The ode of Hadhrat Ka'ab (May Allah be well pleased with him)

The incident of Ka’ab bin Zuhair (May Allah be well pleased with him) is mentioned detailed in Al Mawahib Al Ladunniya.� Here, it is being related briefly.� Ka’ab bin Zuhair (May Allah be well pleased with him) who was a runaway Muslim, came to Madina and requested the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam):� Ka’ab bin Zuhair has repented and embraced Islam and has come with the intention of seeking peace.� If I let present him to You, will You accept his request?

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The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:� Yes.

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He said:� I am Ka’ab bin Zuhair, o Prophet of Allah (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).

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A person from among the Madinites got up and said:� O Prophet of Allah (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam)!� Give me the order.� I will behead this enemy of Allah.

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The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:� Let him be.� He has repented and come with yearning.

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As none of the Emigrants hadn’t said anything but good about him, he took umbrage at this act of the Madinite Companion.� Then he recited Qasida Laamiya the first part of which is Baanat Su’aad, i.e. my heart ails due to the separation of the beloved and is debased and has become a slave.� He is like a slave who couldn’t ransom himself and is shackled with the thoughts of the beloved.

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It also has the couplet that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) has given a warning about me although forgiveness is to be hoped from the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).�

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The narrator says that he recited the couplet which said:� The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) is radiance (Noor) from whom illumination is sought and is an unsheathed Indian sword¹.

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¹[An Indian sword was extensively used in Arabic poetry as a metaphor for brilliance, strength, beauty without femininity, etc.]

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When he recited the aforementioned couplet, the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) removed the cloak, which He had on His blessed body, and threw it to him.� Then Hadhrat Ameer Mu’awiyah (May Allah be well pleased with him) offered him 10,000 Dirham for that cloak, but Hadhrat Ka’ab (May Allah be well pleased with him) refused to give it.

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Later on, when Hadhrat Ka’ab (May Allah be well pleased with him) passed away, Hadhrat Ameer Mu’awiyah (May Allah be well pleased with him) sent 20,000 Dirham to his heirs and gained the blessed cloak of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).� A’asim says that it is the same cloak which has been passed on from kings to their successors till dare.

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Imam Zurqani (May Allah shower His Mercy on him) has related on the authority of Imam Hakim (May Allah shower His Mercy on him) that Hadhrat Ka’ab (May Allah be well pleased with him) had recited:� an unsheathed Indian sword.� The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) corrected it to: Allah’s sword.

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This shows clearly that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) would be gladdened by poetry in His praise.� That the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) granted Hadhrat Ka’ab (May Allah be well pleased with him) His own cloak is proof enough for this.

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The readers can understand that many deductions can be made from this Tradition:

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1. �Writing poetry in praise of Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) in the form of odes….

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2.� Mentioning the beloved, without naming it, and relating one’s powerlessness and debasement, etc. which has been followed by poets like Hafiz, Jami, etc.

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3.� Granting gifts in the form of garments to the poets, which custom is acted upon by the Shaykhs.

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4.� Considering a garment as sacred and blessed even though it is not a part of the body.

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5.� Yearning to gain the relics of the Prophets and spending money for this purpose and not considering money spent for this purpose as extravagant expenditure.

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[Excerpted from Anwaar-e-Ahmadi]