Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Who would kill Ka`b bin Al-Ashraf as he has harmed Allah and His Apostle ?" Muhammad bin Maslama (got up and) said, "I will kill him." So, Muhammad bin Maslama went to Ka`b and said, "I want a loan of one or two Wasqs of food grains." Ka`b said, "Mortgage your women to me." Muhammad bin Maslama said, "How can we mortgage our women, and you are the most handsome among the Arabs?" He said, "Then mortgage your sons to me." Muhammad said, "How can we mortgage our sons, as the people will abuse them for being mortgaged for one or two Wasqs of food grains? It is shameful for us. But we will mortgage our arms to you." So, Muhammad bin Maslama promised him that he would come to him next time. They (Muhammad bin Maslama and his companions came to him as promised and murdered him. Then they went to the Prophet (ﷺ) and told him about it.
Mortgaging - Sahih al-Bukhari 2510
This narration from Sahih al-Bukhari details the permission to use deception in warfare against those who actively oppose Islam and harm Muslims, as demonstrated by the Prophet's approval of Muhammad bin Maslama's strategic approach to eliminate Ka'b bin Al-Ashraf.
Contextual Analysis
Ka'b bin Al-Ashraf was a Jewish poet from Medina who actively opposed the Muslim community after the Battle of Badr, composing poems insulting the Prophet and inciting Quraysh against Muslims. His actions constituted open hostility against the Islamic state.
The Prophet's question "Who would kill Ka'b..." represents a legitimate military decision against someone waging psychological warfare and endangering Muslim security, not a personal vendetta.
Scholarly Commentary on the Negotiation
Muhammad bin Maslama's request for a loan was a strategic ruse permissible in warfare (al-hud'a fil-harb). Classical scholars like Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani explain that deception against hostile combatants is allowed when it serves a legitimate military objective.
The discussion about mortgaging illustrates important Islamic legal principles: mortgaging women is absolutely prohibited, mortgaging sons is discouraged due to social dishonor, while mortgaging weapons is permissible as collateral for loans.
Legal and Ethical Dimensions
This incident establishes that targeted elimination of enemy combatants who pose imminent threat to the Muslim community is permissible under Islamic law when authorized by legitimate leadership.
The companions' return to inform the Prophet demonstrates the importance of military accountability and that such actions must be conducted under proper authority, not individual initiative.