Volume 5, Book 59, Number 369:
Narrated Jabir bin ‘Abdullah:
Allah’s Apostle said, “Who is willing to kill Ka’b bin Al-Ashraf who has hurt Allah and His
Apostle?” Thereupon Muhammad bin Maslama got up saying, “O Allah’s Apostle! Would you like
that I kill him?” The Prophet said, “Yes,” Muhammad bin Maslama said, “Then allow me to say a
(false) thing (i.e. to deceive Kab). “The Prophet said, “You may say it.” Then Muhammad bin Maslama
went to Kab and said, “That man (i.e. Muhammad demands Sadaqa (i.e. Zakat) from us, and he has
troubled us, and I have come to borrow something from you.” On that, Kab said, “By Allah, you will
get tired of him!” Muhammad bin Maslama said, “Now as we have followed him, we do not want to
leave him unless and until we see how his end is going to be. Now we want you to lend us a camel
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SAHIH BUKHARI VOLUME 5 > BOOK 59: MILITARY EXPEDITIONS LED BY THE PROPHET (PBUH) (AL-MAGHAAZI)
load or two of food.” (Some difference between narrators about a camel load or two.) Kab said, “Yes,
(I will lend you), but you should mortgage something to me.” Muhammad bin Mas-lama and his
companion said, “What do you want?” Ka’b replied, “Mortgage your women to me.” They said, “How
can we mortgage our women to you and you are the most handsome of the ‘Arabs?” Ka’b said, “Then
mortgage your sons to me.” They said, “How can we mortgage our sons to you? Later they would be
abused by the people’s saying that so-and-so has been mortgaged for a camel load of food. That
would cause us great disgrace, but we will mortgage our arms to you.” Muhammad bin Maslama
and his companion promised Kab that Muhammad would return to him. He came to Kab at night
along with Kab’s foster brother, Abu Na’ila. Kab invited them to come into his fort, and then he went
down to them. His wife asked him, “Where are you going at this time?” Kab replied, “None but
Muhammad bin Maslama and my (foster) brother Abu Na’ila have come.” His wife said, “I hear a
voice as if dropping blood is from him, Ka’b said. “They are none but my brother Muhammad bin
Maslama and my foster brother Abu Naila. A generous man should respond to a call at night even if
invited to be killed.” Muhammad bin Maslama went with two men. (Some narrators mention the
men as ‘Abu bin Jabr. Al Harith bin Aus and Abbad bin Bishr). So Muhammad bin Maslama went in
together with two men, and sail to them, “When Ka’b comes, I will touch his hair and smell it, and
when you see that I have got hold of his head, strip him. I will let you smell his head.” Kab bin Al-
Ashraf came down to them wrapped in his clothes, and diffusing perfume. Muhammad bin Maslama
said. ” have never smelt a better scent than this. Ka’b replied. “I have got the best ‘Arab women who
know how to use the high class of perfume.” Muhammad bin Maslama requested Ka’b “Will you al –
low me to smell your head?” Ka’b said, “Yes.” Muhammad smelt it and made his companions smell it
as well. Then he requested Ka’b again, “Will you let me (smell your head)?” Ka’b said, “Yes.” When
Muhammad got a strong hold of him, he said (to his companions), “Get at him!” So they killed him
and went to the Prophet and informed him. (Abu Rafi) was killed after Ka’b bin Al-Ashraf.”