Repentance and Clarification
A principle of the people of Sunnah concerning repentance from falsehood is that whoever publicises an innovation or mistake, such that he becomes known for this mistake, then it is upon him to clarify and distribute his repentance in the same manner he publicised and distributed his falsehood. This could either be by way of books, tapes, lessons or lectures.
It is a well-known principle from the methodology (manhaj) of the Pious Predecessors, that whenever an innovator or a person of falsehood repented, it was required from him to rectify, correct and clarify his repentance to the people. Allah mentioned in His Noble Book;
إِلَّا الَّذِينَ تَابُوا وَأَصْلَحُوا وَبَيَّنُوا فَأُولَٰئِكَ أَتُوبُ عَلَيْهِمْ وَأَنَا التَّوَّابُ الرَّحِيمُ
“Except those who repent, make amends and clarify: I accept their repentance, and I am the Accepter of Repentance, the Merciful.” [Q 2:160]
Abū al-Fidāʾ Ismāʿīl ibn ʿUmar ibn Kathīr (d. 774 AH / 1373 CE) ؒ explained this verse:
رجعوا عما كانوا فيه وأصلحوا أعمالهم وأحوالهم وبينوا للناس ما كانوا كتموه.
“They return from what they were doing, reform their deeds and circumstances, and explain to people what they had concealed.” (Ibn Kathīr, Tafsīr al-Qurʾān al-ʿAẓīm, commentary on Q 2:160; excerpt.)
Abū ʿAbd Allah ʿAbd ar-Raḥmān ibn Nāṣir ibn ʿAbd Allah ibn Nāṣir as-Saʿdī (d. 1376 AH / 1957 CE) ؒ commented:
وأصلحوا ما فسد من أعمالهم، فلا يكفي ترك القبيح حتى يحصل فعل الحسن. ولا يكفي ذلك في الكاتم أيضا، حتى يبين ما كتمه، ويبدي ضد ما أخفى.
“They reform what has become corrupt in their deeds. Abandoning evil is insufficient until good is done. Nor is this enough for someone who concealed the truth: he must explain what he concealed and make manifest the opposite of what he hid.” (As-Saʿdī, Taysīr al-Karīm ar-Raḥmān fī Tafsīr Kalām al-Mannān, commentary on Q 2:160; excerpt.)
ʿAṭāʾ ibn Yasār reported that, before Muʿādh ibn Jabal was sent to Yemen, he asked the Prophet for advice:
عليك بتقوى الله ما استطعت، واذكر الله عز وجل عند كل حجر وشجر، وإذا عملت سيئة فأحدث عندها توبة؛ السر بالسر، والعلانية بالعلانية.
“Fear Allah as much as you can and remember Allah at every stone and tree. If you do an evil deed, follow it with repentance: a private deed with private repentance, and a public deed with public repentance.” (Al-Albānī, Silsilat al-Aḥādīth aṣ-Ṣaḥīḥah, no. 3320; see note 3 on the chain and variant citations.)
This was the methodology of our Pious Predecessors in dealing with the repentance of the people of falsehood. al-Ḥasan ibn Shaqīq once mentioned that, “We were once with Abū ʿAbd ar-Raḥmān ʿAbd Allah ibn al-Mubārak ibn Wāḍiḥ (d. 181 AH / 797 CE) when he said to a man, “Are you such and such Jahmite (Jahmī)?” to which the man replied, “Yes.” So he said to him, “When you leave [my gathering] do not return to it…” the man said, “I have repented.” Ibn al-Mubārak replied, “No you have not! Not until your repentance becomes apparent just like your innovations were apparent.”
The following question was asked to the major scholar, Shaykh Ṣāliḥ ibn Fawzān ibn ʿAbd Allah al-Fawzān:
Question: The Prophet said:
ومن دعا إلى ضلالة كان عليه من الإثم مثل آثام من تبعه، لا ينقص ذلك من آثامهم شيئا.
“Whoever calls to misguidance bears a burden of sin like the sins of those who follow him, without diminishing their sins at all.” (Muslim, Ṣaḥīḥ, no. 2674; excerpt.)
If someone has repented from calling to falsehood which has spread, does Allah forgive him, or does this warning continue to apply to him?
Shaykh Ṣāliḥ al-Fawzān: Whoever repents then Allah turns to him in repentance. If he used to call to falsehood and has repented and now calls to the truth then Allah will forgive him. However, upon him is to declare his repentance to the people. And if he has books or tapes which call to falsehood, he needs to denounce them. So it is upon him to denounce these books and tapes with statements which show his repentance, this is in order that nobody can dispute with him of what came to pass. So if he has proclaimed and clarified [his repentance] then he may absolve himself. On the contrary, if he was to be silent then the people would dispute against him with what had come to pass and they would not know nor would believe that he has repented. [Listen to audio here]
Shaykh Rabīʿ al-Madkhalī’s Answer
Shaykh Rabīʿ ibn Hādī ibn ʿUmayr al-Madkhalī (d. 1447 AH / 2025 CE) ؒ was asked:
Question: If there appears from an individual some opposition in matters of methodology (manhaj) such as accusing Shaykh Muḥammad Nāṣir ad-Dīn al-Albānī (d. 1420 AH / 1999 CE) [of irjāʾ], and then he repents from his oppositions, is it sufficient for him to say “I have repented…” or is a clarification and correction required?
Shaykh Rabīʿ ibn Hādī al-Madkhalī: Never! He must clarify [his repentance] until his rectification becomes apparent to the people. What did ʿUmar do with Ṣabīgh5 ? He beat him and imprisoned him, and he beat him and imprisoned him and he beat him and imprisoned him, for what reason? Due to his questioning of the verse:
وَالذَّارِيَاتِ ذَرْوًا
“By the winds that scatter.” [Q 51:1]
And that which resembled that. He was not an innovator but he had doubts and as such he would dupe the people with questions like these. So ʿUmar came and rewarded him with a number of beatings and imprisonment, until he finally said, “O’ commander of the believers, if you want the thing that is in my head to leave, then indeed it has left and If you want to kill me then kill me in a good manner.” Thereafter, ʿUmar exiled him to ʿIrāq and ordered the people of ʿIrāq to boycott him, [this continued] until he became like a scabby camel. If a person wanted to speak to him it would be said to him, “This is the decision of the commander of the believers, so nobody talk to him.” It remained like this up until his repentance had become completely apparent and correct, and then the Amīr of ʿIrāq wrote to ʿUmar stating, “This person has rectified himself and his repentance has become clear.” ʿUmar then replied “Order the people to speak to him.”
Consequently, it is binding that this person publicise his repentance and publicise his truthfulness. This is because we have been tried many times by people who have sly manoeuvres just like the sly manoeuvre of the fox. He says, “I have repented and retracted…” however, you do not perceive him except that he whispers here and there the falsehood which he claimed to have repented from. So it is befitting that we examine [his repentance] and that we take our time with the people until the truthfulness of their repentance becomes apparent, then after he is our brother [upon the Sunnah].
You are all aware of the noble Companion, Kaʿb ibn Mālik6 who witnessed all of the battles except the battle of Badr. Kaʿb attended the pledge at al-ʿAqabah and would not have exchanged that participation for attendance at Badr. He did not stay back from the battle of Tabūk due to disbelief or hypocrisy, and when the Prophet returned from the battle those [who did not join the Muslims in battle] approached the Prophet in making excuses. He accepted their apparent [excuses and conditions] and left what they concealed to Allah, it was thereafter that Allah exposed them and clarified what they concealed from lies [in their excuses]. As for Kaʿb ibn Mālik, Hilāl ibn Umayyah, and Murārah ibn ar-Rabīʿ, they were truthful in regards to their excuses. The Prophet said “As for those people, then they were truthful.” However he left their condition for 40 nights until it completed fifty nights, not a single person spoke to them. They repented and confessed, but still this strict punishment was placed upon them. Not a single person from Madīnah spoke to them (this is the Prophetic methodology, for indeed repentance is not a joke). After fifty nights – revelation descended from heaven – and if the boycotting lasted for years, the Prophet and the Companions would have continued in boycotting them. So after fifty nights, the mercy of Allah descended in forgiving those people and the Muslims rejoiced at this forgiveness. We have experienced many from the people of innovation, they say “By Allah I have repented, by Allah I have retracted” then you do not see him except that he is spreading his innovation here and there, some of us have experienced this. By Allah, we rejoice at the repentance [of the innovator] and we encourage it. However, we have been stung many times by those who say they have repented and then the lack of their sincerity and their scheming plots becomes apparent. Nevertheless if he repents, retracts and the truthfulness of his repentance becomes apparent after some time – then all praise is due to Allah, he is considered our brother [upon the Sunnah], he regains his standing – if Allah wills. But if other conditions appear from him then we take our precautions.
Questioner: O Shaykh, of course his repentance has become apparent, so how do we interact with him since he has repented?
Shaykh Rabīʿ ibn Hādī al-Madkhalī: By Allah, he remains under observation for a while. As for surrendering to him before we have come to know of his truthfulness then this is only due to hastiness. What did I just tell you? Why did I give you the example of Kaʿb, his party and Ṣabīgh? [for the purpose of] caution. It is not a matter that he says “I have repented” and then he returns back to teaching and raises his opinions to us. He must be free of his innovations. [7]
Explanatory Notes
[3] Ibn Abī Shaybah, Al-Muṣannaf, no. 34325, and aṭ-Ṭabarānī, Al-Muʿjam al-Kabīr, 20:159, for the advice to Muʿādh. It attributes a ḥasan grading to al-Albānī, Silsilat al-Aḥādīth aṣ-Ṣaḥīḥah, no. 1475. That number concerns a differently worded parallel report; the repentance wording appears under no. 3320. In his discussion there, al-Albānī identifies the route through ʿAṭāʾ ibn Yasār as mursal and considers supporting routes.
[4] Abū Hurayrah ؓ reported that the Messenger of Allah said:
من دعا إلى هدى كان له من الأجر مثل أجور من تبعه، لا ينقص ذلك من أجورهم شيئا. ومن دعا إلى ضلالة كان عليه من الإثم مثل آثام من تبعه، لا ينقص ذلك من آثامهم شيئا.
“Whoever calls to guidance receives a reward like the rewards of those who follow him, without diminishing their rewards at all. Whoever calls to misguidance bears a burden of sin like the sins of those who follow him, without diminishing their sins at all.” (Muslim, Ṣaḥīḥ, no. 2674.)
[5] Saʿīd ibn al-Musayyab narrated that Ṣabīgh al-Tamīmī came to the chief of believers, ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb, and said: “O Chief of the Believers, tell me about the verse: “The Dhāriyāt that scatter dust”” He replied: “It is the winds and if I had not heard the Messenger of Allah say so, I would not have said it.” Ṣabīgh said: “So tell me about the verse: “And they bear the heavy weight of water””, He replied: “It means the clouds, and If I had not heard the Messenger of Allah say so, I would not have said it.” Ṣabīgh said: “So tell me about the verse: “And those who distribute by command.”” He replied: “It means the Angels, and If I had not heard the Messenger of Allah , say so, I would not have said it.” Ṣabīgh said: “So tell me about the verse: “And those which float with ease”” He replied: “It means the ships, and If I had not heard the Messenger of Allah say so, I would not have said it.” Then ʿUmar (raḍiyallāhu ʿanhu) ordered the man to be whipped one hundred times. Then he was imprisoned. When he had recovered, he was called for and he was whipped again one hundred times until he was carried away on a saddle. Then ʿUmar wrote to Abū Mūsa al-Ashʿarī stating that he, (Ṣabīgh) was to be prevented from talking to the people. That remained the case, until Ṣabīgh came to Abū Mūsa and swore that there was not anything in him now from what was in him before. So Abū Mūsa wrote to ʿUmar, who replied: “I think that he has indeed spoken the truth so let him with the people.”
(al-Bazzār, no. 299; Ibn Kathīr, Tafsīr, 7:390; Ibn Ḥajar, Al-Iṣābah, 2:199; al-Ājurrī, Ash-Sharīʿah, p. 74)
[6] The complete report of Kaʿb ibn Mālik in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, no. 4418.
حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ بُكَيْرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا اللَّيْثُ، عَنْ عُقَيْلٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ كَعْبِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، أَنَّ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ كَعْبِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ ـ وَكَانَ قَائِدَ كَعْبٍ مِنْ بَنِيهِ حِينَ عَمِيَ ـ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ كَعْبَ بْنَ مَالِكٍ، يُحَدِّثُ حِينَ تَخَلَّفَ عَنْ قِصَّةِ، تَبُوكَ قَالَ كَعْبٌ لَمْ أَتَخَلَّفْ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي غَزْوَةٍ غَزَاهَا إِلاَّ فِي غَزْوَةِ تَبُوكَ، غَيْرَ أَنِّي كُنْتُ تَخَلَّفْتُ فِي غَزْوَةِ بَدْرٍ، وَلَمْ يُعَاتِبْ أَحَدًا تَخَلَّفَ، عَنْهَا إِنَّمَا خَرَجَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُرِيدُ عِيرَ قُرَيْشٍ، حَتَّى جَمَعَ اللَّهُ بَيْنَهُمْ وَبَيْنَ عَدُوِّهِمْ عَلَى غَيْرِ مِيعَادٍ وَلَقَدْ شَهِدْتُ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم لَيْلَةَ الْعَقَبَةِ حِينَ تَوَاثَقْنَا عَلَى الإِسْلاَمِ، وَمَا أُحِبُّ أَنَّ لِي بِهَا مَشْهَدَ بَدْرٍ، وَإِنْ كَانَتْ بَدْرٌ أَذْكَرَ فِي النَّاسِ مِنْهَا، كَانَ مِنْ خَبَرِي أَنِّي لَمْ أَكُنْ قَطُّ أَقْوَى وَلاَ أَيْسَرَ حِينَ تَخَلَّفْتُ عَنْهُ فِي تِلْكَ الْغَزْوَةِ، وَاللَّهِ مَا اجْتَمَعَتْ عِنْدِي قَبْلَهُ رَاحِلَتَانِ قَطُّ حَتَّى جَمَعْتُهُمَا فِي تِلْكَ الْغَزْوَةِ، وَلَمْ يَكُنْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُرِيدُ غَزْوَةً إِلاَّ وَرَّى بِغَيْرِهَا، حَتَّى كَانَتْ تِلْكَ الْغَزْوَةُ، غَزَاهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي حَرٍّ شَدِيدٍ، وَاسْتَقْبَلَ سَفَرًا بَعِيدًا وَمَفَازًا وَعَدُوًّا كَثِيرًا، فَجَلَّى لِلْمُسْلِمِينَ أَمْرَهُمْ لِيَتَأَهَّبُوا أُهْبَةَ غَزْوِهِمْ، فَأَخْبَرَهُمْ بِوَجْهِهِ الَّذِي يُرِيدُ، وَالْمُسْلِمُونَ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَثِيرٌ، وَلاَ يَجْمَعُهُمْ كِتَابٌ حَافِظٌ ـ يُرِيدُ الدِّيوَانَ ـ قَالَ كَعْبٌ فَمَا رَجُلٌ يُرِيدُ أَنْ يَتَغَيَّبَ إِلاَّ ظَنَّ أَنْ سَيَخْفَى لَهُ مَا لَمْ يَنْزِلْ فِيهِ وَحْىُ اللَّهِ، وَغَزَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم تِلْكَ الْغَزْوَةَ حِينَ طَابَتِ الثِّمَارُ وَالظِّلاَلُ، وَتَجَهَّزَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَالْمُسْلِمُونَ مَعَهُ، فَطَفِقْتُ أَغْدُو لِكَىْ أَتَجَهَّزَ مَعَهُمْ فَأَرْجِعُ وَلَمْ أَقْضِ شَيْئًا، فَأَقُولُ فِي نَفْسِي أَنَا قَادِرٌ عَلَيْهِ. فَلَمْ يَزَلْ يَتَمَادَى بِي حَتَّى اشْتَدَّ بِالنَّاسِ الْجِدُّ، فَأَصْبَحَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَالْمُسْلِمُونَ مَعَهُ وَلَمْ أَقْضِ مِنْ جَهَازِي شَيْئًا، فَقُلْتُ أَتَجَهَّزُ بَعْدَهُ بِيَوْمٍ أَوْ يَوْمَيْنِ ثُمَّ أَلْحَقُهُمْ، فَغَدَوْتُ بَعْدَ أَنْ فَصَلُوا لأَتَجَهَّزَ، فَرَجَعْتُ وَلَمْ أَقْضِ شَيْئًا، ثُمَّ غَدَوْتُ ثُمَّ رَجَعْتُ وَلَمْ أَقْضِ شَيْئًا، فَلَمْ يَزَلْ بِي حَتَّى أَسْرَعُوا وَتَفَارَطَ الْغَزْوُ، وَهَمَمْتُ أَنْ أَرْتَحِلَ فَأُدْرِكَهُمْ، وَلَيْتَنِي فَعَلْتُ، فَلَمْ يُقَدَّرْ لِي ذَلِكَ، فَكُنْتُ إِذَا خَرَجْتُ فِي النَّاسِ بَعْدَ خُرُوجِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَطُفْتُ فِيهِمْ، أَحْزَنَنِي أَنِّي لاَ أَرَى إِلاَّ رَجُلاً مَغْمُوصًا عَلَيْهِ النِّفَاقُ أَوْ رَجُلاً مِمَّنْ عَذَرَ اللَّهُ مِنَ الضُّعَفَاءِ، وَلَمْ يَذْكُرْنِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم حَتَّى بَلَغَ تَبُوكَ، فَقَالَ وَهْوَ جَالِسٌ فِي الْقَوْمِ بِتَبُوكَ ” مَا فَعَلَ كَعْبٌ ”. فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ مِنْ بَنِي سَلِمَةَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، حَبَسَهُ بُرْدَاهُ وَنَظَرُهُ فِي عِطْفِهِ. فَقَالَ مُعَاذُ بْنُ جَبَلٍ بِئْسَ مَا قُلْتَ، وَاللَّهِ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، مَا عَلِمْنَا عَلَيْهِ إِلاَّ خَيْرًا. فَسَكَتَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم. قَالَ كَعْبُ بْنُ مَالِكٍ فَلَمَّا بَلَغَنِي أَنَّهُ تَوَجَّهَ قَافِلاً حَضَرَنِي هَمِّي، وَطَفِقْتُ أَتَذَكَّرُ الْكَذِبَ وَأَقُولُ بِمَاذَا أَخْرُجُ مِنْ سَخَطِهِ غَدًا وَاسْتَعَنْتُ عَلَى ذَلِكَ بِكُلِّ ذِي رَأْىٍ مِنْ أَهْلِي، فَلَمَّا قِيلَ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَدْ أَظَلَّ قَادِمًا زَاحَ عَنِّي الْبَاطِلُ، وَعَرَفْتُ أَنِّي لَنْ أَخْرُجَ مِنْهُ أَبَدًا بِشَىْءٍ فِيهِ كَذِبٌ، فَأَجْمَعْتُ صِدْقَهُ، وَأَصْبَحَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَادِمًا، وَكَانَ إِذَا قَدِمَ مِنْ سَفَرٍ بَدَأَ بِالْمَسْجِدِ فَيَرْكَعُ فِيهِ رَكْعَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ جَلَسَ لِلنَّاسِ، فَلَمَّا فَعَلَ ذَلِكَ جَاءَهُ الْمُخَلَّفُونَ، فَطَفِقُوا يَعْتَذِرُونَ إِلَيْهِ، وَيَحْلِفُونَ لَهُ، وَكَانُوا بِضْعَةً وَثَمَانِينَ رَجُلاً فَقَبِلَ مِنْهُمْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَلاَنِيَتَهُمْ، وَبَايَعَهُمْ وَاسْتَغْفَرَ لَهُمْ، وَوَكَلَ سَرَائِرَهُمْ إِلَى اللَّهِ، فَجِئْتُهُ فَلَمَّا سَلَّمْتُ عَلَيْهِ تَبَسَّمَ تَبَسُّمَ الْمُغْضَبِ، ثُمَّ قَالَ ” تَعَالَ ”. فَجِئْتُ أَمْشِي حَتَّى جَلَسْتُ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ، فَقَالَ لِي ” مَا خَلَّفَكَ أَلَمْ تَكُنْ قَدِ ابْتَعْتَ ظَهْرَكَ ”. فَقُلْتُ بَلَى، إِنِّي وَاللَّهِ لَوْ جَلَسْتُ عِنْدَ غَيْرِكَ مِنْ أَهْلِ الدُّنْيَا، لَرَأَيْتُ أَنْ سَأَخْرُجُ مِنْ سَخَطِهِ بِعُذْرٍ، وَلَقَدْ أُعْطِيتُ جَدَلاً، وَلَكِنِّي وَاللَّهِ لَقَدْ عَلِمْتُ لَئِنْ حَدَّثْتُكَ الْيَوْمَ حَدِيثَ كَذِبٍ تَرْضَى بِهِ عَنِّي لَيُوشِكَنَّ اللَّهُ أَنْ يُسْخِطَكَ عَلَىَّ، وَلَئِنْ حَدَّثْتُكَ حَدِيثَ صِدْقٍ تَجِدُ عَلَىَّ فِيهِ إِنِّي لأَرْجُو فِيهِ عَفْوَ اللَّهِ، لاَ وَاللَّهِ مَا كَانَ لِي مِنْ عُذْرٍ، وَاللَّهِ مَا كُنْتُ قَطُّ أَقْوَى وَلاَ أَيْسَرَ مِنِّي حِينَ تَخَلَّفْتُ عَنْكَ. فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ” أَمَّا هَذَا فَقَدْ صَدَقَ، فَقُمْ حَتَّى يَقْضِيَ اللَّهُ فِيكَ ”. فَقُمْتُ وَثَارَ رِجَالٌ مِنْ بَنِي سَلِمَةَ فَاتَّبَعُونِي، فَقَالُوا لِي وَاللَّهِ مَا عَلِمْنَاكَ كُنْتَ أَذْنَبْتَ ذَنْبًا قَبْلَ هَذَا، وَلَقَدْ عَجَزْتَ أَنْ لاَ تَكُونَ اعْتَذَرْتَ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِمَا اعْتَذَرَ إِلَيْهِ الْمُتَخَلِّفُونَ، قَدْ كَانَ كَافِيَكَ ذَنْبَكَ اسْتِغْفَارُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم لَكَ، فَوَاللَّهِ مَا زَالُوا يُؤَنِّبُونِي حَتَّى أَرَدْتُ أَنْ أَرْجِعَ فَأُكَذِّبُ نَفْسِي، ثُمَّ قُلْتُ لَهُمْ هَلْ لَقِيَ هَذَا مَعِي أَحَدٌ قَالُوا نَعَمْ، رَجُلاَنِ قَالاَ مِثْلَ مَا قُلْتَ، فَقِيلَ لَهُمَا مِثْلُ مَا قِيلَ لَكَ. فَقُلْتُ مَنْ هُمَا قَالُوا مُرَارَةُ بْنُ الرَّبِيعِ الْعَمْرِيُّ وَهِلاَلُ بْنُ أُمَيَّةَ الْوَاقِفِيُّ. فَذَكَرُوا لِي رَجُلَيْنِ صَالِحَيْنِ قَدْ شَهِدَا بَدْرًا فِيهِمَا إِسْوَةٌ، فَمَضَيْتُ حِينَ ذَكَرُوهُمَا لِي، وَنَهَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم الْمُسْلِمِينَ عَنْ كَلاَمِنَا أَيُّهَا الثَّلاَثَةُ مِنْ بَيْنِ مَنْ تَخَلَّفَ عَنْهُ، فَاجْتَنَبَنَا النَّاسُ وَتَغَيَّرُوا لَنَا حَتَّى تَنَكَّرَتْ فِي نَفْسِي الأَرْضُ، فَمَا هِيَ الَّتِي أَعْرِفُ، فَلَبِثْنَا عَلَى ذَلِكَ خَمْسِينَ لَيْلَةً، فَأَمَّا صَاحِبَاىَ فَاسْتَكَانَا وَقَعَدَا فِي بُيُوتِهِمَا يَبْكِيَانِ، وَأَمَّا أَنَا فَكُنْتُ أَشَبَّ الْقَوْمِ وَأَجْلَدَهُمْ، فَكُنْتُ أَخْرُجُ فَأَشْهَدُ الصَّلاَةَ مَعَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَأَطُوفُ فِي الأَسْوَاقِ، وَلاَ يُكَلِّمُنِي أَحَدٌ، وَآتِي رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَأُسَلِّمُ عَلَيْهِ وَهْوَ فِي مَجْلِسِهِ بَعْدَ الصَّلاَةِ، فَأَقُولُ فِي نَفْسِي هَلْ حَرَّكَ شَفَتَيْهِ بِرَدِّ السَّلاَمِ عَلَىَّ أَمْ لاَ ثُمَّ أُصَلِّي قَرِيبًا مِنْهُ فَأُسَارِقُهُ النَّظَرَ، فَإِذَا أَقْبَلْتُ عَلَى صَلاَتِي أَقْبَلَ إِلَىَّ، وَإِذَا الْتَفَتُّ نَحْوَهُ أَعْرَضَ عَنِّي، حَتَّى إِذَا طَالَ عَلَىَّ ذَلِكَ مِنْ جَفْوَةِ النَّاسِ مَشَيْتُ حَتَّى تَسَوَّرْتُ جِدَارَ حَائِطِ أَبِي قَتَادَةَ وَهْوَ ابْنُ عَمِّي وَأَحَبُّ النَّاسِ إِلَىَّ، فَسَلَّمْتُ عَلَيْهِ، فَوَاللَّهِ مَا رَدَّ عَلَىَّ السَّلاَمَ، فَقُلْتُ يَا أَبَا قَتَادَةَ، أَنْشُدُكَ بِاللَّهِ هَلْ تَعْلَمُنِي أُحِبُّ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ فَسَكَتَ، فَعُدْتُ لَهُ فَنَشَدْتُهُ فَسَكَتَ، فَعُدْتُ لَهُ فَنَشَدْتُهُ. فَقَالَ اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَعْلَمُ. فَفَاضَتْ عَيْنَاىَ وَتَوَلَّيْتُ حَتَّى تَسَوَّرْتُ الْجِدَارَ، قَالَ فَبَيْنَا أَنَا أَمْشِي بِسُوقِ الْمَدِينَةِ إِذَا نَبَطِيٌّ مِنْ أَنْبَاطِ أَهْلِ الشَّأْمِ مِمَّنْ قَدِمَ بِالطَّعَامِ يَبِيعُهُ بِالْمَدِينَةِ يَقُولُ مَنْ يَدُلُّ عَلَى كَعْبِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ فَطَفِقَ النَّاسُ يُشِيرُونَ لَهُ، حَتَّى إِذَا جَاءَنِي دَفَعَ إِلَىَّ كِتَابًا مِنْ مَلِكِ غَسَّانَ، فَإِذَا فِيهِ أَمَّا بَعْدُ فَإِنَّهُ قَدْ بَلَغَنِي أَنَّ صَاحِبَكَ قَدْ جَفَاكَ، وَلَمْ يَجْعَلْكَ اللَّهُ بِدَارِ هَوَانٍ وَلاَ مَضْيَعَةٍ، فَالْحَقْ بِنَا نُوَاسِكَ. فَقُلْتُ لَمَّا قَرَأْتُهَا وَهَذَا أَيْضًا مِنَ الْبَلاَءِ. فَتَيَمَّمْتُ بِهَا التَّنُّورَ فَسَجَرْتُهُ بِهَا، حَتَّى إِذَا مَضَتْ أَرْبَعُونَ لَيْلَةً مِنَ الْخَمْسِينَ إِذَا رَسُولُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَأْتِينِي فَقَالَ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَأْمُرُكَ أَنْ تَعْتَزِلَ امْرَأَتَكَ فَقُلْتُ أُطَلِّقُهَا أَمْ مَاذَا أَفْعَلُ قَالَ لاَ بَلِ اعْتَزِلْهَا وَلاَ تَقْرَبْهَا. وَأَرْسَلَ إِلَى صَاحِبَىَّ مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ، فَقُلْتُ لاِمْرَأَتِي الْحَقِي بِأَهْلِكِ فَتَكُونِي عِنْدَهُمْ حَتَّى يَقْضِيَ اللَّهُ فِي هَذَا الأَمْرِ. قَالَ كَعْبٌ فَجَاءَتِ امْرَأَةُ هِلاَلِ بْنِ أُمَيَّةَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَتْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، إِنَّ هِلاَلَ بْنَ أُمَيَّةَ شَيْخٌ ضَائِعٌ لَيْسَ لَهُ خَادِمٌ فَهَلْ تَكْرَهُ أَنْ أَخْدُمَهُ قَالَ ” لاَ وَلَكِنْ لاَ يَقْرَبْكِ ”. قَالَتْ إِنَّهُ وَاللَّهِ مَا بِهِ حَرَكَةٌ إِلَى شَىْءٍ، وَاللَّهِ مَا زَالَ يَبْكِي مُنْذُ كَانَ مِنْ أَمْرِهِ مَا كَانَ إِلَى يَوْمِهِ هَذَا. فَقَالَ لِي بَعْضُ أَهْلِي لَوِ اسْتَأْذَنْتَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي امْرَأَتِكَ كَمَا أَذِنَ لاِمْرَأَةِ هِلاَلِ بْنِ أُمَيَّةَ أَنْ تَخْدُمَهُ فَقُلْتُ وَاللَّهِ لاَ أَسْتَأْذِنُ فِيهَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَمَا يُدْرِينِي مَا يَقُولُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِذَا اسْتَأْذَنْتُهُ فِيهَا وَأَنَا رَجُلٌ شَابٌّ فَلَبِثْتُ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ عَشْرَ لَيَالٍ حَتَّى كَمَلَتْ لَنَا خَمْسُونَ لَيْلَةً مِنْ حِينِ نَهَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَنْ كَلاَمِنَا، فَلَمَّا صَلَّيْتُ صَلاَةَ الْفَجْرِ صُبْحَ خَمْسِينَ لَيْلَةً، وَأَنَا عَلَى ظَهْرِ بَيْتٍ مِنْ بُيُوتِنَا، فَبَيْنَا أَنَا جَالِسٌ عَلَى الْحَالِ الَّتِي ذَكَرَ اللَّهُ، قَدْ ضَاقَتْ عَلَىَّ نَفْسِي، وَضَاقَتْ عَلَىَّ الأَرْضُ بِمَا رَحُبَتْ، سَمِعْتُ صَوْتَ صَارِخٍ أَوْفَى عَلَى جَبَلِ سَلْعٍ بِأَعْلَى صَوْتِهِ يَا كَعْبُ بْنَ مَالِكٍ، أَبْشِرْ. قَالَ فَخَرَرْتُ سَاجِدًا، وَعَرَفْتُ أَنْ قَدْ جَاءَ فَرَجٌ، وَآذَنَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِتَوْبَةِ اللَّهِ عَلَيْنَا حِينَ صَلَّى صَلاَةَ الْفَجْرِ، فَذَهَبَ النَّاسُ يُبَشِّرُونَنَا، وَذَهَبَ قِبَلَ صَاحِبَىَّ مُبَشِّرُونَ، وَرَكَضَ إِلَىَّ رَجُلٌ فَرَسًا، وَسَعَى سَاعٍ مِنْ أَسْلَمَ فَأَوْفَى عَلَى الْجَبَلِ وَكَانَ الصَّوْتُ أَسْرَعَ مِنَ الْفَرَسِ، فَلَمَّا جَاءَنِي الَّذِي سَمِعْتُ صَوْتَهُ يُبَشِّرُنِي نَزَعْتُ لَهُ ثَوْبَىَّ، فَكَسَوْتُهُ إِيَّاهُمَا بِبُشْرَاهُ، وَاللَّهِ مَا أَمْلِكُ غَيْرَهُمَا يَوْمَئِذٍ، وَاسْتَعَرْتُ ثَوْبَيْنِ فَلَبِسْتُهُمَا، وَانْطَلَقْتُ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَيَتَلَقَّانِي النَّاسُ فَوْجًا فَوْجًا يُهَنُّونِي بِالتَّوْبَةِ، يَقُولُونَ لِتَهْنِكَ تَوْبَةُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكَ. قَالَ كَعْبٌ حَتَّى دَخَلْتُ الْمَسْجِدَ، فَإِذَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم جَالِسٌ حَوْلَهُ النَّاسُ فَقَامَ إِلَىَّ طَلْحَةُ بْنُ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ يُهَرْوِلُ حَتَّى صَافَحَنِي وَهَنَّانِي، وَاللَّهِ مَا قَامَ إِلَىَّ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ غَيْرُهُ، وَلاَ أَنْسَاهَا لِطَلْحَةَ، قَالَ كَعْبٌ فَلَمَّا سَلَّمْتُ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَهْوَ يَبْرُقُ وَجْهُهُ مِنَ السُّرُورِ ” أَبْشِرْ بِخَيْرِ يَوْمٍ مَرَّ عَلَيْكَ مُنْذُ وَلَدَتْكَ أُمُّكَ ”. قَالَ قُلْتُ أَمِنْ عِنْدِكَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَمْ مِنْ عِنْدِ اللَّهِ قَالَ ” لاَ، بَلْ مِنْ عِنْدِ اللَّهِ ”. وَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِذَا سُرَّ اسْتَنَارَ وَجْهُهُ حَتَّى كَأَنَّهُ قِطْعَةُ قَمَرٍ، وَكُنَّا نَعْرِفُ ذَلِكَ مِنْهُ، فَلَمَّا جَلَسْتُ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، إِنَّ مِنْ تَوْبَتِي أَنْ أَنْخَلِعَ مِنْ مَالِي صَدَقَةً إِلَى اللَّهِ وَإِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ. قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ” أَمْسِكْ عَلَيْكَ بَعْضَ مَالِكَ فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَكَ ”. قُلْتُ فَإِنِّي أُمْسِكُ سَهْمِي الَّذِي بِخَيْبَرَ، فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، إِنَّ اللَّهَ إِنَّمَا نَجَّانِي بِالصِّدْقِ، وَإِنَّ مِنْ تَوْبَتِي أَنْ لاَ أُحَدِّثَ إِلاَّ صِدْقًا مَا بَقِيتُ، فَوَاللَّهِ مَا أَعْلَمُ أَحَدًا مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ أَبْلاَهُ اللَّهُ فِي صِدْقِ الْحَدِيثِ مُنْذُ ذَكَرْتُ ذَلِكَ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَحْسَنَ مِمَّا أَبْلاَنِي، مَا تَعَمَّدْتُ مُنْذُ ذَكَرْتُ ذَلِكَ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِلَى يَوْمِي هَذَا كَذِبًا، وَإِنِّي لأَرْجُو أَنْ يَحْفَظَنِي اللَّهُ فِيمَا بَقِيتُ وَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ عَلَى رَسُولِهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم {لَقَدْ تَابَ اللَّهُ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ وَالْمُهَاجِرِينَ} إِلَى قَوْلِهِ {وَكُونُوا مَعَ الصَّادِقِينَ} فَوَاللَّهِ مَا أَنْعَمَ اللَّهُ عَلَىَّ مِنْ نِعْمَةٍ قَطُّ بَعْدَ أَنْ هَدَانِي لِلإِسْلاَمِ أَعْظَمَ فِي نَفْسِي مِنْ صِدْقِي لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنْ لاَ أَكُونَ كَذَبْتُهُ، فَأَهْلِكَ كَمَا هَلَكَ الَّذِينَ كَذَبُوا، فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ قَالَ لِلَّذِينَ كَذَبُوا حِينَ أَنْزَلَ الْوَحْىَ شَرَّ مَا قَالَ لأَحَدٍ، فَقَالَ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى {سَيَحْلِفُونَ بِاللَّهِ لَكُمْ إِذَا انْقَلَبْتُمْ} إِلَى قَوْلِهِ {فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لاَ يَرْضَى عَنِ الْقَوْمِ الْفَاسِقِينَ}. قَالَ كَعْبٌ وَكُنَّا تَخَلَّفْنَا أَيُّهَا الثَّلاَثَةُ عَنْ أَمْرِ أُولَئِكَ الَّذِينَ قَبِلَ مِنْهُمْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم حِينَ حَلَفُوا لَهُ، فَبَايَعَهُمْ وَاسْتَغْفَرَ لَهُمْ وَأَرْجَأَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَمْرَنَا حَتَّى قَضَى اللَّهُ فِيهِ، فَبِذَلِكَ قَالَ اللَّهُ {وَعَلَى الثَّلاَثَةِ الَّذِينَ خُلِّفُوا} وَلَيْسَ الَّذِي ذَكَرَ اللَّهُ مِمَّا خُلِّفْنَا عَنِ الْغَزْوِ إِنَّمَا هُوَ تَخْلِيفُهُ إِيَّانَا وَإِرْجَاؤُهُ أَمْرَنَا عَمَّنْ حَلَفَ لَهُ وَاعْتَذَرَ إِلَيْهِ، فَقَبِلَ مِنْهُ.
Narrated ʿAbdullāh ibn Kaʿb ibn Mālik: Who, from among Kaʿb‘s sons, was the guide of Kaʿb when he became blind: I heard Kaʿb ibn Malik narrating the story of (the Battle of) Tabūk in which he failed to take part. Kaʿb said, “I did not remain behind Allah’s Apostle in any Battle that he fought except the Battle of Tabūk, and I failed to take part in the Battle of Badr, but Allah did not admonish anyone who had not participated in it, for in fact, Allah’s Apostle had gone out in search of the caravan of Quraish till Allah made them (i.e. the Muslims) and their enemy meet without any appointment. I witnessed the night of Al-ʿAqaba (pledge) with Allah’s Apostle when we pledged for Islam, and I would not exchange it for the Badr battle although the Badr battle is more popular amongst the people than it (i.e. Al-ʿAqaba pledge). As for my news (in this battle of Tabūk), I had never been stronger or wealthier than I was when I remained behind the Prophet in that Battle. By Allah, never had I two she-camels before, but I had then at the time of this Battle. Whenever Allah’s Apostle wanted to make a Battle, he used to hide his intention by apparently referring to different Battle till it was the time of that Battle (of Tabūk) which Allah’s Apostle fought in severe heat, facing, a long journey, desert, and the great number of enemy. So the Prophet announced to the Muslims clearly (their destination) so that they might get prepared for their Battle. So he informed them clearly of the destination he was going to. Allah’s Apostle was accompanied by a large number of Muslims who could not be listed in a book namely, a register.” Kaʿb added, “Any man who intended to be absent would think that the matter would remain hidden unless Allah revealed it through Divine Revelation. So Allah’s Apostle fought that Battle at the time when the fruits had ripened and the shade looked pleasant. Allah’s Apostle and his companions prepared for the battle and I started to go out in order to get myself ready along with them, but I returned without doing anything. I would say to myself, ‘I can do that.’ So I kept on delaying it every now and then till the people got ready and Allah’s Apostle and the Muslims along with him departed, and I had not prepared anything for my departure, and I said, I will prepare myself (for departure) one or two days after him, and then join them.’ In the morning following their departure, I went out to get myself ready but returned having done nothing. Then again in the next morning, I went out to get ready but returned without doing anything. Such was the case with me till they hurried away and the battle was missed (by me). Even then I intended to depart to take them over. I wish I had done so! But it was not in my luck. So, after the departure of Allah’s Apostle, whenever I went out and walked amongst the people (i.e, the remaining persons), it grieved me that I could see none around me, except a man suspected of hypocrisy or one of those weak men whom Allah had excused. Allah’s Apostle did not remember me till he reached Tabūk. So while he was sitting amongst the people in Tabūk, he said, ‘What did Kaʿb do?’ A man from Banu Salama said, ‘O Allah’s Apostle! He has been stopped by his two Burdas (i.e. garments) and his looking at his own flanks with pride.’ Then Muʿādh ibn Jabal said, ‘What a bad thing you have said! By Allah! O Allahs Apostle! We know nothing about him but good.’ Allah’s Apostle kept silent.” Kaʿb ibn Mālik added, “When I heard that he (i.e. the Prophet ) was on his way back to Madīna. I got dipped in my concern, and began to think of false excuses, saying to myself, ‘How can I avoid his anger tomorrow?’ And I took the advice of a wise member of my family in this matter. When it was said that Allah’s Apostle had come near, all the evil false excuses abandoned from my mind and I knew well that I could never come out of this problem by forging a false statement. Then I decided firmly to speak the truth. So Allah’s Apostle arrived in the morning, and whenever he returned from a journey, he used to visit the Mosque first of all and offer a two-Rakaʿāt prayer therein and then sit for the people. So when he had done all that (this time), those who had failed to join the battle (of Tabūk) came and started offering (false) excuses and taking oaths before him. They were something over eighty men; Allah’s Apostle accepted the excuses they had expressed, took their pledge of allegiance asked for Allah’s Forgiveness for them, and left the secrets of their hearts for Allah to judge. Then I came to him, and when I greeted him, he smiled a smile of an angry person and then said, ‘Come on.’ So I came walking till I sat before him. He said to me, ‘What stopped you from joining us. Had you not purchased an animal For carrying you?’ I answered, “Yes, O Allah’s Apostle! But by Allah, if I were sitting before any person from among the people of the world other than you, I would have avoided his anger with an excuse. By Allah, I have been bestowed with the power of speaking fluently and eloquently, but by Allah, I knew well that if today I tell you a lie to seek your favor, Allah would surely make you angry with me in the near future, but if I tell you the truth, though you will get angry because of it, I hope for Allah’s Forgiveness. Really, by Allah, there was no excuse for me. By Allah, I had never been stronger or wealthier than I was when I remained behind you.’ Then Allah’s Apostle said, ‘As regards this man, he has surely told the truth. So get up till Allah decides your case.’ I got up, and many men of Banu Salama followed me and said to me. ‘By Allah, we never witnessed you doing any sin before this. Surely, you failed to offer excuse to Allah’s Apostle as the others who did not join him, have offered. The prayer of Allah’s Apostle to Allah to forgive you would have been sufficient for you.’ By Allah, they continued blaming me so much that I intended to return (to the Prophet) and accuse myself of having told a lie, but I said to them, ‘Is there anybody else who has met the same fate as I have?’ They replied, ‘Yes, there are two men who have said the same thing as you have, and to both of them was given the same order as given to you.’ I said, ‘Who are they?’ They replied, Murara ibn al-Rabīʿ Al-Amri and Hilāl ibn Umaiya Al-Waqifi.’ By that they mentioned to me two pious men who had attended the (Battle) of Badr, and in whom there was an example for me. So I did not change my mind when they mentioned them to me. Allah’s Apostle forbade all the Muslims to talk to us, the three aforesaid persons out of all those who had remained behind in that Battle. So we kept away from the people and they changed their attitude towards us till the very land (where I lived) appeared strange to me as if I did not know it. We remained in that condition for fifty nights. As regards my two fellows, they remained in their houses and kept on weeping, but I was the youngest of them and the firmest of them, so I used to go out and witness the prayers along with the Muslims and roam about in the markets, but none would talk to me, and I would come to Allah’s Apostle and greet him while he was sitting in his gathering after the prayer, and I would wonder whether the Prophet did move his lips in return to my greetings or not. Then I would offer my prayer near to him and look at him stealthily. When I was busy with my prayer, he would turn his face towards me, but when I turned my face to him, he would turn his face away from me. When this harsh attitude of the people lasted long, I walked till I scaled the wall of the garden of Abū Qatāda who was my cousin and dearest person to me, and I offered my greetings to him. By Allah, he did not return my greetings. I said, ‘O Abū Qatāda! I beseech you by Allah! Do you know that I love Allah and His Apostle?’ He kept quiet. I asked him again, beseeching him by Allah, but he remained silent. Then I asked him again in the Name of Allah. He said, “Allah and His Apostle know best.’ Thereupon my eyes flowed with tears and I returned and jumped over the wall.” Kaʿb added, “While I was walking in the market of Madīna, suddenly I saw a Nabati (i.e. a Christian farmer) from the Nabatis of Shām who came to sell his grains in Madīna, saying, ‘Who will lead me to Kaʿb ibn Mālik?’ The people began to point (me) out for him till he came to me and handed me a letter from the King of Ghassān in which the following was written: “To proceed, I have been informed that your friend (i.e. the Prophet ) has treated you harshly. Anyhow, Allah does not let you live at a place where you feel inferior and your right is lost. So join us, and we will console you.” When I read it, I said to myself, ‘This is also a sort of a test.’ Then I took the letter to the oven and made a fire therein by burning it. When forty out of the fifty nights elapsed, behold! There came to me a Messenger of Allah’s Apostle and said, ‘Allah’s Apostle orders you to keep away from your wife,’ I said, ‘Should I divorce her; or else! what should I do?’ He said, ‘No, only keep aloof from her and do not cohabit her.’ The Prophet sent the same message to my two fellows. Then I said to my wife. ‘Go to your parents and remain with them till Allah gives His Verdict in this matter.” Kaʿb added, “The wife of Hilāl ibn Umaiya came to Apostle and said, ‘O Allah’s Apostle! Hilāl ibn Umaiya is a helpless old man who has no servant to attend on him. Do you dislike that I should serve him? ‘ He said, ‘No (you can serve him) but he should not come near you.’ She said, ‘By Allah, he has no desire for anything. By, Allah, he has never ceased weeping till his case began till this day of his.’ On that, some of my family members said to me, ‘Will you also ask Allah’s Apostle to permit your wife (to serve you) as he has permitted the wife of Hilāl ibn Umaiya to serve him?’ I said, ‘By Allah, I will not ask the permission of Allah’s Apostle regarding her, for I do not know What Allah’s Apostle would say if I asked him to permit her (to serve me) while I am a young man.’ Then I remained in that state for ten more nights after that till the period of fifty nights was completed starting from the time when Allah’s Apostle prohibited the people from talking to us. When I had offered the Fajr prayer on the 50th morning on the roof of one of our houses and while I was sitting in the condition which Allah described (in the Qurʾān) i.e. my very soul seemed straitened to me and even the earth seemed narrow to me for all its spaciousness, there I heard the voice of one who had ascended the mountain of Sala’ calling with his loudest voice, ‘O Kaʿb ibn Mālik! Be happy (by receiving good tidings).’ I fell down in prostration before Allah, realizing that relief has come. Allah’s Apostle had announced the acceptance of our repentance by Allah when he had offered the Fajr prayer. The people then went out to congratulate us. Some bringers of good tidings went out to my two fellows, and a horseman came to me in haste, and a man of Banu Aslam came running and ascended the mountain and his voice was swifter than the horse. When he (i.e. the man) whose voice I had heard, came to me conveying the good tidings, I took off my garments and dressed him with them; and by Allah, I owned no other garments than them on that day. Then I borrowed two garments and wore them and went to Allah’s Apostle. The people started receiving me in batches, congratulating me on Allah’s Acceptance of my repentance, saying, ‘We congratulate you on Allah’s Acceptance of your repentance.” Kaʿb further said, “When I entered the Mosque. I saw Allah’s Apostle sitting with the people around him. Ṭalḥa ibn ʿUbaidullāh swiftly came to me, shook hands with me and congratulated me. By Allah, none of the Muhājirīn (i.e. Emigrants) got up for me except him (i.e. Ṭalha), and I will never forget this for Ṭalḥa.” Kaʿb added, “When I greeted Allah’s Apostle he, his face being bright with joy, said “Be happy with the best day that you have got ever since your mother delivered you.” Kaʿb added, “I said to the Prophet ‘Is this forgiveness from you or from Allah?’ He said, ‘No, it is from Allah.’ Whenever Allah’s Apostle became happy, his face would shine as if it were a piece of moon, and we all knew that characteristic of him. When I sat before him, I said, ‘O Allah’s Apostle! Because of the acceptance of my repentance I will give up all my wealth as alms for the Sake of Allah and His Apostle. Allah’s Apostle said, ‘Keep some of your wealth, as it will be better for you.’ I said, ‘So I will keep my share from Khaibar with me,’ and added, ‘O Allah’s Apostle! Allah has saved me for telling the truth; so it is a part of my repentance not to tell but the truth as long as I am alive. By Allah, I do not know anyone of the Muslims whom Allah has helped fortelling the truth more than me. Since I have mentioned that truth to Allah’s Apostle till today, I have never intended to tell a lie. I hope that Allah will also save me (from telling lies) the rest of my life. So Allah revealed to His Apostle the Verse:– “Verily, Allah has forgiven the Prophet, the Muhājirīn (i.e. Emigrants (up to His Saying) And be with those who are true (in word and deed).” (9.117-119) By Allah, Allah has never bestowed upon me, apart from His guiding me to Islam, a Greater blessing than the fact that I did not tell a lie to Allah’s Apostle which would have caused me to perish as those who have told a lie perished, for Allah described those who told lies with the worst description He ever attributed to anybody else. Allah said:– “They (i.e. the hypocrites) will swear by Allah to you when you return to them (up to His Saying) Certainly Allah is not pleased with the rebellious people–” (9.95-96) Kaʿb added, “We, the three persons, differed altogether from those whose excuses Allah’s Apostle accepted when they swore to him. He took their pledge of allegiance and asked Allah to forgive them, but Apostle left our case pending till Allah gave His Judgment about it. As for that Allah said):– “And to the three (He did for give also) who remained behind.” (9.118) What Allah said (in this Verse) does not indicate our failure to take part in the Battle, but it refers to the deferment of making a decision by the Prophet about our case in contrast to the case of those who had taken an oath before him and he excused them by accepting their excuses.”
(Al-Bukhārī, Ṣaḥīḥ, no. 4418.)
[7] The existing article attributes Shaykh Rabīʿ’s answer to the recording Al-Imām al-Albānī, Imām as-Sunnah, from minute 23:00, and provides this recording link. The matching answer is quoted in Aḥmad ibn ʿUmar Bāzmūl’s authored article, Ṣiyānat as-Salafī min Waswasat wa-Talbīsāt ʿAlī al-Ḥalabī, part 16, dated 29 Rajab 1430 AH.
References
The Qurʾān, 2:160; 51:1; verses cited within the supporting reports: 51:2–4 and 9:95–96, 9:117–119.
Al-Ājurrī, Abū Bakr Muḥammad ibn al-Ḥusayn (d. 360 AH / 970 CE), Ash-Sharīʿah, supplied p. 74.
Al-Albānī, Muḥammad Nāṣir ad-Dīn, Silsilat al-Aḥādīth aṣ-Ṣaḥīḥah, nos. 1475 and 3320.
Bāzmūl, Aḥmad ibn ʿUmar, article cited in note 7, containing the Arabic republication of Rabīʿ al-Madkhalī’s answer.
Al-Bazzār, Abū Bakr Aḥmad ibn ʿAmr (d. 292 AH / 905 CE), Al-Musnad, no. 299, supplied reference for Ṣabīgh’s report.
Al-Bukhārī, Abū ʿAbd Allah Muḥammad ibn Ismāʿīl (d. 256 AH / 870 CE), Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, no. 4418.
Al-Fawzān, Ṣāliḥ ibn Fawzān ibn ʿAbd Allah, answer on repentance from calling to falsehood; the audio link.
Ibn Abī Shaybah, Abū Bakr ʿAbd Allah ibn Muḥammad (d. 235 AH / 849 CE), Al-Muṣannaf, supplied no. 34325.
Ibn Baṭṭah, Abū ʿAbd Allah ʿUbayd Allah ibn Muḥammad (d. 387 AH / 997 CE), Al-Ibānah aṣ-Ṣughrā, report no. 150 in the located electronic text, for Ibn al-Mubārak’s response.
Ibn Ḥajar, Abū al-Faḍl Aḥmad ibn ʿAlī (d. 852 AH / 1449 CE), Al-Iṣābah fī Tamyīz aṣ-Ṣaḥābah, supplied 2:199.
Ibn Kathīr, Abū al-Fidāʾ Ismāʿīl ibn ʿUmar, Tafsīr al-Qurʾān al-ʿAẓīm, commentary on Q 2:160 and Q 51:4.
Muslim, Abū al-Ḥusayn Muslim ibn al-Ḥajjāj (d. 261 AH / 875 CE), Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, no. 2674.
As-Saʿdī, ʿAbd ar-Raḥmān ibn Nāṣir, Taysīr al-Karīm ar-Raḥmān fī Tafsīr Kalām al-Mannān, commentary on Q 2:160.
Aṭ-Ṭabarānī, Abū al-Qāsim Sulaymān ibn Aḥmad (d. 360 AH / 971 CE), Al-Muʿjam al-Kabīr, supplied 20:159, report no. 331.
