The Book of Jihad and Expeditions

Anas ibn Malik reported: Someone said to the Prophet (ﷺ), ‘Would that you visit Abdullah ibn Ubayy.’ So he went to him, riding a donkey, accompanied by some Muslims. They crossed saline ground. When the Prophet approached, Abdullah said, ‘Keep away from me. By Allah, the stench of your donkey has offended me.’ A man from the Ansar replied, ‘By Allah, the Messenger of Allah’s donkey smells better than you do.’ A man from Abdullah’s clan became angry, and supporters on both sides grew angry. They exchanged blows with palm branches, hands, and sandals. We later heard that the verse, ‘If two groups of believers fight, make peace between them,’ was revealed about them.

Jabir reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, ‘Who will deal with Kab ibn al-Ashraf? He has harmed Allah and His Messenger.’ Muhammad ibn Maslama said, ‘Messenger of Allah, do you want me to kill him?’ He replied, ‘Yes.’ Muhammad asked permission to speak to him as he saw fit, and the Prophet said, ‘Speak.’ Muhammad went to Kab and spoke of their former friendship. He said, ‘This man is asking us for charity, which has burdened us.’ Kab replied, ‘By Allah, you will find him even more burdensome.’ Muhammad said, ‘We have only recently followed him, and dislike leaving him before seeing how his affairs turn out. I would like to borrow something from you.’ Kab asked what he would take as security. Muhammad said, ‘Whatever you want.’ Kab asked for their women as collateral. Muhammad replied, ‘You are the most handsome of the Arabs; how could we pledge our women to you?’ Kab then asked for their children. Muhammad said, ‘A man’s son might be insulted as having been pledged for two loads of dates. Instead, we will pledge our weapons.’ Kab agreed. Muhammad promised to return with al-Harith, Abu Abs ibn Jabr, and Abbad ibn Bishr. They came at night and called Kab down. Sufyan said that narrators other than Amr report that Kab’s wife said, ‘I hear a sound like that of murder.’ He replied, ‘It is only Muhammad ibn Maslama, his foster-brother Abu Nailah, and their companions. A noble man would answer a call at night even if summoned to be stabbed.’ Muhammad told his companions that when Kab came down, he would reach for his head, and when he had hold of him, they should act. Kab came down, wrapped in his cloak. They remarked on his fragrance. He said that a woman with him was the most perfumed among Arab women. Muhammad asked to smell it, and Kab allowed him. Muhammad took hold and smelled it, then asked to do so again. He seized Kab’s head and told the others to act, and they killed him.

Sahl ibn Sad reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) came to us while we were digging the trench and carrying earth on our shoulders. He said, ‘O Allah, there is no life but the life of the Hereafter, so forgive the Emigrants and the Ansar.’

Salama ibn al-Akwa reported: I went out before the call to the dawn prayer. The Messenger of Allah’s milch camels were grazing at Dhu Qarad. A servant of Abd al-Rahman ibn Awf met me and said they had been taken by Ghatafan. I cried out three times for help, making everyone between the two lava plains of Medina hear me. I ran after them and caught up with them at Dhu Qarad as they were drawing water. I shot at them with my arrows, for I was an archer, chanting, ‘I am the son of al-Akwa; today is the day of the suckling ones.’ I kept reciting until I recovered the camels and took thirty cloaks from them. The Prophet (ﷺ) and others arrived. I said, ‘Prophet of Allah, I have kept them from water while they are thirsty; send people against them now.’ He said, ‘Son of al-Akwa, you have prevailed, so be gracious.’ We then returned, and the Messenger of Allah seated me behind him on his camel until we entered Medina.