What she meant was that as her husband is always engaged in...

What she meant was that as her husband is always engaged in religious acts of devotion he has forgotten his duty towards his wife and children." 'Umar was moved at Ka'b's remark and asked to have her brought back in order to find out the truth of the matter. It was discovered that Ka'b's guess had been right and that she had come to complain, not to praise her husband. When 'Umar saw Ka'b's discernment and judgement, he told him to judge between those two.

Ka'b said that the husband should divide his time into four parts, and devote one-fourth to his wife and children, and the rest to his devotion and daily affairs. Ka'b's fair verdict astonished 'Umar even more and so he gave him the position of judge in Basra, a post which he held until his death in the battle of al-Jamal. Who is Ka'b ibn Suwar? Ka'b had been a judge of Basra since the time of 'Umar, the second caliph, a position which he held until the battle of al-Jamal.

He had no belief or interest in that combat and did not think it right. As at-Tabari states, Ka'b himself used to say: "I swear to God that my view about this battle is like the view of an old women who advised her son as follows: My boy!

Neither stands aloof from the people, nor take part in their disputes or fights." Ibn Sa'd, too, says: When Talhah, az-Zubayr and 'A'ishah entered Basra, Ka'b ibn Suwar locked himself in the house in order to stay away from riot and war, and even ordered his meats delivered through a hole of his room.

In this way he severed his contact and communication with all people until 'A'ishah was informed that Ka'b enjoyed popularity and a special social position and if she could win him over to participate in the war, she could greatly benefit from the aid of the al-Azd tribe which were several thousands in number. To gain his favour and agreement 'A'ishah visited his house to talk with him, but Ka'b did not give her a favorable answer. 'A'ishah showed much insistence and said: "O Ka'b!

Am I not like a mother to you, and do I not have such a right towards you? She harped so much on such points that Ka'b eventually yielded and agreed to her proposals." Ibn Sa'd has not divulged the name of the person who persuaded 'A'ishah to meet Ka'b. But ash-Shaykh al-Mufid, the great Shi'ah scholar, attributes this suggestion to Talhah and az-Zubayr.