Muhammad ibn Maslamah (RA)
Early Life:
Muhammad ibn Maslamah was named Muhammad even before he accepted Islam.
He became a Muslim from the dawah of Mus’ab ibn Umayr, who was sent out by the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to spread the religion of Islam in Madinah.
Brotherhood:
When the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ came to Madinah, he introduced the method of strengthening the bonds of brotherhood between the Muhajirin and the Ansar.
The Prophet paired off each Muhajir with one of the Ansar, and he paired Muhammad ibn Maslamah with Abu Ubaydah ibn al-Jarrah.
Character of Muhammad ibn Maslamah:
Muhammad ibn Maslamah was very loyal and dedicated, and he was also a well-renowned horseman, famous for his heroics in the service of Islam.
Military Service:
Muhammad ibn Maslamah took part in all of the military assignments of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ except for the expedition to Tabuk.
On that occasion, the Prophet assigned Muhammad ibn Maslamah and Ali ibn Abi Talib with the responsibility of leading an army that was left behind to protect Madinah.
Preparations for Uhud:
Before the start of the Battle of Uhud, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and the Muslim army spent a night in a camp.
The Prophet placed fifty men under the command of Muhammad ibn Maslamah and gave them the task of patrolling the camp the whole night.
Protection of the Prophet at Uhud:
Muhammad ibn Maslamah was part of a small group of Muslims that bravely defended the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
The Fitnah of Ka’b ibn al-Ashraf:
Ka’b ibn al-Ashraf was a man who had a lot of hatred for the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, and he was part of the tribe of Banu-Nadir.
He was regarded as an important figure within the Jewish community.
Ka’b ibn al-Ashraf would go to other areas, from tribe to tribe, influencing people to go against the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
The Prophet on Ka’b ibn al-Ashraf:
When the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ heard about this, he asked Allah: O Lord, rid me of the son of Ashfar, however You wish.
Threat of K’ab ibn al-Ashraf on the Muslims:
Ka’b became a huge threat to the Muslims and when he returned to Madinah, he continued to cause problems for both the Prophet and the Muslim women.
Ka’b wanted to form a revolt against the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and the Muslims in Madinah.
Volunteering to Confront Ka’b ibn al-Ashraf:
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said to the Muslims: Who will deal with Ka’b ibn al-Ashraf? He has offended Allah and His Apostle.
Muhammad ibn Maslamah then volunteered: I shall deal with him for you, O Messenger of Allah.
Fasting For Three Days:
Muhammad ibn Maslamah then went home and did not eat or drink for three days. When the Prophet Muhammad heard this, he asked him why he had not been eating or drinking.
Muhammad ibn Maslamah replied: O Messenger of Allah, I gave an undertaking to you but I do not know whether I can accomplish it or not.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ then told him: Your duty is only to try your utmost.
Muhammad ibn Maslamah’s Plan to Deceive Ka’b ibn al-Ashraf:
Muhammad ibn Maslamah then went to some other companions of the Prophet and they agreed to help him. Together, they plotted to kill Ka’b ibn al-Ashraf.
They went back to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to ask for his permission as the plan involved deceiving Ka’b.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ accepted this strategy on the principle that war involved deceit.
Handling Ka’b ibn al-Ashraf:
Muhammad ibn Maslamah and Abu Nailah, the foster brother of Ka’b ibn al-Ashraf, then went to Ka’b’s fortress.
Negotiation Between Muhammad ibn Maslamah and Ka’b ibn al-Ashraf:
Muhammad ibn Maslamah was the first to speak and he said: This man (the Prophet) has asked us for sadaqah (charitable tax) and we cannot even find food to eat. He is oppressing us with his laws and prohibitions and I thought I could come to you to ask for a loan.
Ka’b ibn al-Ashraf replied to this: By Allah, I am much more dissatisfied with him.
Muhammad ibn Maslamah continued: We have followed him but we do not want to leave him until we see how this whole business will end. We would like you to lend us a wasaq (a measurement) or two of gold.
Ka’b then asked: Isn’t it about time that you realise what falsehood you are tolerating from him?
Ka’b ibn al-Ashraf agreed to the loan but asked to provide some security in exchange. Muhammad ibn Maslamah and the group of Muslims asked: What security do you want?
Ka’b suggested: Give me your wives as security. The Muslims replied: How can we give you our wives as security, when you are the most handsome of Arabs?
Ka’b then said: Give me your children.
Muhammad ibn Maslamah and his group then said: How can we give you our children as security when any one of them would thereafter be ridiculed by being called a hostage for one or two wasaqs of gold. This would be a disgrace to us. But we could give you our (means of) protection (meaning weapons) since you know that we need them.
Ka’b ibn al-Ashraf agreed to this and the group of Muslims left, promising to return with the security for the loan.
The Night Mission to Ka’b’s House:
They went back to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and reported what had happened.
That night, Muhammad ibn Maslamah, Abu Nailah, Abbad ibn Bishr, Al-Harith ibn Aws and Abu Abasah ibn Jabr all headed towards Ka’b’s house.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ went with them for a short distance and told them: Go forth in the name of Allah. The Prophet then prayed for this group saying: O Lord, help them!
Assassination of K’ab ibn al-Ashraf;
Muhammad ibn Maslamah and his group reached Ka’b’s house and they called out to him.
As Ka’b got out of bed, his wife warned him saying: You are a man at war, people at war do not go down at such an hour. Ka’b replied: It is only my nephew Muhammad ibn Maslamah and my foster brother, Abu Nailah.
Ka’b came down and he was heavily scented with the perfume of musk. Muhammad ibn Maslamah then greeted Ka’b and said: I have not smelt such a pleasant scent as today. Let me smell your head.
Ka’b agreed and as Muhammad ibn Maslamah bent over, he grabbed Ka’b’s head and called for the rest of the Muslims to strike him.
This is how the Muslims successfully assassinated K’ab ibn al-Ashraf.
Expulsion of the Banu Nadir:
In the fourth year of the Hijrah, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ went to the Jewish tribe of Banu an-Nadir on the outskirts of Madinah.
After waiting for some time, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ received information that the Jews were planning to kill him.
The Prophet returned to Madinah and summoned Muhammad ibn Maslamah and instructed him to inform the tribe of Banu an-Nadir that they had ten days to leave Madinah.
Service Under the Caliphs:
Muhammad ibn Maslamah was known for carrying out any command and completing it to a high standard both during the life of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and the Caliphs who followed.
Because of these qualities, Umar ibn al-Khattab chose him as one of his ministers.
Leading an Army in Egypt:
When Amr ibn al-A’as requested reinforcements during his expedition to Egypt, the Khalifah, Umar ibn al-Khattab sent four armies, each consisting of one thousand men.
Leading these armies were Muhammad ibn Maslamah, Az-Zubayr ibn aI-Awwam, Ubadah ibn as-Samit and Al-Miqdad ibn al-Aswad.
Muhammad ibn Masalamah in Kufa:
On another occasion during Umar ibn al-Khattab’s caliphate, Umar heard that Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas was building a palace at Kufa.
Umar sent Muhammad ibn Maslamah to deal with the situation and when he reached Kufa, he burnt down the palace.
Muhammad ibn Maslamah During the Caliph of Uthman ibn Affan:
Muhammad ibn Maslamah also served Umar’s successor, Uthman ibn Affan.
Muhammad ibn Maslamah During the Caliph of Ali ibn Abi Talib:
When Uthman ibn Affan was killed and a war broke out among the Muslims, Muhammad ibn Maslamah did not participate and stayed away from this fitnah.
Muhammad ibn Maslamah – ‘The Knight of the Prophet’:
During the time of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, he was known as the ‘Knight of the Prophet’.
Muhammad ibn Maslamah and His Sword:
Muhammad ibn Maslamah made a wooden sword and hung it inside his house. When he was asked about this sword, he said: it is simply hung there to terrify people.
Death of Muhammad ibn Maslamah:
Muhammad ibn Maslamah died in the forty sixth year AH, at the age of seventy seven.
Hadith on Muhammad ibn Maslamah:
Hudhayfah narrated: There is no one who will be overtaken by trial regarding whom I do not fear except Muhammad ibn Maslamah. I heard the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ say to him: Trial will not harm you. (Abi Dawud)
Abu Bardah said: I entered upon Muhammad bin Maslamah and he said that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: There will be tribulation, division and dissension. When that comes, take your sword to Uhud and strike it until it breaks, then sit in your house until there comes to you the hand of the evildoer (to kill you) or a predestined (natural death). That came to pass and I did as the Prophet said. (Ibn Majah)