[Machine] Narrated by the Messenger of Allah ﷺ during the expedition of Tabuk, Ka'b ibn Malik said, "I never stayed behind from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ in any expedition that he undertook except for the expedition of Tabuk. However, I had stayed behind in the Battle of Badr, and no one was reprimanded for staying behind except for those who stayed behind in that battle. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ only set out on this expedition in order to encounter the Quraysh until Allah brought them together with their enemy without any set time. I certainly witnessed with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ the night of Aqabah when we agreed upon embracing Islam. I do not wish to have a prominent role in any battle other than Badr, even though Badr is more famous among people. It is also known from my knowledge when I stayed behind from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ in the expedition of Tabuk, that I was never weaker or more vulnerable than I was when I stayed behind in those battles. By Allah, I never gathered two riding camels before that time until I collected them in that battle. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ rarely set out on an expedition without undertaking another expedition alongside it. So, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ embarked on this expedition in scorching heat and towards a distant and victorious journey, and he faced a large number of enemies. He informed the Muslims to prepare themselves and be ready for the battle against their enemy."
عَنْ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ فِي غَزْوَةِ تَبُوكَ فَقَالَ كَعْبُ بْنُ مَالِكٍ لَمْ أَتَخَلَّفْ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ فِي غَزْوَةٍ غَزَاهَا قَطُّ إِلَّا فِي غَزْوَةِ تَبُوكَ غَيْرَ أَنِّي كُنْتُتَخَلَّفْتُ فِي غَزْوَةِ بَدْرٍ وَلَمْ يُعَاتِبْ أَحَدًا تَخَلَّفَ عَنْهَا إِنَّمَا خَرَجَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ يُرِيدُ عِيرَ قُرَيْشٍ حَتَّى جَمَعَ اللهُ بَيْنَهُمْ وَبَيْنَ عَدُوِّهِمْ عَلَى غَيْرِ مِيعَادٍ وَلَقَدْ شَهِدْتُ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ لَيْلَةَ الْعَقَبَةِ حِينَ تَوَافَقْنَا عَلَى الْإِسْلَامِ وَمَا أُحِبُّ أَنَّ لِي بِهَا مَشْهَدَ بَدْرٍ وَإِنْ كَانَتْ بَدْرٌ أَذْكَرَ فِي النَّاسِ مِنْهَا وَأَشْهَرَ وَكَانَ مِنْ خَبَرِي حِينَ تَخَلَّفْتُ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ فِي غَزْوَةِ تَبُوكَ لِأَنِّي لَمْ أَكُنْ قَطُّ أَقْوَى وَلَا أَيْسَرَ مِنِّي حِينَ تَخَلَّفْتُ عَنْهُ فِي تِلْكَ الْغَزَاةِ وَاللهِ مَا جَمَعْتُ قَبْلَهَا رَاحِلَتَيْنِ قَطُّ حَتَّى جَمَعْتُهُمَا فِي تِلْكَ الْغَزَاةِ وَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ قَلَّمَا يُرِيدُ غَزَاةً يَغْزُوهَا إِلَّا وَرَّى بِغَيْرِهَا حَتَّى كَانَتْ تِلْكَ الْغَزَاةُ فَغَزَاهَا رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ فِي حَرٍّ شَدِيدٍ وَاسْتَقْبَلَ سَفَرًا بَعِيدًا وَمَفَازًا وَاسْتَقْبَلَ عَدُوًّا كَثِيرًا فَجَلَا لِلْمُسْلِمِينَ أَمْرَهُ لِيَتَأَهَّبُوا أُهْبَةَ عَدُوِّهِمْ