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SETTING OFF ON A JOURNEY ON A THURSDAY MORNING

969

“I, (Abdullah, the son of Ka’ab, the guide of Ka’ab, the son of Malik who was blind) heard him say, 'I (Ka’ab) accompanied the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, in every campaign except Tabuk. I did not accompany the Messenger of Allah at Badr and at that time he did not blame anyone who did not accompany him.’ The Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, and his Companions had been observing the Koraysh caravan when Allah ordained an unexpected clash to occur between them and their enemies.

However, I was present with the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, during the night of Aqabah when we pledged our oath of complete adherence to Islam, and I would not exchange Aqabah for Badr with all its fame.

As for my failure to accompany the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, at the campaign of Tabuk I will tell you. At that time I was stronger and more affluent than at any other time. I had two riding camels – before that time I had never owned two. It was the practice of the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, that whenever he decided to embark upon a campaign not to disclose his real objective, in fact he would imply the opposite up until the last moment. However, on this occasion, because it was the season of intense heat and the journey was going to be long across the desert, and the enemy was great in strength. He warned his Companions clearly and told them of his objective so that they were able to make adequate preparations. The number of those who prepared to make themselves ready to accompany the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, was also large and a register had not yet been established to list all of them. No man reluctant to go imagined that his absence would go unnoticed unless it was disclosed by Allah. It was a time when the fruit on the trees had ripened and their shade was dense - this too crossed my mind.

The Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, and his Companions who were to accompany him occupied themselves with their preparations. I would go out in the morning intending to do the same along with them, only to return later without accomplishing anything, saying to myself, ‘There is plenty of time. I can get ready whenever I wish.’ Time passed and the Companions had completed their preparations. Then one day, the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, set out with them on his march. I had done nothing to prepare myself. I remained in my indecisive state, without accomplishing anything, while the Companions set off on their march. I thought I would set off by myself and overtake them - how I wish I had done so, but I did not.

As I went about in the town it grieved me to notice that among those who remained at home, like me, were only those who were either suspected of hypocrisy or excused on account of age or something similar.

The Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, made no mention of me until after he reached Tabuk. One day when he was sitting with his Companions he inquired, ‘What has happened to Ka'ab the son of Malik?’ Someone from among the Bani Salimah said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, he did not come because of his two cloaks and admiration of his finery!’ Upon hearing this Mu'az son of Jabal said, ‘Evil is what you have said. O Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, we know nothing about him except good.’ The Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, did not comment.

It was at this time that the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, observed someone at a distance in the desert clad in white and exclaimed, ‘May it be Abu Khaisamah’, and he was right – Abu Khaisamah had been taken for a beggar by the hypocrites on account that he gave a small quantity of dates in charity.

When I learned that the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, was on his way back from Tabuk I was filled with anxiety and began to fabricate false excuses in my mind to help me save myself from his anger. Also, I consulted members of my family whose judgment I trusted. When I heard that the Prophet's, praise and peace be upon him, arrival was imminent, I realized that no false excuse would help me therefore I decided to tell the truth. He arrived the next morning.

When he returned from a journey it was his custom to go straight to the Mosque and offer two voluntary units of prayer (raka's), and then meet the people. He did the same on this occasion and those who did not partake in the campaign came forward and began, on oath, to give their excuses.

They were over eighty people and the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, accepted their excuses and renewed their oaths. Then he prayed for forgiveness for them and committed to Allah whatever they had in their minds.

When it came to my turn and I greeted him; he smiled, but displeasure was visible in his smile, and he said, ‘Come forward.’ So, I stepped forward and sat down before him. He asked, ‘What kept you back, had you not purchased your mount?’ I replied, ‘O Messenger of Allah, if I had been confronted by someone other than yourself; such as a man of the world, I could easily escape his displeasure with some excuse, because I am gifted with skill of plausibility. However, I knew that if I were to concoct a false story to you today, which might even convince you, without doubt Allah will soon arouse your anger against me over something else. But, if I tell you the truth and you are angry with me, I can still hope for mercy from Allah, the Exalted. By Allah I have no excuse. I was never stronger or more affluent than when I held back from accompanying you.' The Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, said, ‘This one has told the truth, now withdraw, until Allah decides your case.’

Some men of the children of Salimah followed me out of the Mosque and said, ‘We have never known you to commit a sin before this, why didn't you offer an excuse to the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, like the others who did not take part in the campaign – your sin would have been forgiven through the supplication of the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him!’ They persisted in reproaching me so harshly that I almost went back to the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, to withdraw my confession. Then, I asked, ‘Are there any cases similar to mine?’ They replied, ‘Murarah son of Rabi'a 'Amiri and Hilal the son of Umayyah Waqifi.’ When they mentioned these two righteous men who had participated in the Battle of Badr, and possessed many good qualities, I was strengthened in my decision.

The Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, directed his Companions not to speak to the three of us. People avoided us as if we were strangers, and I felt as if I was in a strange land. This state of affairs continued for fifty days. My two Companions were so overcome by misery and shame that they went into seclusion, shutting themselves away in their homes. Being the youngest and toughest of the three, I would go out and join my fellow Muslims for prayers and walk in the streets, although no one would speak to me.

I would wait before the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, when he sat in the Mosque after prayer and greet him wondering whether he had moved his lips to return my greeting.

During prayer, I would stand near him and I noticed that he would glance in my direction when I was praying and look away when I looked in his direction.

Feeling anguish and deeply hurt by the harshness of Muslims towards me, one day I went and climbed over the garden wall belonging to my cousin Abu Khatadah of whom I was very fond. I greeted him, but he did not return my greeting. I said to him, ‘Abu Khatadah, I ask you in the Name of Allah, do you not know that I love Allah and His Messenger, praise and peace be upon him?’ But he remained silent. I repeated my earnest question, but he still did not reply. I asked a third time and he replied, ‘Allah and His Messenger know best.’ When I heard this, I burst into tears and returned home.

One day I was in the market-place of Medina when I heard a Syrian peasant, who had brought grain to sell, ask, ‘Would someone direct me to Ka'ab the son of Malik?’ The people pointed in my direction and he came to me and handed me a letter from the King of Ghassan. Being literate I read it. It read, 'We have heard that your master has treated you unjustly. Allah has not made you to be humiliated and maltreated. Come over to us and we shall receive you graciously.' Upon this, I said to myself, ‘This is another trial,’ and threw the letter into the oven.

After forty days of the fifty had elapsed without any indication in the Revelation concerning us, a messenger of the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, came to me and said, ‘The Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, directs you not to associate with your wife.’ I inquired, ‘Should I divorce her or what should I do?’ He replied, ‘No, just do not associate with her.’ I understood that my two companions had been directed likewise, so I told my wife to go her parents and remain with them until Allah determined the matter. The wife of Hilal son of Umayyah went to the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, and said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, Hilal the son of Umayyah is old and unable to look after himself, he does not have a servant. Would it displease you if I were to serve him?’ He replied: ‘No, but he should not associate with you.’ She told the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, ‘Ever since this happened, he has no interest in me, and weeps continuously.’

Some of my people suggested to me that I should also seek the permission of the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, so that my wife may also look after me as the wife of Hilal bin Umayyah did, but I did not ask the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, for this because I did not know what he might say, and besides, I was younger.

Ten more days and nights passed like this. On the fifty-first morning, after the dawn prayer, I was sitting at home feeling sad and although the world is wide, as Allah, the Exalted describes, it seemed to have become narrow and small for me. Suddenly, I heard someone shout at the top of his voice from the top of Mount Sala'ah: ‘O Ka'ab the son of Malik good news!’

Immediately I fell down prostrate and realized that relief had come. At the dawn prayer the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, informed the Companions that Allah, the Exalted had graciously accepted our repentance, and upon hearing this several people set off to convey the good news to us.

Some went to my two companions and another hastened on his horse in the direction of my home. One man from the tribe of Aslam raced up the mountain and his voice reached me before the arrival of the horseman. When the one whose voice I had heard arrived to congratulate me, I took off my garments and gave them to him – I had no other set of garments to wear so I borrowed some and went off to greet the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him.

On my way to the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, I encountered groups and crowds of people who congratulated me, saying, ‘Blessed is the acceptance by Allah of your repentance.’ When I entered the Mosque I found the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, seated surrounded by people. Amongst them was Talha, son of Ubaidullah who got up and rushed towards me, shook my hand and congratulated me. He was the only one from of the Emigrants who got up, and I have never forgotten his gesture.

When I greeted the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, his face shone with joy and he said, ‘Be happy with this, the best of days since your mother gave birth to you!’ I asked, ‘O Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, is this from you or from Allah?’ He answered, ‘It is indeed from Allah.’

When he was happy, it was usual for the happiness upon his face to shine as if it were a part of the moon - when this happened we knew he was pleased.

To complete my repentance, I offered to give the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, all my possessions as charity in the Cause of Allah and His Messenger, praise and peace be upon him. He told me, ‘Retain part of it - that is better for you.’ So I said, ‘I shall retain the portion which is in Khaybar.’ Then I said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, Allah the Exalted, has delivered me only because I adhered to the truth, and as part of my repentance I shall say nothing but the truth for the rest of my life.’

Ever since I declared this before the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, Allah, the Exalted, has not tried anyone so well in the matter of truthfulness as He has tried me. To this day, since my declaration, I have never had any inclination to tell a lie, and Allah willing, I will continue to protect myself against it during my remaining days.

Allah, the Exalted, revealed:

‘In the hour of adversity,

Allah turned (in mercy) to the Prophet,

the Emigrants (of Mecca)

and the Supporters (of Medina),

who followed him

when some of their hearts

were about to serve away.

He turned to them,

indeed, He is Gentle, the Most Merciful.

And to the three who had been left behind

(at the Battle of Tabuk) until the earth

became narrow with all its vastness,

And their souls became narrow for them,

they knew there was no shelter

from Allah except in Him.

Then He turned to them (in mercy)

so that they might also turn (in repentance).

Allah is the Turner, the Most Merciful.

Believers, fear of Allah and stand with the truthful.’ 9:117-119 Koran

Ka'ab continued, ‘After Allah had guided me to Islam, my greatest blessing was when I told the truth to the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, lying to him as others lied would only have caused my ruination. In His Revelation, Allah condemns those who indulge in lying saying:

‘When you return, they will apologize to you.

Say: Make no excuses; we will not believe you.

Allah has already told us of your news.

Surely, Allah and His Messenger will see your work;

then you will be returned to the Knower

of the unseen and the visible,

and He will inform you of what you were doing.

When you return, they will swear to you by Allah

that you might turn aside from them.

Let them alone, they are unclean.

Gehenna shall be their refuge,

a recompense for their earnings.’ 9:94-95 Koran

Ka’ab said, ‘The matter of the three of us had been left in the balance; separated from the matter of those who had made excuses on oath before the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, and which he accepted renewing their covenant and for whom he supplicated for forgiveness.

The Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, kept our matter pending until Allah determined it with:

‘And to the three who had been left behind ( in Medina),

until the earth became narrow with all its vastness,

and their souls became narrow for them,

they knew there was no shelter from Allah except in Him.

Then He turned to them (in mercy)

so that they might also turn (in repentance).

Allah is the Turner, the Most Merciful.’ 9:118 Koran

It does not mean that we lagged behind from jihad, but it means that Allah deferred our cases until after the cases of those who had pleaded on oath before the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, and he had accepted their excuses.’"

Another narration adds:

“The Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, set out for Tabuk on a Thursday. His preference was to set out on a journey on Thursdays.”

Another narration tells us that:

“It was his practice to return from a journey during day-light, before noon. Upon his arrival he would go immediately to the Mosque and offer two voluntary units of prayer (raka's), then he would sit down and receive people.”

Bukhari and Muslim with a chain up to Abdullah son of Ka’ab son of Malik, - who was also Ka’ab's guide when he became blind who - said: I heard Ka’ab son of Malik give a full account of the incident that caused him to remain behind when the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, proceeded to the campaign at Tabuk. Ka'ab say this.