Gardens of the Righteous — Page 6
6. GARDENS OF THE RIGHTEOUS side to expand and the space on the other to shrink, and then said: Now carry out the measurement. It was found that he was nearer to his goal by the width of a hand and was forgiven. It is also related that he came closer by crawling on his chest. 21. Abdullah ibn Ka'ab, who had become his father's guide when the latter became blind, relates that he had heard from his father, Ka'ab ibn Malik a full account of the incident of his remaining behind the Holy Prophet when he proceeded on the campaign of Tabuk. Ka'ab said: I had accompanied the Holy. Prophet in every campaign except in that of Badr, and in that case there was no question of any penalty for the Holy Prophet and the Muslims had in view ostensibly the Quraish caravan, but Allah brought about a confrontation between them and their enemies unexpectedly. I was present with the Messenger of Allah the night of Aqabah, when we covenanted complete dedication to. Islam. I would not exchange Aqabah with Badr, for all the fame of Badr as compared with Aqabah. My failure to accompany the Holy Prophet in the campaign of Tabuk fell out in this wise. I was stronger and more affluent at the time of this campaign than at any other time. I had then two riding camels, and never before did I have two. Whenever the Holy Prophet decided on a campaign he would not disclose his real objective till the last moment. In this case, as the season was one of intense heat, the journey was long across the desert and the enemy was in great strength; he warned the Muslims clearly and told them his objective so that they should make full preparation. The number of those ready to accompany the Messenger of Allah was also large. No register would have sufficed for setting down the particulars of all of them. Most of those who were minded to keep away imagined that they would get away with it, unless their defection was disclosed through divine revelation. Also the fruit on the trees had ripened and their shade was thick and this too. operated on my mind. . The Messenger of Allah and the Muslims who were to accompany him occupied themselves with their preparations and I would go out in the morning meaning to do the same along with him but would return without settling anything, saying to myself: There is plenty of time. I can get ready whenever I wish. This went on and the Muslims completed their preparations, and one day the Messenger of Allah started with them on his march, and I had not yet done anything to prepare myself. I still continued in my state of indecision, without settling anything, while the Muslims continued on the march. I thought I would go forth alone and overtake them. How I wish I had done it, but it was not to be. . Now when I went about in the town it grieved me to observe that among those who were still at home like me were only those who were either suspected of hypocrisy or were excused on account of age or such like. . The Holy Prophet made no mention of me till after he had arrived at Tabuk. . There sitting among the people on that day he inquired what had happened to. Ka'ab? Someone from among the Bani Salimah said: Messenger of Allah, he has been hindered by his two cloaks and his habit of admiring his finery. On this. Mu'az ibn Jabal admonished him. The Holy Prophet said nothing. At this time