Fath al-Rabbani

Benefits: … This incident is narrated in Sahih al-Bukhari, the Sirah of Ibn Ishaq, and the Sirah of Musa ibn Uqbah. Hafiz Ibn Kathir rahimahullah mentioned it in al-Bidayah wa’l-Nihayah among the events of the third year of Hijrah. Ibn Ishaq states that Ka‘b ibn Ashraf was a member of the Banu Tayyi‘, a branch of the Banu Nabhān tribe, and his mother was from the Banu Nadir tribe. When Allah the Exalted granted victory and honor to the Noble Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam at Badr, Ka‘b was consumed by the fire of envy, and his malice and hatred increased further. He went to Makkah and expressed sympathy with the Quraysh, composed elegies for their slain, and incited them against the Muslims. Then, upon returning to Madinah, he began to mention Muslim women in his poems in an extremely obscene manner. Observing his conduct, the Noble Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: “Who will take revenge on Ka‘b for these activities of his? He has greatly harmed Allah and His Messenger sallallahu alayhi wa sallam.” Muhammad ibn Maslamah radi Allahu anhu said: “O Messenger of Allah! Do you wish that I kill him?” The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam replied: “Yes.” He said: “Grant me permission so that I may go to him and say some things that will please him, and to some extent, I may also speak against you.” The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: “You may say whatever you wish.”

After this, Sayyiduna Muhammad ibn Maslamah radi Allahu anhu continued to contemplate and plan to fulfill the promise he had made to the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam regarding the killing of Ka‘b ibn Ashraf. In this regard, he went to Abu Na‘ilah Silkan ibn Salamah ibn Waqsh, the foster brother of Ka‘b ibn Ashraf, as well as ‘Abbad ibn Bishr ibn Waqsh, Harith ibn Aws ibn Mu‘adh, and Abu ‘Isa ibn Jabr, and mentioned to them the promise he had made to the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam regarding the killing of Ka‘b ibn Ashraf. All of them agreed with him and said: “We are all ready for this task.” They all went to the service of the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam and said: “O Messenger of Allah! We may have to say some inappropriate things to him when we go to him.” The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: “Say whatever you wish, you are forgiven.”

Thus, these people set out and reached the fortress of Ka‘b ibn Ashraf. First, Abu Na‘ilah Silkan ibn Salamah was sent ahead. He went there and conversed with the enemy of Allah, Ka‘b ibn Ashraf, for a while. They exchanged poetry with each other. Abu Na‘ilah was also a poet. In the course of conversation, he said to Ka‘b: “Ibn Ashraf! I have come to you for a certain purpose. I will mention it to you, but please do not mention it to anyone.” Ka‘b said: “Alright, say what you wish.” He said: “The arrival of this man, i.e., Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, has become a calamity for us. All the Arabs have become our enemies, and we have been isolated as an arrow is separated and cast aside from the bow. We are unsafe in every way. The roads are dangerous, our families are in distress, and we are all afflicted with troubles.” Ka‘b replied: “I am the son of Ashraf. By Allah, Ibn Salamah! I used to tell you that the situation would turn out just as I said.” Silkan said: “I want you to provide us with food, and we will leave something with you as collateral. We will make a firm promise to you, and you will help us in this difficulty.” Ka‘b said: “Leave your sons with me as collateral.” Silkan radi Allahu anhu said: “Do you wish to disgrace us among all the people in this way? There are others with me who think as I do. I want to bring them to you as well. Please provide them with food and treat them well. We will leave our weapons with you as collateral.” The purpose of Silkan radi Allahu anhu was that when they came to him with weapons, he would not suspect anything unusual. Ka‘b said: “Alright, I will fulfill my promise in exchange for the weapons.”

After this, Silkan radi Allahu anhu went to his companions and told them everything, and asked them to gather their weapons. Then, together, they would go to him. Before going to him, they all gathered in the presence of the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam. According to the narration of Ibn Ishaq, the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam accompanied them as far as Baqi‘ al-Gharqad, after which he returned home. It was a moonlit night. They reached near the fortress of Ka‘b. Ka‘b was with his wife when Abu Na‘ilah called out to him from outside. Hearing the voice of Abu Na‘ilah radi Allahu anhu, Ka‘b quickly got up with his cloak. His wife grabbed the corner of his cloak and said: “Many people are your enemies. Such people do not go out at such a time without security arrangements.” Ka‘b said: “There is nothing to worry about. This is Abu Na‘ilah. If I were asleep, he would not wake me.” His wife said: “I feel fear from his voice.” The words in Sahih al-Bukhari are: “I sense the smell of blood from his voice.” Ka‘b said: “No, no, he is my foster brother Abu Na‘ilah Muhammad ibn Maslamah. If a noble man is called at night even to be struck with a spear, he does not refuse such a call.” He wrapped his cloak around himself and went to them in that state, and the fragrance emanated from him. Muhammad ibn Maslamah radi Allahu anhu said: “I have never seen such a fine fragrance.” Hearing this, he was elated and proudly said: “One of my wives prepares a fragrance better than all the Arabs.” Muhammad ibn Maslamah radi Allahu anhu said: “If you permit, may I smell your head?” Ka‘b said: “Yes, yes, no problem.” Then the rest of them also smelled him in turn. Muhammad ibn Maslamah radi Allahu anhu again said: “If you permit, may I smell it once more?” Ka‘b said: “Yes, yes, no problem.” On this pretext, Muhammad ibn Maslamah radi Allahu anhu firmly grasped him and said to his companions: “Attack him!” And all of them killed him.

In the narrations of Ibn Ishaq, al-Baghawi, and others, it is mentioned that one of their swords wounded Harith ibn Aws radi Allahu anhu on the head. After completing their task, they fled from there. Harith ibn Aws radi Allahu anhu was left behind, and blood was flowing from his head. He later caught up with them. They waited for him ahead, and when he joined them, they carried him and, in the last part of the night, reached the presence of the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, who was performing prayer at that time. They greeted him with salam, and the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam came out. They informed him of the killing of Ka‘b and presented his head to him. The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam applied his blessed saliva to the wound of Harith radi Allahu anhu.