The Repentance of Ka'ab Ibn Malik

Ka'ab Ibn Malik (May Allah be pleased with him) was telling the story:



I was not absent from the Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him) during any campaign that he fought in, except the Battle of Tabuk. Nevertheless, I was absent from the Battle of Badr. However, no individual was admonished for non-participation. Indeed, the Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him)departed in search of a caravan of the Quraish, thereafter certain events took place until Allâh assembled the two armies unexpectedly. Verily, I witnessed the night of Al-'Aqabah (the pledge) with the Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him), the night wherein we pledged our allegiance to Islam. Furthermore I would not exchange it for participation in the Battle of Badr, regardless of the fact that the Battle of Badr is deemed more noteworthy amongst the people. In relation to my news: I had never before been stronger nor wealthier than at the time I remained behind the Prophet (Peace be upon him)during that campaign. By Allâh - I had never before been in possession of two she-camels, until the time of the battle.


The Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him)would conceal his intention to embark upon a military expedition by making reference to other campaigns, until the time for that expedition arrived.
The Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him)conducted that expedition during a season of extreme heat, undertaking a lengthy journey through desert terrain. In addition, the enemy was great in number. Thus, the Prophet (Peace be upon him) clarified the matter to the Muslims, in order that they prepare themselves adequately for their campaign, and he informed them of their intended destination. The Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him)was accompanied by a considerable number of Muslims, whose names could not be recorded in a book. Ka'b continued: Any individual who wished to remain absent would assume that his absence would pass unnoticed, unless it was revealed by Allâh by means of Divine Revelation. The Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him)undertook that expedition during a season wherein the fruit had ripened and the shade had become pleasant.


The Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him)and the Muslims equipped themselves with the necessary provisions. I too departed in order to prepare myself, however I returned without accomplishing anything. I would say to myself: I am able to prepare myself. Hence, I continued to postpone my preparations. However the people occupied themselves in earnest with the journey, until the day arrived wherein the Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him)and the Muslims proceeded to depart. However I had not completed any part of my preparations. I said to myself: I shall prepare myself in one or two days after his departure, and then I will join them.


The morning after their departure, I set out in order to equip myself. However, I returned without completing anything. The following morning, I set out again, nevertheless, but I returned without accomplishing anything. This continued until they hastened towards the battle, and the campaign had passed by. Nevertheless, I intended to depart and reach them, would that I had done so! However, I was not destined to do that.
After the departure of the Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him)I would enter amongst the people and it would become a cause of sadness for me. For I did not see except the one suspected of being a hypocrite, or the weak and infirm whom Allâh had excused from participation.


The Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him)did not remember me until he arrived in Tabuk. He was sitting amongst his people in Tabuk and asked "What happened to Ka'b?" A man from amongst the tribe of Bani Salimah responded: "O Messenger of Allâh, he was hindered by his garments and pleasure for his clothes and his self."
Mua'adh bin Jabal said: "What a wretched statement you have uttered. O Messenger of Allâh, we do not know of him save goodness."
Hence, the Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him)became silent. Whilst he was in that position, he saw a man clothed in a white garment real in essence (not merely a desert mirage). The Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him)said: "May it be Abu Khaythama al-Ansaaree, he was the one who donated a measure of dates when the Munaafiqeen (Hypocrites) defamed him."


Ka'b bin Maalik continued: When I learned that he had turned in order to return, I was consumed by distress, and started therefore to invent lies. I started to question myself: With what can I avoid his anger tomorrow? I sought assistance from every individual of sound mind and judgment from amongst my family.
When it was mentioned that the Messenger of Allâh's (Peace be upon him)arrival is imminent, the false excuses vanished from my mind. I recognized that I could not liberate myself from this predicament by means of falsehood. I therefore resolved to speak the truth.


The Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him)arrived the following morning. It was a practice of the Prophet (Peace be upon him)that upon returning from a journey, he would proceed towards the Mosque and perform a two rak'ah prayer therein, and then sit amongst the people. After those matters had taken place, the absentees approached him. They started to present their excuses and take oaths to that effect. There were over eighty men in number. The Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him)accepted their excuses, their oaths, and sought forgiveness on their behalf. In addition, he entrusted unto Allâh their secret affairs. Thereafter I approached him, and conveyed the greeting upon him. He smiled - the smile of the one enraged. Then he said: "Come forward." I therefore approached him walking until I was sitting before him. Then he said: "What prevented you from accompanying us? Had you not purchased a riding animal?"
I responded: "Of course O Messenger of Allâh. However, by Allâh, if I was in the presence of any other man from amongst the inhabitants of this World, I would avoid His wrath by presenting an excuse for I have been granted the ability to speak in an eloquently persuasive manner. However, I am aware that if I utter a lie today in order to seek your pleasure, certainly Allâh will cause you to become enraged with me in the future. Alternatively, if I inform you of the truth, thereby causing you to become angry, I may nevertheless hope for Allâh's Pardon. No, By Allâh I have no excuse to present. I had never before been stronger nor wealthier than during the time I neglected to accompany you."


The Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him)replied: "In relation to this man - he has spoken the truth. Therefore, stand until Allâh pronounces judgment in this matter." I therefore stood, a group of men from the tribe of Bani Salimah became disorderly and started following me. They addressed me: "By Allâh - we have not known you to commit a misdeed. Verily you erred in not excusing yourself before the Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him)in a similar manner to the other absentees who excused themselves. The Messenger of Allâh's (Peace be upon him)action of seeking forgiveness for your misdeed would have been sufficient for you." They continued to reprimand me until I desired to return to the Prophet (Peace be upon him)and fabricate a lie against myself (contradict my story). However I questioned them:
"Is there any other individual in a similar position?" They responded:
"Yes, there are two men who uttered the same statement as you and both received the same directive as you did." I asked: "Who are these two men?" They answered: "Murarah bin al-Rabee' and Hilaal bin Umayyah al-Waaqifee."
By their statement, they had made reference to two virtuous men who had participated in the Battle of Badr, and were examples to be followed. After they had mentioned these two men I remained steadfast upon my original statement.


Thereafter, the Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him)prohibited the Muslims from speaking to us -namely the three individuals from amongst us who had neglected to accompany him.
As a consequence the people avoided us and altered their conduct towards us, until the land wherein I lived appeared foreign, not one which I was familiar with. We remained in that state for a period of fifty nights. In relation to my companions - they surrendered themselves to their houses and remained seated therein, weeping. However, I was the youngest and most forbearing of the three, I would therefore exit the house in order to perform the prayer with the other Muslims.


I would wander around the markets, yet no one would speak to me. I would approach the Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him)and convey the greeting upon him whilst he was sitting amidst his gatherings, which took place upon completion of the prayer. I would question myself: Did his lips move in the act of reciprocating the greeting upon me or not? Thereafter, I would perform the prayer close by him, and look towards him in a surreptitious manner. When I occupied myself with the prayer, he would turn towards me. However, when I looked in his direction, he would avoid me. When this period of estrangement lengthened, I set out to walk until I climbed upon the wall of Abu Qatadah's garden. He was my cousin and amongst the most beloved of people to me. I conveyed the greeting upon him, and by Allâh -he did not reciprocate the greeting upon me. Hence, I said: "O Abu Qatadah: I implore you by Allâh, are you aware that I love Allâh and His Messenger?" He remained silent. I appealed to him by Allâh a second time, however he remained silent. Then he responded: "Allâh and His Messenger (Peace be upon him)are greater in knowledge." Thereupon tears flowed from my eyes, I turned away and climbed over the wall. He continued: Whilst I was walking in the market in Madeenah I saw a Christian farmer from amongst the farmers of Shaam, who had traveled to Madeenah in order to sell their produce. He said: "Who shall direct me to towards Ka'b bin Maalik?" The people started to gesture towards me, until he approached me and presented me with a letter from the King of Ghassan, in which it was written:


'To proceed, it has come to our attention that your companion has dealt with you in a harsh manner. Allâh has not rendered this world for you as a dwelling of disgrace and degradation, nor one of loss and ruin. So join us and we shall bestow upon you comfort and consolation.' Upon reading the letter I said to myself: This too is a trial placed before me. I therefore placed the letter in the oven and created a fire by burning it therein.


When a period of forty out of fifty nights had passed, the messenger of the Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him)approached me and said: "The Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him)commands you to distance yourself from your wife." I said: "Should I divorce her, or what must I do?" He responded: "No, distance yourself from her and do not approach her. The Prophet (Peace be upon him)has issued a similar directive to your two companions." Hence, I said to my wife:
"Go to your parents and remain with them until Allâh passes judgment in this matter."


Ka'b said: The wife of Hilaal bin Umayyah came to the Apostle of Allâh (Peace be upon him)and said: "O Messenger of Allâh, verily Hilaal bin Umayyah is an elderly man who is incapable of taking care of himself. Furthermore, he is not in possession of a servant, would you therefore object if I was to serve him?" He responded: "No, but he must not approach you." She said: "By Allâh, he has no desire for any matter. By Allâh, he has not ceased to weep from the day this matter started until this time now." Some of my family members questioned me: "Why don't you seek permission from the Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him)concerning your wife, as he has granted permission for the wife of Hilaal bin Umayyah to serve him?" I responded: "By Allâh, I shall not seek permission from the Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him)concerning her. I am not aware of what the Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him)would say if I sought his permission in relation to her whilst I am still a young man." I remained in that state for an additional ten nights, until fifty nights had been completed from the point that he had prohibited the people from speaking to us.
On the morning of the fiftieth night, I performed the Fajr prayer upon the roof of one of our houses. I was experiencing a condition which Allâh had mentioned in the Book: 'My soul had become contracted, and the earth had contracted upon me despite its vastness.'


Suddenly I heard a clear voice emanating from the direction of Mount Sala. Somebody announced with his loudest voice: "O Ka'b bin Maalik, I confer upon you glad tidings!" I prostrated myself upon the ground. I realized that relief from this tribulation had arrived and that the Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him)had indicated that Allâh had granted us penitence. After the Fajr prayer, the people thereupon proceeded forth to congratulate us, and bearers of glad tidings departed to my two companions. A horseman raced towards me in order to congratulate me and a messenger from the tribe of Aslam raced towards the mountain and scaled it in order to make the announcement. I heard his voice before that of the horseman. When the individual whose voice I had heard approached me to convey the glad tidings, I removed my garments and clothed him in them.


By Allâh, on that day I was not in possession of any other garments, I therefore borrowed two items, clothed myself and proceeded towards the Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him). People started receiving me in groups, congratulating me upon the acceptance of my penitence. They said: "We congratulate you upon Allâh's acceptance of your repentance." When I entered the Mosque, the Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him)was sitting, surrounded by people. Talha bin 'Ubaidullah hastened towards me. He shook my hand, and congratulated me. By Allâh, no one from amongst the Muhaajireen (Emigrants) stood in order to greet me save him, and I shall never forget Talha's action in doing so Ka'b said: When I greeted the Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him), his face was radiant with happiness, and he said: "I give you the glad tidings of the best day you have witnessed since your mother gave birth to you." Ka'b continued:
"Is this from you or from Allâh?" He responded:
"No, it is from Allâh."


Whenever the Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him)became delighted, his face became illuminated until it resembled a piece of the moon. We recognized that this matter was characteristic of him. When I sat before him, I said: "O Messenger of Allâh, by virtue of the acceptance of my repentance, I shall donate the sum total of my wealth in charity for the sake of Allâh and His Messenger." The Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him)responded: "Retain a portion of your wealth, for it is better for you to do so." I said: "I shall retain a portion of my wealth in Khaibar. O Messenger of Allâh, verily Allâh has delivered me from this tribulation because I spoke the truth. My penitence therefore dictates that I shall speak only the truth as long as I live."


By Allâh, I am not aware of any individual from amongst the Muslims whom Allâh has blessed for speaking the truth more than myself, from the time wherein I mentioned those words of truth to the Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him). In addition, I have never intended to utter a falsehood from the time wherein I mentioned those words of truth to the Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him)to the present day. Furthermore, I hope that Allâh will protect me from uttering falsehood during the remaining portion of my life. Allâh revealed the Verse to His Messenger: "Allâh has forgiven the Prophet, the Muhaajireen, and the Ansaar...(to His statement)...Be with those who are truthful..." [Qur'ân 9:117-119]


By Allâh, after guiding me to Islam, Allâh has not bestowed upon me a favour - greater in magnitude - than my statement of truth to the Apostle of Allâh (Peace be upon him), and my action of not uttering a lie to him. For I would have destroyed myself, as those who uttered lies were destroyed. Allâh ascribed to those who had uttered falsehood, a description more evil than he had ascribed to any other individual, when He revealed His Revelation. Allâh, Blessed be He, the Most High stated:
"They will swear by Allâh to you when you return to them, that you may turn away from them. So turn away from them. Surely, they are impure, and Hell is their dwelling place - a recompense for that which they used to earn. They (the hypocrites) swear to you (Muslims) that you may be pleased with them, but if you are pleased with them, certainly Allâh is not pleased with people who are rebellious." [Qur'ân 9:95-96]


Ka'b continued: We, the three who neglected to participate, differed from those whose excuses were accepted by the Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him)when they swore to him to that effect. He accepted their pledge of allegiance and sought forgiveness for them. However, the Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him)deferred our case until Allâh passed judgment in relation to it. With reference to that, Allâh said: "He also forgave the three who remained behind..." [Qur'ân 9:118]
In this Verse Allâh did not refer to our non-participation in the military expedition. However it refers to the postponement and deferment of the Messenger (Peace be upon him)in the act of passing judgment. In contrast to the one who took an oath before him and excused himself: an action which was accepted by the Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him)




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Note: Actually this is one of the best stories I have ever read about the companions, and every time I read it, it feels as if I read it for the first time!