Mu'jam Kabir Tabarani 16452 — When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ came

Ibn Ishaq said: When the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) came to Madinah on his return from Ta'if, Bujayr bin Zuhayr bin Abi Sulma wrote to his brother Ka'b bin Zuhayr bin Abi Sulma, informing him that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) had killed a man in Makkah from among those who used to satirise him (peace and blessings be upon him) and harm him (peace and blessings be upon him), and that those who remained of the poets of Quraysh, Ibn al-Ziba'ra and Hubayrah bin Abi Wahb, had fled in every direction. "So if you have any concern for your life, hasten to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), for he (peace and blessings be upon him) does not kill anyone who comes repenting; and if you do not do so, then flee to a place where you can save yourself." Ka'b had composed some verses in which he had insulted the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). When the letter reached Ka'b, the earth became constricted for him and he feared for his life, and his enemies who lived around him spread rumours about him, saying: "He will surely be killed." When he saw no way out, he composed his ode in which he praised the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and mentioned his fear and the rumours the slanderers spread about him. Then he set out until he reached Madinah and stayed with a man of Juhaynah with whom he was acquainted, as I was told. In the morning, he took him to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) when he (peace and blessings be upon him) had prayed Fajr. Ka'b prayed with the people, then he (the man of Juhaynah) pointed him to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and said to him: "This is the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him); get up, go to him and seek his protection." I was told that he got up and went to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) until he placed his hand in his (peace and blessings be upon him) hand, and the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) did not recognise him. He said: "O Messenger of Allah! Ka'b bin Zuhayr has come to seek protection from you, repentant and a Muslim. If I bring him to you, will you accept him?" The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Yes." Then he (Ka'b) said: "O Messenger of Allah! I am Ka'b bin Zuhayr." Ibn Ishaq said: Asim bin Umar bin Qatadah told me that a man of the Ansar leapt at him and said: "O Messenger of Allah! Let me strike off the neck of this enemy of Allah." The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Leave him, for he has come repentant and having withdrawn (from his disbelief)." So Ka'b became angry with this clan of the Ansar because of what their companion had done to him, and that was because none of the Muhajirun had said anything but good about him (Ka'b). So Ka'b composed the ode that he recited when he came to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), among whose verses were these (in meaning):
"The slanderers walk alongside me, saying: 'O son of Abu Sulma! You will surely be killed.' And every friend in whom I had hope said: 'I will never meet you; I am too busy to help you.' So I said: 'Get out of my way, for whatever the Most Merciful has decreed will surely come to pass. Every human being, however long his safety lasts, will one day be carried on a bier.' I was told that the Messenger of Allah had threatened me, while pardon is what is hoped for from the Messenger of Allah. Wait a moment, may He who granted you the great gift of the Qur'an, in which are admonitions and detailed explanation, guide you. Do not seize me on account of the slanderers' words when I have committed no sin, even if much has been said about me. Indeed, the Messenger of Allah is a light by which illumination is sought, a sharp-edged sword drawn from among the swords of Allah. He is among a band of Quraysh about whom, when they accepted Islam in the valley of Makkah, someone said: 'Move away!' They moved away, but at the time of the encounter they proved neither weak, nor turned their backs, nor were they left helpless. They walk with the gait of fine camels; when the cowardly and feeble flee the battlefield, their striking keeps them safe. High-nosed, brave men, whose garments in war are coats of mail woven in the manner of Dawud (peace be upon him). White, long coats of mail whose rings are joined as though they were the rings of a certain vine, firmly woven. If their spears strike a people they do not exult, and if they themselves are wounded they show no impatience. The spear strikes only in their chests, and before the pools of death they do not cry out in fear."
Ibn Ishaq said: Asim bin Amr told me that when Ka'b said "al-sud al-tanabil" (the black, short people), he meant the company of the Ansar, because of what had been done by their companion, and he had singled out the Muhajirun of Quraysh among the Companions of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) for his praise, so the Ansar became angry with him. So after accepting Islam he composed these verses in praise of the Ansar, mentioning their trials alongside the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and their standing with the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) (in meaning):
"Whoever loves the honour of life, let him always remain in a troop of the righteous among the Ansar. Those who sacrifice their lives for their Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) on the day of battle and at the time of severe trial. And who drive people away from their pools with Mashrafi swords and sharp spears. And who look out with eyes red like embers, keen of sight. They purify themselves, as though performing an act of worship, with the blood of those of the disbelievers whom they kill. If people knew all that I know about them, even those who dispute with me would confirm what I say."