Muhammad ibn Maslama

The Affair of Ka’b ibn al-Ashraf

Muhammad ibn Maslama was an Ansari of the Aws. When the Jewish chief Ka’b ibn al-Ashraf went beyond all bounds in inciting war against the Muslims and slandering their women, Muhammad ibn Maslama sought and received the Prophet’s ﷺ sanction, and dealt with him. 1 History of Islam · Vol 1 · pp. 169 — Najeebabadi — Muhammad ibn Maslama, with the Prophet's permission, deals with the treacherous Ka'b ibn al-Ashraf. He led expeditions, and when the Prophet ﷺ set out for Tabuk he left Muhammad ibn Maslama in charge of Madinah. 2 History of Islam · Vol 1 · pp. 232 — Najeebabadi — the Prophet leaves Muhammad ibn Maslama in charge of Madinah for the Tabuk expedition.

The Broken Sword

The Prophet ﷺ had given him a sword and told him to fight in Allah’s cause until he saw Muslims fighting Muslims — then to strike his sword on a rock until it broke and keep to his house. So when the civil strife came after Uthman’s death, Muhammad ibn Maslama broke his sword and withdrew from the fighting, taking no side in the fitna. 3 Hayatus Sahaba · Vol 2 · pp. 421–422 — Kandhlawi — the Prophet gives Muhammad ibn Maslama a sword and bids him break it and withhold when Muslims fight Muslims; he does so in the fitna. He died in Madinah.