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condition." Narrated by Bukhârî in his Târîkh and by Tabrânî
and by Abû Nu'aim. Abû Zur'ah Dimasqî says that this Hadîth
is authentic. [Kanzul-'Ummal volume 6 page 306]
2. Tariq bin 'Abdullah Muharibi رضى الله عنه narrates: "I
saw Rasûlullah in the market of Zul-Majaz
exclaiming: "O people! Say 'Lâ Ilâha Illallah', you will
be successful." Whilst Rasûlullah was occupied in
inviting the people, I noticed another man behind him
hurling stones at him wounding and coating his blessed
body in blood. As he was hurling stones, he went on
yelling: "O people! Don't pay any attention to him. He
is a liar." Narrated by Ibn Abî Shaybah [Kanzul-
'Ummal volume 6 page 302] A man of the Banû
Kinânah tribe narrates that he saw Rasûlullah % in the
market of Zul-Majâz proclaiming: 'O people! Say 'Lâ
Ilâha Illallâh', you will be successful' whilst Abû Jahal
was busy hurling sand at Rasûlullah % saying: 'O
people! Don't be hoodwinked by this man's motives.
He wants you to sever your connection with Lât and
'Uzza'. However, Rasûlullah persisted with his
efforts unflustered without even a glance at Abû Jahal.
[Musnah Ahmad volume 4 page 63]
3. 'Urwah bin Zubair says: "I once asked 'Abdullah bin
'Amr bin 'As to relate to me the polytheist's unrelenting
persecution of Rasûlullah . 'Abdullah bin 'Amr bin
'As replied: 'On one occasion, Rasûlullah was
engaged in Salâh in the Hatîm area when 'Uqbah bin
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Abî Mu'ait yanked a cloth over Rasûlullah 's neck
and tugged it so rigidly that he strangled him. Abû Bakr
unexpectedly appeared on the scene and رضي الله عنه
jostled 'Uqbah aside. He then recited the following
verse:
"Are you killing a man who says my only Lord is Allâh and he
has presented to you corroborating evidence from your Lord?"
When Fir'aun and Haman conspired to kill Hadrat Mûsâ
Allade, one of Fir'aun's people who had secretly embraced
Îmân upon Musâ Allade exclaimed: "How can you kill
someone who declares 'my Lord is Allâh'?"
Allâh Ta'âlâ recounts this incident in Sûrah Mumin as follows:
"A believing man from the folk of Fir'aun who was concealing
his Îman said: 'Do you wish to kill a man simply because he
says 'My Lord is Allâh!'?" [Sûrah Mumin Verse 28]
It is narrated in Musnad Bazzar and Dalâilu Abî Nu'aim by
Muhammad bin 'Ali رضي الله عنه that during the course of his
Khutbah (public address), Hadrat "Ali رضي الله عنه asked the
people: "Tell me, who is the most brave and valiant person?"
The people replied: "Unquestionably, it is you." Hadrat 'Alî
responded: "My condition is such that anyone who رضي الله عنه
challenged me, I have settled my scores with him. (In other
words, my valour is limited to taking revenge only when
someone confronts me.) The most daring and courageous
person was Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه .I recall one incident when the
Quraysh battering Rasûlullah % around whilst taunting him
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repeatedly with the words: "So you are the one who has united
all the gods into a single deity?"
Whilst they were kicking him around, none of us could marshal
the nerve to intervene and fend off the enemy but by good
fortune, Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه happened to pass by. He swiftly
leaped into the mob and landed a punch here and delivered a
blow there and just as that believing man addressed Fir' aun and
Haman, Abu Bakr رضى الله عنه addressed the disbelievers grilling
them: "Shame on you! Do you wish to kill a man (simply
because) he says Allâh is my Lord?"
Recounting this incident, Hadrat 'Ali رضى الله عنه burst into tears.
He then addressed his audience saying: "I entreat you in the
name of Allâh, was Abu Bakr more superior or was the
believing man from the people of Fir'aun more superior?"
When the audience declined to answer and chose to remain
silent, Hadrat 'Ali رضي الله عنه proclaimed: "By Allah! One
moment of Abu Bakr's life was far superior than that of the
entire life of that believing man. That man concealed his beliefs
whilst Abu Bakr gallantly exposed his beliefs. [Fathul-Bârî
volume 7 page 129 under the chapter dealing with the
maltreatment of Rasûlullah # and the Sahabah at the hands of
the disbelievers in Makkah.] Furthermore, that believing man
was content with mere verbal advice whilst Abu Bakr
employed his verbal as well as his physical abilities in defence
of Rasûlullah ."
According to a narration by 'Abdullah bin 'Amr bin 'Âs as
narrated by Imam Bukharî under the chapter of 'the creation of
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the actions of the servants' and also narrated by Abû Y'alâ and
Ibn Hibban, when the enemy withdrew, Rasûlullah
pronounced: "by Allâh in Whose control lies my existence, I
haven't been sent to you but to slaughter you." [Fathul-Bârî
under the chapter dealing with the maltreatment of Rasûlullah
and the Sahabah at the hands of the disbelievers in Makkah.]
According to the narration of Dalâilu Abî Nu'aim, Dalâilu
Bayhaqî and Sîrat Ibn Ishaq, the moment Rasûlullah % uttered
this declaration, a swathe of bewildered silence fell over the
disbelievers and each one of them was left hanging his head in
shame with a positive conviction that whatever he utters is
irrefutably bound to occur." [Al-Khasaisu Al-Kubra volume 1
page 144, Sîrat Ibn Hishâm volume 1 page 98]
4. In Musnad Abû Y'alâ and Musnad Bazzâr it is narrated
on the authority of Hadrat Anas رضي الله عنه with an
authentic sanad that on one occasion, the Quraysh beat
Rasûlullah so severely that he fell unconscious. When
Hadrat Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه came forward to assist him,
the disbelievers let go of Rasûlullah % and pounced on
Abu Bakr رضى الله عنه. According to the narration of
Musnad Abû Y'alâ narrated by Hadrat Asmâ bint Abî
bakr رضي الله عنها, they beat up Abu Bakr so brutally that
his entire head suffered severe wounds. Due to the
intensity of these wounds, Abu Bakr could not even
touch his head." [Fathul-Barî volume 7 page 129]
5. 'Uthman bin 'Affan رضى الله عنه narrates: "I once saw
Rasûlullah % performing Tawaf of the K'abah. 'Uqbah
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bin Abî Ma'ît, Abû Jahal and Umayyah bin Khalaf were
sitting in the Hatîm area. The moment Rasûlullah
passed by, they uttered a few obscenities to Rasûlullah
. The second time round, they again told him
something repulsive. When they uttered these
obscenities on the third round, Rasûlullah
countenance changed. He came to a standstill and said:
"By Allâh! You will never quit until the punishment of
Allâh Ta'âlâ does not swiftly befall you." Hadrat
'Uthman رضى الله عنه comments: "There wasn't a single
one of them who was not trembling in terror. Saying
this, Rasûlullah # set out for home whilst we moved off
behind him. This is when Rasûlullah * prophesised:
"Accept glad tidings from me. Allâh will make His Dîn
prevail and He will complete His word and assist His
Dîn. And these people whom you are staring at, Allâh
Ta'âlâ will rapidly slaughter them at your hands."
Hadrat 'Utman says: "by Allâh! I saw them all
slaughtered at our hands." [Extracted by Dâr Qutnî,
'Uyûn Al-Athar volume 1 page 104] This narration is
also cited in Dalâilu Abî Nu'aim and briefly mentioned
in Fathul-Bârî volume 7 page 128 as well.
'Abdullah bin Mas'ud Lcalys, narrates: "Rasûlullah ¿ was
once performing Salah in the Haram area. Abû Jahal and his
cronies 110 were also present in the Haram. Abu Jahal 111
110 Abû Jahal's cronies refer to his chums whom Rasûlullah % cursed taking
each one's name individually as mentioned at the end of this Hadîth. This
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challenged his cronies: "Is there anyone amongst you who has
the nerve to go to fetch the tripe of so and so camel and toss it
on Muhammad's back as he goes into Sajdah?" The most ill-
fated of the lot i.e. 'Uqbah bin Abî Mu'ait112 roused himself to
take up this challenge. He fetched a load of tripe and hurled it
on Rasûlullah 's back whilst he was in Sajdah. 'Abdullân bin
Masoud رضى الله عنه narrates: "I was busy witnessing this whole
scene but I could do absolutely nothing. The disbelievers on the
other hand, glancing at one another, they burst out in laughter
and they were actually falling upon each other in gleeful
laughter. In the meantime, Hadrat Fatimah رضي الله عنها who was
about four or five years old at that time, scampered to the scene
and swiftly removed the tripe from his back. Rasulullah
Hadîth is also cited with the same specifics in Musnad Bazzâr. [Fathul-Bârî
volume 1 page 301]
111 Abû Jahal is not mentioned by name in the narration of Sahîh Bukhârî.
This detail is mentioned in Muslim though. [Fathul-Bârî]
112 In actual fact, Abû Jahal was the most ill-fated of the lot because he was
referred to as the Pharaoh of this Ummah. However, at that particular
moment in time, 'Uqbah bin Abî Mu'ait was the most ill-fated person
because Abû Jahal and his other mates merely incited him to carry this out
whilst this unfortunate man actually carried it out. And evidently, the actual
perpetration of the sin is far worse than inciting someone else to do it. As in
the case of Qudar who slaughtered the camel of Salih laude when his
people provoked him to do so. This is captured in the verse "when their
most wicked man went forth (to kill the camel)". Thus Allâh Ta'âlâ refers to
him as 'the most wicked' or 'the most ill-fated'.
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serenely raised himself from Sajdah and thrice invoked the
curse of Allah Ta'ala upon these wicked people. This
imprecation proved quite punishing
113
upon the Quraysh
because they firmly believed that Du'âs are readily accepted in
this blessed city114. Thereafter Rasulullah % invoked the curses
of Allâh Ta'âlâ particularly upon Abû Jahal, 'Uqbah bin
Râbî‘ah, Shaybah bin Rabî‘ah, Walîd bin 'Utbah, Umayyah bin
Khalaf, 'Uqbah bin Abî Mu'ait115 and 'Amârah bin Walîd. He
imprecated each person by name most of whom were put to
death in the battle of Badr.
According to the narration of Bukharî under the chapter of
Tahârat and Salâh, the verse "And purify your clothing" was
113
According to the narration of Sahih Muslim, the moment they heard
Rasûlullah 's voice, their gleeful laughter abruptly died down and they
were hurled into a state of sheer panic and terror. [Fathul-Barî volume 1
page 302]
114 A few remnants of the Dîn of Hadrat Ibrahim Oulade were still found
amongst these disbelieving Quraysh. So perhaps this belief that Du'âs are
swiftly accepted in the Haram area was one of the enduring remnants of the
Ibrâhîmî creed. [Fathul-Bârî volume 1 page 302]
115 The name of 'Uqbah bin Abî Mu'ait is explicitly mentioned in the
narration of Abû Dawud Tayâlisî. [Fathul-Bârî volume 1 page 302]
Furthermore, Imam Bukharî dealda, also cites this Hadîth at the end of
Kitâbul-Jihâd under the chapter 'disposal of the polytheist's corpses into the
well'.
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revealed after the aforementioned incident. [Fathul-Bârî
volume 8 page 521]
Hadrat 'Ayeshah رضى الله عنها narrates that Rasulullah said: "I
used to live in the midst of two of the most depraved
neighbours; Abû Lahab and 'Uqbah bin Abî Mu'ait. These two
would frequently hurl a mound of impurity at my door."
[Zarqânî volume 1 page 251]
رضي الله عنه Islam of Dimad bin Thalabah
From the very pre-Islamic days of ignorance, Dimad bin
Th alabah Azdi رضى الله عنه was a close acquaintance of
Rasûlullah . He would use incantations and other exorcising
techniques to treat people afflicted by sorcery and other such
ailments. When he came into Makkah after Rasûlullah ¿ was
bestowed with prophethood, he caught sight of a throng of
people trailing behind Rasûlullah . Some were calling him a
sorcerer and fortune-teller whilst others proclaimed him a man
suffering from dementia and insanity. Dimâd appeared before
Rasûlullah and submitted: "I am skilfully competent in
treating insanity. Give me your consent to treat you. Perhaps
Allâh Ta'âlâ will cure you at my hands." Rasûlullah % replied
by reciting the following Khutbah: "All praise is due to Allâh!
We pay tribute to Him and ask of His assistance and beg His
forgiveness. And we seek the refuge of Allâh from the evils of
our base desires. He whom Allâh guides none can lead him
astray and he whom Allah leads astray, none can guide him.
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And I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but
Allâh, He is alone and has no partner and I bear witness that
Muhammad is His slave and true messenger."
Dimad relates: "I requested Rasûlullah % to repeat his words
once again. By Allâh! I have come across an abundance of
poetry and I have heard a great many exorcising mantras of the
fortune-tellers but I have never ever come across such words. I
swear by Allâh! These words are submerged in the deepest end
of the ocean of eloquence. And I also declare that I bear
testimony that there is none worthy of worship but Allâh, He is
alone and has no partner and I bear witness that Muhammad is
His slave and true messenger."
In this manner, Dimad embraced Islam and on behalf of his
people, he pledged allegiance at the hands of Rasûlullah . [Al-
Isâbah volume 2 page 21, Al-Bidâyah wa Al-Nihâyah volume 3
page 36]
Hâfiz 'Irâqî sums up in the following poem:
"After five or nine years from the date of prophethood, Dimad
bin Th'alabah Azdî appeared in Makkah to observe things for
himself.
Muhammad merely recited the Khutbah when Dimad embraced
Islâm without more ado and departed to his people."
Arch-enemies
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Following his proclamations of tauhid (monotheism) and
invitation towards Islâm, by and large, most of the residents of
Makkah turned out to be Rasûlullah 's enemies but some of
them had reached the limits of blatant hostility. Some of these
people were:
1. Abû Jahal bin Hishâm
2. Abû Lahab bin 'Abdul-Muttalib
3. Aswad bin 'Abdu-Yaghûth
4. Hârith bin Qays
5. Walîd bin Mughîrah
6. Umayyah bin Khalaf
7. Ubayy bin Khalaf
8. Abû Qays bin Al-Fâkihah
9. 'Âs bin Wail
10. Nadr bin Al-Harith
11. Munabbah bin Al-Hajjaj
12. Zuhair bin Abî Umayyah
13. Sâib bin Saifî
14. Aswad bin 'Abdul-Asad
15. 'Âs bin Sa'îd
16. 'Âs bin Hâshim
17. 'Uqbah bin Abî Mu'ait
18. Ibnul-Asdâ Hakam bin Al-'Âs
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19. 'Adî bin Hamrâ
Most of them were Rasûlullah 's neighbours and men of high
standing in society. They were relentlessly engaged in hostility
against Rasûlullah . Night and day, they were obsessed with
this single mission of antagonism. Abû Jahal, Abû Lahab and
'Uqbah bin Abî Mu'ait were the three most bitter enemies of
the lot. [Al-Tabqat Al-Kubra volume 1 page 134]
It is a conventional custom of Allâh Ta'âlâ that when He
creates something, He also creates its opposite. As Allâh Ta'âlâ
states: "And of everything We have created pairs so that you
may comprehend the (perfection of the Creator)." [Sûrah
Zâriyât verse 49]
So just as Allâh Ta'âlâ created light in contrast to darkness and
eminence in contrast to disrepute, Allâh Ta'âlâ has created
good in contrast to bad, guidance in contrast to misguidance
and the angels in contrast to the devils so that there is
constantly a conflicting contrast between truth and falsehood
and to enable people to choose one of the conflicting sides of
their own free accord. It wasn't engineered such that people
become obliged to adopt just one side. If only truth and people
of the truth were created without the existence of falsehood,
people would have been obliged to accept the truth and this
would have been far off the track of divine wisdom. The
purpose of Sharî'ah is not to force people to embrace Islâm.
(This requires their own free will.) As Allâh Ta'âlâ says: "If
your Lord wished, all the inhabitants of the earth would have
believed." [Sûrah Yûnus verse 99]
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This is why, when Allah Ta'ala created the Ambiya Aulade,
He also created devils amongst the humankind as well as
Jinnkind. This will sufficiently enable the world to witness the
conflict between truth and falsehood and the confrontation
between guidance and misguidance. They in turn are then at
liberty to choose either the facet of truth or the veneer of
falsehood. The following verse alludes to this topic:
"And similarly, we have appointed for every Prophet an enemy
- devils among mankind and jinn. [Sûrâh Al-An'âm verse 112]
So just as every Pharaoh has a Mûsâ, similarly, every Mûsâ has
a Pharaoh in opposition to him. The established rule amongst
the logicians is that the opposite of any theorem is inevitably
bound to occur.
Persian couplet: "In the realm of spiritual love even Kufr
(disbelief) is vital. If Abû Lahab wasn't around who would
have been flung into the fire of Hell?" (In other words, the
presence of the disbelievers is also crucial. How would a
believer's Îmân be identified without contrasting it with the
Kufr of the disbelievers? After all, things are recognised by
their opposites.)
For this reason we have decided to present a brief outline of
each of Rasûlullah 's sworn enemies.
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Abû Jahal bin Hishâm
He was the Pharaoh of the Ummah of Rasûlullah . He left no
stone unturned in his wave of deep-seated hostility and fierce
resistance against Rasûlullâh . A few incidents depicting his
antagonism towards Rasûlullah ¿ were mentioned in the past
and more are to follow. Readers will be able to clearly ascertain
the intensity of his enmity towards Rasûlullah % from the
words he uttered even while breathing his last on his deathbed
(the details of which will follow under the chapter dealing with
the battle of Badr, Insha Allah). Abû Jahal's original name was
Abu-Hakam (which literally means the father of wisdom) but
Rasûlullah
amended this to Abu Jahal (the father of
ignorance). This is mentioned in Fathul-Bârî under the chapter
dealing with Rasûlullah % mentioning the people who would be
slain in Badr.
Abû Jahal would often blow his own trumpet by asserting: “I
am 'Azîz and Karîm (revered and noble). Upon this, the
following verses were revealed:
"Verily, the tree of Zaqqum, the food of the sinner. Like boiling
oil, it will boil in the bellies, like the boiling of scalding water.
(It will be said) 'Seize him and drag him into the midst of the
blazing fire. Then pour over his head the agony of boiling
water. Taste this! You (are the one who claimed) you are
revered and noble. [Sûrah Dukhân verse 43]
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Abû Lahab
Abû Lahab was his appellation. His actual name was 'Abdul-
'Uzzâ bin 'Abdul-Muttalib. He was Rasûlullah ¿ blood uncle
(Rasûlullâh
's father's brother). When Rasûlullah
assembled the Quraysh to preach the message of Islam to them,
Abû Lahab was the first person to falsify him saying: "Woe
unto you! Did you assemble us here for this?"
Upon this incident, Sûrah Abû Lahab was revealed. Since Abû
Lahab was extremely wealthy, whenever he was cautioned
about the punishment of Allâh Ta'ala, he would say: "If my
nephew is true in his assertions, I will absolve myself by paying
money and children in ransom. The verse "Neither his wealth
nor his earnings will spare him from it" is a reference to this
assertion. His wife, Ummu Jamîl bintu Harb, the sister of Abû
Sufyan bin Harb also harboured a streak of acrimonious
hostility towards Rasûlullah . She would often strew
Rasûlullah 's path with sharp thorns at night. [Tafsir Ibn
Kathîr, Rûhul-Ma‘ânî]
According to the narration of Ibn Ishaq, when Ummu Jamîl
learnt that a Sûrah of the Holy Quran was revealed about her
and her husband, she picked up a stone and dashed out to strike
Rasûlullah . At that moment, Rasûlullah was seated with
Abu Bakr Siddîq in Musjidul-Harâm. When Ummu Jamîl got
to the Musjid, Allah Ta'ala layered a veil over her eyes. Only
Abu Bakr رضى الله عنه was visible. She failed to spot Rasulullah
*. Ummu Jamil asked Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه:"Where is you
companion? I have discovered that he ridicules me and makes
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satirical remarks about me. By Allâh! If I come across him
now, I will smash him with this stone. By Allâh! I am a
celebrated poetess." Saying this, she intoned the following
stanzas:
"Muzammam we disobeyed and his instructions we rebuffed
and his religion we despised."
Due to her seething rage and fanatical hatred she cherished
against Rasûlullah , she referred to him as Muzammam
instead of Muhammad. Muzammam is actually the antonym of
Muhammad. Muhammad means commendable
whilst
Muzammam means lamentable.
Expressing her hatred with these few lines, she went away.
[Sîrat Ibn Hishâm volume 1 page 123]
Whenever the Quraysh hurled scorn upon Rasûlullah % and
labelled him Muzammam, Rasûlullah % would say: "O people!
Don't you find it strange? Don't you notice how Allâh Ta'âlâ
has repelled their profanities away from me? They refer to me
as Muzammam but I am actually Muhammad."
According to another narration of Ibn Hishâm volume 1 page
124, when Hadrat Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه spotted Ummu Jamil
rushing towards them, he cautioned Rasûlullah # saying: "O
Prophet of Allâh! Here's Ummu Jamîl speeding towards us. I
fear for your safety." Rasûlullah # replied: "She will never be
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able to catch sight of me." Rasûlullah * then recited a few
Qurânic verses116. [Tafsîr Ibn Kathîr Sûra Tabbat]
Musnad Bazzâr mentions on the authority of 'Abdullah bin
"Abbas رضى الله عنه on the basis of a hasan sanad (satisfactory
chain of narrators) that Ummû Jamîl came up to Abû Bakr
and said: "This man says poetry." Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه
replied: "By the Lord of this building! Whatever he رضي الله عنه
says is not poetry." Ummu Jamîl fumed: "You are a man who
indisputably believes in him."
Saying this, she walked away. Hadrat Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه then
said: "O Prophet of Allâh! Perhaps Ummu Jamîl failed to spot
you." Rasûlullah % replied: "Right until she left, an angel
continued shrouding me from her." [Fathul-Bârî volume 8 page
567 Kitâbut-Tafsîr Sûrah Tabbat]
Barely seven days after the battle of Badr, a terminal cyst
erupted on his body and this brought about an agonizing death.
Out of terror of contagion, his family members flatly refused to
even touch his corpse. In this manner, his corpse remained
putrefying for a period of three days. Finally, out of fear of
disgrace and notoriety, they employed a few Abyssinian
labourers to remove his body. They dug a hole and with the aid
of long wooden poles, they propelled his body and dumped him
into the hole. They then swiftly covered him up with sand and
116 As Allâh Ta'âlâ says: "And when you recite the Qurân, We erect
between you and those who do not believe in the hereafter an invisible veil."
Sûrah Isrâ verse 45]
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stones. This was the humiliation of this world. What about the
disgrace of the hereafter that is still to follow? May Allâh
Ta'âlâ protect us from this. Âmîn.
Abû Lahab had three sons; 'Utbah, Mu'attab and 'Utaibah. The
first two embraced Islam at the conquest of Makkah. As for
'Utaibah, who, at the behest of his father, divorced his wife -
Rasûlullâh
's daughter - and he was moreover
contemptuously rude to Rasûlullâh , he perished after
Rasûlullah
cursed him. At the conquest of Makkah,
Rasulullah # asked his uncle Hadrat 'Abbas رضي الله عنه :"I
don't see your nephews, 'Utbah and Mu'attab around Where
are they?" Hadrat 'Abbas رضي الله عنه replied: "It seems as
though they are gone into hiding." Rasûlullah & asked him to
search for them. After an exhausting search, he found them in
the field of 'Arafat. Hadrat 'Abbas brought both of them to
Rasûlullah . Rasûlullah % presented them with Islam and both
of them enthusiastically embraced Islam and pledged their
allegiance at his hands. Upon this Rasûlullah * remarked: "I
beseeched Allâh Ta'âlâ for these two cousins. Allâh Ta'âlâ
handed over both of them to me."
Umayyah bin Khalaf Jumahî
Umayyah had the impudence to publicly abuse Rasûlullah
.
Whenever he passed Rasûlullah , he would mockingly wink
his eyes. His dreadful conduct brought about the revelation of
the following Sûrah:
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"Woe unto every slanderer and backbiter! He, who accumulates
wealth and repeatedly counts it (like some of the Hindus who
tally their Rupees with relish). What! Is he under the
impression that his wealth will bring him eternity? Never!
Verily, he will be hurled into the crushing fire. And do you
know what is the crushing fire? It is the kindled fire of Allâh
Ta'âlâ, which will leap over the hearts. Verily, the fire will be
sealed over them in long pillars." [See Isabah volume 2 page
455]
Umayyah bin Khalaf was slain in the battle of Badr at the hands
of Hadrat Khubaib رضى الله عنه or at the hands of Hadrat Bilal
[124 Ibn Hisham volume 1 page] رضي الله عنه
Ubayy bin Khalaf
Ubayy bin Khalaf also rivalled his brother Umayyah bin Khalaf
in his hostility towards Rasûlullah . Once he procured a
decomposed bone and crushing it in his hand and hurling its
dust into the wind, he demanded: "Will Allâh be able to
resurrect this?" Rasûlullah # replied: "Yes, when you and your
bones decompose like the bone in your hand, Allâh will
resurrect you and hurl you into the fire."
This was the background to the following verses:
"And he puts forth for us a parable and he forgets his own
creation; he says: 'who will resurrect these bones in this state of
decomposition?' Say! (O Muhammad!), "He will resurrect
them Who created them the first time round and He is all-
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knowing of the entire creation. He who produces fire for you
from the green tree and them you kindle your fires with it. Is
not He who created the skies and the earth able to create the
like of them? Indeed! He is the all-knowing supreme creator.
Verily, His command, when He intends something, is merely to
say to it: "Be" - and it is. So, glorified is He in whose dominion
is all things and to Him shall you be returned." Sûrah Yâsîn
verses 78 - 83]
Ubayy bin Khalaf was killed in the battle of Uhud at the hands
of Rasûlullah . [Tarikh Ibn Al-Athar volume 2 page 26, Ibn
Hishâm volume 1 page 126 under the chapter dealing with 'the
polytheists slain in the battle of Uhud'.]
'Uqbah bin Abî Mu'ait
'Uqbah was the bosom chum and confidant of Ubayy bin
Khalaf. One day, 'Uqbah took a seat in the company of
Rasûlullah % attentively listening to the words of Rasûlullah .
When Ubayy learnt of this, he hurried over to 'Uqbah and
voiced his concerns: "I learnt that you sat in the company of
Muhammad attentively listening to his words. By Allâh! Until
you don't go and spit on his face, it is harâm for me to talk to
you and even look at your face." Accordingly, the wretched
'Uqbah rose and ejected his saliva right onto the blessed face of
Rasûlullah . Upon this, the following verses were revealed:
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"And the day when the Zâlim (evil-doer) will bite his hands (in
despair) saying: "Oh! If only I had taken the path of the
messenger. Ah! Woe unto me! If only I did not assume so and
so as an intimate friend. He indeed led me astray from the Zikr
(reminder and advice i.e. the Qurân) after it had come to me."
And Shaytân is a deserter to man (in the hour of need). And the
messenger said: "O my Lord! My people have discarded (the
teachings of) this Qurân. (O Nabî! Do not become despondent
because) in this manner We have assigned to every Nabî an
enemy from amongst the criminals. Your Lord is sufficient as a
guide and helper." [Sûrah Al-Furqân verses 27-31]
'Uqbah was captured as a prisoner in the battle of Badr and he
was executed in a place called Safrâ. [Ibn Athîr volume 2 page
27]
Walîd bin Mughîrah
Walîd bin Mughîrah was wont of saying: "It is rather strange
that Muhammad was preferred for the revelation of divine
Wahî whilst Abû Mas'ûd Thaqafî and I were excluded from
this privilege whereas both of us are reputable leaders of this
city. I am the leader of the Quraysh whilst he is the leader of
the tribe of Thaqîf."
Upon this, the following verses were revealed:
'And they say, 'why isn't this Quran revealed to some great
man of the two cities?' Is it they who portion out the mercy of
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