Hajaj bin Zi Raqiba bin Abdur Rahman bin Ka'b bin Zuhair bin Abi Salma, the Mazani, narrates from his father, who narrates from his grandfather, who said:
Both of Zuhair's sons, Ka'b and Bujayr, went out and reached Abraq al-Izzaf. Bujayr said to Ka'b:
“You stay here and guard the goats, and I will go to this man, that is, the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, and I will listen to his teachings and come back.”
So Ka'b stayed there, and Bujayr went ahead. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, arrived, and he called them to Islam, and they accepted Islam.
When the news reached Ka'b, he said:
*“O Messenger, give Bujayr this message of mine: Why have you adopted the religion of others, a religion in which you have seen neither your parents nor your siblings? Abu Bakr has taught you a very bad thing that has led you to ruin.”*
When these verses reached the presence of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, he declared his blood lawful and said:
"Whoever finds Ka'b should kill him."
Bujayr wrote a letter to his brother Ka'b, the content of which was:
“The Messenger of Allah has made your blood lawful and has warned you to save yourself, but I see that you will not be saved. After that, whoever comes to the Messenger of Allah and testifies that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, you should accept his testimony. So as soon as this letter of mine reaches you, immediately accept Islam and come here.”
So Ka'b also accepted Islam and wrote a qasida in praise of the Messenger of Allah. Then he left from there and came to Madinah. He tied his camel outside the Prophet's Mosque and entered the mosque. At that time, the Messenger of Allah was sitting at a table among his Companions. All the Companions were sitting in circles. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, would sometimes turn to one circle and talk to them, and sometimes to another circle and talk to them.
From this manner of the Prophet, I understood that this was the Messenger of Allah. I made my way through the crowd and reached near the Messenger of Allah. I declared my Islam and said:
“I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and indeed, you are the Messenger of Allah. O Messenger of Allah, grant me protection.”
The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, asked:
“Who are you?”
I said:
“I am Ka'b bin Zuhair.”
The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
“Are you the one who said such and such verses?”
Then the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, turned to Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, and said:
“O Abu Bakr, what verse did he say?”
Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, recited this verse:
*“Abu Bakr gave you a full cup to drink… and the one entrusted (with the truth) perished from it, and so did you.”*
Ka'b, may Allah be pleased with him, said:
“O Messenger of Allah, I did not say these words.”
The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
“Then which verses did you say?”
Ka'b, may Allah be pleased with him, said:
“O Messenger of Allah, I said these verses:
*“Abu Bakr gave you a full cup to drink… and the trustworthy one perished from it, and so did you.”*
So the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
“By Allah, you are safe.”
After that, Ka'b, may Allah be pleased with him, recited the entire qasida. At the end of it were these verses. This qasida was dictated to Hajjaj bin Zi Raqiba. That qasida is:
*“Su’ad has journeyed on, and my heart today is troubled, going after the traces of her footsteps like a captive for whom no ransom has been paid.
*The morning of separation when the people departed, and the time with Su’ad was like a gazelle that lowered its eyes, and its eyes were kohled.
*When she smiled, she made her cheeks, with their bright teeth, gleam like a drink that has been mixed once and then a second time.
*A drink to which water from the edge of the valley has been added, water that is pure, from an open valley, taken in the morning, and upon which the north wind has blown.
*The winds have cleared it of straw and debris, and the rain from the white cloud has made white bubbles in it.
*How good my beloved would be if she kept to her promise, or if she would at least accept an excuse, but she is a beloved in whose nature is ingrained the pain of separation, falsehood, breaking promises, and change.
*That is why she does not remain in one state but changes just as the chameleon changes color.
*She does not hold fast to the covenant she makes but holds it as a sieve holds water.
*Like the promises of Irqab (a proverbial liar) are the promises of this beloved, and her promises are nothing but lies.
*So let him who shows kindness and makes promises not deceive you, for these hopes and these dreams only lead astray.
*I am hopeful and optimistic that her love will soon be near, and I care not for your reproaches against me.
*Su’ad reached a place in the evening that only a thoroughbred, swift camel could reach.
*Only a strong she-camel could reach it, one that does not slow down despite fatigue.
*A she-camel that, when she sweats, her sweat would soak the area behind her ears, but her aim is towards unknown paths and erased tracks.
*(Her body so sleek) that if a louse were to walk on it, her body would make it slip and fall. Her chest and sides smooth and sleek.
*She is like a young, black-haired camel whose flesh has been removed, and whose forelegs are set wide apart from her ribs.
*As if the area between her jawbones (i.e., her nose and lower jaw) to her two eyes and the place of her slaughter (i.e., her throat) is like a long, rectangular stone.
*She wipes her tail, which is like the trunk of a date palm and covered in hair, over her small, milk-filled udders.
*Her nose is arched, and the one who is knowledgeable (about camels) can clearly see the nobility in her two ears and the tenderness in her two cheeks.
*She walks swiftly, with light steps, and she catches up (with the camels that have gone ahead of her), and her dry legs are like short spears that touch the ground to fulfill an oath.
*As if she is bending her two forelegs after they have become sweaty, and at that time, the small hills and high ground take on the appearance of mirages.
*(She continues to travel) on a hot day in which even the chameleon feels scorched, and the parts of her body exposed to the sun are like bread baked in the sand.
*She is a great lamenter and has flabby arms. When she was told of the death of her young son, she lost her senses.
*Slanderers surround her on both sides and spread rumors about her, and they say: “O son of Abu Salma! You will be killed.”
*Leave the path ahead of you. Your father is no more. What Rahman (i.e., Allah) has decreed will come to pass.
*The son of every female, no matter how long he may live, will one day be carried on the bier.
*I have been told that the Messenger of Allah has threatened me, even though it is only from the Messenger of Allah that forgiveness can be expected.
*That is why I have come to the Messenger of Allah with an apology, and apologies are accepted in the presence of the Messenger of Allah.
*O Messenger! Be lenient with me, the Messenger who has been sent by the One who has granted you the Quran, in which there is admonition, guidance, and details.
*Do not accept the words of the slanderers about me, even though much has been said about me, but I have not committed any sin.
*I stand in a place, and it sees and hears things that if an elephant were to hear them.
*It would tremble. However, if it were to receive forgiveness from the Messenger by the command of Allah, then (its fear would vanish).
*So much so that I have placed my right hand (i.e., accepted Islam) in the hand of the One who is the Taker of Revenge (from the disbelievers), and whose word is the truth.
*“You were more awe-inspiring to me when I first began to speak with you, and it was said that (crimes) have been attributed to you, and you will be held accountable.”
*(You were then to me) more (awe-inspiring) than the lion of the thicket that lives in the land of Uthr, surrounded by clusters of trees.
*That lion feeds its cubs with meat in the morning, and their sustenance is the flesh of people, covered in dust and torn to pieces. From this lion, even the strongest of animals, like the antelope, cower, and people on foot cannot even pass through its valley.
*And the state of the one who boasts of his bravery in the valley of this lion is that his weapons lie discarded, his clothes are torn to shreds, and he himself has become food for the lion.
*Indeed, the Messenger of Allah is a light from which light is sought, and he is the sharp sword of Allah.
*You were sent among the youth of Quraysh. When they accepted Islam in the midst of Makkah, one of them said: “Set out (i.e., migrate to Madinah).”
*So they set out, even though they were not weak, nor were they without shields, swords, or weapons.
*They were noble and courageous men with high noses, and their attire was the armor made by David, peace be upon him, which is used in war.
*Their armor was white, gleaming, and long, and its rings were interlocked like the rings of the qafa' plant.
*They move (on the battlefield) like white, beautiful camels, and their swordsmanship protects (their companions) when short, dark-skinned people begin to flee from battle.
*When their spears overpower a people, they do not show excessive joy, and if they are themselves defeated, they do not despair excessively.
*The spears (of the enemy) strike their chests, and these people do not hesitate (to dive) into the basin of death."
Hajaj bin Zi Raqiba bin Abdur Rahman bin Kab bin Zaheer bin Abi Salmi al Muzani apne walid se, woh unke dada se riwayat karte hain, farmate hain ki Zaheer ke donon bete Kab aur Bujair nikle aur Abraq ul Azaf ke pass pahunche, Bujair ne Kab se kaha: Tum iss jagah thahar kar bakriyon ki nigahbani karo, mein iss shakhs yani Rasul kareem ﷺ ke pass jata hun aur uski taleemat sunkar aata hun chunancha Kab wahin thahar gaye aur Bujair aage chale gaye, Rasul Allah ﷺ tashreef laaye, Aap ﷺ ne unko Islam ki dawat di, unhon ne Islam qubool kar liya. Iss baat ki khabar Kab tak pahunchi to usne kaha:
* Ae qasid Bujair ko mera yeh paigham de ki kis wajah se tu ne ghair ka deen ikhtiyar kiya, woh deen jis par na tune apne maan baap ko dekha na bahan bhaiyon ko, Abubakar ne tujhe bahut buri taleem di hai, jisse tu halaakat mein pad gaya hai.
Jab in ashaar ki ittila Rasul Allah ﷺ ki bargah mein pahunchi to Aap ﷺ ne uska khoon mubah kar diya aur farmaya: Jo shakhs bhi Kab ko paye woh usko qatl kar de, Bujair ne apne bhai Kab ki janib ek khat likha jiska mazmoon yeh tha “Rasul Allah ﷺ ne tera khoon jayaz kar diya, aur isko tanbih karte hue kaha ki ab apna bachao kar lo, lekin mein dekh raha hun ki tum bach nahin paoge. Amabaad jo shakhs bhi Rasul Allah ﷺ ke pass aakar iss baat ki gawahi dede ki Allah ta’ala ke siwa koi ibadat ke layeq nahin hai aur Muhammad ﷺ Allah ta’ala ke Rasool hain, aap uski gawahi ko qubool kar lete hain, isliye jaise hi mera yeh khat tum tak pahunche, tum fauran Islam qubool karlo, yahan chale aao, chunancha Hazrat Kab ne bhi Islam qubool kar liya, aur Rasul Allah ﷺ ki madh mein ek qaseeda bhi likha, phir woh wahan se chale aur Madina Munawwara mein aagaye, Masjid Nabvi ke bahar apna unt bandha aur masjid ke andar aagaye, uss waqt Rasul Allah ﷺ apne sahaba ke darmiyaan dastarkhwan par baithe the, tamam sahaba kiram halqa dar halqa baithe hue the, Aap ﷺ kabhi ek halqa ki janib mutawajjah hokar unse guftgu farmate aur kabhi dusre halqa ki janib mutawajjah hokar unse guftgu farmate, Aap ﷺ ke iss andaaz se mein samjha gaya ki yahi Rasul Allah ﷺ hain, mein khisakta hua Rasul Allah ﷺ ke qareeb pahuncha, mein ne apna Islam zahir kiya aur arz ki: Mein gawahi deta hun ki Allah ta’ala ke siwa koi ibadat ke layeq nahin hai aur beshak Aap Allah ta’ala ke Rasool hain. Ya Rasul Allah ﷺ mujhe amaan ata farmaye, Aap ﷺ ne pucha: Tum kaun ho? Mein ne arz ki: Mein Kab bin Zaheer hun. Aap ﷺ ne farmaya: Tumhi ho jisne falan falan ashaar kahe hain? Phir Huzoor ﷺ Hazrat Abubakar razi Allah anhu ki janib mutawajjah hue aur farmaya: Ae Abubakar iss ne kaun sa sher kaha hai?
Hazrat Abubakar razi Allah anhu ne yeh sher padhkar sunaya:
Saqaaka Abu Bakrin Bekaasin Rawiy-yatin... Wa-anhalakal-Ma'mooru Minha Wa-'Alaka
Kab razi Allah anhu ne kaha: Ya Rasul Allah ﷺ mein ne yeh alfaz to nahin kahe. Aap ﷺ ne farmaya: To phir kaun se ashaar kahe hain tune? Kab razi Allah anhu ne kaha: Huzoor! Mein ne to yeh ashaar kahe hain.
Saqaaka Abu Bakrin Bekaasin Rawiy-yatin... Wa-anhalakal-Ma'moonu Minha Wa-'Alaka,
To Rasul Allah ﷺ ne farmaya: Allah ki qasam! Tu amaan mein hai. Isske baad Kab razi Allah anhu ne pura qaseeda sunaya, uske akhir mein yeh ashaar the, yeh qaseeda Hajaj bin Zi Raqiba ko imla karwaya, woh qaseeda yeh hai:
* “Sa’ad bachhad gayi aur mera dil aaj khasta haal hai jo uske qadmon ke nishanon ke peeche phirta hai aur ek aise qaidiki manind hai jiska fidya na diya gaya ho.
* Judai ki subah jab un logon ne کوچ kiya aur waqt Sa’ad ek hirni ki manind thi jisne nigahein jhukai hui thin aur uski aankhen surmagin thin.
* Jab woh muskuraati thi to chamkdar danton wale rukhsaar yun chamakati thi jaise woh pehli martaba aur dusri martaba pilaya gaya mashroob ho.
* Ek aisa mashroob jismein wadi ke kinare se aane wale paani ko mila diya gaya ho, woh paani jo saaf ho, khuli wadi ka ho, subah ke waqt liya gaya ho aur uss par shumal ki taraf se aane wali hawa guzar chuki ho.
* Hawaon ne khas-o-khashak ki iss paani se door kar diya ho aur safed badal ki barsaat ne iss mein safed bulbule bana diye hon.
* Woh mahbooba kitni achchi hoti agar woh apne wade ko pura kar deti ya phir uzr hi qubool kar leti lekin woh to aisi mahbooba hai ki uske khoon mein furqat ka dard, jhoot, wada khilafi aur tabdeeli riche base hue hain.
* Isi liye woh kisi ek haalat par baqi nahin rehti hai aur yun badalti hai jaise ghol rang badalta hai.
* Usne jo ahd kiya hota hai use mazbooti se nahin thaamti hai balki yun pakadti hai jaise chalni paani ko pakadti hai.
* ‘Irqoob (‘ahd shikni mein zarb ul misal shakhs) ke wadon ki manind iss mahbooba ke wade hote hain aur uske wade sirf jhoote hote hain.
* To woh jo mehrbaani kare aur jo wada kare woh tumhein kisi ghalat fehmi ka shikar na kare kyunki yeh aarzuen aur yeh khwab sirf gumrah karte hain.
* Mujhe yeh umeed hai aur mujhe yeh aas hai ki uski mohabbat qareeb ho jayegi aur mujhe teri inaayat ki apne liye koi parwah nahin hai.
* Sa’ad shaam ke waqt aisi jagah pahunch gayi jahan sirf umda nasl ka tez raftar unt pahuncha sakta hai.
* Uss tak sirf koi mazboot untni hi pahuncha sakti hai jo thakan ke bawajood raftar kam nahin hone deti.
* Aisi untni ki jab use paseena aaye to woh kaan ke peeche wale hisse ko paseene mein sharabor kar de lekin uska qasd anjane raaston aur mite hue nishanon ki taraf ho.
* (Iss untni ka jism itna chakna ho) ki agar koi joon uss par chale to woh jism use phisla kar gira de iss untni ka seena aur پہلو hamaar aur chikne hon.
* Uski misaal ek aisi neel gaye ki manind ho jisse gosht ko door kar diya gaya ho aur uski kahniyan uski pasliyon se door hatti hui hon.
* Goya ki iss untni ki lakeer wali jagah (yani naak aur neeche wale jabde) se uski do aankhon aur uske zabah ki jagah (yani halaq) ek mustateel lambe patthar ki manind hon.
* Woh untni khajoor ke tane jaisi dum, jo balon wali hai, use apne thode doodh wale pistanon par pherti hai.
* Uski naak khumdaar hai aur jo shakhs (untni ki khoobi) se aagah ho uske liye iss untni ke donon kaanon mein asilpan wazeh hoga aur donon rukhsaaron mein latafat wazeh hogi.
* Woh tez tez chalti hai, halke paon par aur woh ja kar mil jati hai (apne se aage nikli hui untniyon se) aur uski khushk tangen chhote nezon ki manind hain jo qasam puri karne ke liye zameen ko chhooti hain.
* Goya woh modti hai apne aage wale do paon, unke paseena ho jaane ke baad aur uss waqt chhoti pahadiyan aur satah-e-murtafa saraab ki shakal ikhtiyar kar chuki hoti hain.
* (Woh safar karti rehti hai) ek aise din mein jo garm ho aur uss din mein girgit bhi jalta hua mehsoos hota ho aur uss untni ke jism ke dhoop ke samne aane wale hisse goya ret mein bhuni hui roti ke manind hote hain.
* Woh bahut zyada noha karne wali hai aur dhile baazuon wali hai jab uske akelaute bete ki maut ki khabar kisi ne use di to uske hawas-o-hwash rukhsat ho gaye.
* Chughal khor uske donon taraf ghote phirte hain aur usse chughliyan karte hain, aur woh yeh kehte hain: Ae Abu Salma ke bete! Tu mara jayega.
* Uske aage ka rasta chhod do tumhara baap na rahe, Rahman (yani Allah ta’ala) ne jo muqaddar mein likh diya hai, woh hokar rahega.
* Har maunas ka beta chahe woh kitne hi lambi arsey tak salamat rahe, use ek na ek din mayyat ke takhte par zaroor uthaya jata hai.
* Mujhe yeh bataya gaya hai ki Allah ke Rasool ne mere baare mein waeed sunaai hai halaaki Allah ke Rasool se maafi ki tawaqqa hi ki ja sakti hai.
* Isi liye mein uzr pesh karte hue Allah ke Rasool ki khidmat mein hazir hua hun aur Allah ke Rasool ki bargah mein uzr qubool kiya jata hai.
* Ae Rasool! Aap mere baare mein narmi se kaam lijiye woh Rasool jise iss zaat ne bheja hai, jisne aapko Quran ata kiya hai. Jismein waz-o-nasihat aur tafseelaat hain.
* Aap mere baare mein chughal khoron ke aqwal qubool na karen, agarche mere baare mein bahut si baaten kahi gayin lekin mein ne koi gunah nahin kiya hai.
* Mein ek aisi jagah khada hun aur woh kuchh dekh aur sun raha hun ki agar hathi use sun leta.
* To woh bhi kaampne lagta albata agar use Rasool ki taraf se Allah ke hukum ke tahat maafi mil jati to (uska khauf khatm ho jata)
* Yahan tak ki mein ne apna dayan haath rakh diya hai (yani Islam qubool kar liya hai) uss zaat ki hatheli par jo (bedinon se) badla lene wali hai aur jin ki baat hi sachi baat hai.
* “Aap mere qareeb uss waqt zyada ba ra’ab the jab mein ne Aap ke sath baat-cheet shuru ki aur kaha yeh gaya tha ki tumhari taraf (jurm) mansoob kiye gaye hain aur tumse hisab liya jayega”.
* (To Aap mere qareeb) kachhaar ke sher se zyada (ba ra’ab the) jo asar ke maqam par rehte hain aur unke ird-gird darakhton ke jhund hote hain.
* Woh sher subah ke waqt apne bachchon ko gosht khilata hai, aur unka guzara hi logon ke gosht par hota hai jo mitti mein lathda hua ho aur tukdon ki shakal mein ho. Iss sher se neel gaye (jaise taqatwar janwar bhi) dabke rehte hain. Aur paidal log iss sher ki wadi se guzar bhi nahin sakte hain.
* Aur iss sher ki wadi mein apni bahaduri par naazan shakhs ki haalat yeh hoti hai ki uska aslaha ek taraf pada hota hai, kapdon ke tukde ho chuke hote hain aur woh khud sher ki khuraak ban chuka hota hai.
* Beshak Rasool Akram ﷺ ek aisa noor hain jinse roshni hasil ki jati hai aur Aap ﷺ Allah ta’ala ki be niyam hindi talwar hain.
* Aapko Quraish ke aise naujawan mein mab’oos kiya gaya ki jab Makkah ke darmiyaan mein unhon ne Islam qubool kiya to unmein se ek ne yeh kaha: Rawana ho jao (yani Madina ki taraf hijrat kar jao).
* To woh log rawana ho gaye halaaki woh log kamzor ya bedhaal ya be tegh ya be hathiyar nahin the.
* Woh unchi nakon wale bahadur log the aur unka libas Hazrat Dawood Alaihissalam ki taiyar ki hui zirahein thin jo jung mein istemal hoti hain.
* Woh zirahein safed, chamkdar aur lambi thin aur unke halqe ek dusre mein yun paiwast the ki jaise qaffa naamiki booti ke halqe ek dusre mein paiwast hote hain.
* Woh safed, khoobsurat untion ki tarah (maidan-e-jung mein) chalte hain aur unki shamsheer zani uss waqt (apne sathiyon ki) hifazat karti hai, jab chhote qad ke siyah faam log jung se munh modne lagate hain.
* Woh log jab unke neze kisi qaum par ghalib aajayen to woh log zyada masarrat ka izhaar nahin karte aur agar woh khud maghloob ho jayen to zyada jaza’ wa faza’ nahin karte.
* (Dushman ke) neze unke seenon par lagte hain aur yeh log maut ke hauz mein (koodne se) hichkichate nahin hain.”