Ka'b bin Zuhayr

Ka‘b ibn Zuhayr (Arabic: كعب بن زهير‎) was an Arabian poet of the 7th century, and a contemporary of Muḥammad.

Biography

He was the eldest son of Zuhayr ibn Abî Sûlmâ, also a noted poet. He was also one of six men who refused the Prophet's call to accept Islam: All the other members of Kaʿb's family (the Muzainah) became converts to Islam, and when his brother Bujair adopted the new faith, Kaʿb wrote a bitter and sarcastic poem which came to the notice of the Prophet, and Kaʿb was outlawed.

By means of a clever stratagem, however, Kaʿb gained access to Muḥammad and recited a famous eulogy, called, from the first two words, Banat Su'ad. He was rewarded with the Holy Mantle that Muhammad was wearing (the Burda or Hırka-i Şerif), and converted to Islam. Kaʿb is reported to have died soon after.

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