This man was from the Banu Tayy tribe, specifically from the Banu Nabhan clan of that tribe. However, his mother was from the Banu Nadir tribe. Ibn Ishaq narrates the story of his killing before discussing the expulsion of the Banu Nadir Jews, whereas al-Bukhari and al-Bayhaqi recount his killing after the expulsion of the Banu Nadir Jews. The correct account is that of Ibn Ishaq, as will be explained later. This is because the Banu Nadir Jews were expelled from Medina after the Battle of Uhud. During the time they were besieged—as will be explained, God willing—intoxicants were prohibited.
Al-Bukhari, in his Sahih, in the chapter "The Killing of Kaʿb b. al-Ashraf," narrates that the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
"Kaʿb b. al-Ashraf is harming Allah and His Messenger. Is there no one who will deal with him?"
Muhammad b. Maslama stood up and said:
"O Messenger of God! Do you want me to kill him?" The Prophet replied:
"Yes." Muhammad b. Maslama said:
"Then allow me to say something [that is not true]." The Prophet gave him permission.
Thereupon, Muhammad b. Maslama went to Kaʿb and said:
"This man has exhausted us by constantly asking for charity. That is why I have come to ask you for a loan."
Kaʿb replied:
"By God, you will soon tire of him."
Muhammad b. Maslama said:
"We have followed him once; we do not wish to abandon him without seeing the outcome. If you have, lend me one or two loads of dates."
Kaʿb said:
"Fine, but only if you leave something with me as collateral."
Muhammad b. Maslama and his companions asked:
"What do you want as collateral?"
Kaʿb replied:
"Leave your women with me as collateral."
They said to him:
"How could we leave our women with you, when you are the most handsome of the Arabs?"
Kaʿb said:
"Then leave your children as collateral."
They replied:
"We cannot do that either, for that would be a disgrace for us. When the child grows up, people would say: 'Are you not the one who was given as collateral for a load or two of dates?' Instead, let us leave weapons with you as collateral."
They agreed on this.
Muhammad said he would come to him at night. When night fell, Muhammad went to his house—accompanied by Abu Na‘ila, Kaʿb’s foster brother—and asked Kaʿb to come down. Kaʿb descended. His wife said to him:
"How can you go out at this hour?" (According to another narration, his wife said: "I hear a voice from which it is as if blood is dripping.")
Kaʿb replied:
"What is it? Those calling me are Muhammad b. Maslama and my brother Abu Na‘ila. Besides, a noble man would go even if called to be struck at night."
The narrator says: There were two other men with Muhammad b. Maslama. Muhammad said to them:
"When he comes, I will grasp his hair and smell it. When you see that I am holding him firmly, strike him without delay."
Kaʿb came down, wearing a leather-embroidered robe and exuding musk. Muhammad said to him:
"What a pleasant fragrance you have! I have never smelled anything like it in my life." Kaʿb replied:
"What do you expect? I have the best and most fragrant of Arab women." Muhammad said:
"Will you allow me to smell your hair?"
He agreed, so Muhammad grasped and smelled his hair. Muhammad then told his companions:
"You too, smell it." After they had done so, he asked again. This time, Muhammad held Kaʿb’s hair tightly and said to his companions:
"What are you waiting for?"
They immediately finished off Kaʿb. Then they went and informed the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) of what had happened.
Muhammad b. Ishaq said: As for Kaʿb b. al-Ashraf, he was from the Banu Nabhan clan of the Tayy tribe, and his mother was from the Banu Nadir. When Zayd b. Haritha and ʿAbdullah b. Rawaha came to Medina and reported the death of the idolaters who had participated in the Battle of Badr, Kaʿb said: "By God, if Muhammad has truly brought calamity upon this people, then the earth below is better than its surface."
The enemy of Allah, upon confirming the news, set out and went to Mecca. He stayed with al-Muttalib b. Abi Wadaʿa b. Dubayra al-Sahmi. At his place was Atika bint Abi al-ʿIs b. Umayya b. ʿAbd Shams b. ʿAbd Manaf, who hosted and honored him. There, he began to recite inciting poetry against the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) and to lament the idolaters killed at Badr. Ibn Ishaq mentions a qasida (ode) of his, which begins:
"The mill of Badr ground those who participated in the Battle of Badr.
For one like Badr, you shed tears and weep with tears."
Ibn Ishaq also relates the poetic responses of Hassan b. Thabit and other poets to this.
Later, Kaʿb returned to Medina and began composing ornate odes about the Muslim women, causing them distress, and he also insulted the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and his Companions (ṣaḥāba).
Musa b. ʿUqba said: Kaʿb b. al-Ashraf was from the sons of Nadir. He insulted and harmed the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him). He mounted his steed and went to Mecca, inciting the Quraysh against him. While in Mecca, Abu Sufyan asked him:
"By Allah, tell me! Is our religion more pleasing to Allah, or that of Muhammad and his companions? In your view, are we or they closer to the truth and more rightly guided? We slaughter large-humped camels, feed people, give them milk to drink over water, and feed them whatever the wind brings."
Kaʿb b. al-Ashraf replied:
"Certainly, you are more rightly guided than they are."
The narrator says: Thereupon, Allah revealed to His Messenger the following verses:
"Have you not seen those who were given a portion of the Scripture, who believe in superstition and false gods and say about the disbelievers, 'These are better guided than the believers as to the way'? Those are the ones whom Allah has cursed; and he whom Allah curses—never will you find for him a helper." (al-Nisāʾ 4:51–52)
Musa and Muhammad b. Ishaq said: Kaʿb b. al-Ashraf came to Medina and openly declared his enmity. He incited people to war and did not leave Mecca until he had convinced the idolaters to resolve to fight the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him). He began composing ornate poems for Umm al-Fadl bint al-Harith and other Muslim women, causing them distress.
Ibn Ishaq said: According to what ʿAbdullah b. Mughith b. Abi Burda told me, the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) asked: "Who will deal with Ibn al-Ashraf for me?" Muhammad b. Maslama, the brother of Banu ʿAbd al-Ashhal, said: "I will deal with him; I will kill him, O Messenger of God." The Messenger said: "If you are able, then do so."
The narrator says: Muhammad b. Maslama then withdrew and waited three days, neither eating nor drinking, his heart preoccupied. This was reported to the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him), who called him and said:
"Why have you stopped eating and drinking?" Muhammad b. Maslama replied:
"O Messenger of God, I gave you my word. I do not know whether I will be able to fulfill it or not." The Messenger said:
"You are only required to make the effort." Muhammad b. Maslama said:
"O Messenger of God, there are some things we must say."
The Messenger said:
"Say whatever you deem appropriate. You are free in this matter."
Thereupon, to kill Ibn al-Ashraf, Muhammad b. Maslama, Silkan b. Salama b. Waqsh (this is Abu Naʿila, from Banu ʿAbd al-Ashhal and Kaʿb’s foster brother), ʿAbbad b. Bishr b. Waqsh (also from Banu ʿAbd al-Ashhal), Harith b. Aws b. Muʿadh (also from Banu ʿAbd al-Ashhal), and Abu Abs b. Jabr (from Banu Haritha) joined together.
They first sent Abu Naʿila (Silkan b. Salama) to the enemy of Allah, Kaʿb. He went to him, conversed for a while, and exchanged poetry. Abu Naʿila recited poetry, then said:
"Alas, O Ibn al-Ashraf, I have not come for any need but to tell you something. Keep it secret."
Kaʿb replied:
"Fine, I will keep it secret." Abu Naʿila said:
"This man’s (Muhammad’s) coming among us has been a calamity. Because of him, the Arabs have become our enemies. Like an arrow shot from a single bow, they have attacked us, cut off our roads, scattered our families, and caused us hardship." Kaʿb replied:
"I am the son of al-Ashraf. By God, O Ibn Salama, let me tell you: the matter will turn out as I say."
Silkan said:
"I wanted you to sell us some food, so we could leave something as collateral and draw up a document for you. Show us some favor in this."
Kaʿb asked:
"Will you give me your sons as collateral?" Silkan replied:
"You want to disgrace us. I have some companions who share my view. Let me bring them, and you can deal with them too. Show us favor and let us leave as collateral something from our armor sufficient to cover the debt."
Silkan said this so that when his companions came armed, Kaʿb would not be alarmed or suspicious. Kaʿb said: "There is loyalty in a group."
Silkan then returned to his companions and informed them. He told them to take their weapons, then go and gather at Kaʿb’s place. They first gathered with the Messenger of God.
Ibn Ishaq narrates from Ibn ʿAbbas: The Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) walked with them as far as Babu’l-Gharqad. When sending them off, he said:
"Go in the name of Allah. O Allah, help them." The Messenger then returned home. It was a moonlit night. They went and finally reached Kaʿb’s fortress. Abu Naʿila called out to him. He was a newlywed and leapt from his bed. His wife grabbed the edge of his cover and said:
"You are a warrior; warriors do not go out at this hour or descend at night." Kaʿb replied:
"This is Abu Naʿila. If he had found me asleep, he would not have woken me." His wife said:
"By God, I sense evil in his voice."
He replied: "A brave man goes even if called to be struck." He then went down. They conversed for a while, then Abu Naʿila said:
"Strike the enemy of Allah!"
Together, they struck him, their swords rising and falling upon him, but to no avail—Kaʿb did not die. Muhammad b. Maslama said: "When I saw that our swords were achieving nothing, I remembered a dagger I had and took it. At that moment, the enemy of Allah screamed so loudly that fires were lit in all the surrounding fortresses. I immediately thrust the dagger between his groin and belly, pressed upon him, and drove it in. The enemy of Allah fell. Harith b. Aws b. Muʿadh was also wounded in the head or foot by one of our swords. We left there, passing by the area of Banu Umayya b. Zayd, then by Banu Qurayza, then via Buʿath, until we reached the volcanic area of Ureyz. Harith, weakened by blood loss, lagged behind. We waited for him, then he caught up. We carried him on our backs and brought him to the Messenger of God at the end of the night, who was standing in prayer. We greeted him. He came to us, and we told him that the enemy of Allah had been killed. Then we returned home. In the morning, the Jews, upon hearing what we had done to the enemy of Allah, Kaʿb b. al-Ashraf, were terrified. There was not a single Jew who did not fear what might befall him.
Ibn Jarir said: According to al-Waqidi, they brought the severed head of Kaʿb b. al-Ashraf to the Messenger of God.
Ibn Ishaq said: Regarding this, Kaʿb b. Malik composed the following poem:
"They struck down Kaʿb and left him, then departed.
After his killing and being cast down, the Banu Nadir Jews were humbled.
He fell to the ground, and with our renowned, firm swords, we raised him up.
By Muhammad’s command, that night Kaʿb’s brother went and set a trap for Kaʿb.
He deceived him and lured him from his house by trickery.
He is praised, trustworthy, and a brave brother."
Ibn Hisham said: These verses are from a qasida of his about the Day of Banu Nadir. The explanation of the Day of Banu Nadir will come later.
I say: Kaʿb b. al-Ashraf was killed by Harith b. Aws after the Battle of Badr. Later, the Khazraj killed Abu Rafiʿ b. Abi Huqayq after the Battle of Uhud, as will be explained, God willing. Our trust and reliance is upon Allah.
Ibn Ishaq also narrates the following poem by Hassan b. Thabit regarding this event:
"O Ibn Huqayq, and you, O Ibn al-Ashraf!
The group of men you encountered have done great deeds for Allah.
They came upon you fiercely, like lions in the forest, with swift swords, attacking by night.
They reached your fortresses and gave you the cup of death with sharp, destructive swords.
They came seeking victory for their Prophet’s religion, belittling every destructive deed."
Muhammad b. Ishaq narrates that the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
"Kill any of the men of the Jews whom you find." Thereupon, Muhayyisa b. Masʿud al-Awsi attacked Ibn Sunayna, who was a Jewish merchant with whom he had dealings. Muhayyisa killed him. His brother Huwayyisa, who was older but not yet a Muslim, began beating Muhayyisa and saying:
"O enemy of Allah, did you kill him? By God, the fat in your belly comes from his wealth."
Muhayyisa said: I replied to him:
"By God, the one who ordered me to kill him is such that if he ordered me to kill you, I would strike your neck."
By God, this was the first cause for Huwayyisa’s entry into Islam. Huwayyisa asked me:
"If Muhammad ordered you to kill me, would you kill me?"
I replied:
"Yes, by God, if he ordered me to strike your neck, I would do so."
Huwayyisa said:
"By God, a religion that brings you to this is truly wondrous," and he became Muslim.
Ibn Ishaq said: This was related to me by a freedman of Banu Haritha, on the authority of Muhayyisa’s daughter. Regarding this, Muhayyisa said:
"If I had been ordered to kill him, I would have cut the bones behind his ears with a sharp sword, as my mother’s son reproaches me.
With a sharp sword whose color is like that of salt.
I take pride in its polish and shine. When I draw it, it does not fail.
Killing you against my will would not please me.
Yet we have had our days between Busra and Ma’rib."
Ibn Hisham narrates from Abu’l-ʿAmr al-Madani that this incident occurred after the killing of the Banu Qurayza Jews, because the person killed was Kaʿb b. Yahuza. When Muhayyisa killed Kaʿb b. Yahuza during the Banu Qurayza campaign at the command of the Messenger of God, his brother Huwayyisa said the above words to him, and Muhayyisa gave the same reply. That day, Huwayyisa became Muslim. Allah knows best.
Note: Al-Bayhaqi and al-Bukhari mention the expulsion of Banu Nadir before the Battle of Uhud. The correct view is that the expulsion of Banu Nadir occurred after the Battle of Uhud, as followed by Muhammad b. Ishaq and other maghazi (campaign) scholars. Their evidence is this: intoxicants were prohibited during the siege of the Banu Nadir Jews, as stated in authentic hadith. For a group of Companions (ṣaḥāba) martyred on the Day of Uhud had consumed intoxicants at that time, which shows that it was still lawful then, but was later prohibited. This clarifies that the Banu Nadir incident occurred after the Battle of Uhud. Allah knows best.
Another Note: As mentioned previously, the incident concerning the Jews of Banu Qaynuqaʿ occurred after the Battle of Badr. Likewise, the killing of the Jew Kaʿb b. al-Ashraf by the Aws occurred after the Battle of Badr. As will be explained, the Banu Nadir incident took place after the Battle of Uhud. Similarly, the killing of the Jew Abu Rafiʿ also occurred after the Battle of Uhud, and he was killed by the Khazraj, for he was a merchant of the Hijazis.
After the Battle of the Trench, there was a campaign against the Banu Qurayza, which will be discussed in the following pages.