Sayyidina Ka’b ibn Maalik (RA) narrated: I did not stay behind from any battle of the Prophet ﷺ that he fought till the Battle of Tabuk, except the Battle of Badr. And the Prophet ﷺ had not questioned anyone who had stayed behind during the Battle of Badr, for, he had set out only with the caravan in mind. The Quraysh, however, came forward in response to the appeal of the caravan. So they contended one another without a previous declaration. This is as Allah, The Majestic, The Glorious said. (And Ka’b continued to say:) By my life, the noblest of experience with Allah’s Messenger ﷺ for the people was Badr but I would not love to have had that experience in place of the night of Aqabahh through which we pledged ourselves in Islam. Thereafter, I never stayed back from any battle till the Battle of anything, his face became bright. So, I came to him and sat down by him. He said, “Good news for you, O Ka’b ibn Maalik with the best day that has come to you since your mother gave birth to you.” I asked, “O Prophet ﷺ of Allah, is it is from you or from Allah?” He said, “Rather from Allah.” Then he recited these verses: "Surely, Allah has relented towards the Prophet ﷺ and the muhajirs (emigrants) and the Ansar (the supporters) who followed him in the hour of hardship after the hearts of a group of them were about to turn crooked, then He relented towards them. Surely, to them He is very Kind, very Merciful." (9: 117) He recited till he came to these words. "And (He relented) towards the three whose matter was deferred until when the earth was straitened for them despite all its vastness, and even their own souls were straitened for them, and they realised that there is no refuge from Allah, except in Him. Then He turned towards them, so that they may repent. Allah is the most-Relenting, the very Merciful." (9: 118) (Ka’b went on to day): It was about us that this was revealed: "Fear Allah, and be in the company of the truthful." (9:119) I said, “O Prophet ﷺ of Allah, my repentance includes (a pledge that) I will speak the truth always and give away all my property in charity in the path of Allah and His Messenger.” He said, “Retain with you some of your property, for, that is best for you.” I submitted, “I keep with me my share of (the booty from) Khaybar.” Allah did not bestow on me a blessing after (my) Islam greater in my sight than the truth I and my two colleagues spoke to Allah’s Messenger ﷺ and we did not lie and ruin ourselves as they ruined themselves. And I imagine that Allah has not tried anyone in speaking truth as He tried me. Never did I speak a lie after that and I hope that Allah will preserve me in what remains. [Ahmed 27245, Bukhari 4418, Muslim 2769, Abu Dawud 3320, Ibn e Majah 1393]