Ka'b ibn Zuhayr

From Satire to Repentance

Ka’b ibn Zuhayr, son of the great poet Zuhayr ibn Abi Sulma, had satirised the Prophet ﷺ in verse. After the conquest of Makkah his brother Bujayr, already a Muslim, wrote warning him that the satirists were being called to account, but that any who came in repentance would be spared. Ka’b travelled secretly to Madinah, came to the Prophet ﷺ in the mosque, and — without first naming himself — asked whether Ka’b ibn Zuhayr would be forgiven if he repented; told yes, he revealed himself, and when an Ansari moved to strike him, the Prophet ﷺ said, “Let him be — he has come in repentance.” 1 Hayatus Sahaba · Vol 1 · pp. 226–227 — Kandhlawi — Ka'b comes in repentance; the Prophet spares him, saying he has come repentant.

Banat Su’ad and the Mantle

Ka’b then recited his famous ode “Banat Su’ad,” which turns to praise of the Prophet ﷺ and the Muhajirun. So pleased was the Prophet ﷺ that he cast his own mantle (burda) over Ka’b — a robe later treasured by the caliphs and worn for its blessing. 2 Seerat-e-Mustafa · Vol 3 · pp. 106–108 — Idris Kandhlawi — Ka'b recites Banat Su'ad and the Prophet gives him his mantle, later treasured by the caliphs.