He (PBUH) accepted their excuses to soften their hearts

“We went out with the Prophet of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, on a journey, during which people faced many hardships. I heard ‘Abdullaah ibn Ubayy ibn Salool saying: ‘Don’t spend on those who are with the Messenger of Allah so that they may disperse and go away from him. When we return (to Madinah), surely the more honorable will expel the lowly amongst them.’ I reported that (his words) to Sa’d ibn ‘Ubaadah (the chief from the tribe of Al-Khazraj), in turn, he informed the Prophet of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, of it. The Prophet of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, called me and I narrated to him the whole story. Then the Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, sent for ‘Abdullaah ibn Ubayy and his companions, and they took an oath that they did not say that. So the Messenger of Allah, sallal- laahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, accepted his statement and rejected mine.1 I was struck with such distress the like of which had never struck me before. I stayed at home and Sa’d said to me, ‘What made you do what you did, or did you just want the Messenger of Allah, sallal- laahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, to disbelieve your statement and hate you?’ I suffered an even greater distress as a result of what he said to me, until Allah revealed (what means): «When the hypocrites come to you, [O Muhammad], they say, “We testify that you are the Messenger of Allah.” And Allah knows that you are His Messenger, and Allah testifies that the hypocrites are liars [...] But never will Allah delay a soul when its time has come. And Allah is Acquainted with what you do.» [Quran: 63:1-11] The Prophet of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, then sent for me and recited it and said: “O Zayd! Allah confirmed your statement.” Then he, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, called them so that he would ask forgiveness for them, but they turned their heads aside (in rejec- tion).

“While I was walking with the Prophet of Allah, sal- lallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, with my head bowed down (in depression), he, sal- lallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, turned to me and rubbed my ear affectionately and laughed while looking at me. I would not exchange this with anything, even it would be eternity in this worldly life. Then Abu Bakr (a Companion; the first Caliph) came to me and asked: ‘What did the Prophet of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, say to you?’ I said: ‘Nothing, but he rubbed my ear and laughed while looking at me. He (Abu Bakr) said: ‘Glad tidings to you!’ Then ‘Umar came to me and asked: ‘What did the Prophet of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, say to you?’ I said to him what I said to Abu Bakr. The next morning, the Prophet of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, recited to us the chapter of Al-Munaafiqoon (that confirmed my statement).