Mūsā ibn ʿUqbah relates: Kaʿb ibn al-Ashraf—one of the Banū al-Naḍīr, or someone who lived among them—had harmed the Messenger of Allah ﷺ with scathing satire. He then rode to Quraysh and enticed them to hostility. While he was in Mecca, Abū Sufyān said to him, “I adjure you by Allah: is our religion dearer to Allah than that of Muhammad and his companions? In your opinion, which of us is better guided and nearer to the truth? We slaughter the hump-backed camel, pour milk over water, and feed people whatever the north-wind brings.”

Kaʿb replied, “You are better guided than they.”

At that, Allah revealed to His Messenger ﷺ:
“Have you not considered those who were given a portion of the Book? They believe in sorcery and false gods and say to the disbelievers, ‘These are better guided than the believers.’ Such are the ones Allah has cursed; and whomever Allah curses, you will never find for him a helper.” (Qur’an 4:51–52)

Mūsā and Muḥammad ibn Isḥāq further report: When Kaʿb returned to Madinah he openly declared his enmity and incited the people to war. He had not left Mecca until he had helped them agree upon fighting the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. Back in Madinah he began composing amorous verses about Umm al-Faḍl bint al-Ḥārith and other Muslim women, causing them distress.

Ibn Isḥāq narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ—so ʿAbd Allāh ibn al-Mughīth ibn Abī Burdah told me—said, “Who will deal with Ibn al-Ashraf for me?”

Muḥammad ibn Maslamah of the Banū ʿAbd al-Ashhal replied, “I will, O Messenger of Allah. I shall kill him.”

He said, “Do so if you can.”

Muḥammad ibn Maslamah withdrew and, for three days, ate and drank almost nothing except what would keep him alive. When this was reported to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, he summoned him and asked, “Why have you given up food and drink?”

He answered, “O Messenger of Allah, I made you a promise, but I do not know whether I can fulfill it.”

The Prophet said, “You are only required to do your best.”

Muḥammad ibn Maslamah said, “O Messenger of Allah, we shall have to say certain things.”

He replied, “Say whatever you deem necessary; you are absolved.”

Those who agreed to kill Kaʿb were Muḥammad ibn Maslamah; Silkān ibn Salāmah ibn Waqsh—better known as Abū Nāʿilah—of the Banū ʿAbd al-Ashhal, who was Kaʿb’s foster-brother; ʿAbbād ibn Bishr ibn Waqsh, also of the Banū ʿAbd al-Ashhal; al-Ḥārith ibn Aws ibn Muʿādh, likewise of the Banū ʿAbd al-Ashhal; and Abū ʿAbs ibn Jabr of the Banū Ḥārithah.

They sent Abū Nāʿilah ahead to the enemy of Allah, Kaʿb. He visited him and talked with him for a while; they recited poetry to each other—Abū Nāʿilah was himself a poet. Then he said, “Woe to you, son of al-Ashraf! I have come to you with a need I wish to confide, so keep it to yourself.”

Kaʿb answered, “I will.”

Abū Nāʿilah continued, “This man’s arrival among us has been nothing but calamity: the Arabs have turned against us, loosing their shafts at us from a single bow; the roads have been cut off; our families are scattered; our souls are worn out; hardship has overtaken us and our dependants.”

At that, Kaʿb ibn