So Kaʿb was left among them, felled and lifeless,
and Banū al-Naḍīr were humbled once he lay.
Flat on his palms he sprawled, while over him
our hands brandished naked, gleaming blades.
This came by Muhammad’s command, when in the night
he sent to Kaʿb a milk-brother who drew near;
unsuspecting, Kaʿb received him through a ruse,
while a praiseworthy, trusty, fearless friend stood by.

Ibn Hishām (1) remarks: These lines belong to a longer ode on the Day of Banū al-Naḍīr that will be cited later.

I say: Kaʿb ibn al-Ashraf was killed by the Aws after the Battle of Badr, and later the Khazraj slew Abū Rāfiʿ ibn Abī al-Ḥuqayq after the Battle of Uḥud, as will be explained—Allah willing, and in Him we trust.

Ibn Isḥāq also quoted the poetry of Ḥassān ibn Thābit (2):

By Allah, how splendid was the band you met,
son of al-Ḥuqayq—and you, son of al-Ashraf!
They travelled toward you with light, flashing swords,
bounding like lions in a spacious lair.
They reached you in the very midst of your own land
and made you drink death with keen, polished blades;
seeking help through victory for their Prophet’s faith,
they counted every grievous trial as small.

Muḥammad ibn Isḥāq (3) said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ declared, “Kill any man of the Jews you can seize.” At that Muḥayyiṣa ibn Masʿūd al-Awsī leapt upon Ibn Sunayna—a Jewish merchant who used to trade with them—and killed him. His elder brother, Ḥuwayyiṣa ibn Masʿūd, had not yet accepted Islam. When the deed was done, Ḥuwayyiṣa began striking him, exclaiming, “Enemy of Allah! You killed him? By Allah, there is plenty of fat in your belly that came from his wealth!”

Muḥayyiṣa replied, “By Allah, the One who commanded me to kill him—had He commanded me to cut off your head, I would have done so.”

Ibn Isḥāq continues: That was the first time Ḥuwayyiṣa embraced Islam. He said, “By Allah, would you really kill me if Muhammad ordered you to?”

Muḥayyiṣa answered, “Yes, by Allah. If he told me to strike off your head, I would strike it off.”

Ḥuwayyiṣa said, “By Allah, a religion that brings you to this is indeed remarkable,” and he accepted Islam.

Ibn Isḥāq (4) reported: A client of Banū Ḥāritha related this account to me from Muḥayyiṣa’s daughter, on her father’s authority.

Muḥayyiṣa composed these verses:

My mother’s son reproaches me—had I been ordered to slay him,
I would have cleft the sinews of his neck with a keen, decisive blade,
a sword white as salt, its polish flawless;
whenever I direct it, it never lies.
It would not delight me that I slew you willingly
even were all that lies between Buṣrā and Maʾrib ours.