MUSJIDUL HAQ

Download PDF: [S] Why the Kaafir Ka’ab bin Ashraf was Killed

In the present time, Quba has become part of Madina Shareef. However, in the past it was at a little distance. About two kilometres away from this spot, there used to be an old fort. This was the fort of someone called Ka’ab bin Ashraf. After the Battle of Badr, a great event took place at this fort when a dangerous enemy of Islam was removed from this earth.

However, the question is, who was Ka’ab bin Ashraf? He was from the Bani Nabhaan tribe which was an offshoot of the Bani Tayy. During the days of ignorance, his father had murdered someone and had come to Madina Shareef seeking shelter. After a few months, he was protected by the Nabi Nudair but married into this tribe. He had one son whom he named Ka’ab.

It is said that Ka’ab bin Ashraf was very good looking and a master poet and was extremely wealthy. He used to live in the same fort mentioned above. However, Ka’ab bin Ashraf was an ardent enemy of Islam and the Muslims. He used to encourage others to fight against the Muslims and composed poetry in this regard. When the Kuffar were defeated in the Battle of Badr, he was extremely disappointed. In fact, Ka’ab bin Ashraf used to utter words of regret at the success achieved by the Muslims and mentioned that it was better for the Meccans to bury themselves.

In fact, Ka’ab bin Ashraf even travelled to Mecca Shareef and encouraged the Meccans to once more rise against the Muslims. He went to different gatherings and addressed people. In fact, one day, when Abu Sufyan asked him which religion was better, he remarked that the Meccans were more guided than the Muslims.

When Ka’ab bin Ashraf realised that he had fulfilled his mission of making the Meccans once more attack the Muslims, he returned to his fort and started to write poems insulting the Muslim females. In fact, he did not spare Sayyiduna Rasoolullah – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – in these insults and this became his daily pastime. Ka’ab bin Ashraf also insulted the blessed aunt of Sayyiduna Rasoolullah – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – who was the wife of Hadrat Sayyiduna Abbas – may Allah be pleased with him. In fact, Ka’ab bin Ashraf’s insults against the Muslims and Sayyiduna Rasoolullah – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – knew no boundaries.

One day, Sayyiduna Rasoolullah – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – asked his companions who was prepared to remove this person from the face of the earth and Hadrat Sayyiduna Muhammad bin Muslimah – may Allah be pleased with him – stood up and mentioned that he was prepared to carry out this mission. This eminent companion then began to plan the way this person was going to be killed. Bear in mind that this Kaafir lived in a fort and it was impossible to enter the fort with any weapons. There needed to be plan on how the Muslims could carry their weapons into this fort.

Hadrat Sayyiduna Muhammad bin Muslimah – may Allah be pleased with him – then made a plan and decided to first speak to this Kaafir. He approached him in the fort and pointing towards Sayyiduna Rasoolullah – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – he mentioned that they had been placed in great difficulty. He approached Ka’ab to ask for a loan. He asked Ka’ab to give him a few kilograms of grain. At the same time, Hadrat Sayyiduna Muhammad bin Muslimah – may Allah be pleased with him – mentioned that since they had accepted Islam, they could not leave the side of the Muslims. However, Hadrat Sayyiduna Muhammad bin Muslimah – may Allah be pleased with him – insisted that he be given a few kilograms of grain so that he could repay some debt he had incurred.

Ka’ab agreed to this but asked that he be given some sort of guarantee. When Hadrat Sayyiduna Muhammad bin Muslimah – may Allah be pleased with him – asked him what guarantee he needed, he replied that the females of the Muslim be kept with him. When Hadrat Sayyiduna Muhammad bin Muslimah – may Allah be pleased with him – heard this, he refused. He was then asked to keep his sons with Ka’ab and he replied that this would not be possible for a few grains of wheat. Finally, it was agreed that the weapons of Hadrat Sayyiduna Muhammad bin Muslimah – may Allah be pleased with him – be kept with Ka’ab as a sort of guarantee of payment. In this manner, without the Kaafir realising what he was doing, he had written his own death warrant.

Another five Muslims had also agreed to join this mission. Finally, Hadrat Sayyiduna Muhammad bin Muslimah – may Allah be pleased with him – realised that Ka’ab had shown trust in him and he requested that his other friends be allowed to enter the fort because they also wanted to meet him.

Hadrat Sayyiduna Muhammad bin Muslimah – may Allah be pleased with him – commanded the other Muslims that the moment he goes near Ka’ab to smell the fragrance on his head, this was a sign for them to attack him and kill him. This was finally agreed to and when they returned to Madina Shareef with the cursed head of Ka’ab, Sayyiduna Rasoolullah – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – was extremely pleased and made a special Du’a for them. (Sahih Bukhari, Fathul Bari, Al Bidaayah)

This clearly proves that when it comes to insulting Sayyiduna Rasoolullah – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – the only punishment is death. It is said that there are people who call themselves Muslims would actually think nothing of sitting in the company of those who insult Sayyiduna Rasoolullah – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him. When we sit in the company of the Kaafir happily or join them in their religious functions, we are actually insulting Allah Almighty and still we call ourselves Muslims. Imagine for one moment, that these people are saying that Nabi ‘Isa – peace be upon him –  was crucified and this is clearly refuted in the Qur’an and we join the Christmas celebration of these people. Are we not refuting the Qur’an through our actions? Everything which the Muslim holds dear, these disbelievers refute and still we say that we are pure Muslims!

When we look at certain people who claim to be Muslims, they would think nothing of calling these disbelievers are their brothers. There is no doubt on the blessed words of Sayyiduna Rasoolullah – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – that on the Day of Judgement, a person will be with those whom he loves. One can imagine in whose company these so-called Muslim will be in.

As for those sincere Muslims who still consider the enemy of Islam as a real enemy of their Creator and their Prophet– may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – they will never entertain the idea of sitting with the Kaafirs in any religious function. When we know that these people are actually enemies of Allah and His beloved Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – because they agree with Christmas, how can we call them our leaders or even people who are from a great family?