It is narrated from Umar bin Kathir, he says: Ka'b bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) related to me: At the time of the Battle of Tabuk, I was never as well-off in terms of riding animals and expenses as I was then. When the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) set out, I thought that I would prepare the next day and set out to join him (peace and blessings be upon him). But I became occupied with my tasks until evening came, and I could not free myself from my engagements. I thought, "No matter, I will prepare tomorrow; the people are still nearby, so I will catch up with them." The next day, too, I could not free myself from my tasks until evening. When the third day came, again I was busy with my work and could not finish by evening. I thought, "Now it is too late; the people have already traveled three days," so I postponed my intention to travel and stayed where I was.

When the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) returned, people began to come to him and present their excuses. I also came and stood before him (peace and blessings be upon him). I said, "At the time of this expedition, I was never as well-off in terms of riding animals and expenses as I was at any other expedition." (Meaning, I had no valid excuse, but it was negligence.) So the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) turned away from me, and he (peace and blessings be upon him) ordered the people that no one should speak to us. And our wives were ordered to stay away from us.

Sayyiduna Ka'b (may Allah be pleased with him) says: During those days, one day I climbed the wall of my garden and saw Sayyiduna Jabir bin Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him), and I said, "O Jabir! I ask you by Allah, do you know of any occasion when I deceived Allah and His Messenger?" He heard my words but remained silent and did not speak to me. I was spending my days in this way when one day I heard a man coming from the direction of the mountain pass, calling my name, "Ka'b, Ka'b," until he came near me and said, "Give glad tidings to Ka'b (may Allah be pleased with him)."