infiltrated into the Prophet ’s town and went to see an old ally Huyai bin Akhtab, who was too  cowardly  to let him in, so he left for Salam bin Mashkam, chief of Bani Nadeer, a tribe of Jews. The Jew  entertained and gave him a full account of the situation therein. Late at night he despatched a group  of  his men to raid Al-‘Uraid, a suburb of Madinah. There, the men felled and burnt the palm trees, killed  two Muslims and then took swiftly to their heels.
On hearing the news, the Prophet (Peace be upon him) gathered his men and set out at their heels,  but  could not catch them. The Muslims brought back the provisions (Sawiq, a kind of barley porridge)  which  the polytheists had thrown aside in order to lighten their loads and hasten their escape; hence this  campaign was called As-Sawiq Invasion. It took place in Dhul-Hijjah 2 A.H., two months after the  event  of Badr.
DHI AMR INVASION, MUHARRAM, 3 A.H:
The Prophet ’s intelligence personnel reported that Banu Tha‘labah and Banu Muhârib were mustering  troops with the aim of raiding the outskirts of Madinah. The Prophet (Peace be upon him) at the head  of
450 horsemen and footmen set out to handle this new situation. ‘Uthman bin ‘Affan was asked to  dispose the affairs of the Muslims in Madinah. On their way, they captured a man who embraced Islam  and acted as a guide for the army. When the enemies heard of the approach of the Muslims, they  hurriedly dispersed in the mountains and disappeared. The Muslims encamped at a watering place  called “Dhi Amr” for the whole of Safar 3 A.H. The Prophet (Peace be upon him) aimed to impress  upon  the desert bedouins in the area, that the Muslims were then powerful enough to cast fear and awe into  the hearts of their enemies.
KA'B BIN AL-ASHRAF, KILLED:
Ka‘b bin Al-Ashraf was the most resentful Jew at Islam and the Muslims, the keenest on inflicting  harm  on the Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him) and the most zealous advocate of waging war against  him. He belonged to Tai’ tribe but his mother to Banu Nadeer. He was a wealthy man known for his  handsomeness, and a poet living in luxury in his fort south east of Madinah at the rear of Banu
Nadeer’s  habitations.
On hearing the news of Badr, he got terribly exasperated and swore that he would prefer death to life  if  the news was true. When this was confirmed he wrote poems satirizing Muhammad (Peace be upon  him), eulogizing Quraish and enticing them against the Prophet (Peace be upon him). He then rode to
Makkah where he started to trigger the fire of war, and kindle rancour against the Muslims in Madinah.
When Abu Sufyan asked him which religion he was more inclined to, the religion of the Makkans or  that  of Muhammad (Peace be upon him) and his companions, he replied that the pagans were better  guided.
Wrespect to this situation, Allâh revealed His Words:
“Have you not seen those who were given a portion of the Scripture? They believe in Jibt and
Taghût, and say to the disbelievers that they are better guided as regards the way than the  believers (Muslims).” 4:51
He then returned to Madinah to start a fresh campaign of slanderous propaganda that took the form of  obscene songs and amatory sonnets with a view to defaming the Muslim women.
At this stage, the situation became unbearable and could no longer be put up with. The Prophet
(Peace  be upon him) gathered his men and said: “Who will kill Ka‘b bin Al-Ashraf? He had maligned Allâh, and
His Messenger.” Thereupon, Muhammad bin Maslamah, ‘Abbad bin Bishr, Al-Harith bin Aws, Abu ‘Abs  bin Hibr and Salkan bin Salamah, Ka‘b’s foster brother, volunteered to do the job.
Muhammad bin Maslamah said: “O Messenger of Allâh, do you wish that I should kill him?” He said:
“Yes.” He said: “Permit me to talk (to him in the way I deem fit).” He said: “Talk (as you like).” So,
Muhammad bin Maslamah came to Ka‘b and talked to him, saying: “This man (i.e. the Prophet (Peace  be upon him)) has made up his mind to collect charity (from us) and this has put us to a great