Whenever the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his holy progeny) would leave for a battle, he would make it a point to establish a bond of brotherhood between two of his companions; he did so between Sa’eed Ibn A’bd al-Rahmaan and Tha’labah Ansaari before he left for the battle of Tabuk.
Sa’eed accompanied the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his holy progeny) for jihad while Tha’labah stayed back and was responsible for looking after his family.
One day when Tha’labah went to Sa’eed’s house for arranging food provisions for his family, the Satan tempted him to look at Sa’eed’s wife, and before long, he was soon overcome with lust. Approaching near, he placed his hand upon her, at which point she cried out: Is it appropriate that while your brother has gone on jihad, you intend to violate the chastity of his wife?
These words affected him so drastically that he set out into the wilderness and upon reaching the base of a mountain, fell onto the ground and began weeping day and night – remorseful of his evil action.
When the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his holy progeny) and his companions returned from battle, all the people from the city thronged to welcome their brothers, except Tha’labah. Sa’eed went to his house and questioned his wife about Tha’labah, whereupon she informed him of what had transpired.
Sa’eed came out of his house and began to search for Tha’labah till he eventually found him seated near a stone and repentantly slapping his head and wailing out loudly: Woe from the shame and humiliation of the Day of Judgment.
Sa’eed took him in his arms, consoled him and sought to take him to the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his holy progeny) to find out a way for his forgiveness, but Tha’labah said: Tie my hands and place a rope around my neck in an appearance similar to that of slaves who have attempted to run away.
When Sa’eed brought him before the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his holy progeny), he (peace be upon him and his holy progeny) said to him: You have indeed committed a grave offence. Go away from me, seek forgiveness from God and await His orders.
After a period of time, when the verse of Forgiveness and Repentance5 was revealed at the time of the A’sr prayers, the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his holy progeny) sent Ali (peace be upon him) and Salman to bring Tha’labah.
They set out into the desert in search of him, eventually finding him conversing with his Lord and seeking His forgiveness. Witnessing his state, Amirul Mu’mineen’s (peace be upon him) eyes filled up with tears and he (peace be upon him) gave him the good news that God had forgiven him!
It was night when they brought him to Medinah; the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his holy progeny) was reciting the chapter al-Takaathur in the Maghribain prayers. No sooner did Tha’labah hear the first verse6, he gave out a cry; hearing the second verse7, he shrieked loudly and when he heard the third verse8, he fell down unconscious; after the prayers, people found that he had died.
The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his holy progeny) and the companions began to weep. He (peace be upon him and his holy progeny) instructed that Tha’labah be given the ablutions and prayers offered over him. As he (peace be upon him and his holy progeny) accompanied Tha’labah’s funeral procession, he was seen to be walking on the tips of his toes. When the people sought to know the reason for it, he (peace be upon him and his holy progeny) said: The angels who had come to participate in his prayers and join his funeral procession were so great in number that I had to walk upon my toes!( Khazinah al-Jawaahir, pg. 315; Raudhah al-Anwaar of Sabzwaari. )