Mustadrak al-Hakim 6623 — Ka'b's satirising the Ansar

It is narrated from Muhammad bin Ishaq that 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 had a man killed in Makkah who used to satirize (disparage) him and harm him, and that of the poets of Quraysh, Ibn al-Ziba'ra and Hubayrah bin Abi Wahb had fled in every direction; so if you care for your life, hasten to the presence of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), for he does not kill anyone who comes repentant; and if you cannot do that, then flee to wherever you can find safety. Before this, Ka'b bin Zuhayr had composed some verses in which he insulted the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), until those verses became well known. The gist of the verses he had composed on his brother Bujayr's acceptance of Islam was: "Now, convey this message from me to Bujayr: is there any benefit for you in what you have said? You have told me that you have done that deed, so what was it that set you on this path? Upon a way of life on which you found neither your mother nor your father, nor did your elders find their forebears upon it. Had you not done this I would not have grieved, nor would I have said at your stumbling: 'Would that you had risen.' That 'Ma'mun' (the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him) has given you such a cup to drink that it has quenched you, and despite drinking again and again your thirst is not quenched." The narrator says that Ka'b used the word 'al-Ma'mun' (the trustworthy) because Quraysh used to call the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) by this title. Then when this letter reached Ka'b, the earth became narrow for him and he became very fearful for his life, and the enemies who were around him began spreading rumours that "he is now going to be killed." When he found no way out, he composed that famous ode (Banat Su'ad) in which he praised the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and mentioned his fear and the rumours of the slanderers. Then he set out from there and reached Madinah, and stayed with a man of the tribe of Juhaynah with whom he was acquainted. At the time of the dawn prayer that man took him to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). He prayed with the people, then that man pointed towards the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and said: "This is the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him); go to him." I was told that he went to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) until he placed his hand in the blessed hand of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) did not recognize him. Ka'b said: "O Messenger of Allah! Ka'b bin Zuhayr has come to seek safety from you, repentant and as a Muslim. Will you accept his repentance if I bring him to you?" The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Yes." Then he said: "O Messenger of Allah! I am Ka'b bin Zuhayr."

It is narrated from Muhammad bin Ishaq that Asim bin Umar bin Qatadah narrated to him; he said: (When Ka'b bin Zuhayr revealed his name,) 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 alone, for he has come repentant and desisting (from his sins)." At this Ka'b became angry with this tribe of the Ansar because of what one of their men had done to him, whereas whoever of the Muhajirun spoke about him spoke only good. So he recited the ode he had composed when he came to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him): "Su'ad has departed," then he mentioned the ode to its end and added this to it: "She (the she-camel) looks over the vast deserts with eyes like those of a lone white wild ass, when the scorching ground blazes like fire and the mile-markers appear large. Her neck is long and her fetters strong, and in her build her superiority over other she-camels is plain. She runs so lightly on her nimble legs as if the sound of her steps upon the earth were the glorification of Allah. When the locusts began to leap upon the hot stones, their camel-driver said to his companions: Take your midday rest. When I saw the mounds of the earth appearing to rise with the glimmer of the mirage, and every friend in whom I had placed my hopes began to say: 'I will keep away from you, for I am busy with my own affairs.' (Such a brave one) that when he attacks his opponent, it is not permissible for him to leave him without putting him in fetters." Asim bin Umar bin Qatadah says: When Ka'b said in his verses: 'idha 'arrada al-sudu al-tanabil' (when the short, dark men flee), he meant the company of the Ansar, because one of their men had been harsh with him, and he had singled out in his praise the Muhajirun Companions from Quraysh. At this the Ansar became angry with him. So after accepting Islam he composed verses in praise of the Ansar in which he mentioned the hardships they endured together with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and their blessings. He said: "Whoever loves the nobility of a pure life, let him always remain in a troop of the righteous Ansar. They inherited nobility and greatness from their elders, one after another; indeed the best people are those who are the children of the best. They are the ones who sacrificed their lives for their Prophet at the height of battle and the onslaught of the enemy. They are the ones who look (at the enemy) with red eyes like blazing embers whose sight never weakens. They are the ones who with their strong arms drive the Khatti spears into the breasts of the enemy, as the hilts of Indian swords are strong. When the stars grow dim and set, they lay out hospitality for travellers arriving by night. They drive people away from their false religions with Mashrafi swords and quivering spears, until those people came onto the straight path while the spears were felling them on every unknown road and soft ground. All this was for the sake of the truth, for Allah is the Helper of His religion and of His Prophet with the truth and the warning. They feed the guest when need befalls them, and offer the fat of large-humped, plump camels. They advance when great warriors hold back, leaving the burden to one another, and in every age they are the ones who strike at people (the enemy). They rush towards the enemy riding every horse that is extremely swift, slender-waisted, long-necked and nimble. They are as accustomed to wars as the fierce lions of the dense thickets of Khafiyyah are accustomed. They are truthful men of middle age like swords drawn from their sheaths, and like every dust-covered man who fulfils his vengeance. They have strong weapons, straight and thirsty, by which the thirst of the breasts of the wicked is quenched. On the day of Badr they struck us (the enemy) such a blow that all the hosts of Nizar bowed before that event. When dust flies on the battlefield and fire rains down, they do not complain of death. They purify themselves (in battle) with the blood of the disbelievers as though it were an act of worship for them. And when you go to them to seek their help, you will find yourself among iron helmets and dust. They protect the religion of Allah, for His religion has a claim on every brave man and raider. If all people knew all that I know about them, even those with whom I dispute would confirm what I say."
Mention of Sayyiduna Qurrah bin Iyas Abu Mu'awiyah al-Muzani (may Allah be pleased with him).