Chapter 28: Allaah’s Command to His Messenger ﷺ to

propagate the Message, in private and public, and to be patient and forbearing, and to turn away from the foolish, stubborn, liars, after the proofs have been established against them; and mentioning of the persecution he ﷺ and his Companions suffered at their hands Allaah تعاىل said: ﴿ و أ نذ ر ع ش ري ت ك اِّل قـ ر ب ني * و اخ ف ض ج ن اح ك ل م ن اتـَّبـ ع ك م ن ال م ؤ م ن ني * ف إ ن ع ص و ك فـ ق ل ِّإ ِن ب ر يء ِمَِّّا تـ ع م ل ون * و تـ و كَّل ع ل ى ال ع ز يز الرَّح يم * الَّذ ي يـ ر اك ح ني تـ ق وم * و تـ ق لُّب ك ف السَّاج د ين * إ نَّه ه و السَّم يع ال ع ل يم﴾ {And warn, (O Muhammad), your closest kindred. And be kind and humble to the believers who follow you. Then if they disobey you, say: “I am innocent of what you do.” And put your trust in the All-Mighty, the Most Merciful, Who sees you (O Muhammad) when you stand up (alone at night for Tahajjud prayers). And your movements among those who fall prostrate (along with you to Allaah in the five compulsory congregational prayers). Verily! He, only He, is the All-Hearer, the AllKnower.} [Surah al-Shu`araa’ (26): 214-220] And Allaah تعاىل said: ﴿ و إ نَّه ل ذ ك ر لَّك و ل ق و م ك ۖ ِ و س و ت س أ ل ون﴾ {And verily, this (the Qur’aan) is indeed a Reminder for you (O Muhammad) and your people (Quraish people, or your followers), and you will be questioned (about it).} [Surah al-Zukhruf (43): 44] And Allaah تعاىل said:

﴿ َّإ ن الَّذ ي فـ ر ض ع ل ي ك ال ق ر آن ل ر ادُّك إ ىل ى م ع اد﴾ {Verily, He Who has given you (O Muhammad) the Qur’aan (i.e. ordered you to act on its laws and to preach it to others) will surely bring you back to the Ma`aad (place of return).} [Surah al-Qasas (28): 85] (Ibn Katheer said): Meaning: the One Who has commanded you to put this Qur’aan into practice and to propagate among mankind, will surely bring you back to the home of the Hereafter, where he will be asked about the prophethood he was entrusted with, as Allaah تعاىل said: ﴿ فـ و ر بِّك ل ن س أ ل نـَّه م أ مج ع ني * َّا ع م ك ان وا يـ ع م ل ون﴾ {So, by your Lord (O Muhammad), We shall certainly call all of them to account. For all that they used to do.} [Surah al-Hijr (15): 92-93] The Aayaat and Ahaadeeth in this regards are many, and we have discussed this in detail in our “Tafseer” (Ibn Katheer) of the Aayah of Surah al-Shu`araa’: {And warn, (O Muhammad), your closest kindred}, and have quoted ample Ahaadeeth regarding that. [One may refer to it.] Narrated Ibn `Abbaas رضي اهلل عنهما: “One day the Prophet ﷺ ascended al-Safa mountain and shouted: ❝Oh Sabaahah!❞ All the Quraish gathered around him and said: “What is the matter?” He ﷺ said: ❝Look, if I told you that an enemy is going to attack you in the morning or in the evening, would you not believe me?❞ They said: “Yes, we will believe you.” He ﷺ said: ❝I am a warner to you in face of a terrible punishment.❞ On that Abu Lahab said: “May you perish! Is it for this thing that you have gathered us?” So Allaah revealed: ﴿ تـ بَّت ي د ا أ ب َل ب َّو ت ب﴾ {Perish the two hands of Abu Lahab, and perish he!} [Surah al-Masad (111): 1] 186 186 Musnad Ahmad (883, 2801, 8402, 8726, 10725, 15914, 20605, ), sahih al-Bukhaaree (1394, 2753, 3525, 3526, 3527, 4770, 4771, 4801, 4971, 4972, 4973) and sahih Muslim (204-348, 205-350, 206-351, 207-353, 208-355, 208-356) [TN: This has been narrated from Ibn `Abbaas, `Alee, `Aaishah, Abu Hurairah, Qabeesah Ibn Mukhaariq, Zuhair Ibn `Amr al-Hilaalee رضي اهلل عنهم. Few of these narrations will be mentioned next.]

Another narration in Musnad Ahmad and Saheehain: Narrated Abu Hurairah رضي اهلل عنه: Allaah’s Messenger ﷺ got up when the Aayah: {And warn, (O Muhammad), your closest kindred} was revealed and said: ❝O Quraish people! Buy yourselves! I cannot save you from Allaah (if you disobey Him). [O Banee Ka`b Ibn Lu’ai! I cannot save you from Allaah (if you disobey Him)]. O Banee Abdu Manaaf! I cannot save you from Allaah (if you disobey Him). [O Banee Haashim! I cannot save you from Allaah (if you disobey Him)]. O sons of `Abdul Muttalib! I cannot save you from Allaah (if you disobey Him). O Safiyyah, (the aunt of Allaah’s Messenger (ﷺ)) I cannot save you from Allaah (if you disobey Him). O Faatimah, the daughter of Muhammad! Ask what you wish from my property, but I cannot save you from Allaah (if you disobey Him).❞ In Musnad Ahmad and sahih Muslim, from the hadith of `Aaishah رضي اهلل عنها: When this Aayah was revealed: {And warn, (O Muhammad), your closest kindred}, the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ stood on (mount) al-Safa and said: ❝O Faatimah, daughter of Muhammad! O Safiyyah, daughter of `Abdul Muttalib! O sons of `Abdul Muttalib! I have nothing which can avail you against Allaah; you may ask me what you want of my worldly belongings.❞ It was narrated from Rabee`ah Ibn Naajid that Alee رضي اهلل عنه said: The Messenger of Allaah ﷺ gathered – or Messenger of Allaah ﷺ called – Banee `Abdul Muttalib, among whom were some people all of whom liked to eat lamb and drink large amounts of water. He made mudd of food for them, and they ate until they were full. And the food remained as it was, as if it had not been touched. Then he called for a vessel, and they drank until their thirst was quenched, and the drink remained as it was, as if it had not been drunk from. Then he ﷺ said: ❝O Banee `Abdul Muttalib! I have been sent to you in particular and to all the people in general. You have seen this sign. Which of you will swear allegiance to me, pledging to be my brother and companion?❞ Not one of them stood up for him, but I (`Alee) stood up, and I was the youngest of the people. He ﷺ said: ❝Sit down.❞ He said that three times, and each time I stood up for him and he said to me: ❝Sit down.❞ Then the third time he put his hand on mine. 188 187 The wording is from sahih al-Bukhaaree. The words within the brackets are from Musnad Ahmad and sahih Muslim. 188 Musnad Ahmad (1371), and its chain is “Hasan”, and Ibn Jareer in “al-Taareekh” (2/321).

[Shaikh al-Albaanee’s addition] Asmaa’ Bint Abu Bakr رضي اهلل عنهما said: When the Aayah: ﴿ تـ بَّت ي د آ أ ب َل ب َّو ت ب﴾ {Perish the two hands of Abu Lahab and perish he!} was revealed, the one-eyed woman Umm Jameel (the wife of Abu Lahab) came with a stone pestle in her hand, screaming: “What was sent to us is somebody blameworthy, or, we reject somebody blameworthy (Abu Musa - one of the narrators - said, it is I who am not sure what was said): we shun his religion and disobey whatever he commands!” The Messenger of Allaah ﷺ was sitting with Abu Bakr by his side. Abu Bakr رضي اهلل عنه said: “This woman has come and I am afraid she will see you.” The Prophet ﷺ said: ❝Certainly she will not see me.❞ Then he ﷺ recited Qur’aan through which he was protected from her: ﴿و إ ذ ا قـ ر أ ت ال ق رء ان ج ع ل ن ا بـ يـ ن ك و بـ ني الَّذ ين ّل يـ ؤ م ن ون ب اّلٌّخ ر ة ح ج ابًا مَّس ت ورًا﴾ {And when you recite the Qur’aan, We put between you and those who believe not in the Hereafter, an invisible veil}. [Surah al-Israa (17): 45] (Shaikh al-Albaanee said): Know that the author (Ibn Katheer) did not mention this hadith with this wording. He only referred to this hadith as evidence for another hadith he had quoted, which is more complete and longer than this one, as in its chain is someone whose name has not been mentioned (i.e. Majhool), and in its text is something which is objectionable. Then he (Ibn Katheer) mentioned from another route from Ibn Jareer “alTaareekh” (2/319-321), and in its chain is a “Shee`ee Khadhdhaab” (a liar Shi`a). He also reported from the route of Ibn Abee Haatim, and in its chain are two “Weak Shi`as”. This is why the narrations differ, as some of them have exaggerated in the text. One narration adds: “Who from you will take care of my debts and will be my successor among my family?” (`Alee) said: “I will, O Messenger of Allaah!” Then he (Ibn Katheer) said: “For this narration, there is a supporting chain, which has already been mentioned. And Imaam Ahmad reported in his Musnad from the route of `Abbaad Ibn `Abdullaah al-Asadee (883), and another from the route of Rabee`ah Ibn Naajid (1371), both from `Alee, similar to what we have reported or as a supporting to it. And Allaah knows best.” I (Shaikh al-Albaanee) say: (Between the narrations of `Abbaad and Rabee`ah) the narration of Rabee`ah is better of the two, and that is the one I have mentioned, but it cannot be used as a supporting chain (to what Ibn Katheer had mentioned), because this narration (of Rabee`ah) is brief in comparison to what the author (Ibn Katheer) had reported. Even the narration of `Abbaad, which the author is referring to, is also brief. Apart from that, `Abbaad is “Dha`eef” (Weak), and this (weak) narration also mentions the phrase: “and will be my successor among my family?” Some of these Shi`as have interpolated saying: “and my successor after me.” This is from their fabrication and lies, which I have already clarified in “al-Dha`eefah” (4932). [TN: Shaikh also discussed this in “al-Saheehah” (4/344)]

She came and found Abu Bakr, but she did not see the Prophet ﷺ. She said: “O Abu Bakr, I have heard that your companion is lampooning me.” Abu Bakr said: “No, by the Lord of this House (the Ka`bah), he is not lampooning you.” Then she went away, saying: “The Quraysh know that I am the daughter of their master.” 189 It was narrated that Anas رضي اهلل عنه said: One day Jibreel عليه السالم came to the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ when he ﷺ was sitting in a sorrowful state with his face soaked with blood because some of the people of Makkah had struck him. He (Jibreel) said: “What is the matter with you?” He ﷺ said: ❝These people did such and such to me.❞ He said: “Would you like me to show you a sign?” He ﷺ said: ❝Yes. show me.❞ He (Jibreel) looked at a tree on the far side of the valley and said: “Call that tree.” So he ﷺ called it, and it came walking until it stood before him. He (Jibreel) said: “Tell it to go back.” So he ﷺ told it, and it went back to its place. Then the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ said: ❝That is sufficient for me.❞ 190 Narrated Abu Hurairah رضي اهلل عنه: The Messenger of Allaah ﷺ said: ❝Doesn’t it astonish you how Allaah protects me from the Quraish’s abusing and cursing? They abuse Mudhammam and curse Mudhammam while I am Muhammad (and not Mudhammam).❞ 191 189 Reported by al-Haakim in “al-Mustadrak” (3376), and he said: “Its chain is “sahih”“, and al-Dhahabee agreed with him. It was also graded as “sahih” by Ibn Abee Haatim, as has been mentioned in “al-Durar al-Manthoor” (4/186), and there is a supporting chain from the narration of Abu Bakr رضي اهلل عنهز. And from the route of Ibn `Abbaas رضي اهلل عنهما, Ibn Hibbaan reported it in his “sahih” (6511) [TN: Ibn `Abbaas رضي اهلل عنهما said: When the Aayah: {Perish the two hands of Abu Lahab and perish he!} was revealed, the wife of Abu Lahab came to the Prophet ﷺ while Abu Bakr was with him. When Abu Bakr saw her, he said: “O Messenger of Allaah ﷺ! She is a vulgar woman, and I fear that she would harm you. Only if you would go away (that would be better).” He ﷺ said: ❝Certainly she will not see me.❞ When she came, she said: “O Abu Bakr! Your companion has lampooned me (with his poetry).” He replied: “No, (he has not lampooned you), nor is he a poet.” She said: “I consider you as truthful”, and then she went away. He (Abu Bakr) said: “O Messenger of Allaah ﷺ! She did not see you?!” He ﷺ said: ❝No, as an Angel was shielding me from her with his wings.❞] 190 Musnad Ahmad (12112), Sunan Ibn Maajah (4028) and graded as “sahih” by Shaikh al-Albaanee 191 sahih al-Bukhaaree (3533), Sunan al-Nasaa’ee (3438) and Musnad Ahmad (7331, 8478, 8825) [TN: “Muhammad” literally means: “highly praised”, while “Mudhammam” (م ذ ِمًَّا) means: “greatly dispraised”. The Mushriks, out of hatred, refrained from calling the Prophet ﷺ by his right name; they called him by a name

[End of Shaikh al-Albaanee’s addition] Jubayr Ibn Nufayr said: “One day we were sitting with al-Miqdaad Ibn al-Aswad رضي اهلل عن ه when a man passed us. The man (while referring to al-Miqdaad) said: ‘Blessing be to those two eyes which saw the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ. By Allaah! I wish that I had seen what you have seen and witnessed what you have witnessed!’ This angered alMiqdaad and that surprised me as the man had said nothing but good things. Then he (al-Miqdaad) turned to them and said: ❝What made the man desire to summon back what Allaah has taken away? Does he not realize what his situation would be if he had seen him ﷺ? By Allaah! Certain people had been with the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ, but Allaah has thrown them on their faces into Hellfire because they had neither answered his (the Prophet’s) call nor believed in him. Do you not praise Allaah Almighty (in peace and security)? For He تعالى delivered you (from that harm), and you only know your Lord (i.e. you worship Him alone without Shirk) and confirm what your Prophet ﷺ brought? Sufficient for you is that someone else had been afflicted instead of you. By Allaah! The Messenger of Allaah ﷺ was sent in the harshest condition in which any other Prophet was ever sent – (both) in the time interval 192 (in the line of prophethood) and in ignorance. They (the people) did not believe that the Deen (Islaam) was better than worshiping idols. He ﷺ came with the Furqaan (Criterion) which separated the truth from the falsehood, and which separated the father from his child, till that the man would be able to consider his father, or child, or brother as an unbeliever. Allaah تعالى would loosen the locks of his heart through Imaan (Faith), and he would come to realize that the other person (if he were to die upon this Kufr), will be destroyed in the Fire. Therefore his eyes do not find comfort knowing that the one he loves will be in the Fire. It is what Allaah تعالى says: bearing bad sense. The curses and abuses then fell on that name which was not the name of the Prophet ﷺ. Even though the Prophet ﷺ was saved from their insult, but they still earned the sin for their evil. Ibn Hajar رمحه اهلل said: “The Kuffaar from Quraish, in their extreme hatred for the Prophet ﷺ, did not use to address him with his real name, which was an indication of praising him. So they substituted the name with its opposite, they used to say “Mudhammam” (instead of Muhammad). So whenever they wanted to insult him, they said: ‘Allaah did such-and-such with Mudhammam’, whereas Mudhammam was not his name nor was he know by that (name). So their insults fell on other than the Prophet ﷺ.” [See Fath al-Baaree (6/558)]] 192 [TN: As the Prophet ﷺ had said: ❝No time will come upon you but the time following it will be worse than it.❞ [sahih al-Bukhaaree (7068)]]

﴿ و الَّذ ين يـ ق ول ون ر بـَّن ا ه ب ل ن ا م ن أ ز و اج ن ا و ذ رِّيَّات ن ا قـ رَّة أ ع ني﴾ {And those who say: “Our Lord! Bestow on us from our wives and our offspring who will be the comfort of our eyes} [Surah al-Furqaan (15): 74❞]” 193 Meaning: The Messenger of Allaah ﷺ steadily and continuously called people towards Allaah تعاىل – day and night, secretly and openly. The aversion of the opponents did not avert him, their opposition did not turn him back, and nor were they able to hinder him from that. He followed the people to their social gatherings and assemblies, and the places where they used to hang out, and in the times and places of Hajj – calling those whom he met, the free man and the slave, the weak and the strong, the rich and the poor, calling everyone irrespective of who they were. The stern and strong opponents from the Mushriks of Quraish harmed him ﷺ through their speech and actions and they harmed those who followed him, (especially) those individuals who were weak (and had no support from the community). One of the sternest opponents of the Prophet ﷺ was his uncle Abu Lahab, whose name was `Abdul-`Uzza Ibn `Abdul Muttalib, and his wife was Umm Jameel, Arwa Bint Harb Ibn Umayyah, the sister of Abu Sufyaan. Even his uncle Abu Taalib Ibn `Abdul Muttalib did not accept his message, even though the Prophet ﷺ was the most beloved of Allaah’s creation to him, and he (Abu Taalib) was compassionate towards him, treated him well, defended him, protected him, and opposed his people for the Prophet’s sake, but with all this he still remained on the religion of his forefathers, except that Allaah تعاىل tested his heart with the love of the Prophet ﷺ - for his love of the Prophet was natural love (because of the kinship) and not due to Religion. Abu Taalib’s remaining on the religion of his people is from the Wisdom of Allaah تعاىل, because of the things he was able to do for the Prophet ﷺ. Had Abu Taalib accepted Islaam, he would have had no rank or say with the Mushriks of Quraish, and they would not have revered or respected him, and they would have objected to his decisions and would have let loose their hands and tongues to harm him. ﴿ و ر بُّك َي ل ق م ا ي ش اء و َي ت ار﴾ 193 Reported in Musnad Ahmad (23810), sahih Ibn Hibbaan (6552) and al-Adab al-Mufrad (87), and graded as “sahih” by Shaikh al-Albaanee. See al-Saheehah (2823)

{And your Lord creates what He wills and chooses} [Surah al-Qasas (28): 68] And He تعاىل divided His creation into different species and genders. So, these were the two of his uncles who were Kaafir, Abu Taalib and Abu Lahab. But the former (Abu Taalib) would be the shallow part of the Hellfire while the latter would be in the lowest depths of the Hellfire. And about the latter, Allaah تعاىل revealed a Surah in His Book, which is recited on the pulpits (during Friday sermons and in prayers), and while giving admonition, guaranteeing that… ﴿ س ي ص ل ىى ن ارًا ذ ات َل ب * و ام ر أ ت ه مح َّال ة احل ط ب﴾ {He will be burnt in a Fire of blazing flames! And his wife too, who carries wood (thorns of Sadan which she used to put on the way of the Prophet ﷺ, or use to slander him).} [Surah al-Masad (111): 3-4] Imaam Ahmad and al-Baihaqee 194 reported from Abu al-Zinaad that a man called Rabee`ah Ibn `Abbaad from the tribe of Banee al-Deel – who was a man of pre-Islaamic ignorance who later accepted Islaam – said to him: “I saw the Prophet ﷺ, with my own very eyes, in the time of pre-Islaamic ignorance, in the market of Dhul-Majaaz and he was saying: ❝O people! Say: ‘Laa ilaaha illallaah’ and you will be successful.❞ The people were gathered around him, and behind him there was a man with a bright face, squint (or cross) eyes and two braids in his hair. He was saying: “Verily, he is an apostate (from our religion) and a liar!” This man was following him (the Prophet ﷺ) around wherever he went. So, I asked who was he and they (the people) said: “This is his uncle, Abu Lahaab.”“ Moreover, al-Baihaqee 195 reported from another route from Rabee`ah Ibn `Abbaad that he said: “I saw the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ in (the market of) Dhul-Majaaz following 194 Musnad Ahmad (16023, 19004) and al-Tabaraanee in “al-Kabeer” (4582) from the route of `Abdul Rahmaan Ibn Abu al-Zinaad, from his father, from Rabee`ah, the chain of this narration is “Jayyid”. Then both of them reported from another route from Rabee`ah with something similar, which will be quoted next. It also has a supporting chain, from the narration of Taariq Ibn `Abdullaah al-Muhaaribee, which was reported by Ibn Sa`d (6/42), Ibn Hibbaan (6562), and al-Haakim in “al-Mustadrak” (4219), and he said: It is “sahih”, and al-Dhahabee agreed with him. 195 I (al-Albaanee) say: Ibn Katheer missed out that it was also reported by Imaam Ahmad in his “Musnad” (16020, 16021, 16022, 16024, 16025, 16026, 16027, 19005) from this route, and its chain is “Hasan”. Also reported by alTabaraanee (4583, 4584, 4585, 4586, 4587, 4588, 4589, 4590)

the people to their homes, calling them towards Allaah, and behind him was a man with crossed-eyes, saying: “O people! Do not let him deceive you about your religion and the religion of your father.” I enquired: “Who is this man [that is walking behind him]?” They said: “He is Abu Lahab.” (Ibn Katheer adds): As for Abu Taalib, he was extremely compassionate and affectionate in nature, which was apparent from his actions, calmness, and his support for the Prophet ﷺ and his Companions رضي اهلل عنهم. `Aqeel Ibn Abu Taalib said: “The Quraish came to Abu Taalib and said: ‘Did you see Ahmad (the other name for the Prophet ﷺ)? He harms us in our gatherings and in our place of worship. So, stop him from bothering us.’ (Abu Taalib) said: ‘O `Aqeel, bring Muhammad to me.’ So I went and came back with him. He (Abu Taalib) said: ‘O my nephew! Your cousins’ are claiming that you are harming them in their gatherings and in their place of worship. So stop doing that.’” (`Aqeel) said: “The Prophet ﷺ looked up at the sky and said: ❝Do you see this sun?❞ They said: ‘Yes.’ The Prophet ﷺ said: ❝ I will under no circumstances stop (preaching the truth) for your sake, even if they were to bring to me a torch (flame) from it (i.e. the sun).❞ Abu Taalib (addressing the Quraish) said: ‘My nephew did not speak a lie, so go back (all of you).’” 196 196 Musnad Abu Ya`laa (6804), al-Bukhaaree in “al-Taareekh al-Kabeer” (230), Shaikh al-Albaanee said: “The chain of this narration is “Hasan” (good). See al-Saheehah (92). Al-Haakim also reported this in his “al-Mustadrak” (6467). [TN: As for the hadith: “If they put the sun in my right hand and…”, even though it is famous, it is very weak. This was reported by Ibn Is-haaq in “al-Maghaazee”, and by Ibn Hishaam (1/284-285) from Ya`qoob bin `Utbah bin alMugheerah bin al-Akhnas that he said: [and the narration is as above], but Shaikh al-Albaanee graded it in “alDha`eefah” (909) as “Dha`eef Mu`dhal” (weak because of omission of two or more consecutive narrators from the chain of narration). The complete narration is as follows: “The pagans of Makkah, therefore, decided to approach Abu Taalib for the second time and insisted that he put a stop to his nephew’s activities, which if allowed unchecked, they said, would involve him into severe hostility. Abu Taalib was deeply distressed at this open threat and the breach with his people and their enmity, but he could not afford to desert the Messenger too. He sent for his nephew and told him what the people had said, “Spare me and yourself and put not burden on me that I can’t bear.” Upon this the Prophet ﷺ thought that his uncle would let him down and would no longer support him, so he replied: ❝O my uncle! By Allaah! If they put the sun in my right hand and the moon in my left on condition that I abandon this course, until Allaah has made me victorious, or I perish therein, I would not abandon it.❞ The Prophet ﷺ got up, and as he turned away, his uncle called him and said: “Come back, my nephew,” and when he came back, he said: “Go and preach what you please, for by Allaah I will never forsake you.” [But as mentioned earlier, it is “Dha`eef”, with this wording.]

This is evidence that Allaah تعاىل protected the Prophet ﷺ through his uncle, even though he (Abu Taalib) was in disagreement with the Prophet ﷺ in regards to his Deen. Imaam Ahmad and al-Bukhaaree reported that Ibn `Abbaas رضي اهلل عنهما said: “Abu Jahl said: “If I see Muhammad praying at the Ka`bah, I will tread on his neck.” When the Prophet ﷺ heard of that, he ﷺ said: ❝If he does so, the Angels will snatch him away.❞” 197 In another narration from Ibn `Abbaas رضي اهلل عنهما: “The Prophet was performing the Salaah when Abu Jahl came to him and said: ‘Have I not forbidden you from this? Have I not forbidden you from this? Have I not forbidden you from this?’ The Prophet turned and scolded him. So Abu Jahl said: ‘[Why are you scolding me O Muhammad?] You know that there is no man with more helpers to call upon than me.’ So Allaah تبارك و تعاىل revealed: ﴿ فـ ل ي د ع ن اد ي ه * س ن د ع الزَّب ان ي ة﴾ {Then, let him call upon his council (of helpers), We will call the guards of Hell (to deal with him)!} [Surah al-`Alaq (96): 17-18]” So Ibn `Abbaas رضي اهلل عنهما added: “By Allaah, if he had called his council, then the guards of Hell would have seized him.” 198 Abu Hurairah رضي اهلل عنه reported: “Abu Jahl asked (the people) whether Muhammad placed his face (on the ground) in their presence. It was said to him: ‘Yes.’ He said: “By Laat and `Uzza. If I were to see him do that, I would trample his neck, or I would smear his face with dust.” He came to Allaah’s Messenger ﷺ as he was engaged in prayer and thought of trampling his neck (and the people saw) that he came near him but turned upon his heels and tried to repulse something with his hands. It was said to him: ‘What is the matter with you?’ He said: “There is between me and him a ditch of fire and terror and wings.” Thereupon Allaah’s Messenger ﷺ said: ❝If he 197 Musnad Ahmad (2225, 3483), sahih al-Bukhaaree (4958), Sunan al-Tirmidhee (3348) 198 Musnad Ahmad (2321, 3044) and Sunan al-Tirmidhee (3349) and graded as “sahih” by Shaikh al-Albaanee

were to come near me, the angels would have torn him to pieces.❞ Then Allaah تبارك تعاىل و revealed this Aayaat: ﴿ َّك ال َّإ ن اْل نس ان ل ي ط غ ىى * أ ن رَّآه اس تـ غ ن ى * َّإ ن إ ىل ى ر بِّك الرُّج ع ىى * أ ر أ ي ت الَّذ ي يـ نـ ه ىى * ع ب دًا إ ذ ا ص لَّىى * أ ر أ ي ت إ ن ك ان ع ل ى اَل د ىى * أ و أ م ر ب التـَّق و ىى * أ ر أ ي ت إ ن ك ذَّب و تـ و ىلَّى * أ ل يـ ع ل م َّب أ ن اللَّـه يـ ر ىى * َّك ال ل ئ ن َّل ي نت ه ل ن س ف عًا ب النَّاص ي ة * ن اص ي ة ك اذ ب ة خ اط ئ ة * فـ ل ي د ع ن اد ي ه * س ن د ع الزَّب ان ي ة * َّك ال ّل ت ط ع ه و اس ج د و اقـ َت ب ۩ ﴾ {Nay! Verily, man does transgress all bounds (in disbelief and evil deed, etc.). Because he considers himself self-sufficient. Surely! Unto your Lord is the return. Have you (O Muhammad) seen him (i.e. Abu Jahl) who prevents, A slave (Muhammad) when he prays? Tell me, if he (Muhammad) is on the guidance (of Allaah)? Or enjoins piety? Tell me if he (the disbeliever, Abu Jahl) denies (the truth, i.e. this Qur’aan), and turns away? Knows he not that Allaah does see (what he does)? Nay! If he (Abu Jahl) ceases not, We will catch him by the forelock, A lying, sinful forelock! Then, let him call upon his council (of helpers), We will call the guards of Hell (to deal with him)! Nay! (O Muhammad (Peace be upon him))! Do not obey him (Abu Jahl). Fall prostrate and draw near to Allaah!} [Surah al-`Alaq (96): 6-19] 199 Imaam Ahmad, al-Bukhaaree in many places in his “sahih”, and Muslim reported from `Abdullaah Ibn Mas`ood رضي اهلل عنه: “Once the Prophet ﷺ was offering prayers at the Ka`bah. Abu Jahl was sitting with some of his companions. One of them said to the others: “Who amongst you will bring the abdominal contents (intestines, etc.) of a camel of Banee so-and-so and put it on the back of Muhammad when he prostrates?” The most unfortunate of them got up and brought it. He waited till the Prophet ﷺ prostrated and then placed it on his back between his shoulders. I (Ibn Mas`ood) was watching but could not do anything. I wish I had some people with me to hold out against them. They started laughing and falling on one another. Allaah’s Messenger ﷺ was in prostration and he did not lift his head up till Faatimah (Prophet’s daughter) came and threw that (camel’s abdominal contents) away from his back. He ﷺ raised his head and said thrice: ❝O Allaah! Punish Quraish.❞ It was hard for Abu Jahl and his companions when the Prophet ﷺ invoked Allaah against them as they had a conviction that the prayers and invocations were accepted in this city (Makkah). The Prophet ﷺ said: ❝O Allaah! Punish Abu Jahl, `Utbah Ibn Rabee`ah, Shaibah bin 199 Musnad Ahmad (8831) and sahih Muslim (2797-38)

Rabee`ah, al-Waleed Ibn `Utbah, Umaiyah Ibn Khalaf, `Uqbah Ibn al-Mu`eet, `Umaarah Ibn al-Waleed.❞ By Allaah in Whose Hands my life is, I saw the dead bodies of those persons who were counted by Allaah’s Messenger ﷺ in the Qaleeb (one of the wells) of Badr.” 200 Narrated `Urwa Ibn a-Zubair: I asked (`Abdullaah) Ibn `Amr Ibn al-`Aas رضي اهلل عنهما: “Tell me of the worst thing which the pagans did to the Prophet ﷺ.” He said: “While the Prophet ﷺ was praying in alHijr of the Ka`bah; `Uqbah Ibn Abi Mu`eet came and put his garment around the Prophet’s neck and throttled him violently. Abu Bakr came and caught him by his shoulder and pushed him away from the Prophet ﷺ and said: ﴿ أ تـ ق تـ ل ون ًر ج ال أ ن يـ ق ول ِّر ب اللَّـه و ق د ج اء ك م ب ال بـ يـِّن ات م ن َّر بِّك م﴾ {Would you kill a man because he says: ‘My Lord is Allaah’, and he has come to you with clear signs (proofs) from your Lord?} [Surah Ghaafir (40): 28]” 201 `Urwah Ibn al-Zubair asked `Abdullaah Ibn `Amr Ibn al-`Aas رضي اهلل عنهما. “What is the worst incident of aggression and hostility that you saw on the part of Quraish towards the Messenger of Allaah?” He replied: “I was present when their prominent figures met together one day in al-Hijr. They talked about the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ and they said: We have never put up with anything like that with which we are putting up with from this man. He has accused us of being fools, slandered our forefathers, criticized our religion, divided us and reviled our gods, and the matter has become very serious – or words to that effect. Whilst they were like that, the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ came walking until he touched the corner (of the Ka`bah, where the Black Stone is), then he passed by them as he circumambulated the House. When he passed by them, they made fun of some of the words he was saying, and I could see from his face that it caused him pain. Then he moved on, then when he passed by them the second time, they made fun of him in like manner, and I could see from his face that it caused him pain. Then he moved on, then when he passed by them the third time, they made fun of him in like manner, then he said: ❝Listen to me, O Quraysh! By the One in Whose hand is the soul of Muhammad, I have brought slaughter to you.❞ The people were so shocked that each man among them froze, as if there was a bird on his head, and those 200 Musnad Ahmad (3722, 323, 3775, 3962), sahih al-Bukhaaree (240, 520, 2934, 3185, 3854, 3960) and sahih Muslim (1794-107, 108) 201 Musnad Ahmad (6908) and sahih al-Bukhaaree (3678, 3856, 4815)

who had spoken most harshly to him before that began speaking to him with the kindest words, saying: ‘Leave us, O Abul-Qaasim, for by Allaah you have never been an ignorant man.’ So he ﷺ left them. The next day, they met together in al-Hijr, and I was with them. They said to one another: ‘(Yesterday) you said how impatient you are becoming with him, and what you have heard about him and what he is saying, then as soon as he said something that alarmed you, you left him alone.’ Whilst they were talking about that, the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ appeared and they rushed towards him as one and surrounded him, saying to him: ‘You are the one who said such-and-such – referring to what they had heard about his criticism of their gods and their religion.’ The Messenger of Allaah ﷺ said: ❝“Yes, I am the one who said that.❞ I saw one of them grab the neck of his garment (and tried to strangle him). Abu Bakr al-Siddeeq رضي اهلل عنه got up to defend him and said, weeping: ﴿ أ تـ ق تـ ل ون ًر ج ال أ ن يـ ق ول ِّر ب اللَّـه و ق د ج اء ك م ب ال بـ يـِّن ات م ن رَّبِّك م﴾ {Would you kill a man because he says: ‘My Lord is Allaah’, and he has come to you with clear signs (proofs) from your Lord?} [Surah Ghaafir (40): 28]” Then they left him alone. That was the worst incident of aggression that I saw on the part of Quraish. 202 202 Musnad Ahmad (7036) and graded as “Hasan” by Shaikh al-Albaanee