Arabic (Original)
حَدَّثَنَا يَعْقُوبُ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي عَنْ ابْنِ إِسْحَاقَ قَالَ فَحَدَّثَنِي مَعْبَدُ بْنُ كَعْبِ بْنِ مَالِكِ بْنِ أَبِي كَعْبِ بْنِ الْقَيْنِ أَخُو بَنِي سَلِمَةَ أَنَّ أَخَاهُ عُبَيْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ كَعْبٍ وَكَانَ مِنْ أَعْلَمِ الْأَنْصَارِ حَدَّثَهُ أَنَّ أَبَاهُ كَعْبَ بْنَ مَالِكٍ وَكَانَ كَعْبٌ مِمَّنْ شَهِدَ الْعَقَبَةَ وَبَايَعَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ بِهَا قَالَ خَرَجْنَا فِي حُجَّاجِ قَوْمِنَا مِنْ الْمُشْرِكِينَ وَقَدْ صَلَّيْنَا وَفَقِهْنَا وَمَعَنَا الْبَرَاءُ بْنُ مَعْرُورٍ كَبِيرُنَا وَسَيِّدُنَا فَلَمَّا تَوَجَّهْنَا لِسَفَرِنَا وَخَرَجْنَا مِنْ الْمَدِينَةِ قَالَ الْبَرَاءُ لَنَا يَا هَؤُلَاءِ إِنِّي قَدْ رَأَيْتُ وَاللَّهِ رَأْيًا وَإِنِّي وَاللَّهِ مَا أَدْرِي تُوَافِقُونِي عَلَيْهِ أَمْ لَا قَالَ قُلْنَا لَهُ وَمَا ذَاكَ قَالَ قَدْ رَأَيْتُ أَنْ لَا أَدَعَ هَذِهِ الْبَنِيَّةِ مِنِّي بِظَهْرٍ يَعْنِي الْكَعْبَةَ وَأَنْ أُصَلِّيَ إِلَيْهَا قَالَ فَقُلْنَا وَاللَّهِ مَا بَلَغَنَا أَنَّ نَبِيَّنَا يُصَلِّي إِلَّا إِلَى الشَّامِ وَمَا نُرِيدُ أَنْ نُخَالِفَهُ فَقَالَ إِنِّي أُصَلِّي إِلَيْهَا قَالَ فَقُلْنَا لَهُ لَكِنَّا لَا نَفْعَلُ فَكُنَّا إِذَا حَضَرَتْ الصَّلَاةُ صَلَّيْنَا إِلَى الشَّامِ وَصَلَّى إِلَى الْكَعْبَةِ حَتَّى قَدِمْنَا مَكَّةَ قَالَ أَخِي وَقَدْ كُنَّا عِبْنَا عَلَيْهِ مَا صَنَعَ وَأَبَى إِلَّا الْإِقَامَةَ عَلَيْهِ فَلَمَّا قَدِمْنَا مَكَّةَ قَالَ يَا ابْنَ أَخِي انْطَلِقْ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَاسْأَلْهُ عَمَّا صَنَعْتُ فِي سَفَرِي هَذَا فَإِنَّهُ وَاللَّهِ قَدْ وَقَعَ فِي نَفْسِي مِنْهُ شَيْءٌ لَمَّا رَأَيْتُ مِنْ خِلَافِكُمْ إِيَّايَ فِيهِ قَالَ فَخَرَجْنَا نَسْأَلُ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَكُنَّا لَا نَعْرِفُهُ لَمْ نَرَهُ قَبْلَ ذَلِكَ فَلَقِيَنَا رَجُلٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ مَكَّةَ فَسَأَلْنَاهُ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَقَالَ هَلْ تَعْرِفَانِهِ قَالَ قُلْنَا لَا قَالَ فَهَلْ تَعْرِفَانِ الْعَبَّاسَ بْنَ عَبْدِ الْمُطَّلِبِ عَمَّهُ قُلْنَا نَعَمْ قَالَ وَكُنَّا نَعْرِفُ الْعَبَّاسَ كَانَ لَا يَزَالُ يَقْدَمُ عَلَيْنَا تَاجِرًا قَالَ فَإِذَا دَخَلْتُمَا الْمَسْجِدَ فَهُوَ الرَّجُلُ الْجَالِسُ مَعَ الْعَبَّاسِ قَالَ فَدَخَلْنَا الْمَسْجِدَ فَإِذَا الْعَبَّاسُ جَالِسٌ وَرَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مَعَهُ جَالِسٌ فَسَلَّمْنَا ثُمَّ جَلَسْنَا إِلَيْهِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ لِلْعَبَّاسِ هَلْ تَعْرِفُ هَذَيْنِ الرَّجُلَيْنِ يَا أَبَا الْفَضْلِ قَالَ نَعَمْ هَذَا الْبَرَاءُ بْنُ مَعْرُورٍ سَيِّدُ قَوْمِهِ وَهَذَا كَعْبُ بْنُ مَالِكٍ قَالَ فَوَاللَّهِ مَا أَنْسَى قَوْلَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ الشَّاعِرُ قَالَ نَعَمْ قَالَ فَقَالَ الْبَرَاءُ بْنُ مَعْرُورٍ يَا نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ إِنِّي خَرَجْتُ فِي سَفَرِي هَذَا وَهَدَانِي اللَّهُ لِلْإِسْلَامِ فَرَأَيْتُ أَنْ لَا أَجْعَلَ هَذِهِ الْبَنِيَّةَ مِنِّي بِظَهْرٍ فَصَلَّيْتُ إِلَيْهَا وَقَدْ خَالَفَنِي أَصْحَابِي فِي ذَلِكَ حَتَّى وَقَعَ فِي نَفْسِي مِنْ ذَلِكَ شَيْءٌ فَمَاذَا تَرَى يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ لَقَدْ كُنْتَ عَلَى قِبْلَةٍ لَوْ صَبَرْتَ عَلَيْهَا قَالَ فَرَجَعَ الْبَرَاءُ إِلَى قِبْلَةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَصَلَّى مَعَنَا إِلَى الشَّامِ قَالَ وَأَهْلُهُ يَزْعُمُونَ أَنَّهُ صَلَّى إِلَى الْكَعْبَةِ حَتَّى مَاتَ وَلَيْسَ ذَلِكَ كَمَا قَالُوا نَحْنُ أَعْلَمُ بِهِ مِنْهُمْ قَالَ وَخَرَجْنَا إِلَى الْحَجِّ فَوَاعَدْنَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ الْعَقَبَةَ مِنْ أَوْسَطِ أَيَّامِ التَّشْرِيقِ فَلَمَّا فَرَغْنَا مِنْ الْحَجِّ وَكَانَتْ اللَّيْلَةُ الَّتِي وَعَدْنَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَمَعَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عَمْرِو بْنِ حَرَامٍ أَبُو جَابِرٍ سَيِّدٌ مِنْ سَادَتِنَا وَكُنَّا نَكْتُمُ مَنْ مَعَنَا مِنْ قَوْمِنَا مِنْ الْمُشْرِكِينَ أَمْرَنَا فَكَلَّمْنَاهُ وَقُلْنَا لَهُ يَا أَبَا جَابِرٍ إِنَّكَ سَيِّدٌ مِنْ سَادَتِنَا وَشَرِيفٌ مِنْ أَشْرَافِنَا وَإِنَّا نَرْغَبُ بِكَ عَمَّا أَنْتَ فِيهِ أَنْ تَكُونَ حَطَبًا لِلنَّارِ غَدًا ثُمَّ دَعَوْتُهُ إِلَى الْإِسْلَامِ وَأَخْبَرْتُهُ بِمِيعَادِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَأَسْلَمَ وَشَهِدَ مَعَنَا الْعَقَبَةَ وَكَانَ نَقِيبًا قَالَ فَنِمْنَا تِلْكَ اللَّيْلَةَ مَعَ قَوْمِنَا فِي رِحَالِنَا حَتَّى إِذَا مَضَى ثُلُثُ اللَّيْلِ خَرَجْنَا مِنْ رِحَالِنَا لِمِيعَادِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ نَتَسَلَّلُ مُسْتَخْفِينَ تَسَلُّلَ الْقَطَا حَتَّى اجْتَمَعْنَا فِي الشِّعْبِ عِنْدَ الْعَقَبَةِ وَنَحْنُ سَبْعُونَ رَجُلًا وَمَعَنَا امْرَأَتَانِ مِنْ نِسَائِهِمْ نَسِيبَةُ بِنْتُ كَعْبٍ أُمُّ عُمَارَةَ إِحْدَى نِسَاءِ بَنِي مَازِنِ بْنِ النَّجَّارِ وَأَسْمَاءُ بِنْتُ عَمْرِو بْنِ عَدِيِّ بْنِ ثَابِتٍ إِحْدَى نِسَاءِ بَنِي سَلِمَةَ وَهِيَ أُمُّ مَنِيعٍ قَالَ فَاجْتَمَعْنَا بِالشِّعْبِ نَنْتَظِرُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ حَتَّى جَاءَنَا وَمَعَهُ يَوْمَئِذٍ عَمُّهُ الْعَبَّاسُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْمُطَّلِبِ وَهُوَ يَوْمَئِذٍ عَلَى دِينِ قَوْمِهِ إِلَّا أَنَّهُ أَحَبَّ أَنْ يَحْضُرَ أَمْرَ ابْنِ أَخِيهِ وَيَتَوَثَّقُ لَهُ فَلَمَّا جَلَسْنَا كَانَ الْعَبَّاسُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْمُطَّلِبِ أَوَّلَ مُتَكَلِّمٍ فَقَالَ يَا مَعْشَرَ الْخَزْرَجِ قَالَ وَكَانَتْ الْعَرَبُ مِمَّا يُسَمُّونَ هَذَا الْحَيَّ مِنْ الْأَنْصَارِ الْخَزْرَجَ أَوْسَهَا وَخَزْرَجَهَا إِنَّ مُحَمَّدًا مِنَّا حَيْثُ قَدْ عَلِمْتُمْ وَقَدْ مَنَعْنَاهُ مِنْ قَوْمِنَا مِمَّنْ هُوَ عَلَى مِثْلِ رَأْيِنَا فِيهِ وَهُوَ فِي عِزٍّ مِنْ قَوْمِهِ وَمَنَعَةٍ فِي بَلَدِهِ قَالَ فَقُلْنَا قَدْ سَمِعْنَا مَا قُلْتَ فَتَكَلَّمْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ فَخُذْ لِنَفْسِكَ وَلِرَبِّكَ مَا أَحْبَبْتَ قَالَ فَتَكَلَّمَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَتَلَا وَدَعَا إِلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَرَغَّبَ فِي الْإِسْلَامِ قَالَ أُبَايِعُكُمْ عَلَى أَنْ تَمْنَعُونِي مِمَّا تَمْنَعُونَ مِنْهُ نِسَاءَكُمْ وَأَبْنَاءَكُمْ قَالَ فَأَخَذَ الْبَرَاءُ بْنُ مَعْرُورٍ بِيَدِهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ نَعَمْ وَالَّذِي بَعَثَكَ بِالْحَقِّ لَنَمْنَعَنَّكَ مِمَّا نَمْنَعُ مِنْهُ أُزُرَنَا فَبَايِعْنَا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَنَحْنُ أَهْلُ الْحُرُوبِ وَأَهْلُ الْحَلْقَةِ وَرِثْنَاهَا كَابِرًا عَنْ كَابِرٍ قَالَ فَاعْتَرَضَ الْقَوْلَ وَالْبَرَاءُ يُكَلِّمُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَبُو الْهَيْثَمِ بْنُ التَّيِّهَانِ حَلِيفُ بَنِي عَبْدِ الْأَشْهَلِ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَ الرِّجَالِ حِبَالًا وَإِنَّا قَاطِعُوهَا يَعْنِي الْعُهُودَ فَهَلْ عَسَيْتَ إِنْ نَحْنُ فَعَلْنَا ذَلِكَ ثُمَّ أَظْهَرَكَ اللَّهُ أَنْ تَرْجِعَ إِلَى قَوْمِكَ وَتَدَعَنَا قَالَ فَتَبَسَّمَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ ثُمَّ قَالَ بَلْ الدَّمَ الدَّمَ وَالْهَدْمَ الْهَدْمَ أَنَا مِنْكُمْ وَأَنْتُمْ مِنِّي أُحَارِبُ مَنْ حَارَبْتُمْ وَأُسَالِمُ مَنْ سَالَمْتُمْ وَقَدْ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَخْرِجُوا إِلَيَّ مِنْكُمْ اثْنَيْ عَشَرَ نَقِيبًا يَكُونُونَ عَلَى قَوْمِهِمْ فَأَخْرَجُوا مِنْهُمْ اثْنَيْ عَشَرَ نَقِيبًا مِنْهُمْ تِسْعَةٌ مِنْ الْخَزْرَجِ وَثَلَاثَةٌ مِنْ الْأَوْسِ وَأَمَّا مَعْبَدُ بْنُ كَعْبٍ فَحَدَّثَنِي فِي حَدِيثِهِ عَنْ أَخِيهِ عَنْ أَبِيهِ كَعْبِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ قَالَ كَانَ أَوَّلَ مَنْ ضَرَبَ عَلَى يَدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ الْبَرَاءُ بْنُ مَعْرُورٍ ثُمَّ تَتَابَعَ الْقَوْمُ فَلَمَّا بَايَعَنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ صَرَخَ الشَّيْطَانُ مِنْ رَأْسِ الْعَقَبَةِ بِأَبْعَدِ صَوْتٍ سَمِعْتُهُ قَطُّ يَا أَهْلَ الْجُبَاجِبِ وَالْجُبَاجِبُ الْمَنَازِلُ هَلْ لَكُمْ فِي مُذَمَّمٍ وَالصُّبَاةُ مَعَهُ قَدْ أَجْمَعُوا عَلَى حَرْبِكُمْ قَالَ عَلِيٌّ يَعْنِي ابْنَ إِسْحَاقَ مَا يَقُولُهُ عَدُوُّ اللَّهِ مُحَمَّدٌ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ هَذَا أَزَبُّ الْعَقَبَةِ هَذَا ابْنُ أَزْيَبَ اسْمَعْ أَيْ عَدُوَّ اللَّهِ أَمَا وَاللَّهِ لَأَفْرُغَنَّ لَكَ ثُمَّ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ ارْفَعُوا إِلَى رِحَالِكُمْ قَالَ فَقَالَ لَهُ الْعَبَّاسُ بْنُ عُبَادَةَ بْنِ نَضْلَةَ وَالَّذِي بَعَثَكَ بِالْحَقِّ لَئِنْ شِئْتَ لَنَمِيلَنَّ عَلَى أَهْلِ مِنًى غَدًا بِأَسْيَافِنَا قَالَ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ لَمْ أُومَرْ بِذَلِكَ قَالَ فَرَجَعْنَا فَنِمْنَا حَتَّى أَصْبَحْنَا فَلَمَّا أَصْبَحْنَا غَدَتْ عَلَيْنَا جُلَّةُ قُرَيْشٍ حَتَّى جَاءُونَا فِي مَنَازِلِنَا فَقَالُوا يَا مَعْشَرَ الْخَزْرَجِ إِنَّهُ قَدْ بَلَغَنَا أَنَّكُمْ قَدْ جِئْتُمْ إِلَى صَاحِبِنَا هَذَا تَسْتَخْرِجُونَهُ مِنْ بَيْنِ أَظْهُرِنَا وَتُبَايِعُونَهُ عَلَى حَرْبِنَا وَاللَّهِ إِنَّهُ مَا مِنْ الْعَرَبِ أَحَدٌ أَبْغَضَ إِلَيْنَا أَنْ تَنْشَبَ الْحَرْبُ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَهُ مِنْكُمْ قَالَ فَانْبَعَثَ مَنْ هُنَالِكَ مِنْ مُشْرِكِي قَوْمِنَا يَحْلِفُونَ لَهُمْ بِاللَّهِ مَا كَانَ مِنْ هَذَا شَيْءٌ وَمَا عَلِمْنَاهُ وَقَدْ صَدَقُوا لَمْ يَعْلَمُوا مَا كَانَ مِنَّا قَالَ فَبَعْضُنَا يَنْظُرُ إِلَى بَعْضٍ قَالَ وَقَامَ الْقَوْمُ وَفِيهِمْ الْحَارِثُ بْنُ هِشَامِ بْنِ الْمُغِيرَةِ الْمَخْزُومِيُّ وَعَلَيْهِ نَعْلَانِ جَدِيدَانِ قَالَ فَقُلْتُ كَلِمَةً كَأَنِّي أُرِيدُ أَنْ أُشْرِكَ الْقَوْمَ بِهَا فِيمَا قَالُوا مَا تَسْتَطِيعُ يَا أَبَا جَابِرٍ وَأَنْتَ سَيِّدٌ مِنْ سَادَتِنَا أَنْ تَتَّخِذَ نَعْلَيْنِ مِثْلَ نَعْلَيْ هَذَا الْفَتَى مِنْ قُرَيْشٍ فَسَمِعَهَا الْحَارِثُ فَخَلَعَهُمَا ثُمَّ رَمَى بِهِمَا إِلَيَّ فَقَالَ وَاللَّهِ لَتَنْتَعِلَنَّهُمَا قَالَ يَقُولُ أَبُو جَابِرٍ أَحْفَظْتَ وَاللَّهِ الْفَتَى فَارْدُدْ عَلَيْهِ نَعْلَيْهِ قَالَ فَقُلْتُ وَاللَّهِ لَا أَرُدَّهُمَا قَالَ وَاللَّهِ صُلْحٌ وَاللَّهِ لَئِنْ صَدَقَ الْفَأْلُ لَأَسْلُبَنَّهُ فَهَذَا حَدِيثُ كَعْبِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ عَنْ الْعَقَبَةِ وَمَا حَضَرَ مِنْهَا.
English Translation
Ya'qub told us, saying: my father told us, from Ibn Ishaq, who said: Ma'bad ibn Ka'b ibn Malik ibn Abi Ka'b ibn al-Qayn, a brother of Banu Salamah, told me that his brother Ubaydullah ibn Ka'b - who was one of the most learned of the Ansar - told him that his father Ka'b ibn Malik - and Ka'b was among those present at al-Aqabah who gave the pledge to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, there - said: "We went out among the pilgrims of our people who were polytheists, while we had already prayed and gained understanding [of the faith], and with us was al-Bara' ibn Ma'rur, our elder and our chief. When we set out on our journey and left Madinah, al-Bara' said to us: 'O people, I have formed an opinion, and by Allah I do not know whether you will agree with me on it or not.' We said to him: 'What is it?' He said: 'I have decided not to leave this structure behind my back' - meaning the Ka'bah - 'and to pray facing it.' We said: 'By Allah, it has not reached us that our Prophet prays except toward Syria, and we do not wish to differ from him.' He said: 'I will pray toward it.' We said to him: 'But we will not do so.' So whenever the time for prayer came, we prayed toward Syria, and he prayed toward the Ka'bah, until we arrived at Mecca." He [Ka'b's son] said: "My brother said: We had criticized what he did, but he refused to do otherwise than persist in it. When we arrived at Mecca, he said: 'O nephew, go to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, and ask him about what I did on this journey of mine, for by Allah something has troubled me about it, seeing your disagreement with me over it.' So we went out asking about the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him - we did not know him, having never seen him before. We met a man from the people of Mecca and asked him about the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him. He said: 'Do you two know him?' We said, 'No.' He said: 'Do you know al-Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib, his uncle?' We said, 'Yes' - for we knew al-Abbas, who used to come to us frequently as a merchant. He said: 'When you enter the mosque, he is the man sitting with al-Abbas.' So we entered the mosque, and there was al-Abbas sitting, and the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, was sitting with him. We greeted them with peace and then sat down with him. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said to al-Abbas: 'Do you know these two men, O Abu al-Fadl?' He said: 'Yes, this is al-Bara' ibn Ma'rur, chief of his people, and this is Ka'b ibn Malik.'" He said: "By Allah, I never forgot the Messenger of Allah's, peace and blessings be upon him, saying: 'The poet?' He said, 'Yes.'" He said: "Al-Bara' ibn Ma'rur said: 'O Prophet of Allah, I went out on this journey of mine, and Allah guided me to Islam, and I decided not to leave this structure behind my back, so I prayed facing it, but my companions disagreed with me about that, until something troubled me about it. What do you think, O Messenger of Allah?' He said: 'You were upon a direction of prayer, had you but remained patient upon it.' So al-Bara' returned to the direction of prayer of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, and prayed with us toward Syria" - he said: "though his family claim that he prayed toward the Ka'bah until he died, but that is not as they say; we know better about him than they do." He said: "We went out to the pilgrimage, and we had agreed to meet the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, at al-Aqabah in the middle of the days of Tashriq. When we had finished the pilgrimage, and the night came in which we had our appointment with the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him - and with us was Abdullah ibn Amr ibn Haram, Abu Jabir, one of our chiefs, and we had kept our matter concealed from the polytheists of our people who were with us - we spoke to him and said: 'O Abu Jabir, you are one of our chiefs and one of our nobles, and we wish to spare you from being fuel for the Fire tomorrow.' Then I invited him to Islam and told him of our appointment with the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, and he accepted Islam and was present with us at al-Aqabah, and he became a chief. He said: We slept that night with our people in our camps, until a third of the night had passed, when we slipped away from our camps to our appointment with the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, stealing away secretly like sand-grouse, until we gathered in the ravine near al-Aqabah - seventy men, with two women from among our women: Nusaybah bint Ka'b, Umm Umarah, one of the women of Banu Mazin ibn al-Najjar, and Asma' bint Amr ibn Adi ibn Thabit, one of the women of Banu Salamah, who was Umm Mani'. We gathered in the ravine, awaiting the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, until he came to us, and with him that day was his uncle al-Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib, who was then still upon the religion of his people, though he wished to be present at his nephew's affair and to secure it for him. When we sat down, al-Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib was the first to speak. He said: 'O assembly of Khazraj' - for the Arabs used to call this tribe of the Ansar, both its Aws and Khazraj branches, Khazraj - 'Muhammad is one of us, as you know, and we have protected him from our own people who share our view of him, and he is in honor and protection among his own people in his town.' He said: We said: 'We have heard what you have said; so speak, O Messenger of Allah, and take for yourself and your Lord what you wish.' The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, then spoke, recited [the Qur'an], called to Allah, Mighty and Glorious, and encouraged [acceptance of] Islam, then said: 'I pledge you to protect me as you would protect your women and your children.' Al-Bara' ibn Ma'rur took his hand and said: 'Yes, by the One who sent you with the truth, we will protect you as we protect our own garments; so accept our pledge, O Messenger of Allah, for we are people of war and men of arms, which we have inherited generation after generation.' While al-Bara' was speaking with the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, Abu al-Haytham ibn al-Tayyihan, ally of Banu Abd al-Ashhal, interrupted the speech and said: 'O Messenger of Allah, between us and other men there are treaties, and we would be severing them; if we do that, and then Allah grants you victory, might you return to your own people and leave us?' The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, smiled, then said: 'No, rather blood for blood and destruction for destruction; I am of you and you are of me; I will fight whomever you fight and make peace with whomever you make peace.' Then the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: 'Bring out to me twelve chiefs from among you to be responsible for their people.' So they brought out twelve chiefs from among them, nine from Khazraj and three from Aws." As for Ma'bad ibn Ka'b, he related to me in his account, from his brother, from their father Ka'b ibn Malik, who said: The first to strike his hand upon the hand of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, [in pledge] was al-Bara' ibn Ma'rur, then the people followed one after another. When the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, had taken our pledge, Satan cried out from the top of al-Aqabah, with the most far-reaching voice I have ever heard: "O people of the encampments" - al-jubajib being the encampments - "is there not among you [a response] to Mudhammam and the apostates with him, who have agreed to make war upon you?" Ali - meaning Ibn Ishaq - said: "That is what the enemy of Allah said." The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "This is the hairy one of al-Aqabah; this is the son of Azyab; listen, O enemy of Allah - by Allah, I shall soon deal with you." Then the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "Return to your camps." Al-Abbas ibn Ubadah ibn Nadlah said to him: "By the One who sent you with the truth, if you wish, we will fall upon the people of Mina tomorrow with our swords." The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "I have not been commanded to do that." He said: "So we went back and slept until morning. When morning came, the notables of Quraysh came to us in our camps and said: 'O assembly of Khazraj, it has reached us that you have come to this companion of ours to draw him out from among us and to pledge yourselves to him to fight us; by Allah, there is no people among the Arabs more hateful to us that war should break out between us and them than you.' Then those polytheists of our people who were present began swearing to them by Allah that none of this had happened and that they knew nothing of it - and they spoke truly, for they truly did not know what had taken place among us." He said: "So some of us looked at one another." He said: "The people got up, among them al-Harith ibn Hisham ibn al-Mughirah al-Makhzumi, wearing two new sandals. I said something as if I wished to draw the people's notice to it, in response to what they had said: 'Can you not manage, O Abu Jabir, you who are one of our chiefs, to get sandals like those of this young man of Quraysh?' Al-Harith heard it, so he took them off and threw them to me, saying: 'By Allah, you shall wear them!' Abu Jabir said: 'You have provoked the young man, by Allah! Give him back his sandals.' I said: 'By Allah, I will not give them back.'" He said: "By Allah, it is a good omen; if the omen proves true, I shall strip him [of something greater]." This is the account of Ka'b ibn Malik about al-Aqabah and what he witnessed of it.