Musnad al-Humaydi

Sayyiduna Jabir bin Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Who will rid me of Ka‘b bin al-Ashraf? He causes harm to Allah and His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him).” So Sayyiduna Muhammad bin Maslamah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: O Messenger of Allah! Would you like that I kill him? The Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Yes.” He said: Then grant me permission, so the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) gave him permission. Sayyiduna Muhammad bin Maslamah (may Allah be pleased with him) went to Ka‘b bin al-Ashraf and said: This man (meaning the Noble Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him) is also asking us for charity, he has put us in hardship, I have come to you so that I may get some loan from you. So Ka‘b said: By Allah! You will surely become weary of him. Sayyiduna Muhammad bin Maslamah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: We have followed him and we do not like to leave him, but we are considering what his situation will be in the future. Ka‘b said: Leave something with me as a pledge! Sayyiduna Muhammad bin Maslamah (may Allah be pleased with him) asked: What thing should I leave with you as a pledge? Ka‘b said: Leave your sons with me as a pledge! So Sayyiduna Muhammad bin Maslamah (may Allah be pleased with him) said to him: Would anyone among us like that someone insults his child saying he was pledged for two wasqs of dates? Ka‘b said: Then (leave) your women (as a pledge). Muhammad bin Maslamah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: You are the most handsome man among the Arabs, so should we leave our women with you as a pledge? However, we will leave our weapons (armor) with you as a pledge. Ka‘b said: Fine. Sayyiduna Muhammad bin Maslamah (may Allah be pleased with him) made an appointment with him to come to him. The narrator states: They were four men, two of whose names ‘Amr has mentioned: one was Sayyiduna Muhammad bin Maslamah (may Allah be pleased with him) and the other was Sayyiduna Abu Na‘ilah (may Allah be pleased with him). These four gentlemen came to Ka‘b bin al-Ashraf, who at that time was wrapped in a cloak from which a pure fragrance was emanating. They said: We have never smelled such a pure fragrance as today. He said: My wife is such-and-such woman, who is the most fragrant woman among the Arabs. So Sayyiduna Muhammad bin Maslamah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Allow me to smell this fragrance. He said: You may smell it! Then Sayyiduna Muhammad bin Maslamah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Allow me again so that I may smell it again. The narrator says: When Sayyiduna Muhammad bin Maslamah (may Allah be pleased with him) came close to him again, he grabbed his head and said: Strike him! They struck him until they killed him.