Hadith #501

Arabic Text

English Translation

It was narrated from 'Abdullah ibn 'Amr ibn al-'As (رضي الله عنهما) — via Ya'qub, from his father, from Muhammad ibn Ishaq, from Yahya ibn 'Urwa ibn al-Zubayr, from his father 'Urwa, from 'Abdullah ibn 'Amr ibn al-'As — that [Yahya] said to him: 'What is the most that you saw Quraysh do to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ in their open enmity?' He said: 'I was present when their nobles gathered one day at al-Hijr and spoke of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, saying: "We have never endured the likes of what we have endured with this man — he has declared our minds foolish, reviled our fathers, criticized our religion, split our community, and insulted our gods. We have truly shown remarkable patience." Just then, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ appeared, walking, until he touched the Corner [al-Rukn], then passed by them while circumambulating the House. When he passed, they taunted him with something of what they used to say. I could see it in his face. He passed again a second time and they taunted him likewise — and I could see it in his face. He passed a third time and they taunted him the same way. Then he said: "Hear me, O assembly of Quraysh! By Him in whose hand is the soul of Muhammad — I have brought you the slaughter [al-dhabh, i.e., divine punishment]." His words seized the people — every man among them was as though a bird were perched upon his head [in silence]. Even the most persistent of them in their hostility before that moment was now addressing him with the gentlest words he could find — saying: "Go away, O Abu al-Qasim — go away rightly guided. By Allah, you were never an ignorant man." the Messenger of Allah ﷺ departed. The next day they gathered again in al-Hijr and I was with them. Some said to others: "You mentioned what [harm] had befallen you and what had come to you from him — and then when he confronted you with what you disliked, you left him." While they were in that state, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ appeared. They all leapt at him as one man and surrounded him, saying: "Are you the one who says such-and-such?" — for what had reached them of his censure of their gods and religion. the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "Yes — I am the one who says that." I saw a man from among them seize him by the collar of his garment. Then Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (رضي الله تعالى عنه) stood between them and [the Prophet ﷺ], weeping, reciting: {Do you kill a man for saying: My Lord is Allah?} [40:28]. Then they left him. That was the most severe thing I ever witnessed Quraysh do to him.'