The killing of Ka'b ibn al-Ashraf

Ka'b ibn al-Ashraf was a wealthy poet and notable of Banu al-Nadir (his father an Arab of Banu Nabhan, his mother a Nadirene Jewess), and a fierce enemy of Islam; when news of the Badr victory reached him he went to Mecca to elegise the polytheist dead and incite Quraysh to invade Medina, then returned to Medina composing love-verses about Muslim women and openly lampooning them. ¹

The Prophet said to his Companions: "who will deal with Ka'b ibn al-Ashraf? He has harmed God and His Messenger." Muhammad ibn Maslama volunteered, choosing with him four men of the Aws: Silkan ibn Salama (Abu Na'ila) — Ka'b's foster-brother — Abbad ibn Bishr, al-Harith ibn Aws and Abu Abs ibn Jabr. ^{2 3}

Muhammad ibn Maslama asked the Prophet's leave to say words by which to draw Ka'b out, and he permitted it; Abu Na'ila went to him complaining of straitened living and need of food, to be lent against the pledge of their weapons — so that he would not think it strange they came armed at night — and Ka'b was reassured and set them a tryst. ^{2 4}

On a moonlit night (the night of 14 Rabi' al-Awwal, year 3 AH) the Prophet saw them off as far as Baqi' al-Gharqad and prayed for them; they went to Ka'b's fortress and Abu Na'ila called him down, and he came down perfumed despite his wife's warning. ⁵

Abu Na'ila walked with him flattering him and smelling the perfume in his hair until he had hold of his forelocks, gripped them and said to his companions: "the enemy of God is yours!" They struck him with their swords, then Muhammad ibn Maslama set a dagger at his midriff and bore down on him until he had killed him. ^{5 6}

Al-Harith ibn Aws was wounded by a companion's sword-glint in the darkness; they carried him to Medina, and when they reached the Prophet they called the takbir and he called it too, then prayed for al-Harith and spat on his wound and it healed. ⁷