A Life of Seclusion
After the martyrdom of Hazrat Usman (ra), it is said that Hazrat Muhammad (ra) bin Maslamah lived in seclusion and made a sword out of wood. Hazrat Muhammad (ra) bin Maslamah said that this was the instruction of the Holy Prophet (sa) to do so. He also stated that the Holy Prophet (sa) gave him a sword as a gift and told him to use it to fight the idolaters whilst they continue to fight against them. The Holy Prophet (sa) also stated, “When you see that the Muslims begin to kill one another, then climb onto a hill and strike the sword with it” i.e. so that the sword breaks. “Then remain in your home until one of those wrongdoers attacks you as well or until death overtakes you.” Thus, Hazrat Muhammad (ra) bin Maslamah acted according to these instructions and did not take part in the Battle of Jamal nor in the Battle of Siffin.
(Usdul-Ghaba, Vol. 4, p. 319)
Zubaiya bin Hussain Tha‘labi relates, “We were sat with Hazrat Huzaifah (ra) when he told us, ‘I know a person who is not affected at all by any mischief’. We asked, ‘Who is this person?’ Hazrat Huzaifah (ra) then said, ‘He is Hazrat Muhammad (ra) bin Maslamah Ansari’. Then, when Hazrat Huzaifah (ra) passed away and the discord became rampant, I departed along with those who were leaving Medina and I reached a place where there was water.” There was water available in that particular place. “Therein I saw a broken tent which was tilting to one side and was swaying owing to the gusts of wind. I asked, ‘Whose tent is this?’ The people told me, ‘This is the tent of Hazrat Muhammad (ra) bin Maslamah’. I went to him and found that he was advanced in age. I said to him, ‘May Allah have mercy on you, in my opinion you are among the best of the Muslims. You have left your town, your home, your family and your neighbours.’ He replied, ‘I have left all of this behind due to my aversion to evil.’”
(Al-Tabqaat-ul-Kubra, Vol. 3, p. 339, Dar-ul-Kutub Al-Ilmiyyah, 1990)