Banu al-Harith ibn Ka'b

بنو الحارث بن كعب

A tribe of Najran to whom the Prophet ﷺ sent Khalid ibn al-Walid (may God be pleased with him) in Rabi' al-Akhir or Jumada al-Ula 10 AH to call them to Islam for three days before fighting; they converted without a fight, Khalid stayed to teach them and then brought their delegation to the Prophet, who appointed Qays ibn al-Husayn over them and sent Amr ibn Hazm (may God be pleased with him) to instruct them and collect their sadaqa. They told the Prophet they used to defeat whoever fought them because they stayed united and never began a wrong.

Overview

A tribe from Najran. The scholars say that Najran is a region between Yemen and Hajar. They embraced Islam at the hands of Khalid ibn al-Walid in the year 10 AH, without fighting. ¹

In Ibn Hisham's biography

The Prophet sent Khalid to them in Rabi' al-Akhir or Jumada al-Ula of the year 10 AH, and ordered him to invite them to Islam three times before fighting them. Khalid sent riders in every direction calling out, "People, embrace Islam and you will be safe", and the people embraced Islam. Khalid stayed among them teaching them Islam, the Book of God and the Sunna of His Prophet. See the mission of Khalid to Banu al-Harith ibn Ka'b. ¹ Then Khalid brought their delegation to the Prophet: Qays ibn al-Husayn Dhu al-Ghussa, Yazid ibn Abd al-Madan, Yazid ibn al-Muhajjal (may God be pleased with him), Abd Allah ibn Qurad al-Ziyadi, Shaddad ibn Abd Allah al-Qanani, and Amr ibn Abd Allah al-Dababi. ²

When the Prophet saw them he said, "Who are these people, who look like the men of India?" He asked them how they had prevailed over those who fought them in the pre-Islamic period. They said: "We used to gather and not separate, and we did not begin any man with injustice." He said: "You have spoken truly." ² ³ He appointed Qays ibn al-Husayn over them, and they returned in the rest of Shawwal or early Dhu al-Qa'da. They did not remain after their return for more than four months before the Prophet died. ³ After their delegation, the Prophet sent Amr ibn Hazm to them to teach them the religion and collect their alms, and he wrote for him a letter of instructions. ³

Not covered here

Their lineage to Madhhij and Ka'b ibn Amr, and their affairs in Najran with the Christians of Najran, are to be supplemented from other sources. ⁴

Khalid ibn al-Walid's mission to Banu al-Harith ibn Ka'b, their conversion and their delegation

In Rabi' al-Akhir or Jumada al-Ula 10 AH the Prophet sent Khalid ibn al-Walid to Banu al-Harith ibn Ka'b at Najran with orders to invite them to Islam for three days before fighting; they converted without fighting, Khalid stayed to teach them and wrote to the Prophet, who told him to come with their delegation. He brought six of their chiefs; the Prophet asked who these men were who looked like men of India, asked four times whether they were the ones who advance when rebuked until Yazid ibn Abd al-Madan answered, told them that but for Khalid's letter he would have thrown their heads beneath their feet, and appointed Qays ibn al-Husayn over them. They returned at the end of Shawwal or the start of Dhu al-Qa'da, four months before the Prophet's death.

Banu al-Harith ibn Ka'b

At a glance

Overview

In Ibn Hisham's biography

Not covered here

Connections

People and things also explored

Sources

Khalid ibn al-Walid's mission to Banu al-Harith ibn Ka'b, their conversion and their delegation