Narrated `Abdullah bin Ka`b:I heard Ka`b bin Malik at the time he remained behind and did not join (the battle of) Tabuk, saying, "By Allah, no blessing has Allah bestowed upon me, besides my guidance to Islam, better than that of helping me speak the truth to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) otherwise I would have told the Prophet (ﷺ) a lie and would have been ruined like those who had told a lie when the Divine Inspiration was revealed:-- "They will swear by Allah to you (Muslims) when you return to them.. the rebellious people." (9.95-96)
حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى، حَدَّثَنَا اللَّيْثُ، عَنْ عُقَيْلٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، أَنَّ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ كَعْبِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ كَعْبَ بْنَ مَالِكٍ، حِينَ تَخَلَّفَ عَنْ تَبُوكَ، وَاللَّهِ، مَا أَنْعَمَ اللَّهُ عَلَىَّ مِنْ نِعْمَةٍ بَعْدَ إِذْ هَدَانِي أَعْظَمَ مِنْ صِدْقِي رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنْ لاَ أَكُونَ كَذَبْتُهُ فَأَهْلِكَ كَمَا هَلَكَ الَّذِينَ كَذَبُوا حِينَ أُنْزِلَ الْوَحْىُ {سَيَحْلِفُونَ بِاللَّهِ لَكُمْ إِذَا انْقَلَبْتُمْ إِلَيْهِمْ} إِلَى {الْفَاسِقِينَ}.
Bukhari
Prophetic Commentary on the Qur'an (Tafseer of the Prophet (pbuh)) • Hadith 195