Fort Kab Bin Ashraf

2019-Mar-06

 We have seen in history that people who have defied the religion of Islam and have taken steps against it have always witnessed a horrible fate. Similar is the story of Ka’b bin Ashraf. He loathed Islam and the Prophet (PBUH) and did everything in his power to harm them. Here are some facts about Ka’b bin Ashraf and his fort.
 Ka’b bin Ashraf was a wealthy Jewish poet
 Ka’b bin Ashraf was a wealthy Jewish poet who used his poetic talent to instigate hatred into the hearts of the people against the Prophet (PBUH) and the Muslims. He used to compose and recite depreciative verses against the Prophet (PBUH), the Muslim companions and the Muslim women. His verses praised the enemies of Islam and motivated them to go against the Prophet (PBUH).
 Ka’b bin Ashraf hated the Muslims so much that when he heard that they had won the battle of Badr, he became outraged and he started composing verses to persuade the Quraysh to fight against the Muslims and take revenge.
 Ka’b bin Ashraf traveled to Makkah to instigate hatred against Muslims
 To further spread the hatred among the Non-Muslims against the Muslims, Ka’b bin Ashraf traveled to Makkah. Here he started to continue his mission which had a bigger impact because the Quraysh loathed the Muslims even more after the Battle of Badr.
 The verses of Ka’b bin Ashraf triggered a fire in the hearts of the people in Makkah who were motivated even more now against the Muslims. This act not only instigated hated but also was against the Constitution of Madinah which did not prevent Ka’b bin Ashraf’s tribe from extending any support towards the tribes of Makkah.
 
 Ka’b bin Ashraf preferred the religion of Makkah over Islam
 On another occasion, Ka’b bin Ashraf was asked by Abu Sufiyan that which religion he would prefer more, the religion of the Makkans or the religion of Muhammad (PBUH), to that Ka’b bin Ashraf replied that the Makkans were better guided. This shows the hatred inside Ka’b bin Ashraf for the Prophet (PBUH) and his companions.
 Ka’b bin Ashraf started defaming Muslim women
 For Ka’b bin Ashraf, going against the Constitution of Madinah to instigate hatred in the hearts of the Quraysh for the Muslims was not enough, he decided to further degrade the Muslims with his verses. For this purpose, he returned to Madinah and started propaganda with a view of defaming the Muslim women.
 
 Finally, Prophet Muhammad asked Sahaba to kill Ka’b bin Ashraf
 The Muslims had tolerated Ka’b bin Ashraf for a long time but now they had had enough. The Prophet (PBUH) gathered the Muslims and asked them who would volunteer to kill Ka’b bin Ashraf. 5 men volunteered among whom Ka’b bin Ashraf’s foster brother was also present.
 
 Then one of the men, Muhammad bin Muslimah asked the Prophet (PBUH) for permission to deal with Ka’b bin Ashraf in their own way. The Prophet (PBUH) permitted them and they went on to carry out their plan to kill Ka’b bin Ashraf.
 Muhammad bin Muslimah tricked Ka’b bin Ashraf
 Muhammad bin Muslimah and his companions went to meet Ka’b bin Ashraf and told him that the Prophet (PBUH) had brought trouble to the people of Madinah. Now Ka’b bin Ashraf appreciated anyone who was against the Prophet (PBUH) and he was blinded by this hatred.
 
 He could not see that these people might be tricking him. All he could feel was a delight at the sight of the people who hate the Prophet (PBUH) and his religion. He, therefore, trusted the Muslim companions.
 Muhammad Bin Muslimah then asked Ka’b bin Ashraf for a loan to which he had no objection as he thought that anyone who hated the Prophet (PBUH) was one of his own. He, therefore, approved of it, but his disgusting personality made him ask for their women and children as a guarantee.
 
 The Muslims could not approve of that, therefore, they persuaded Ka’b bin Ashraf to keep their weapons as collateral. Ka’b bin Ashraf agreed to meet them later.
 5 Muslims killed Ka’b bin Ashraf, inside his fort
 Ka’b bin Ashraf was present in his fortress when the five Muslims who set out to kill Ka’b bin Ashraf called upon to him. Ka’b bin Ashraf’s wife called out to him to take care of himself, but he was so overwhelmed to be dealing with the haters of the Prophet (PBUH) that he did not care about anything else.
 
 The Muslims were armed and Ka’b bin Ashraf set out with them on a walk. Appreciating the fragrance of his head, one of the men held his head while the other struck his axe on his abdomen. Ka’b bin Ashraf screamed horribly with pain and died on the spot.
 Ka’b bin Ashraf’s men came out of the fortress but couldn’t see anyone as the Muslims had fled. Ka’b bin Ashraf’s men also took the matter to the Prophet (PBUH) saying that the Muslims had killed Ka’b bin Ashraf with deceit.
 
 The Prophet (PBUH) replied that Ka’b bin Ashraf had wronged the Muslims for long enough with his evil ways and had done enough propaganda against Islam. To this, the Jews remained silent.
 The fort of Ka’b bin Ashraf
 Ka’b bin Ashraf was killed in his own fort. He was blinded by his wealth, power and hatred towards the Prophet (PBUH) that got him killed. The ruins of his fortress are still present which remind us of his painful death.
 
 It also reminds us that the people who have stood against Islam and the Prophet (PBUH) have always witnessed a tragic and painful death. Islam is the ultimate religion and Prophet (PBUH) is the most humble and perfect character in history. People who did and who will stand against them will always be ruined in this world and the world hereafter.
 Map Location of Fort Ka’b bin Ashraf