The people started receiving me in batches, congratulating me on Allaah's Acceptance of my repentance, saying, 'We congratulate you on Allaah's Acceptance of your repentance." Ka‘b further said, "When I entered the Mosque. I saw the Messenger of Allaah, peace and blessing be upon him, sitting with the people around him. Talhah ibn ‘Ubaidullaah swiftly came to me, shook hands with me and congratulated me. By Allaah, none of the Muhajireen (i.e. Emigrants) got up for me except him (i.e. Talhah), and I will never forget this for Talhah." Ka‘b added, "When I greeted the Messenger of Allaah, peace and blessing be upon him, his face being bright with joy, said "Be happy with the best day that you have got ever since your mother delivered you." Ka‘b added, "I said to the Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him: 'Is this forgiveness from you or from Allaah The Almighty?' He said, 'No, it is from Allaah The Almighty.' Whenever the Messenger of Allaah, peace and blessing be upon him, 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 Messenger of Allaah! Because of the acceptance of my repentance I will give up all my wealth as alms for the Sake of Allaah and His Messenger. Allaah's Messenger said, 'Keep some of your wealth, as it will be better for you.' I said, 'So I will keep my share from Khaybar with me,' and added, 'O Allaah's Messenger! Allaah 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 Allaah, I do not know anyone of the Muslims whom Allaah has helped for telling the truth more than me. Since I have mentioned that truth to Allaah's Messenger till today, I have never intended to tell a lie. I hope that Allaah The Almighty will also save me (from telling lies) the rest of my life. So Allaah The Almighty revealed to His Messenger of Allaah,peace and blessing be upon him, the Verse (what means):

{Allaah has forgiven the Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him), the Muhajirun (Muslim emigrants who left their homes and came to Al-Madinah) and the Ansar (Muslims of Al-Madinah) who followed him (Muhammad, peace and blessing be upon him) in the time of distress (Tabuk expedition, etc.), after the hearts of a party of them had nearly deviated (from the Right Path), but He accepted their repentance. Certainly, He is unto them full of Kindness, Most Merciful. And (He did forgive also) the three [who did not join the Tabuk expedition (whom the Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him)] left (i.e. he did not give his judgement in their case, and their case was suspended for Allaah's Decision) till for them the earth, vast as it is, was straitened and their ownselves were straitened to them, and they perceived that there is no fleeing from Allaah, and no refuge but with Him. Then, He accepted their repentance, that they might repent (unto Him). Verily, Allaah is the One Who accepts repentance, Most Merciful. O you who believe! Be afraid of Allaah, and be with those who are true (in words and deeds).} [Quran 9: 117-119]

By Allaah, Allaah 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 the Messenger of Allaah, peace and blessing be upon him, which would have caused me to perish as those who have told a lie perished, for Allaah The Almighty described those who told lies with the worst description He ever attributed to anybody else. Allaah The Almighty said (what means): {They will swear by Allaah The Almighty to you (Muslims) when you return to them, that you may turn away from them. So turn away from them. Surely, they are Rijsun [i.e. Najasun (impure) because of their evil deeds], 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 Allaah is not pleased with the people who are Al-Fasiqun (rebellious, disobedient to Allaah).} [Quran 9: 95-96] Ka‘b added, "We, the three persons, differed altogether from those whose excuses Allaah's Messenger, peace and blessing be upon him, accepted when they swore to him. He took their pledge of allegiance and asked Allaah The Almighty to forgive them, but Allaah's Messenger, peace and blessing be upon him, left our case pending till Allaah The Almighty gave His Judgment about it. As for that Allaah said): {And (He did forgive also) the three [who did not join the Tabuk expedition (whom the Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him)] left (i.e. he did not give his judgement in their case, and their case was suspended for Allaah's Decision) till for them the earth, vast as it is, was straitened and their ownselves were straitened to them, and they perceived that there is no fleeing from Allaah, and no refuge but with Him. Then, He accepted their repentance, that they might repent (unto Him). Verily, Allaah is the One Who accepts repentance, Most Merciful.} [Quran 9: 118]

What Allaah The Almighty said (in this Verse) does not indicate our failure to take part in the Ghazwa, 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." (1).

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(1)         Reported in Saheeh Al-Bukhaari No. (4156) and Saheeh Muslim No. (2769).

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