And the Messenger of Allah ﷺ announced that Allah had accepted our repentance after he led the dawn prayer. People set out to bring us the good news, and some reached my two companions before they reached me. One man galloped toward me on a horse, while another from the tribe of Aslam ran on foot and climbed the mountain; yet his voice reached me even faster than the horse.

When the man whose cry I had heard finally arrived with the glad tidings, I took off the two garments I was wearing and clothed him with them in gratitude for his news—by Allah, I owned nothing else that day. I then borrowed two other garments, put them on, and went to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. Groups of people met me one after another, congratulating me on my repentance and saying, “May Allah’s acceptance of your repentance bring you joy!”

When I entered the mosque, Ṭalḥah ibn ʿUbayd Allah hurried toward me, clasped my hand, and congratulated me. By Allah, no other man from the Emigrants came forward as he did, and I shall never forget it for Ṭalḥah.

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ, his face radiant with delight, said, “Rejoice in the best day that has ever come to you since your mother bore you.” I asked, “Is this from you, Messenger of Allah, or from Allah?” He replied, “No—it is from Allah.”

Whenever the Messenger of Allah ﷺ received good news, his face would shine as though it were a piece of the moon, and we recognized that in him. When I sat before him I said, “Messenger of Allah, as part of my repentance I wish to give away all my wealth in charity for the sake of Allah and His Messenger.” He said, “Keep some of your wealth; that will be better for you.” I replied, “Then I will keep the portion I own in Khaybar.”

I added, “Messenger of Allah, Allah saved me through truthfulness, and as part of my repentance I shall never speak anything but the truth for as long as I live.” By Allah, I know of no one among the Muslims whom Allah has tried regarding truthful speech more favorably than He tried me. From the moment I made that statement to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, I have never deliberately told a lie, and I hope Allah will preserve me in that until I die.

Then Allah the Exalted revealed to His Messenger: “Allah has certainly turned in mercy to the Prophet and to the Emigrants and the Helpers … So be mindful of Allah and be with the truthful” (Quran 9:117–119).

By Allah, after He guided me to Islam, no blessing has ever been greater in my eyes than the truthfulness with which I faced the Messenger of Allah ﷺ on that day—that I did not lie to him and thereby perish as those who lied to him perished. For Allah the Exalted said of those who lied to him, when