people met me in groups, congratulating me on my repentance and saying, “Congratulations—may Allah’s acceptance of your repentance be blessed for you!” I continued in that manner until I entered the mosque, where I found the Messenger of Allah ﷺ seated with the people around him. Talḥah ibn ʿUbayd Allah—may Allah be pleased with him—stood up, hurried toward me, shook my hand, and offered his congratulations; by Allah, none of the Emigrants rose except him, and I have never forgotten that act of Talḥah.

Kaʿb said: When I greeted the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, his face was beaming with joy, and he said, “Rejoice in the best day that has ever come to you since the day your mother bore you!” I asked, “Is this from you, O Messenger of Allah, or from Allah?” He replied, “No—rather, it is from Allah, Mighty and Majestic.” Whenever the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was pleased, his face would shine so brightly it was as if it were a piece of the moon, and we recognized that about him.

When I had sat down before him I said, “O Messenger of Allah, as part of my repentance I wish to divest myself(1) of all my wealth in charity for Allah and His Messenger.” He said, “Keep some of your wealth; that will be better for you.” I said, “Then I will keep my share that is in Khaybar.”

I added, “O Messenger of Allah, Allah the Exalted saved me only through truthfulness, and as part of my repentance I pledge that, for as long as I live, I will speak nothing but the truth.” By Allah, since I made that statement to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, I do not know of anyone among the Muslims whom Allah has tested(2) in truthful speech more favorably than He has tested me. By Allah, I have not deliberately uttered a lie from the day I said that to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ until this very day, and I hope that Allah, the Exalted, will preserve me for the rest of my life.

Then Allah, the Exalted, revealed: “Allah has certainly turned in mercy to the Prophet, the Emigrants, and the Helpers who followed him in the hour of hardship …” until His words, “… indeed He is Compassionate, Merciful toward them.” * “And (He turned in mercy) to the three who were left behind, until, when the earth, vast as it is, closed in upon them …” until His words, “Be mindful of Allah and be with the truthful.” (al-Tawbah 117–119)

Kaʿb continued: By Allah, after Allah guided me to Islam, no blessing has ever been greater in my eyes than my having spoken the truth to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ—so that I did not lie to him and perish as those who lied perished. For Allah the Exalted said about those who lied, when He sent down the revelation, the harshest words He has ever said about anyone: “They will swear to you by Allah when you return(3) to them so that you may turn away from them …”