Threat of Abu Jahl — Seal of the Prophets Vol. 2
Introduction
In this discourse from The Life & Character of the Seal of the Prophets (Volume 2), Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad (ra) details the historical events and scholarly insights surrounding Threat of Abu Jahl.
Book Series: The Life & Character of the Seal of the Prophets (Volume 2)
Author: Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad (ra)
Section: I – Early Establishment of Madinah and Foundation of the Islamic Government
Pages: Book pp. 29–30 (PDF pp. 53–54)
Navigation: Book Table of Contents | « Previous: [Threatening Letter from the Quraish to the Idolaters of Madinah] | Next: [Death of Walid bin Mughirah and Bloody Intentions of the Quraish] »
Historical Account
This letter from the Quraish of Makkah was not due to temporary vehemence. Rather, they had firmly decided never to allow the Muslims a life of peace, and were bent upon eliminating Islām from the world. As such, the following historical account demonstrates the bloody intentions of the Quraish of Makkah. There is a narration in Bukhārī that some time after the migration, Sa‘d bin Mu‘ādhra, who was head chieftain of the Aus tribe and had become Muslim, travelled to Makkah with the intention of performing ‘Umrah. He stayed with an old friend from the era of the Jāhiliyyah named Umayyah bin Khalf, a chieftain of Makkah. Since he knew that the Makkans would provoke him, in order to avoid altercation, he said to Umayyah, “I wish to perform Ṭawāf 2 of the Ka‘batullāh. Take me along at such a time when I can perform this duty alone in peace and return to my homeland.” Hence, Umayyah took Sa‘dra to the Ka‘bah at midday, when people were generally in their homes. However, it so happened that exactly at this time, Abū Jahl also turned up and as soon as he saw Sa‘dra, his eyes gorged with blood in rage. Suppressing his anger however, he addressed Umayyah saying, “O Abū Ṣafwān, who accompanies you?” Umayyah responded, “This is Sa‘dra bin Mu‘ādh, chieftain of the Aus.” Upon this Abū Jahl furiously addressed Sa‘dra saying:
[Lesser Pilgrimage in which some of the rites of Ḥajj are left out. ‘Umrah can be performed at any time during the year. [Publishers]]
“Do you think that after granting protection to that renegade (i.e., Muḥammadsa), you shall be able to perform Ṭawāf of the Ka‘bah in peace? And do you believe that you have the strength to protect him and support him? By God, if you had not been accompanied by Abū Ṣafwān, you would not have been able to return home safely.”
Sa‘d bin Mu‘ādhra would avoid altercation, but his veins also flowed of chieftain blood and his heart was replete of religious indignation. He retorted in a thunderous voice, “By Allāh! If you obstruct us from the Ka‘bah, then remember that you shall also not receive peace upon your Syrian trade route.” “Sa‘d!” interjected Umayyah, “Do not raise your voice before Abul-Ḥakam, chieftain of the People of the Valley.” “Keep out of this Umayyah!” responded Sa‘dra, “Do not interject. By Allāh, I cannot forget the prophecy of the Holy Prophetsa, that one day you would be killed at the hands of a Muslim.” Upon hearing this news, Umayyah bin Khalf became severely distraught and came home to inform his wife of this statement of Sa‘dra. He said, “By God! Now I shall not leave Makkah to oppose the Muslims.” However, the writings of Divine Decree were to be fulfilled. At the occasion of Badr, Umayyah was forced to leave Makkah, and was killed there at the hands of the Muslims, receiving the recompense of his evil deeds. This was the same Umayyah who would ruthlessly persecute Ḥaḍrat Bilālra, due to his acceptance of Islām.
[Ṣaḥīḥul-Bukhārī, Kitābul-Maghāzī, Bābu Dhikrin-Nabiyyisa Maiń-Yuqtalu Bi-Badrin, Ḥadīth No. 3950]
Death of Walīd bin Mughīrah and Bloody Intentions of the Quraish Then, it was around this time that the father of Khālid bin Walīd named Walīd bin Mughīrah, who was a very influential and revered chieftain of Makkah, became ill. When he realized that his time had come, he began to weep helplessly. At the time various chieftains of Makkah were sitting beside him. Perplexed, when they inquired as to the cause of his weeping, he responded, “Do you think I am weeping out of the fear of death? By Allāh, this is not the case. I am grieved, lest the religion of Muḥammadsa spreads and Makkah is lost to his rule.” “Do not grieve,” responded Abū Sufyān bin Ḥarb, “this shall never happen
Book Series: The Life & Character of the Seal of the Prophets (Volume 2)
Section: I – Early Establishment of Madinah and Foundation of the Islamic Government | Navigation: « Previous: [Threatening Letter from the Quraish to the Idolaters of Madinah] | Next: [Death of Walid bin Mughirah and Bloody Intentions of the Quraish] »