In the last few days, our noble Prophet (Muḥammad ‘pbuh’) has been ridiculed, scoffed and harmed. For Muslims, such behavior is no longer traumatic. It is frequent since the beginning of Islam. The prophet (pbuh) had been ridiculed by two types of people, first by disbelievers and secondly by hypocrites, whether they were his relatives or not. He had been harmed by his uncle, Abu Lahab and his wife, Um Jamīl (the firewood carrier). He was also hurt by Meccan idolaters, including ˁUqbah Ibn Abū Muˁayṭ, ˁUtbah Ibn Rabīˁah, Abū Jahl(ˁAmr Ibn Hishām), and An- Naḍr Ibn Al-Ḥārith Ibn Kaladah.

         All of those and others who followed their path deliberately hurt the Prophet and never repented, believed, or asked the Prophet to forgive them. Thus, Allāh has threatened them an agonizing torment in the Hereafter. Almighty Allāh says, “And those who abuse the Messenger of Allāh - for them is a painful punishment.” (Qurˀān, 9:61). Allāh describes them as cursed people in this world and the Hereafter – driven away from Allāh’s mercy – Almighty Allāh says, “Indeed, those who abuse Allah and His Messenger - Allah has cursed them in this world and the Hereafter…”  (Qurˀān, 33:57).

      For those, Allāh’s retribution was great. Abū Lahab, for example, died of a dermatophyte pustular infectious disease. His wife and children refused to approach him although he was extremely sick and weak. They left him alone to die. They even refused to bury his body. They just threw stones over his body and demolished the house upon him. This is an example of how Allāh punished those who insulted His Prophet in this world. Still, we are going to illustrate some other examples for Meccan idolaters who scoffed and ridiculed the prophet.

Allāh commanded his prophet to turn away from all of them and to make his only concern to proclaim Allāh’s message, to deliver what is committed to him and to be assured of Allāh’s justice and protection. Almighty Allāh says, “O Messenger, announce that which has been revealed to you from your Lord, and if you do not, then you have not conveyed His message. And Allah will protect you from the people. Indeed, Allah does not guide the disbelieving people.” (Qurˀān, 5:67).Almighty Allāh also says, “…and Allah will be sufficient for you against them. And He is the All Hearing, the All Knowing.” (Qurˀān, 2:137). . He Almighty also says, “Is not Allah sufficient for His Servant [i.e., Prophet Muḥammad (pbuh)]? And [yet], they threaten you with those [they worship] other than Him. And whoever Allah leaves astray - for him there is no guide.” (Qurˀān, 39:36).

     Those who scoffed the Prophet and ridiculed him died a horrible death. Ibn Ḥabīib Al-Baghdādī mentioned them in his book (Al-Munammaq fī Akhbār Quraysh):

     Al-ˁĀs Ibn Wāˀil Ibn Hāshim As-Sahmī who died of Elephantiasis; which is the enlargement and swelling of his foot and leg that spread in his whole body till it killed him.  Al-Ḥārith Ibn Qays  Ibn ˁAdiy As-Sahmī who died of thirst as he ate poisoned salted fish. The more he drank water, the more he became thirsty. When he died, he kept saying (Muḥammad’s Lord killed me).Al-Aswad Ibn Al-Muṭṭalib went blind, and lost his child. He also got mad, which made him keep hitting himself. Al-Walīd Ibn Al-Mughīrah was scratched in the foot by an arrow, which turned into gangrene spread into his whole body till he died. Al-Aswad Ibn Abd-Yaghūth died of dropsy.

     Since the day of revelation till the Day of Resurrection, Allāh has promised to punish anyone scoffing or ridiculing the Prophet in this world and the Hereafter.  As scholars previously tracked the Divine retribution against those people, we should also track the way Allāh uses to deal with those who ridicule the Prophet and record it; as a warning and admonition.

Dr. Elham Shahien

Assistant Secretary-General for Women Preachers Affairs