Mukhtasar Muslim

Sayyiduna Jabir bin Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "Who will take the responsibility of (killing) Ka'b bin Ashraf? He has caused great harm to Allah and His Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)." Sayyiduna Muhammad bin Maslamah (may Allah be pleased with him) stood up and said, "Do you wish that I kill him?" The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, "Yes." So he said, "Give me permission so that I may say something (i.e., lie)." The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, "You have permission." Thus, Sayyiduna Muhammad bin Maslamah (may Allah be pleased with him) went to him and said, "This man (i.e., Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) has asked us for charity and he has put us in hardship." Ka'b said, "What is it now? By Allah, you will face much more hardship in the future." He replied, "Well, now we have followed him, so suddenly leaving him does not seem good, but we are watching to see what the outcome will be. Anyway, I have come to you to borrow something." Ka'b bin Ashraf said, "Leave something with me as a pledge." He said, "What do you want as a pledge?" Ka'b said, "Leave your women with me as a pledge." He replied, "How can we leave our women with you? For you are the most handsome of the Arabs." Ka'b said, "Then leave your sons with me as a pledge." He replied, "How can we leave them as a pledge? Tomorrow they will be taunted that so-and-so was pledged for two wasqs of dates. But we will leave weapons with you." He said, "Alright." So they promised Ka'b that he would also bring Harith, Abu Abs bin Jabr, and Abbad bin Bishr with him. The narrator said that they came at night and called Ka'b. He came down from the fort to them. His wife asked, "Where are you going at this hour?" Ka'b replied, "Muhammad bin Maslamah (may Allah be pleased with him) and my brother Abu Na'ilah are calling me (there is nothing to fear)." The woman said, "From this voice, it is as if blood is dripping." Ka'b said, "It is only my friend Muhammad bin Maslamah (may Allah be pleased with him) and my milk-brother Abu Na'ilah, and if a noble man is called even at night to be struck with a spear, he immediately accepts." Meanwhile, Sayyiduna Muhammad bin Maslamah (may Allah be pleased with him) brought two other men with him. Muhammad bin Maslamah (may Allah be pleased with him) said, "When Ka'b bin Ashraf comes, I will catch hold of his hair and smell it. When you see that I have firmly grasped his head, then you should quickly kill him." When Ka'b came to them with his head wrapped in a sheet and the fragrance was spreading from him, Muhammad bin Maslamah (may Allah be pleased with him) said, "What a wonderful fragrance is coming from you." Ka'b replied, "Yes! My wife is the most fragrant woman among the Arabs." Muhammad bin Maslamah (may Allah be pleased with him) asked, "Do you permit me to smell your head?" He said, "Yes, why not." Muhammad bin Maslamah (may Allah be pleased with him) smelled it. He said, "Do I have permission to smell it again?" He said, "Yes, you do." So when Sayyiduna Muhammad bin Maslamah (may Allah be pleased with him) firmly caught hold of him, he said to his companions, "Strike him," so they killed Ka'b bin Ashraf.