The Prophet (peace be upon him and his family): In the book Bihar al-Anwar it is recorded thus: This verse, لَقَدْ تابَ اللهُ [Certainly Allah has turned (mercifully)], was revealed concerning the Battle of Tabuk and the hardships the Muslims endured in it, to the point that some of them intended to turn back, and then were encompassed by the kindness of Allah the Glorious. Hasan said: 'Ten men of the Muslims would set out with only a single camel, taking turns using it among themselves. One of them would ride for an hour, then dismount, and his companion would mount it in the same way. Their provisions were louse-ridden barley, worm-eaten dates, and rancid melted fat. Every group of them would bring out whatever dates they had with them, and when hunger pressed hard on one of them, he would take a single date and chew it slowly, turning it about in his mouth until he tasted its flavour. Then he would pass it to his companion, who would suck on it and take a sip of water after it. And in this manner the date would pass from hand to hand until it reached the last of them, and nothing remained of the date but its stone.' They said: 'Abu Khaythama Abd Allah ibn Khaythama held back from [the Battle of Tabuk], until ten days had passed of the Messenger of Allah's (peace be upon him and his family) journey. Then on a hot day he came in upon his two wives, in their two small huts, where they had prepared food and cool water for him. Abu Khaythama stood at the entrance of the two huts and said: Glory be to Allah! The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family), whose sins past and to come Allah has forgiven, is out under the blaze of the sun, the [blowing of the] wind, the heat and the cold, carrying his weapon on his shoulder, while Abu Khaythama rests in cool shade with prepared food and two beautiful wives! This is not fair.' Then he said: 'By Allah, I shall not speak a single word to either of you, nor enter a hut, until I join the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family).' So he made his water-camel kneel, tied his belongings on it, took provisions and set off. And while his wives spoke to him, he did not speak to them. Then he travelled on until he drew near to Tabuk. The people said: 'A rider on a camel is coming along the road.' The Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) said: 'You are Abu Khaythama. Woe to you! What you dislike has come near to you.' When Abu Khaythama informed the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) of his affair, the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) spoke well of him and prayed for him. And he was one whose heart had inclined to staying behind, then Allah made his heart firm and steadfast upon the Prophet and the Muhajirun and the Ansar.