»
Sayyiduna Ka'b bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I did not stay behind from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) in any expedition in which he (peace and blessings be upon him) himself took part, except the expedition of Tabuk; though I did not take part in Badr either. And the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) did not blame anyone who stayed behind from Badr, because he (peace and blessings be upon him) had only set out intending the (trade) caravan of Quraysh, and Quraysh came out to rescue their caravan, and the two sides met without any appointment, as Allah Almighty has described (in the Qur'an). By my life, the most honourable of the battles of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) in the eyes of people is Badr, yet I would not like to have taken part in it at the cost of losing that pledge on the night of al-Aqabah, where we pledged loyalty (to one another) upon Islam. Then after that I did not stay behind from any expedition in which he (peace and blessings be upon him) took part, until the expedition of Tabuk came, and it was his (peace and blessings be upon him) last expedition. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) informed the people of the departure so that they could prepare for their expedition, and that was at the time when the shade was pleasant and the fruits had ripened. It was his (peace and blessings be upon him) practice that whenever he intended an expedition, he would seldom disclose its real direction, and he used to say: "War is deception." So in the expedition of Tabuk he (peace and blessings be upon him) wanted the people to prepare fully. At that time I was in the best condition I had ever been; I had gathered two mounts, and I felt myself most capable in terms of jihad and being lightly burdened. Yet in that very state I was inclining towards the pleasantness of the shade and the fruits. I remained like that until the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) set out early in the morning; it was a Thursday, and he (peace and blessings be upon him) liked to set out on Thursday, so he (peace and blessings be upon him) left early in the morning.
I thought: "Tomorrow I will go to the market, buy my provisions for the journey, and then catch up with the army." The next day I went to the market, but some of my affairs became difficult (and I was delayed), so I came back and thought: "Tomorrow, if Allah wills, I will go." It kept happening like that until the sin (in its full form) overtook me and I stayed behind from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). So I would walk in the markets and go around Madinah, and it grieved me that I saw no one besides myself who had stayed behind (like this) except someone accused of hypocrisy. Everyone who stayed behind hoped that his matter would remain hidden. The people were very many, and no register (diwan) gathered them, and all those who stayed behind from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) were some eighty-odd men. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not mention me until he reached Tabuk. When he (peace and blessings be upon him) reached Tabuk, he said: "What has Ka'b bin Malik done?" A man from my people said: "O Prophet of Allah! His two cloaks and his looking at his own sides (meaning his self-admiration) have held him back." Mu'adh bin Jabal (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "What an evil thing you have said! By Allah, O Prophet of Allah, we know nothing of him but good." While they were in that state, they suddenly saw a man whom the mirage kept hiding and revealing, and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Be Abu Khaythamah (meaning, it is hoped that this is Abu Khaythamah)." And it turned out to be Abu Khaythamah. When the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) had finished the expedition of Tabuk and turned back and drew near Madinah, I began to think about what excuse would get me out of the displeasure of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and I sought help in that from every person of sound opinion among my family. Then, when it was said that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would reach you tomorrow morning, the thought of falsehood left me, and I became certain that nothing but the truth could save me. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) entered in the forenoon and prayed two rak'ahs in the mosque. It was his (peace and blessings be upon him) practice, whenever he returned from a journey, to do the same: come to the mosque, pray two rak'ahs in it, and then sit down. Then those who had stayed behind began coming to him (peace and blessings be upon him), swearing oaths to him (peace and blessings be upon him) and making excuses, and he (peace and blessings be upon him) would seek forgiveness for them, accept their outward state, and leave their inner state to Allah. I entered the mosque while he (peace and blessings be upon him) was sitting. When he (peace and blessings be upon him) saw me, he smiled the smile of an angry person. I came and sat in front of him (peace and blessings be upon him), and he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Had you not bought your mount?" I said: "Certainly, O Prophet of Allah!" He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Then what held you back?" I said: "By Allah! If I had been sitting before anyone else in the world besides you, I would have hoped to get out of his displeasure with some excuse, for I have been given skill (in argument). But, O Prophet of Allah, I know that if today I tell you something for which you become displeased with me but which is the truth, then I hope for a (good) outcome from Allah; and if today I tell you something with which you become pleased with me but which is a lie, then soon Allah will inform you of my reality. By Allah, O Prophet of Allah! I was never so well off or so lightly burdened as I was when I stayed behind from you." He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "As for this man, he has told you the truth. Now get up until Allah decides about you." So I got up, and some people of my tribe followed me, reproaching me and saying: "By Allah! We do not know that you ever committed a sin before this. Why did you not offer the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) an excuse with which he would have been pleased with you? The seeking of forgiveness by the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) for you would have sufficed after that. And why did you put yourself in a position where you do not know what will be decided about you?" They kept reproaching me until I wanted to go back and belie myself. Then I asked them: "Has anyone besides me said the same thing?" They said: "Yes, Hilal bin Umayyah and Murarah bin Rabi'ah also said the same." They mentioned two righteous men who had taken part in Badr, in whom there was an example (of consolation) for me. So I said: "By Allah! I will never go back in this matter, nor will I belie myself." (Ka'b, may Allah be pleased with him) said: And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade (people) from speaking to the three of us. So I kept going to the market, but no one would speak to me. The people became strangers to us until it was as though they did not know us at all; the walls too became strange to us until they did not seem like the walls we knew; and the land too became strange to us until it did not seem like the land we knew. I was the strongest of my companions, so I would go out and walk around in the market, come to the mosque and go inside, and go to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and say (in my heart): "Did he (peace and blessings be upon him) move his lips in reply to the greeting?" When I stood to pray near a pillar and turned to my prayer, he (peace and blessings be upon him) would look at me from the corner of his eyes, and when I looked at him (peace and blessings be upon him), he (peace and blessings be upon him) would turn his face away. My two companions became dejected and sat in their homes, weeping day and night, not even raising their heads. While I was walking in the market in this state, a Christian man came to sell his foodstuffs, saying: "Who will direct me to Ka'b bin Malik?" The people began pointing him to me, and he brought me a letter from the king of Ghassan. In it was written: "To proceed: News has reached me that your companion (meaning the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him) has treated you harshly and kept you away. You are certainly not one to be left to waste or to be humiliated, so come to us, and we will stand by you." I said: "This too is another trial and evil." So I lit the oven for the letter and burned it in it. When forty nights had passed, a messenger from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) came to me and said: "Keep away from your wife." I asked: "Should I divorce her?" He said: "No, but do not go near her." Then the wife of Hilal bin Umayyah (may Allah be pleased with him) came to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and said: "O Messenger of Allah! Hilal bin Umayyah is an old, weak man; will you permit me to serve him?" He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Yes, but he must not come near you." She said: "O Prophet of Allah! By Allah, he has no movement left towards anything; ever since this matter of his happened, he has done nothing but weep day and night." Ka'b (may Allah be pleased with him) said: When this trial became prolonged for me, I went (climbing over the wall) into the garden of my paternal cousin Abu Qatadah (may Allah be pleased with him) and greeted him, but he did not return my greeting. I said: "O Abu Qatadah! I ask you by Allah, do you know that I love Allah and His Messenger?" He remained silent. I said again: "O Abu Qatadah! I ask you by Allah, do you know that I love Allah and His Messenger?" He again remained silent. I said once more: "O Abu Qatadah! I ask you by Allah, do you know that I love Allah and His Messenger?" He said: "Allah and His Messenger know best." I could not control myself and burst into tears, then climbed back over the wall to the outside. Then, when fifty nights had passed since the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade (people) from speaking to us, I prayed the Fajr prayer on the roof of one of our houses and then sat down, in the very state that Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, has mentioned: "The earth, despite its vastness, became narrow for us, and our souls too became constricted for us." Suddenly I heard a voice from the top of Mount Sal': "Rejoice, O Ka'b bin Malik!" So I fell down in prostration, and I became certain that relief had come from Allah, the Mighty and Majestic. Then a man came galloping on a horse to give me the good news, but the voice had reached me faster than his horse. So I gave him my garment in return for the good news and put on two other garments. Ka'b (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Our repentance had been revealed to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) when a third of the night remained. Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: "O Prophet of Allah! Shall we not give the good news to Ka'b bin Malik?" He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Then the people will crowd upon you and will not let you sleep for the rest of the night." (Ka'b, may Allah be pleased with him) said: Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her) was very kind in my affair and used to grieve over my condition. So I went to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and saw that he (peace and blessings be upon him) was sitting in the mosque with the Muslims around him (peace and blessings be upon him), and his (peace and blessings be upon him) face was shining like the moon. It was his (peace and blessings be upon him) way that when he was pleased with something, (his face) would light up. I came and sat in front of him (peace and blessings be upon him), and he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "O Ka'b bin Malik! Rejoice at the best day that has come upon you since the day your mother gave birth to you." I said: "O Prophet of Allah! Is this from Allah or from you?" He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Rather, from Allah." Then he (peace and blessings be upon him) recited these verses to the people: "Allah has certainly turned in mercy to the Prophet, the Muhajirun and the Ansar" [Surah al-Tawbah: 117] up to "the One who accepts repentance much, the Most Merciful" [Surah al-Tawbah: 118]. And he said: This verse too was revealed about us: "Fear Allah and be with the truthful" [Surah al-Tawbah: 119]. I said: "O Prophet of Allah! Part of my repentance is that from now on I will speak nothing but the truth, and that I will give away all my wealth as charity for Allah and His Messenger." He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Keep some of your wealth with you; that is better for you." I said: "Then I will keep my share at Khaybar." (Ka'b, may Allah be pleased with him) said: Allah did not bestow on me any blessing in Islam greater than this: that I and my two companions spoke the truth to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), and that it did not happen that we lied to him (peace and blessings be upon him) and were destroyed as the others (the liars) were destroyed. And I hope that Allah has not tested anyone in truthfulness with a trial like the one with which He tested me. Since then I have never deliberately told a lie, and I hope that Allah will protect me for the rest of my life. Ma'mar said: Al-Zuhri said: This is what has reached us of the hadith of Ka'b bin Malik.
I thought: "Tomorrow I will go to the market, buy my provisions for the journey, and then catch up with the army." The next day I went to the market, but some of my affairs became difficult (and I was delayed), so I came back and thought: "Tomorrow, if Allah wills, I will go." It kept happening like that until the sin (in its full form) overtook me and I stayed behind from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). So I would walk in the markets and go around Madinah, and it grieved me that I saw no one besides myself who had stayed behind (like this) except someone accused of hypocrisy. Everyone who stayed behind hoped that his matter would remain hidden. The people were very many, and no register (diwan) gathered them, and all those who stayed behind from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) were some eighty-odd men. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not mention me until he reached Tabuk. When he (peace and blessings be upon him) reached Tabuk, he said: "What has Ka'b bin Malik done?" A man from my people said: "O Prophet of Allah! His two cloaks and his looking at his own sides (meaning his self-admiration) have held him back." Mu'adh bin Jabal (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "What an evil thing you have said! By Allah, O Prophet of Allah, we know nothing of him but good." While they were in that state, they suddenly saw a man whom the mirage kept hiding and revealing, and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Be Abu Khaythamah (meaning, it is hoped that this is Abu Khaythamah)." And it turned out to be Abu Khaythamah. When the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) had finished the expedition of Tabuk and turned back and drew near Madinah, I began to think about what excuse would get me out of the displeasure of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and I sought help in that from every person of sound opinion among my family. Then, when it was said that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would reach you tomorrow morning, the thought of falsehood left me, and I became certain that nothing but the truth could save me. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) entered in the forenoon and prayed two rak'ahs in the mosque. It was his (peace and blessings be upon him) practice, whenever he returned from a journey, to do the same: come to the mosque, pray two rak'ahs in it, and then sit down. Then those who had stayed behind began coming to him (peace and blessings be upon him), swearing oaths to him (peace and blessings be upon him) and making excuses, and he (peace and blessings be upon him) would seek forgiveness for them, accept their outward state, and leave their inner state to Allah. I entered the mosque while he (peace and blessings be upon him) was sitting. When he (peace and blessings be upon him) saw me, he smiled the smile of an angry person. I came and sat in front of him (peace and blessings be upon him), and he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Had you not bought your mount?" I said: "Certainly, O Prophet of Allah!" He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Then what held you back?" I said: "By Allah! If I had been sitting before anyone else in the world besides you, I would have hoped to get out of his displeasure with some excuse, for I have been given skill (in argument). But, O Prophet of Allah, I know that if today I tell you something for which you become displeased with me but which is the truth, then I hope for a (good) outcome from Allah; and if today I tell you something with which you become pleased with me but which is a lie, then soon Allah will inform you of my reality. By Allah, O Prophet of Allah! I was never so well off or so lightly burdened as I was when I stayed behind from you." He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "As for this man, he has told you the truth. Now get up until Allah decides about you." So I got up, and some people of my tribe followed me, reproaching me and saying: "By Allah! We do not know that you ever committed a sin before this. Why did you not offer the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) an excuse with which he would have been pleased with you? The seeking of forgiveness by the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) for you would have sufficed after that. And why did you put yourself in a position where you do not know what will be decided about you?" They kept reproaching me until I wanted to go back and belie myself. Then I asked them: "Has anyone besides me said the same thing?" They said: "Yes, Hilal bin Umayyah and Murarah bin Rabi'ah also said the same." They mentioned two righteous men who had taken part in Badr, in whom there was an example (of consolation) for me. So I said: "By Allah! I will never go back in this matter, nor will I belie myself." (Ka'b, may Allah be pleased with him) said: And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade (people) from speaking to the three of us. So I kept going to the market, but no one would speak to me. The people became strangers to us until it was as though they did not know us at all; the walls too became strange to us until they did not seem like the walls we knew; and the land too became strange to us until it did not seem like the land we knew. I was the strongest of my companions, so I would go out and walk around in the market, come to the mosque and go inside, and go to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and say (in my heart): "Did he (peace and blessings be upon him) move his lips in reply to the greeting?" When I stood to pray near a pillar and turned to my prayer, he (peace and blessings be upon him) would look at me from the corner of his eyes, and when I looked at him (peace and blessings be upon him), he (peace and blessings be upon him) would turn his face away. My two companions became dejected and sat in their homes, weeping day and night, not even raising their heads. While I was walking in the market in this state, a Christian man came to sell his foodstuffs, saying: "Who will direct me to Ka'b bin Malik?" The people began pointing him to me, and he brought me a letter from the king of Ghassan. In it was written: "To proceed: News has reached me that your companion (meaning the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him) has treated you harshly and kept you away. You are certainly not one to be left to waste or to be humiliated, so come to us, and we will stand by you." I said: "This too is another trial and evil." So I lit the oven for the letter and burned it in it. When forty nights had passed, a messenger from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) came to me and said: "Keep away from your wife." I asked: "Should I divorce her?" He said: "No, but do not go near her." Then the wife of Hilal bin Umayyah (may Allah be pleased with him) came to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and said: "O Messenger of Allah! Hilal bin Umayyah is an old, weak man; will you permit me to serve him?" He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Yes, but he must not come near you." She said: "O Prophet of Allah! By Allah, he has no movement left towards anything; ever since this matter of his happened, he has done nothing but weep day and night." Ka'b (may Allah be pleased with him) said: When this trial became prolonged for me, I went (climbing over the wall) into the garden of my paternal cousin Abu Qatadah (may Allah be pleased with him) and greeted him, but he did not return my greeting. I said: "O Abu Qatadah! I ask you by Allah, do you know that I love Allah and His Messenger?" He remained silent. I said again: "O Abu Qatadah! I ask you by Allah, do you know that I love Allah and His Messenger?" He again remained silent. I said once more: "O Abu Qatadah! I ask you by Allah, do you know that I love Allah and His Messenger?" He said: "Allah and His Messenger know best." I could not control myself and burst into tears, then climbed back over the wall to the outside. Then, when fifty nights had passed since the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade (people) from speaking to us, I prayed the Fajr prayer on the roof of one of our houses and then sat down, in the very state that Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, has mentioned: "The earth, despite its vastness, became narrow for us, and our souls too became constricted for us." Suddenly I heard a voice from the top of Mount Sal': "Rejoice, O Ka'b bin Malik!" So I fell down in prostration, and I became certain that relief had come from Allah, the Mighty and Majestic. Then a man came galloping on a horse to give me the good news, but the voice had reached me faster than his horse. So I gave him my garment in return for the good news and put on two other garments. Ka'b (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Our repentance had been revealed to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) when a third of the night remained. Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: "O Prophet of Allah! Shall we not give the good news to Ka'b bin Malik?" He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Then the people will crowd upon you and will not let you sleep for the rest of the night." (Ka'b, may Allah be pleased with him) said: Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her) was very kind in my affair and used to grieve over my condition. So I went to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and saw that he (peace and blessings be upon him) was sitting in the mosque with the Muslims around him (peace and blessings be upon him), and his (peace and blessings be upon him) face was shining like the moon. It was his (peace and blessings be upon him) way that when he was pleased with something, (his face) would light up. I came and sat in front of him (peace and blessings be upon him), and he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "O Ka'b bin Malik! Rejoice at the best day that has come upon you since the day your mother gave birth to you." I said: "O Prophet of Allah! Is this from Allah or from you?" He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Rather, from Allah." Then he (peace and blessings be upon him) recited these verses to the people: "Allah has certainly turned in mercy to the Prophet, the Muhajirun and the Ansar" [Surah al-Tawbah: 117] up to "the One who accepts repentance much, the Most Merciful" [Surah al-Tawbah: 118]. And he said: This verse too was revealed about us: "Fear Allah and be with the truthful" [Surah al-Tawbah: 119]. I said: "O Prophet of Allah! Part of my repentance is that from now on I will speak nothing but the truth, and that I will give away all my wealth as charity for Allah and His Messenger." He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Keep some of your wealth with you; that is better for you." I said: "Then I will keep my share at Khaybar." (Ka'b, may Allah be pleased with him) said: Allah did not bestow on me any blessing in Islam greater than this: that I and my two companions spoke the truth to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), and that it did not happen that we lied to him (peace and blessings be upon him) and were destroyed as the others (the liars) were destroyed. And I hope that Allah has not tested anyone in truthfulness with a trial like the one with which He tested me. Since then I have never deliberately told a lie, and I hope that Allah will protect me for the rest of my life. Ma'mar said: Al-Zuhri said: This is what has reached us of the hadith of Ka'b bin Malik.
