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حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو الطَّاهِرِ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ عَمْرِو بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرِو بْنِ سَرْحٍ مَوْلَى بَنِي أُمَيَّةَ أَخْبَرَنِي ابْنُ وَهْبٍ أَخْبَرَنِي يُونُسُ عَنْ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ قَالَ ثُمَّ غَزَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ غَزْوَةَ تَبُوكَ وَهُوَ يُرِيدُ الرُّومَ وَنَصَارَى الْعَرَبِ بِالشَّامِ قَالَ ابْنُ شِهَابٍ فَأَخْبَرَنِي عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ كَعْبِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ أَنَّ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ كَعْبٍ كَانَ قَائِدَ كَعْبٍ مِنْ بَنِيهِ حِينَ عَمِيَ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ كَعْبَ بْنَ مَالِكٍ يُحَدِّثُ حَدِيثَهُ حِينَ تَخَلَّفَ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِي غَزْوَةِ تَبُوكَ قَالَ كَعْبُ بْنُ مَالِكٍ لَمْ أَتَخَلَّفْ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِي غَزْوَةٍ غَزَاهَا قَطُّ إِلَّا فِي غَزْوَةِ تَبُوكَ غَيْرَ أَنِّي قَدْ تَخَلَّفْتُ فِي غَزْوَةِ بَدْرٍ وَلَمْ يُعَاتِبْ أَحَدًا تَخَلَّفَ عَنْهُ إِنَّمَا خَرَجَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَالْمُسْلِمُونَ يُرِيدُونَ عِيرَ قُرَيْشٍ حَتَّى جَمَعَ اللَّهُ بَيْنَهُمْ وَبَيْنَ عَدُوِّهِمْ عَلَى غَيْرِ مِيعَادٍ وَلَقَدْ شَهِدْتُ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ لَيْلَةَ الْعَقَبَةِ حِينَ تَوَاثَقْنَا عَلَى الْإِسْلَامِ وَمَا أُحِبُّ أَنَّ لِي بِهَا مَشْهَدَ بَدْرٍ وَإِنْ كَانَتْ بَدْرٌ أَذْكَرَ فِي النَّاسِ مِنْهَا وَكَانَ مِنْ خَبَرِي حِينَ تَخَلَّفْتُ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِي غَزْوَةِ تَبُوكَ أَنِّي لَمْ أَكُنْ قَطُّ أَقْوَى وَلَا أَيْسَرَ مِنِّي حِينَ تَخَلَّفْتُ عَنْهُ فِي تِلْكَ الْغَزْوَةِ وَاللَّهِ مَا جَمَعْتُ قَبْلَهَا رَاحِلَتَيْنِ قَطُّ حَتَّى جَمَعْتُهُمَا فِي تِلْكَ الْغَزْوَةِ فَغَزَاهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِي حَرٍّ شَدِيدٍ وَاسْتَقْبَلَ سَفَرًا بَعِيدًا وَمَفَازًا وَاسْتَقْبَلَ عَدُوًّا كَثِيرًا فَجَلَا لِلْمُسْلِمِينَ أَمْرَهُمْ لِيَتَأَهَّبُوا أُهْبَةَ غَزْوِهِمْ فَأَخْبَرَهُمْ بِوَجْهِهِمْ الَّذِي يُرِيدُ وَالْمُسْلِمُونَ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ كَثِيرٌ وَلَا يَجْمَعُهُمْ كِتَابُ حَافِظٍ يُرِيدُ بِذَلِكَ الدِّيوَانَ قَالَ كَعْبٌ فَقَلَّ رَجُلٌ يُرِيدُ أَنْ يَتَغَيَّبَ يَظُنُّ أَنَّ ذَلِكَ سَيَخْفَى لَهُ مَا لَمْ يَنْزِلْ فِيهِ وَحْيٌ مِنْ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَغَزَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ تِلْكَ الْغَزْوَةَ حِينَ طَابَتْ الثِّمَارُ وَالظِّلَالُ فَأَنَا إِلَيْهَا أَصْعَرُ فَتَجَهَّزَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَالْمُسْلِمُونَ مَعَهُ وَطَفِقْتُ أَغْدُو لِكَيْ أَتَجَهَّزَ مَعَهُمْ فَأَرْجِعُ وَلَمْ أَقْضِ شَيْئًا وَأَقُولُ فِي نَفْسِي أَنَا قَادِرٌ عَلَى ذَلِكَ إِذَا أَرَدْتُ فَلَمْ يَزَلْ ذَلِكَ يَتَمَادَى بِي حَتَّى اسْتَمَرَّ بِالنَّاسِ الْجِدُّ فَأَصْبَحَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ غَادِيًا وَالْمُسْلِمُونَ مَعَهُ وَلَمْ أَقْضِ مِنْ جَهَازِي شَيْئًا ثُمَّ غَدَوْتُ فَرَجَعْتُ وَلَمْ أَقْضِ شَيْئًا فَلَمْ يَزَلْ ذَلِكَ يَتَمَادَى بِي حَتَّى أَسْرَعُوا وَتَفَارَطَ الْغَزْوُ فَهَمَمْتُ أَنْ أَرْتَحِلَ فَأُدْرِكَهُمْ فَيَا لَيْتَنِي فَعَلْتُ ثُمَّ لَمْ يُقَدَّرْ ذَلِكَ لِي فَطَفِقْتُ إِذَا خَرَجْتُ فِي النَّاسِ بَعْدَ خُرُوجِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَحْزُنُنِي أَنِّي لَا أَرَى لِي أُسْوَةً إِلَّا رَجُلًا مَغْمُوصًا عَلَيْهِ فِي النِّفَاقِ أَوْ رَجُلًا مِمَّنْ عَذَرَ اللَّهُ مِنْ الضُّعَفَاءِ وَلَمْ يَذْكُرْنِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ حَتَّى بَلَغَ تَبُوكَ فَقَالَ وَهُوَ جَالِسٌ فِي الْقَوْمِ بِتَبُوكَ مَا فَعَلَ كَعْبُ بْنُ مَالِكٍ قَالَ رَجُلٌ مِنْ بَنِي سَلِمَةَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ حَبَسَهُ بُرْدَاهُ وَالنَّظَرُ فِي عِطْفَيْهِ فَقَالَ لَهُ مُعَاذُ بْنُ جَبَلٍ بِئْسَ مَا قُلْتَ وَاللَّهِ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَا عَلِمْنَا عَلَيْهِ إِلَّا خَيْرًا فَسَكَتَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَبَيْنَمَا هُوَ عَلَى ذَلِكَ رَأَى رَجُلًا مُبَيِّضًا يَزُولُ بِهِ السَّرَابُ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ كُنْ أَبَا خَيْثَمَةَ فَإِذَا هُوَ أَبُو خَيْثَمَةَ الْأَنْصَارِيُّ وَهُوَ الَّذِي تَصَدَّقَ بِصَاعِ التَّمْرِ حِينَ لَمَزَهُ الْمُنَافِقُونَ فَقَالَ كَعْبُ بْنُ مَالِكٍ فَلَمَّا بَلَغَنِي أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَدْ تَوَجَّهَ قَافِلًا مِنْ تَبُوكَ حَضَرَنِي بَثِّي فَطَفِقْتُ أَتَذَكَّرُ الْكَذِبَ وَأَقُولُ بِمَ أَخْرُجُ مِنْ سَخَطِهِ غَدًا وَأَسْتَعِينُ عَلَى ذَلِكَ كُلَّ ذِي رَأْيٍ مِنْ أَهْلِي فَلَمَّا قِيلَ لِي إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَدْ أَظَلَّ قَادِمًا زَاحَ عَنِّي الْبَاطِلُ حَتَّى عَرَفْتُ أَنِّي لَنْ أَنْجُوَ مِنْهُ بِشَيْءٍ أَبَدًا فَأَجْمَعْتُ صِدْقَهُ وَصَبَّحَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَادِمًا وَكَانَ إِذَا قَدِمَ مِنْ سَفَرٍ بَدَأَ بِالْمَسْجِدِ فَرَكَعَ فِيهِ رَكْعَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ جَلَسَ لِلنَّاسِ فَلَمَّا فَعَلَ ذَلِكَ جَاءَهُ الْمُخَلَّفُونَ فَطَفِقُوا يَعْتَذِرُونَ إِلَيْهِ وَيَحْلِفُونَ لَهُ وَكَانُوا بِضْعَةً وَثَمَانِينَ رَجُلًا فَقَبِلَ مِنْهُمْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَلَانِيَتَهُمْ وَبَايَعَهُمْ وَاسْتَغْفَرَ لَهُمْ وَوَكَلَ سَرَائِرَهُمْ إِلَى اللَّهِ حَتَّى جِئْتُ فَلَمَّا سَلَّمْتُ تَبَسَّمَ تَبَسُّمَ الْمُغْضَبِ ثُمَّ قَالَ تَعَالَ فَجِئْتُ أَمْشِي حَتَّى جَلَسْتُ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ فَقَالَ لِي مَا خَلَّفَكَ أَلَمْ تَكُنْ قَدْ ابْتَعْتَ ظَهْرَكَ قَالَ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي وَاللَّهِ لَوْ جَلَسْتُ عِنْدَ غَيْرِكَ مِنْ أَهْلِ الدُّنْيَا لَرَأَيْتُ أَنِّي سَأَخْرُجُ مِنْ سَخَطِهِ بِعُذْرٍ وَلَقَدْ أُعْطِيتُ جَدَلًا وَلَكِنِّي وَاللَّهِ لَقَدْ عَلِمْتُ لَئِنْ حَدَّثْتُكَ الْيَوْمَ حَدِيثَ كَذِبٍ تَرْضَى بِهِ عَنِّي لَيُوشِكَنَّ اللَّهُ أَنْ يُسْخِطَكَ عَلَيَّ وَلَئِنْ حَدَّثْتُكَ حَدِيثَ صِدْقٍ تَجِدُ عَلَيَّ فِيهِ إِنِّي لَأَرْجُو فِيهِ عُقْبَى اللَّهِ وَاللَّهِ مَا كَانَ لِي عُذْرٌ وَاللَّهِ مَا كُنْتُ قَطُّ أَقْوَى وَلَا أَيْسَرَ مِنِّي حِينَ تَخَلَّفْتُ عَنْكَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَمَّا هَذَا فَقَدْ صَدَقَ فَقُمْ حَتَّى يَقْضِيَ اللَّهُ فِيكَ فَقُمْتُ وَثَارَ رِجَالٌ مِنْ بَنِي سَلِمَةَ فَاتَّبَعُونِي فَقَالُوا لِي وَاللَّهِ مَا عَلِمْنَاكَ أَذْنَبْتَ ذَنْبًا قَبْلَ هَذَا لَقَدْ عَجَزْتَ فِي أَنْ لَا تَكُونَ اعْتَذَرْتَ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ بِمَا اعْتَذَرَ بِهِ إِلَيْهِ الْمُخَلَّفُونَ فَقَدْ كَانَ كَافِيَكَ ذَنْبَكَ اسْتِغْفَارُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ لَكَ قَالَ فَوَاللَّهِ مَا زَالُوا يُؤَنِّبُونَنِي حَتَّى أَرَدْتُ أَنْ أَرْجِعَ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَأُكَذِّبَ نَفْسِي قَالَ ثُمَّ قُلْتُ لَهُمْ هَلْ لَقِيَ هَذَا مَعِي مِنْ أَحَدٍ قَالُوا نَعَمْ لَقِيَهُ مَعَكَ رَجُلَانِ قَالَا مِثْلَ مَا قُلْتَ فَقِيلَ لَهُمَا مِثْلَ مَا قِيلَ لَكَ قَالَ قُلْتُ مَنْ هُمَا قَالُوا مُرَارَةُ بْنُ الرَّبِيعَةَ الْعَامِرِيُّ وَهِلَالُ بْنُ أُمَيَّةَ الْوَاقِفِيُّ قَالَ فَذَكَرُوا لِي رَجُلَيْنِ صَالِحَيْنِ قَدْ شَهِدَا بَدْرًا فِيهِمَا أُسْوَةٌ قَالَ فَمَضَيْتُ حِينَ ذَكَرُوهُمَا لِي قَالَ وَنَهَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ عَنْ كَلَامِنَا أَيُّهَا الثَّلَاثَةُ مِنْ بَيْنِ مَنْ تَخَلَّفَ عَنْهُ قَالَ فَاجْتَنَبَنَا النَّاسُ وَقَالَ تَغَيَّرُوا لَنَا حَتَّى تَنَكَّرَتْ لِي فِي نَفْسِيَ الْأَرْضُ فَمَا هِيَ بِالْأَرْضِ الَّتِي أَعْرِفُ فَلَبِثْنَا عَلَى ذَلِكَ خَمْسِينَ لَيْلَةً فَأَمَّا صَاحِبَايَ فَاسْتَكَانَا وَقَعَدَا فِي بُيُوتِهِمَا يَبْكِيَانِ وَأَمَّا أَنَا فَكُنْتُ أَشَبَّ الْقَوْمِ وَأَجْلَدَهُمْ فَكُنْتُ أَخْرُجُ فَأَشْهَدُ الصَّلَاةَ وَأَطُوفُ فِي الْأَسْوَاقِ وَلَا يُكَلِّمُنِي أَحَدٌ وَآتِي رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَأُسَلِّمُ عَلَيْهِ وَهُوَ فِي مَجْلِسِهِ بَعْدَ الصَّلَاةِ فَأَقُولُ فِي نَفْسِي هَلْ حَرَّكَ شَفَتَيْهِ بِرَدِّ 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 وَأَحَبُّ النَّاسِ إِلَيَّ فَسَلَّمْتُ عَلَيْهِ فَوَاللَّهِ مَا رَدَّ عَلَيَّ السَّلَامَ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ يَا أَبَا قَتَادَةَ أَنْشُدُكَ بِاللَّهِ هَلْ تَعْلَمَنَّ أَنِّي أُحِبُّ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ قَالَ فَسَكَتَ فَعُدْتُ فَنَاشَدْتُهُ فَسَكَتَ فَعُدْتُ فَنَاشَدْتُهُ فَقَالَ اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَعْلَمُ فَفَاضَتْ عَيْنَايَ وَتَوَلَّيْتُ حَتَّى تَسَوَّرْتُ الْجِدَارَ فَبَيْنَا أَنَا أَمْشِي فِي سُوقِ الْمَدِينَةِ إِذَا نَبَطِيٌّ مِنْ نَبَطِ أَهْلِ الشَّامِ مِمَّنْ قَدِمَ بِالطَّعَامِ يَبِيعُهُ بِالْمَدِينَةِ يَقُولُ مَنْ يَدُلُّ عَلَى كَعْبِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ قَالَ فَطَفِقَ النَّاسُ يُشِيرُونَ لَهُ إِلَيَّ حَتَّى جَاءَنِي فَدَفَعَ إِلَيَّ كِتَابًا مِنْ مَلِكِ غَسَّانَ وَكُنْتُ كَاتِبًا فَقَرَأْتُهُ فَإِذَا فِيهِ أَمَّا بَعْدُ فَإِنَّهُ قَدْ بَلَغَنَا أَنَّ صَاحِبَكَ قَدْ جَفَاكَ وَلَمْ يَجْعَلْكَ اللَّهُ بِدَارِ هَوَانٍ وَلَا مَضْيَعَةٍ فَالْحَقْ بِنَا نُوَاسِكَ قَالَ فَقُلْتُ حِينَ قَرَأْتُهَا وَهَذِهِ أَيْضَا مِنْ الْبَلَاءِ فَتَيَامَمْتُ بِهَا التَّنُّورَ ف

Narrated to me Abu Ath Thahir Ahmad bin Amru bin Abdullah bin Amru bin Sarh, a slave of Bani Umayyah, informed me Ibnu Wahb informed me Yunus from Ibnu Syihab, he said "The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, set out to the Battle of Tabuk to face the Romans and the Christian Arabs in Syria." Ibnu Syihab said 'I was narrated to by Abdul Rahman bin Abdullah bin Ka'ab bin Malik, that Abdullah bin Ka'ab bin Malik - Abdullah bin Ka'ab was one of Ka'ab’s sons who accompanied Ka'ab when he was blind - he said 'I heard Ka'ab bin Malik narrate the story about himself when he accompanied the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, in the Battle of Tabuk.' Ka'ab bin Malik said 'I never missed joining the Messenger of Allah in any battle he participated in except the Battle of Tabuk, though I also missed the Battle of Badr. The Messenger of Allah did not blame any Muslim who did not join the Battle of Badr, as the Muslims initially aimed only to attack the Quraysh caravan until Allah brought them face-to-face with their enemies without prior agreement. I was present with the Messenger of Allah on the night of Aqabah when we pledged to defend Islam. To me, joining the Battle of Badr is not comparable to the night of Aqabah, although Badr is more famous among people. Among the stories of why I did not join the Battle of Tabuk is as follows: I was truly helpless and had more means than ever when I did not join the Battle of Tabuk. By Allah, I had never prepared two mounts for any battle before, but for Tabuk, I prepared two mounts. The Messenger of Allah set out for Tabuk during intense heat, a long and risky journey, facing a large number of enemies. The Messenger explained to the Muslims what they would face with him and ordered them to prepare sufficient provisions for war. At that time, the Muslims accompanying the Messenger were so numerous that they were not listed in a register. Ka'ab said 'A man who did not appear because he wished not to join the battle thought his absence would go unnoticed by the Messenger unless a revelation came from Allah about him. The Messenger went to the Battle of Tabuk when the fruit harvest was excellent, so I had to turn my attention away from it. The Messenger and the Muslims prepared, and I went to gather provisions with them. Then I returned without obtaining any provisions. I said to myself: "I can prepare provisions anytime." I remained in doubt between joining or not until the Muslims were fully prepared. The Messenger departed with the Muslims, and I had not prepared anything. I went, then returned without preparing anything. I kept wavering like that between joining the battle or not until the Muslim army had hastened and the battle had begun. Then I wanted to catch up to the battlefield - but it was only wishful thinking - and I was destined not to join the battle. After the Messenger went to the Battle of Tabuk, sadness enveloped me. When I went out among the people, I realized I could only meet those in hypocrisy or the weak whom Allah excused. The Messenger did not remember me until he reached Tabuk. Then, while sitting among the companions, he suddenly asked: 'Why didn’t Ka'ab bin Malik join us?' A companion from Bani Salimah replied: 'O Messenger of Allah, it seems Ka'ab bin Malik prioritized himself over this struggle.' Hearing this, Muadz bin Jabal said: 'O companion, how bad is your statement! By Allah, O Messenger of Allah, I know Ka'ab bin Malik is a good person.' Then the Messenger remained silent. While he was silent, he saw a man wearing an iron helmet, hard to recognize. The Messenger said: 'You must be Abu Khaitsamah?' It was indeed Abu Khaitsamah Al Anshari, a companion who had given a sa' of dates when mocked by hypocrites. Ka'ab bin Malik said 'When I heard that the Messenger was preparing to return from Tabuk, I was overwhelmed with sadness. I began to devise a lie. I said to myself: "What excuse can save me from the Messenger’s anger?" For this, I sought help from family members who could advise. When someone told me the Messenger was almost in Medina, the idea of lying vanished from my mind. I realized I could not lie to the Messenger at all. Therefore, I had to be truthful with him. Soon after, the Messenger arrived in Medina. As usual, he went straight to the mosque - as was his tradition after traveling - to perform sunnah prayers. After the sunnah prayers, he sat with the companions. Then, some companions who did not join the battle came, offering various excuses with oaths. They were estimated to be over eighty people. The Messenger accepted their openness, pledged allegiance to them, sought forgiveness for them, and entrusted what they concealed in their hearts to Allah. After a while, I came to meet the Messenger. After greeting him, he smiled like someone angry. Then he said: 'Come here!' So I approached and sat in front of him. Then the Messenger asked: 'Why didn’t you join us in the battle, O Ka'ab? Didn’t you pledge to give your life for Islam?' I replied: 'O Messenger of Allah, by Allah, if I sat with anyone other than you, I am sure I would escape their anger with my excuses and arguments. But, by Allah, I know if I now give you a false excuse to avoid your anger, Allah will make you angry with me. If I give you my true and honest reason, and you become angry with it, I will accept it willingly. Let Allah judge me with my truthful statement. By Allah, I had no excuse for not joining the battle. By Allah, I was completely helpless despite having ample opportunity to join the Muslims in the struggle.' Hearing my sincere confession, the Messenger said: 'This man has spoken truthfully. Therefore, stand until Allah decides for you.' So I stood and left his side. Shortly after, some people from Bani Salimah followed me, saying: 'O Ka'ab, by Allah, we did not know you had committed a sin before. You truly did not offer excuses to the Messenger as other companions who did not join the battle did. Indeed, only the Messenger’s intercession can erase your sin.' Ka'ab bin Malik said 'By Allah, they kept reproaching me until I wanted to return to the Messenger and deny myself.' Ka'ab bin Malik said 'Are there others who faced the Messenger like me?' They, the Bani Salimah, replied: 'Yes, there are two others like you. Both said to the Messenger what you said, and the Messenger responded to them as he did to you.' Ka'ab bin Malik said 'Then I asked: "Who are those two, O companions?" They replied: 'They are Murarah bin Rabi'ah Al Amri and Hilal bin Umayyah Al Waqifi.' Ka'ab bin Malik said 'Then they mentioned two righteous companions who participated in the Battle of Badr and were worthy of being exemplary. After that, I left when they mentioned those two to me.' Ka'ab bin Malik said 'Days later, the Messenger forbade the Muslims from speaking to the three of us who did not join the Battle of Tabuk. From then on, the Muslims began to distance themselves and change their attitude toward us, making the earth feel foreign to us, as if it were not the earth I had lived on before, and this lasted for fifty nights.' My two companions who did not join the Battle of Tabuk stayed sorrowfully in their homes, weeping, while I, being young and resilient, remained normal, going out, attending congregational prayers with the Muslims, and walking in the market, though no one would speak to me. Once, I approached the Messenger, greeting him while he was at his seat after prayer. I wondered: 'Will the Messenger move his lips to respond to my greeting or not?' Then I prayed near the Messenger, stealing glances at him. When I prepared for prayer, he looked at me, but when I turned to him, he turned his gaze away. After a long period of isolation from the Muslims, I went for a walk until I reached the garden wall of Abu Qatadah, my cousin and someone I liked. Upon arriving, I greeted him. But, by Allah, he did not respond to my greeting. So I mustered the courage to ask: 'O Abu Qatadah, I swear by Allah, don’t you know that I love Allah and His Messenger?' He remained silent. I repeated my oath as before, but he stayed silent. Then I repeated it again, and he replied: 'Indeed, Allah and His Messenger know best about this.' Hearing his response, tears welled up, and I returned home along the garden wall. While walking in the Medina market, a man from Syria selling food asked: 'Who can show me where Ka'ab bin Malik is?' The people pointed to me, and he came to me, handing me a letter from the King of Ghassan. Being literate, I read its contents: 'We heard that your companion (meaning the Messenger) has isolated you from society, while your Lord does not waste you like this. Join us, and we will help you.' After reading it, I said: 'This letter is also a calamity for me.' Then I put it in the fire and burned it until it was destroyed. After forty days of public isolation, no revelation had come. Then, one day, a messenger from the Messenger came to me with a message: 'O Ka'ab, the Messenger orders you to stay away from your wife.' I asked: 'Should I divorce her or what?' The messenger replied: 'No need to divorce her. Just avoid her and do not approach her.' So I said to my wife: 'O my dear, go back to your parents’ house and stay with them until Allah provides a clear decision in this matter.' Ka'ab bin Malik said 'Soon after, Hilal bin Umayyah’s wife went to the Messenger and asked: 'O Messenger of Allah, Hilal bin Umayyah is old and frail and has no servant. Therefore, allow me to care for him.' The Messenger replied: 'No. You should not accompany him for now, and he must not approach you for a while.' Hilal’s wife insisted: 'By Allah, O Messenger, he has no spirit left. He has been crying since this issue began until now.' Ka'ab bin Malik said 'Some of my family said: "You should ask the Messenger’s permission regarding your wife, as he allowed Hilal bin Umayyah’s wife to care for her husband." Ka'ab bin Malik said 'I will not ask the Messenger for permission about my wife. For how could I know what his response would be if I asked, given that I am still young?' Ka'ab bin Malik said 'This lasted for ten nights, completing fifty nights since the Muslims were forbidden to speak to us. Then I performed the dawn prayer on the fiftieth night at the back of the house. While sitting in prayer, I was overwhelmed with regret and sadness, feeling the vast earth was narrow for me. Suddenly, I heard someone shouting loudly, piercing the horizon: 'O Ka'ab bin Malik, rejoice!' So I fell in prostration, knowing I had been freed from my ordeal. Ka'ab bin Malik said 'Then the Messenger announced to the Muslims after...'