The ḥadīth of Kaʿb ibn Mālik

Yahyā ibn Bukayr related to us; al-Layth narrated to us, from ʿUqayl, from Ibn Shihāb, from ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn ʿAbd Allāh ibn Kaʿb ibn Mālik, who said that ʿAbd Allāh ibn Kaʿb ibn Mālik—he was the guide of his father Kaʿb when the latter went blind—declared:

I heard Kaʿb ibn Mālik recount the incident of his remaining behind from the expedition to Tabūk. Kaʿb said:

I never stayed back from any campaign the Messenger of Allah ﷺ undertook except the expedition to Tabūk. True, I had not gone out at Badr either, but no one was reproached for missing Badr, for the Messenger of Allah ﷺ had only set out in pursuit of the Quraysh caravan, and then Allah caused a meeting between them and their enemy without prior appointment. I was, however, present with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ on the Night of al-ʿAqabah when we pledged ourselves to Islam, and I would not trade that for having witnessed Badr, even though Badr is more renowned among the people.

Here is my story: I had never been stronger or better provided for than when I stayed behind from that campaign. By Allah, never before had I possessed two mounts together until that expedition, and on that occasion I owned both of them. Whenever the Messenger of Allah ﷺ intended a raid he would veil its objective—until that particular campaign. He set out in intense heat, for a distant journey, across a barren desert, against a large enemy force, so he laid the matter openly before the Muslims that they might make adequate preparation; he plainly informed them of the direction he was headed. The Muslims with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ were many, and no written register (dīwān) yet gathered their names.

Kaʿb continued: Thus anyone who wished to stay behind assumed he could remain unnoticed unless Allah sent down revelation about him. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ marched during a season when the fruits were ripe and the shade enticing. I began to go out intent on preparing to depart with them, but would return having accomplished nothing. I kept saying to myself, ‘I can manage it.’ This went on until the people pressed forward in earnest. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ and those with him set out while I had still completed none of my outfitting.

I said, ‘I shall get ready a day or two after him and then catch up.’ I went out, after they had departed, to prepare, but returned having done nothing. I went out again and came back having done nothing. This continued until they had advanced swiftly and the opportunity to join the expedition passed. I resolved to mount and overtake them—would that I had done so!—yet it was not decreed for me.

Whenever I went out among the people after the Messenger of Allah ﷺ had set off, I was saddened to see no one except a man publicly branded with hypocrisy or someone whom Allah had excused because of weakness. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ did not mention me until he reached Tabūk. While he was sitting among the people there he asked,

‘What has Kaʿb done?’

A man of Banū Salimah replied, ‘Messenger of Allah, his fine garments and his regard for his shoulders have detained him.’

Muʿādh ibn Jabal said, ‘What an evil thing you have said! By Allah, Messenger of Allah, we know nothing of him but good.’ The Messenger of Allah ﷺ remained silent.

Kaʿb ibn Mālik said: When news reached me that he was on his way back, anxiety overwhelmed me. I began to devise false excuses, asking myself, ‘How shall I escape his anger tomorrow?’ I sought the counsel of every person of sound judgment among my household.

But when it was announced that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was about to arrive, falsehood slipped away from me. I knew I could never escape him with a lie, so I resolved to tell the truth. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ arrived, and whenever he returned from a journey he would go first to the mosque, pray two rakʿahs there, and then sit with the people. When he had done so, those who had stayed behind came and began offering their excuses and swearing oaths to him. They were more than eighty men, and he accepted what they presented