Hazrat Ka'b bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) says that I did not stay behind from any expedition with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) except the Battle of Tabuk. Yes, I did miss the Battle of Badr, and those who did not participate in Badr were not blamed, because the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) had only set out with the intention of intercepting the caravan of the Quraysh (not with the intention of fighting). Without the intention of battle, Allah Almighty caused the Muslims to confront their enemies. I was also present with the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) on the night of the Pledge of Aqabah, where all of us together strengthened the covenant of Islam, and I would not want to exchange that pledge for being present at the Battle of Badr, even though the Battle of Badr is more famous among the people.

My story is that at the time of this expedition, I had never been as wealthy and well-off as I was then. By Allah! For this battle, I had two camels, and I had never had two mounts in any previous battle. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) had a practice that if he intended to go on a campaign, he would conceal the real objective by mentioning another possible or ambiguous destination. But when the time for the Battle of Tabuk came, since it was a time of intense heat, a long, waterless desert had to be crossed, and there was to be a confrontation with a large enemy, he (peace and blessings be upon him) openly informed the Muslims so that they could prepare for the battle, and he told the people his real intention.

The number of Muslims was very large, and there was no register in which all their names could be recorded. Whoever did not want to participate in the battle thought that his absence would remain hidden until a revelation about him was sent down. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) intended this expedition at a time when the fruits had ripened and the shade of the trees was abundant. So the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and all the Muslims began preparing for the battle. I too would go out every morning with the intention of preparing for the battle along with the Muslims, but in the evening I would return without having accomplished anything. I would think to myself (there is plenty of time), I can do this work later. In this procrastination, time passed, and the Muslims made great efforts and completed their preparations. One morning, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) set out with the Muslims, and by that time I had not prepared anything. But I thought to myself that in a day or two I would get ready and join the Muslims.

When the Muslims had gone far from (Medina) the next day, I set out with the intention of preparing, but returned without having done anything. My laziness continued, and the Muslims quickly advanced far ahead. I intended to catch up, but it was not Allah's will. I wish I had gone and joined the Muslims. After the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) had departed, whenever I went out and met people or wandered around, I would feel sorrow seeing that except for the hypocrites and those weak people whom the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) had excused, no one else was to be seen.

On the way, did the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) remember me anywhere? When the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) reached Tabuk, he sat among the people and said: "What did Ka'b do?" A man replied: O Messenger of Allah! He kept looking at his two garments and for that reason did not come. Mu'adh bin Jabal (may Allah be pleased with him) said: By Allah! You have said a bad thing. O Messenger of Allah! We have hope for good from him. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) remained silent.

Ka'b bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) says: When I learned that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was returning, I became worried and intended to lie, and thought in my heart about what plan I could devise to save myself from the displeasure of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). I also consulted all the wise people in my house. Meanwhile, I learned that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) was very near, so I abandoned all thoughts of lying and realized that by mixing lies I could not save myself from the displeasure of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). Therefore, I firmly resolved to speak the truth.

In the morning, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) arrived, and it was his practice that when he returned from a journey, he would first go to the mosque and pray two rak'ahs, and then sit there and talk to the people.