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like to forsake him until we see what turn his affairs will take. I want that you should give me a
loan.” He said: “What will you mortgage?” Muhammad answered: “What do you want?” The immoral
and heartless Jew demanded women and children as articles of security against the debt.
Muhammad said: “Should we pledge our women whereas you are the most handsome of the Arabs;
and the son of one of us may be abused by saying that he was pledged for two
wasq
(measurement
unit of weight) of dates but we can pledge you (our) weapons.” Ka‘b agreed. Salkan bin Salamah,
Abu Na’ilah, at another time, went to see Ka‘b for the same purpose and there were more or less
the same subjects, only that Abu Na ’ilah would bring him some companions. The plan was
successful and provided for the presence of both men and weapons. On Rabi‘ Al-Awwal 14th, at
night, the year 3 A.H. the people said good bye to the Prophet (Peace be upon him) and set out in
the Name of Allâh to implement the carefully drawn plan. The Prophet (Peace be upon him) stayed
back praying for them and supplicating Allâh to render them success. The men went and called upon
him at night. He came down although his wife warned him not to meet them alleging that: “I hear a
voice which sounds like the voice of murder.” He said: “It is only Muhammad bin Maslamah and my
foster brother Abu Na’ilah. When a gentleman is called at night even if he be pierced with a spear,
he should respond to the call.” Abu Na’ilah said to his companions: “As he comes down, I will extend
my hand towards his head to smell and when I hold him fast, you should do your job.” So when he
came down, they talked together for about an hour. They then invited him to go out and spend a
nice time in the moonlight. On the way out, Abu Na’ilah remarked: “I smell the nicest perfume from
you.” Ka‘b said: “Yes, I have with me a mistress who is the most scented of the women of Arabia.”
Abu Na’ilah again said: “Allow me to smell (the scent on your head)”. He said: “Yes, you may
smell.” So he caught it and smelt. Then he said: “Allow me to do so(once again).” He then held his
head fast and said to his companions: “Do your job.” And they killed him. The group of men came
back after fulfilling their mission. One of them Al-Harith bin Aws was wounded by mistake with the
swords of his men, and was bleeding badly. When they reached Baqee‘ Al-Gharqad, they shouted,
“Allâh is Great”. The Prophet (Peace be upon him) heard them and realized that they had killed the
enemy of Allâh. As they saw him, he said: “Cheerful faces are yours.” In reply, they said: “And
yours O Messenger of Allâh.” They handed the head of the tyrant over to him. He entertained Allâh’s
praise for their success. He then applied his saliva to Al-Harith’s wound and it healed on the spot.
When the Jews learned about the death of their tyrant, Ka‘b bin Al-Ashraf, they were scared and
even their stonelike hearts were in the grip of inexpressible panic. They realized that the Messenger
of Allâh (Peace be upon him) would thenceforth never hesitate to use force when good words and
admonition failed. They remained silent and resigned, and faked adherence to covenants.
Now the Prophet (Peace be upon him) was free to collect his thoughts and give himself up to
resolving foreign affairs, and facing dangers that could be carried with hostile wind blowing again
from Makkah.
THE INVASION OF BUHRAN:
In Rabi‘ Ath-Thani, the year 3 A.H. the Prophet (Peace be upon him) led a campaign comprising 300
warriors to Buhran in the area of Al-Furu‘. He stayed there till Jumada Al-Ula, 3 A.H. No fighting
took place in the process of this patrolling invasion.
ZAID BIN HARITHAH LEADS A CAMPAIGN ON THE TRADE ROUTES OF QURAISH:
This was the most successful campaign prior to Uhud Battle. It took place in Jumada Ath-Thaniyah,
the year 3 A.H.
Summer approached and it was high time for the Makkan trade caravans to leave for Syria. The
people of Quraish whose lives depended mainly on a mercantile economy consisting of summer
caravans to Syria and winter caravans to Abyssinia (Ethiopia), were now at a loss as to what route
they would have to follow in order to avoid the backbreaking military strikes that the Muslims
successfully inflicted on the polytheists.
They held a meeting to discuss the chances of escaping the economic blockade and decided to go
along a trade route across Najd to Iraq. Furat bin Haiyan was appointed as a guide for the caravan.
Safwan bin Omaiyah led the caravan along the new route. News of the meeting leaked out through
Na‘im bin Mas‘ud Al-Ashja‘i under the effect of wine, and it flew fast to Madinah by Sulit bin An-
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