His name
Kab B Malik
A close Companion of the Prophet, Ka`b bin Malik was known as
Abu `Abdullah. His lineage traces back to the sub-tribe Salamah of the Khazraj,
one of the tribes that migrated from Yemen to Yathrib following the flooding of
the great Ma’rib Dam. His father, Malik was a well-known poet who dealt in his
poetry with the wars between Aws and Khazraj before Islam.
His was an erudite family. Ka`b himself narrated nearly 80
Prophetic traditions that were incorporated by the compilers of the six
authentic books of Hadith. His sons were also Hadith narrators. Indeed, his
wife Khayrah was also a narrator. His grandson, `Abdurrahman was a known jurist
of his time.
Ka`b was a poet too, and defended Islam with his biting
poetry against the pagans. Ibn Sirin reported that two poetical lines from Ka`b
played a decisive role in the conversion of the Daws tribe. The Prophet approved
of his poetry even when recited inside the mosque. Ka`b is known to have
married several women: `Umayrah, Khayrah, Safiyyah, Um `Abdullah. He also had
an emancipated slave-girl: Umm Walad. A report says that Ka`b consulted the
Prophet about his desire to marry a Jewish woman; but he advised him against
it.
Ka`b was among the earliest Madinans to embrace Islam after
the return of the first Madinan delegation from their meeting with the Prophet
at `Aqabah in Makkah. He participated in the second delegation to Makkah, which
comprised of 72 men and two women. It is said that he was the first to pledge
his hand.
After the Prophet’s migration to Madinah, he instituted
brotherhood between an Ansari and a Muhajir. Ka`b was declared the brother of
Talha.
Ka`b participated in every battle after Badr. He remained
behind from Badr because the Prophet had not made a wide appeal, but rather,
had started out in a hurry, without any preparation, without much arms. At
Uhud, he received eleven wounds. It was Ka`b who boosted the morale of the
Muslims when he recognized the glittering of the Prophet’s eyes behind his
helmet and passed the tidings that the Prophet was alive. Following the Uhud
battle, he exhorted his clansmen to rise to their feet when the Prophet called
for a campaign to chase the disbelievers until Hamra’ al-Asad.
The most interesting episode in Ka`b’s biography is the
account of his failure to participate in the campaign to Tabuk. The incident
was an acid test for some because of the blistering summer, prolonged distance
and the strength of the enemy. Nearly eighty able-bodied men from Madinah did
not take part in the campaign, amongst whom were hypocrites, sick, or invalid
believers. But three of them were sincere; Ka`b was one of them.
Here is the story of his absence from the Tabuk expedition in
his own words:
“(Except for the accidental Badr encounter) I had never
remained behind from any expedition that the Prophet undertook except that of
Tabuk. As a matter of fact when I stayed behind from the expedition of Tabuk, I
had never been stronger and wealthier. By Allah, I never possessed two mounts
as I had at the time of the expedition. The Prophet started off at a time of
intense heat. He was aware of a long journey to face a powerful enemy. He made
clear the difficulties to the Muslims and told them of his destination so that
they might prepare themselves well. And the Muslims who accompanied him were
many, beyond the record of registers so that, if someone stayed back, nobody
could notice, unless Allah revealed concerning him. Also, the Prophet started
off at a time when the fruits were ripe on the trees and the shades under the
trees enticing.”
“Anyway, the Prophet prepared himself, and so did the
Muslims. As for me, I would want to prepare myself, but not do anything about
it. Next day I would again wish to prepare myself but do nothing about it.
Finally, everyone left while I kept procrastinating. Then I thought I would
catch up a day or two later, but I did not. I wish I had. But it was not destined
that I should. After the Prophet had gone, I would go out and it would pain me
to see that no one was left but he who had a mark of hypocrisy on his face or
someone whom Allah had excused because of womenfolk to look after. The Prophet
did not mention me until he had reached Tabuk. There he asked, “What happened
to Ka`b b. Malik?” One of the Banu Salamah said, “He was prevented by his fine
clothing and the conceit of his appearance.” But Mu`adh b. Jabal defended him.
The Prophet remained silent.”
“While he was in that state he noticed a man in a white cloak
emerging out of the mirage; he remarked, “Be it Abu Khaythumah.” It was Abu
Khaythumah. He was the one who had been belittled by the hypocrites for
offering in charity a mere bunch of dates.” “When I learnt that the Prophet was
returning, I was overtaken by various thoughts and began to consider lying to
him to escape from his anger and get my home folk to support me in my effort.
But when I heard that the Prophet was quite close, falsehood left me and I knew
that I could only escape by speaking the truth. After he was back, those who
had stayed behind began to stream into the mosque, seeking to be excused,
swearing falsely. They were some eighty men. The Prophet accepted their
declarations and oaths and asked Allah's forgiveness, leaving their hidden
motives to Him, until I went in. When I greeted him, he smiled the smile of an
angry man. He said, “Get closer.” I went forward and sat down right in front of
him. He asked, “What held you back? Had you not bought a mount?” I said,
“Apostle of Allah. By Allah, if someone else of the people was sitting before
me, I could count on escaping his anger with an excuse, and I am astute in
argument. But, by Allah, you know that if I spoke out a lie today, it might
satisfy you, but Allah may invoke in you anger against me. On the other hand,
if I spoke the truth, you might be displeased, but Allah might forgive me. By
Allah, I had no excuse. I was never stronger and in easier circumstances than
at any other time.” The Apostle remarked, “As for this man, he has spoken the
truth. Now, get up until Allah decides about you.” So I got up. Some of Banu
Salamah followed me in annoyance. They said, “We have not known you having
committed a wrong earlier. Could you not have sought excuse like so many others
did? The Prophet’s supplication for your forgiveness would have been sufficient
for you.” They kept pressing until I was almost ready to go back to the Prophet
and give the lie. Then I asked them whether there was anyone else who was in
the same state. They said, “Yes. Two more men have also admitted to what you
admitted and they too have been given the same reply.” I asked them who they
were. They named persons who had participated in the Battle of Badr. So, I
decided I’d rather do nothing.
The Prophet forbade anyone to speak to the three of us, so
people avoided us and showed demeanor that changed the world around me
completely. We endured this for fifty nights. As for my companions, they felt
humiliated and stayed at home. But I was younger and hardier and used to go
about, attend to Prayers and go around the markets. But no one spoke to me. I
would go to the Apostle, greet him while he sat with the people after the
Prayers, asking myself if his lips moved in reply or not. Then I would pray
near him and steal a look. I found that when I was engaged in my Prayers, he
would look at me but when I paid him attention, he would turn away. When the
hardship of the boycott of the Muslims became long for me, I went and climbed
Abu Qatadah’s wall. He was my cousin and the dearest of men to me. I greeted
him. By Allah, he did not return my greeting. I said, “O Abu Qatadah. I adjure
you, do you not know that I love Allah and his Messenger?” He said not a word
in reply. I adjured him again and repeated my question. He remained silent.
Once again I adjured him. He only said, “Allah and His Messenger know best.” My
eyes were filled with tears. I climbed down the wall and returned.”
“Then, as I was walking through the Madinan market a Nabatian
from the Syrian region who had come to town to sell food items was inquiring
after me. The people guided him to me. He handed over a letter from the ruler
of Ghassan. I knew how to read and write. It said, “We hear that your companion
(meaning Muhammad) has treated you badly. God has not meant you to be
humiliated and wasted away. Come and join us. We will treat you most fairly.” I
told myself that this too was a trial from Allah and consigned the letter to
the oven.”
“Thus went on forty of the fifty nights when a messenger of
the Apostle arrived to say that I was to separate from my wife. I asked if I
was to divorce her. He said, “No. But do not go near her.” The other two were
also sent similar orders. I told my wife, “Go and live with your family until
Allah sends His command.” But Hilal’s wife went to the Prophet and told him
that he was an old man, lost without a servant, and so, was there any objection
to her staying with him? He said, “No. But do not cohabit.” She said, “By God,
he has made no movement towards me. The man has been crying all the time.” Some
people suggested that I too should seek my wife to remain with me; but I knew
the Prophet would say no. After all, I am a young man. Ten more nights passed
over us.”
“One morning I did my Fajr Prayers on top of one of our
(clan) houses. As I sat there very much in the state which Allah had described
as the earth having become narrow for us despite all its vastness when I
suddenly heard the voice of a crier coming over the mountain saying, “Good news,
Ka`b b. Malik.” I fell into prostration knowing that the relief had come.” “The
Prophet was in Umm Salamah’s house when the revelation about the acceptance of
repentance came. It was the early part of the night. Umm Salamah asked him if
she should announce the acceptance of repentance to the people. The Prophet
told her, “Do not. The people will start milling around us in celebration and
will not let us get any sleep this night.”
“He announced the acceptance of repentance of us three in the
morning Prayers. People started pouring out to convey the good news. Some
people went to the other two to announce the good news while a horseman
galloped on to me. And a runner from Banu Salamah ran up towards me until he
reached the mountain. His voice was faster than the horse. As the crier
announcing the good news appeared, I took off my outer garments and gave them
to him in jubilance. By Allah, I didn’t have clothes other than them and so borrowing
two pieces, set off for the Prophet.”
“On the way, streams of people met me to congratulate me on
the acceptance of my repentance. I entered the mosque. The Prophet was with
people around him. Talha greeted me, and he was the only Immigrant to do so.
(It might be remembered that Talha was his brother in the scheme of
brotherhood). His face was shining with happiness. He said, “Good news of a day
better than which has never passed over you from the day your mother gave birth
to you.” I asked, “Is the pardon from you O Messenger of Allah, or from Allah?”
He replied, “Rather, from Allah.” We knew that when the Prophet was happy, his
face shone like the moon.”
“When I sat down before him I said, “As an act of penitence I
should offer all my wealth as charity to Allah and His Messenger.” He said,
“Hold back some of it. That’s better for you.” I said, “I shall retain my share
at Khyber.” I also said, “Messenger of Allah. Allah saved me because of the
truth. And, it is part of my penitence that I should not speak but the truth
the rest of my life.” And, by Allah, since the day I said those words to the
Prophet, no one was ever treated better for his truthfulness than me from that
day onwards. By God, I never even intended to lie thereafter, and I hope it will
remain so until I remain.”
Ka`b’s trustworthiness resulted in he being chosen by the
Prophet to collect Zakah and alms from the tribes of Aslam and Ghifar; and his
skill in survey and measurements to fix the boundaries of the sacred shrine in
Makkah. He continued to serve the state after the Prophet. During `Uthman’s
time he was still collecting Zakah from a few tribes. He was with Ali when the
latter was sent to negotiate a deal with the insurgents from Egypt who were
demanding that `Uthman step down. He was one of the four who buried `Uthman in
the darkness of the night and wrote some beautiful lines upon the martyrdom of
`Uthman.”
“When Ali assumed the caliphate, Ka`b was one of those who
demanded from him that he punish the murderers of `Uthman, and traveled to
Syria to consult Mu`awiyyah. When he saw that Ali was taking no action, he
stayed back with Mu`awiyyah for a while.” “Not much is known about his role in
the battle between Ali and Mu`awiyyah. It appears that he spent a good part of
his life during the tenure of Ali in Madinah; though he travelled frequently to
Syria.”
“Some accounts state that he became blind toward the end of
his life and that it was his son Abdurrahman who used to guide him to the
mosque in Madinah during the caliphate of Ali. He supplicated often for Sa`d b.
Zurarah, for inaugurating the first Friday congregational prayer in Madinah in
which Ka`b had also participated. He was around 77 years at the time of death.”
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