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haughtiness. None remained around him except a gang of doomed polytheists whose resistance was
also quelled by an Islamic irresistible storm of true devotion-based valour and Islam-orientated
pursuit of martyrdom. Jahl was deserted and left by himself on his horse waiting for death at the
hand of two courageous lads of the Helpers.
‘Abdur-Rahman bin ‘Awf related the following interesting story in this regard: I was in the thick of
the battle when two youths, still seemingly inexperienced in the art of fighting, one on the right and
the second on the left. One of them spoke in a secret voice asking me to show him Abu Jahl. I asked
about his intention, to which he replied, that he had a strong desire to engage with him in a combat
until either of them was killed. It was something incredible to me. I turned left and the other said
something to the same effect and showed a similar desire. I acceded to their earnest pleas and
pointed directly at their target. They both rushed swiftly towards the spot, and without a moment’s
hesitation struck him simultaneously with their swords and finished him off. They went back to the
Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him), each claiming that he had killed Abu Jahl to the exclusion
of the other. The Prophet (Peace be upon him)asked if they had wiped the blood off their swords
and they answered that they had not. He then examined both swords and assured them that they
both had killed him. When the battle concluded, Abu Jahl’s spoils were given to Mu‘adh bin ‘Amr bin
Al-Jumuh, because the other Mu‘awwadh bin Al-‘Afrâ’ was later killed in the course of the same
battle. At the termination of the battle, the Prophet (Peace be upon him) wanted to look for this
archenemy of Islam, Abu Jahl. ‘Abdullah bin Mas‘ud found him on the verge of death breathing his
last. He stepped on his neck addressing him: “Have you seen how Allâh has disgraced you?” The
enemy of Islam still defiantly answered: “I am not disgraced. I am no more than a man killed by his
own people on the battlefield.” And then inquired “Who has won the battle?” Ibn Mas‘ud replied
“Allâh and His Messenger.” Abu Jahl then said with a heart full of grudge “You have followed difficult
ways, you shepherd!” Ibn Mas‘ud used to be a shepherd working for the Makkan aristocrats.
Ibn Mas‘ud then cut off his head and took it to the Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him) who, on
seeing it, began to entertain Allâh’s praise:
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“Allâh is Great, praise is to Allâh, Who has fulfilled His Promise, assisted His servant and
defeated the confederates alone.”
He then set out to have a look at the corpse. There he said: “This is the Pharaoh of this nation.”
SOME SIGNIFICANT INSTANCES OF DEVOTION:
1. The Prophet (Peace be upon him) advised his companions to preserve the lives of Banu
Hashim who had gone out to Badr with the polytheists unwillingly because they had feared
the censure of their people. Among them, he named Al-‘Abbas bin ‘Abdul Muttalib and Abu
Bukhtari bin Hisham. He ordered the Muslims to capture, but not to kill them. Abu Hudhaifah
bin ‘Utbah showed great surprise and commented saying: “We kill our fathers, children,
brothers and members of our clan, and then come to spare Al-‘Abbas? By Allâh! If I see him
I will surely strike him with my sword.” On hearing these words, the Messenger of Allâh
(Peace be upon him), addressing ‘Umar bin Al-Khattab, said “Is it fair that the face of the
Messenger’s uncle be struck with sword?” ‘Umar got indignant and threatened to kill Abu
Hudhaifah; the latter later said that extreme fear had taken firm grip of him and felt that
nothing except martyrdom could expiate for his mistake. He was actually killed later on
during Al-Yamamah events.
2. Abu Al-Bukhtari bin Hisham had already done his best to restrain his people, the Makkans,
from committing any act of folly against the Prophet (Peace be upon him) while the latter
was still in Makkah. He also neither hurt nor was reported to have uttered anything
repugnant with regard to the Prophet (Peace be upon him). He had as well been among the
people who tried to invalidate the boycott alliance taken against Banu Hashim and Banu
‘Abdul Muttalib.
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Here, however, in the battle of Badr he insisted on fighting unless his compatriot was
spared. Al-Mujdhir bin Ziyad Al-Balwi, with whom he was engaged in combat, replied that
the other was not included in the Prophet ’s recommendation. The combat went o n to end in
Al-Bukhtari’s death.
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