Al-Sharḥ al-Mumtiʿ - Ibn al-'Uthaymin - (15/224)

Al-Sharḥ al-MumtiʿIbn al-'Uthaymin

from them. Indeed, they are evil, and their refuge is Hell—a recompense for what they used to earn.” [al-Tawbah 9:95]

As for this man, his faith led him to speak the truth. He said, “I have no excuse. Never had I possessed two mounts for any expedition as I did for this one.” But procrastination overcame him. When the people set out on the first day, he said, “I will catch up with them tomorrow.” On the second day, he again said, “Tomorrow I will catch up with them,” until the opportunity had passed.

The Prophet, may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him, boycotted him and no longer spoke to him. Ka‘b even said, “I would come and greet the Prophet, may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him, and wonder: Did he move his lips in returning my greeting or not?” This despite the Prophet’s excellent character; but every situation has its fitting response. Even so, the Messenger, may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him, continued to take notice of him. When Ka‘b said the opening takbir for prayer, the Prophet, may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him, would look at him; but whenever Ka‘b turned toward him, he would turn away. For the Messenger, may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him, took the greatest care of his Companions.

He remained in this state, going out to the marketplace and speaking to people while they would not speak to him. Even Abu Qatadah—Ka‘b ibn Malik’s cousin and the dearest of people to him—did not respond to him. Ka‘b entered his garden and greeted him, but he did not return his greeting. So Ka‘b said to him, “I adjure you by Allah: do you know that I love Allah and His Messenger?” He wanted him to speak. When he adjured him by Allah, he did not speak to him, but merely said, “Allah knows best.” This was a statement that could serve both as an answer and as a non-answer.

After forty nights had passed, the Prophet, may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him, sent word to them that they were to separate from their wives, who were to leave and go to their families. When the messenger of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him, came to Ka‘b and said, “The Messenger of Allah, may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him, commands you to keep away from your wife,” Ka‘b asked, “Should I divorce her, or merely keep away from her?” Had he said, “Divorce her,” he would have divorced her. But he said, “Rather, keep away from her.” So his wife went to her family, and they remained for fifty

عَنْهُمْ إِنَّهُمْ رِجْسٌ وَمَأْوَاهُمْ جَهَنَّمُ جَزَاءً بِمَا كَانُوا يَكْسِبُونَ *﴾ [التوبة]، أما هذا فلإيمانه أعطى الصدق، وقال: ما لي عذر، وما ملكت راحلتين قط في غزوة كهذه، ولكن أخذه التسويف، لما خرج الناس أول يوم، قال: أنتظر غداً ألحقهم، في اليوم الثاني قال: غداً ألحقهم، حتى ذهب الوقت، فهجره النبي ﵊ وصار لا يكلمه، حتى أنه يقول: آتي وأسلم على النبي ﵊، وأقول: أَحَرَّكَ شفتيه بردِّ السلام أم لا؟ مع حسن خلق النبي ﵊، لكن لكل مقام مقال، ومع ذلك كان الرسول ﵊ يلاحظه، إذا كبَّر للصلاة لاحظه النبي ﵊ ونظر إليه، فإذا أقبل عليه كعب أعرض؛ لأن الرسول ﵊ كان يراعي أصحابه خير رعاية، بقي على هذه الحال يخرج إلى السوق يكلم الناس وما يكلمونه، حتى أبو قتادة ابن عم كعب بن مالك وأحب الناس إليه، دخل عليه في بستانه وسلم عليه، فلم يرد عليه السلام، فقال له: أنشدك الله، أتعلم أني أحب الله ورسوله ﷺ يريد أن يتكلم، فلما ناشده الله لم يكلمه، ولكن قال: الله أعلم، وهذه كلمة تصلح خطاباً، وغير خطاب، فلما مضى عليهم أربعون ليلة أرسل النبي ﷺ إليهم أن يفارقوا زوجاتهم، فيتركونهن يذهبن لأهلهن، فقال كعب ـ لما جاءه رسول رسول الله ﷺ وقال: إن رسول الله ﷺ يأمرك أن تعتزل امرأتك ـ قال: هل أطلقها أم أعتزلها؟ فلو قال: طلقها، لطلَّقَها، لكن قال: بل تعتزلها، فذهبت المرأة إلى أهلها، وبقوا خمسين