Reports on Ka'b bin Zuhayr bin Abi Sulma al-Muzani (may Allah be pleased with him)

Muhammad bin Sallam al-Baykandi states: The name of Abu Sulma is Rabi'ah bin Riyah bin Qurt bin al-Harith bin Mazin bin Tha'labah bin Thawr bin Hadmah bin Lati bin Uthman bin Muzaynah.
Al-Tabarani recorded it.

Muhammad bin Ishaq states: When the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) came to Madinah on his return from Ta'if, Bujayr bin Zuhayr bin Abi Sulma wrote a letter to his brother Ka'b bin Zuhayr bin Abi Sulma and informed him that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) had had a man killed in Makkah who used to satirise him and cause him harm, and that among the poets of Quraysh, Ibn al-Ziba'ra and Hubayrah bin Abi Wahb had fled in whatever direction they found a way. "If you think it proper for yourself, then come to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), for he does not have anyone killed who comes repenting. And if you do not do so, then seek escape; you will find no escape." The narrator states: Before this, Sayyiduna Ka'b bin Zuhayr (may Allah be pleased with him) had composed verses in which he had attacked the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). When this letter reached Sayyiduna Ka'b (may Allah be pleased with him), the earth became narrow for him, he feared for himself, and there he also had fear on account of his enemy. He found no other recourse but to come into the presence of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), so he composed that ode in which, mentioning his fear and his distressing situation, he praised the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). Then he set out from there and came to Madinah. He stayed with a man who belonged to the Juhaynah tribe and with whom he had an old acquaintance. The next day, that man of the Juhaynah tribe brought him along to the mosque, when the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was to offer the morning prayer. That man offered the morning prayer with the people, then that man pointed towards the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and told him: "This is the Messenger of Allah; get up, go to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and obtain a guarantee of safety from him." The narrator says: It has been mentioned that he got up and went to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), until he placed his hand upon the blessed hand of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not recognise him. He submitted: "O Messenger of Allah! Ka'b bin Zuhayr has come repenting and as a Muslim, to obtain a guarantee of safety from you. If I bring him to you, will you accept this from him?" The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Yes!" He submitted: "O Messenger of Allah! I am Ka'b bin Zuhayr." Ibn Ishaq states: Asim bin Umar told me that a man from the Ansar leapt towards him and said: "O Messenger of Allah! Give me the chance to strike off the neck of this enemy of Allah." The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Leave him! For he has come repenting and having broken away (from disbelief)." The narrator says: Sayyiduna Ka'b (may Allah be pleased with him) became angry with this clan of the Ansar because of what their man had done to him; and that was because not a single man of the Muhajirun had said anything about him except good. Then he composed the ode which he composed when he came into the presence of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). Some verses of this ode are these: "When she (that is, my beloved) walks, at her two sides are talebearers, and what they say (to me) is: 'O son of Abu Sulma! You will be killed.' And every friend in whom I had hope, each one of them said: 'I can do nothing for you; I am apart from you.' So I said: 'Leave my way! May you be fatherless; whatever the Most Merciful has decreed will surely come to pass. Every mother's son, however long he remains safe, will one day certainly be carried upon the bier.' I have been told that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) has issued a threat concerning me (that is, has issued an order to kill), yet pardon can be hoped for from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). (O Messenger of Allah!) Be lenient! May that Being (that is, Allah Almighty) keep you firm upon guidance who has given you, as a gift (or bestowal), the Qur'an, in which there are words of admonition and counsel and also details (of rulings). Do not seize me because of the words of talebearers; I have committed no crime, although much has been said about me. Indeed the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) is such a light that illumination is sought from him, and he is an unsheathed Indian sword among the swords of Allah Almighty. When the people accepted Islam, one speaker from a band of Quraysh said in the valley of Makkah: 'Set out!' So those people (that is, the Muhajirun) set out (that is, they emigrated), while they are such people that they are neither weak, nor, at the time of facing (the enemy) (that is, in battle), are they without shields, nor without swords, nor without weapons. They walk (in battle) gracefully, as white (that is, choice) camels walk, and striking protects them when the short black men turn away. They (the Muhajirun) are heroes with lofty noses, and (on the occasion of battle) their garments are the shirts (that is, coats of mail) which Sayyiduna Dawud (peace be upon him) made (of iron). (Those coats of mail) are gleaming and ample, whose rings are interlocked with one another, as though they were the strong rings of the qaf'a' (a plant so named). When their spears reach the enemy (and kill the enemy), they do not exult, and when harm reaches them, they do not wail. The thrusts of (the enemy's) spears strike (these Muhajirun) in their chests, and they (the Muhajirun) feel no hesitation before the pools of death.'" Ibn Ishaq states: Asim bin Amr told me: When he used the words "al-sud al-tanabil" (that is, the short black men), what was meant by it was the group of the Ansar, because their companion had done that; and Sayyiduna Ka'b bin Zuhayr (may Allah be pleased with him) had mentioned with praise only the Muhajirun of Quraysh from among the Companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). For this reason the Ansar became angry with him. Later, after he had accepted Islam, he began to praise the Ansar too, and he mentioned the efforts which these people had made alongside the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and the rank and standing they enjoyed in the court of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): "Whoever desires honour in life, let him remain with the righteous horsemen of the Ansar, who spent their lives for their Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) on the occasion of battle and at the time of the trial of opposition, and who, beside the people's pools, struck them with tearing swords and spears. They look (at the enemy) with eyes red like embers; their sight is not weak. They (the Ansar) purify themselves with the blood (of the enemy), of the disbelievers whom they have killed, as though it (the enemy) were their sacrificial animal. If all the knowledge that I have about these people (that is, the Ansar) were gained by everyone else too, then even the one with whom I am arguing would confirm what I say."
Al-Tabarani recorded it, and its narrators up to Ibn Ishaq are thiqat (trustworthy).