1.Sallam bin Mushkam

In the book ‘Payambar (s.a.w.s.) wa Yahood e Hejaz’, the author states:

In the scripts of Islamic history, we come across a few names of Jewish heads and leaders very often, namely, Ka’ab bin Ashraf, Abu Rafe’ (Sallam[1] bin Abi Huqaiq) and the rest of the Abu Huqaiq progeny like Kanana, Ka’ab bin Asad, Hayi bin Akhtab and his family, Mukheyreeq, Sallam bin Mushkam, Abdullah bin Sallam, Mohammad bin Ka’ab Qarzi and Ka’ab ul Ahbaar.

          Ka’ab bin Ashraf, a poet from the Bani Nazeer tribe, was killed by the companions of the Prophet (p.b.u.h.) due to his anti-Islamic propagandas and ongoing moves against the Muslims and the Messenger himself. Abu Rafeh also had a similar fate due to his crucial rule in provoking the tribes against the governance of Medina.

          Kanana bin Rabi bin Abi Huqair, whose name is often mentioned as Kanana bin Abi Huqaiq, was one of the heads of Khaibar and the ‘owner of treasures’[2] for them. He also got killed in the battle of Khaibar. Prior to this, his name can be seen amongst those who provoked the tribes against Medina.

          Hayi bin Akhtab was the representative of the tribe Bani Nazeer for signing a treaty between Jews and the Messenger (p.b.u.h.), and was a stark enemy of Islam. He was considered the head of his tribe. After violating the peace treaty and getting exiled from Medina, he went to Khaibar and at the time of the Battle of Tribes, he forced Ziyaad bin Ka’ab, who was the head of the Bani Quraizah tribe and who was under an oath with the Messenger of Allah (p.b.u.h.), to violate his treaty and join hands with the enemies of the Prophet. Eventually, these two were assassinated after the incident of Bani Quraizah.

          Mukhaireeq is the only Jew who accepted Islam and remained steadfast in his belief. He was considered one of the heads of Bani Qainuqaa and as their cleric, he represented the third group of Jews who signed a treaty with the Prophet. When the Holy Prophet left Medina for the battle of Uhad, Mukhaireeq said to his people: Are you aware that he is the Messenger of God and we should support him. The Jews said, ‘Today is Saturday’ and refused to accompany him. Mukhaireeq held his weapon and came to Uhad, fought alongside the Muslims and attained martyrdom. Prophet had said: ‘Mukhaireeq was the best of the Jews.’[3]

Although Sallam bin Mushkam was an enemy of Islam, he warned his people time and again from violating the peace treaty and from fighting against the Messenger of Allah, he also confirmed his prophet-hood.[4] We come across the name of this Jew in the Battle of Saweeq also. Abu Sufiyan, who took oath to fight against the Prophet after facing defeat in the battle of Badr, silently entered Medina with a group of non-believers and went to meet Bani Nuzair. Sallam Bin Mushkam, who was the head of Bani Nuzair at that time and also the owner of their treasures, welcomed Abu Sufiyan and shared the information that he had regarding the Muslims with him. The infidels had initiated some amount of unrest in the surroundings of Medina and left the region after placing the wheat of Saweeq where it was before. When the Muslims trailed them, they came across the grains that were actually the provision of Abu Sufiyan and his men. This is the reason why this incident is named the battle of Saweeq.[5]

          Sallam bin Mushkam, who used to live in Khaibar after his exile from Medina, took the leadership of the Jews in his hands after the incident of Bani Quraiza and the death of Hayi bin Akhtab, and died in the battle of Khaibar while he was severely ill[6]. The lady who poisoned the Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.) after the battle of Khaibar, was the wife of Sallam. She lost her father and uncle in this very battle.[7]

          Abdullah Bin Sallam is the second Jew to accept Islam but unlike Mukhaireeq, he eventually joined hands with the Umayyad rulers and opposed the Ahle Bait (a.s.). This incident and the fact that he was aware of the Israelite stories, was the reason why the traditions which were narrated by him or the reports that reached us regarding him, are viewed with an eye of suspicion.

          For instance, it is famous that he accepted Islam in the first year of the Prophet’s migration[8]. Ibn e Ishaq has narrated from the Prophet himself that when his holiness migrated towards Medina, and at the time of his stay in Quba, he accepted Islam. [9]  Although another tradition mentions the year of his acceptance of Islam to be 8^th Hijrah.[10]

          The historian of this era, Jafar Murtaza Aamuli, has accepted the second view and has said: ‘The reason behind the non-acceptance of this tradition, is that one of its narrator was Shia.’[11]

          Another disputed issue, is the cause of the revelation of a few verses of Quran regarding him. One of these verses are in Surah e Ahqaaf: “If it is from Allah and you disbelieve in it, and a witness from the Children of Israel has testified to its like and believed (in it), while you are disdainful (of it)?” [12]

          Many of the sources have considered this verse to be regarding Abdullah.[13] Some of them have also said that as the Chapter Ahqaf is Meccan, and Abdullah accepted Islam in Medina, this verse cannot be regarding him.[14]

          Allama Tabatabai rejected the conflict regarding this chapter to be Meccan and this verse to be of Medina, and brought evidences from different traditions regarding this verse which indicates towards Abdullah, although, he does not consider these narrations totally acceptable.[15]

          Other verses that are considered to be sent down regarding Abdullah are Ayah 119 of Aal e Imran, 43 of Raad and 197 of Shu’arah, respectively. [16]

It seems that as the number of people who accepted Islam from the ‘People of the Book’ are very few, [17] the interpreters and narrators have associated all those verses that indicate the acceptance of faith by the ‘People of the Book’ towards Abdullah bin Sallam. Although, regarding these three verses, other names are also mentioned.

          Even after these details, Shabi has said: ‘Not a single verse has been sent down regarding Abdullah bin Sallam’[18]. It is interesting that in one of these traditions, the narrator of the cause of revelation is Abdullah himself!

          Asqalani says: ‘When Ibn e Sallam was speaking to the people in favour of Othman, he indicated that the verse ‘Shahida Shaahidun’ and ‘Man Indahu Ilmul Kitaab’ has been sent down regarding him[19]. Another interesting discussion regarding Abdullah Bin Sallam is the narration in which he is considered to be one of the ‘Ashra e Mubasshira’[20].[21]

          Apart from the various traditions which have been narrated through Abdullah bin Sallam, and those sources in which his name has been mentioned repetitively, the incident of the sieze of Othman is notable. The historians have mentioned the efforts exerted by Abdullah bin Sallam in turning away the men who had siezed Othman’s house, and in preventing them from shedding the blood of the Caliph. 

          The opponents replied to Abdullah bin Sallam in this way: ‘O son of Jew! What have you got to do with these events?’[22]

          Ibn e Shubbah has written a chapter in his book regarding Othman’s defence by Abdullah bin Sallam[23] and Ibn e Saad narrated traditions from him in favour of Othman and wrote: ‘Abdullah bin Sallam said on the day of Othman’s Assassination: ‘The Arabs are ruined today’[24]. This Jew, who had newly converted to Islam, is one of those people who did not pledge allegiance with the leader of the faithful, Ali (a.s.)[25] and died in the year 43 Hijri.[26]

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