Episode 38: The Prophet stands up to Abu Jahl

Welcome to Seerah Pearls, which aims to highlight some tantalising learning points from each episode of the Seerah- Life of the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam). This episode recounts the interactions between the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) and Abu Jahl.

Abu Jahl and his cronies would often taunt the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam). Once, when the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) was making Tawaaf, they were making crude comments to him. Finally, the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) walked over to the group and said, ‘ By Allah, Allah has sent me to you with sacrifice.’ They became concerned by this open statement and its meaning, as they knew he never lost his cool and that he always spoke the truth. The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) continued and everyone was silent after that.

Once whilst the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) was praying at the Ka’ba, the friends of Abu Jahl egged him on to the point where he got a scarf and choked the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam). Abu Bakr saw this and tackled Abu Jahl away. He asked, ‘Do you want to kill this man simply because he worships Allah over all the idols you worship?’