Related by Ibn ʿUmar, Muhammad ibn Kaʿb, Zayd ibn Aslam, and Qatadah— their accounts having been woven together into a single narrative:

During the expedition of Tabuk, a man said, “We have never seen the like of these reciters of ours: more gluttonous stomachs, more lying tongues, or greater cowards when battle is joined.” He was referring to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and the Companions devoted to Qurʾan recitation. ʿAwf ibn Malik replied, “You lie! Rather, you are a hypocrite. I shall certainly inform the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.” ʿAwf went off to report the matter, but revelation had already outstripped him. The man then came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ just as the Prophet had mounted his camel and was setting off. He pleaded, “O Messenger of Allah, we were only engaging in idle talk—the sort of conversation travelers use to pass the time on the road.”

Ibn ʿUmar said, “It is as though I can still see him clinging to the strap of the Prophet’s saddle while the stones were striking his feet, saying, ‘We were only talking nonsense and joking,’ and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ kept repeating to him, ‘Was it Allah, His signs, and His Messenger that you were mocking? Make no excuses; you have disbelieved after your profession of faith’ (Surah al-Tawbah 9:65–66). The Prophet neither turned toward him nor added anything beyond that.”

Biographical notes:
1- Ibn ʿUmar: ʿAbd Allah ibn ʿUmar ibn al-Khattab, d. 73 AH.
2- Muhammad ibn Kaʿb: Muhammad ibn Kaʿb ibn Sulaym al-Qurazi al-Madani, a trustworthy scholar, d. 120 AH.
3- Zayd ibn Aslam: the freedman of ʿUmar ibn al-Khattab, a well-known reliable narrator, d. 136 AH.