This was revealed about Abu Jahl. He threatened the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) for performing salah at the Kabah. Then Allaah warned him with the above -ayahs. Abu Jahl said, Does Muhammad cover his face with dust (i.e. from prostration)? While he is among you all? The people replied Yes. The he (Abu Jahl) said, By al-Lat and al-Uzzaa, if I see him praying like this, I will tread heavily on his neck, and I will certainly put his face in the dust.
So the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) came and he began praying, which made it possible for Abu Jahl to tread heavily on his neck. Then the people became surprised at him (Abu Jahl) because he began retreating on his heels and covering himself with his hands. Then it was said to him, "Whats the matter with you?" He replied, "Verily, between me and him is a ditch of fire, monsters and wings" Then the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, "If he had come near me, the angels would have snatched him limb by limb" Reason for Abu Jahl's Enmity "We and the Bani Abdi Manaf (to which the Prophet belonged) were rivals of each other: they feet others, we too fed others; they provided conveyances to the people, we too did the same; they gave donations, we too gave donations, so much so that when they and we have become equal in honour and nobility, they now proclaim that they have a Prophet who is inspired from the heaven; how can we compete with them in this field? By Allaah, we will never acknowledge him, nor affirm faith in him".
His other vile acts Abdullah bin Masud (may Allaah be pleased with him) said, "Once the Prophet was offering prayers at the Kaba. Abu Jahl was sitting with some of his companions. One of them said to the others, "Who amongst you will bring the abdominal contents (intestines, etc.) of a camel of Bani so and so and put it on the back of Muhammad, when he prostrates?" The most unfortunate of them got up and brought it.
He waited till the Prophet prostrated and then placed it on his back between his shoulders. I was watching but could not do any thing. I wish I had some people with me to hold out against them. They started laughing and falling on one another. Allahs Messenger was in prostration and he did not lift his head up till Fatima (Prophets daughter) came and threw that (camels abdominal contents) away from his back."
His death: Narrated Abdur Rahman bin Auf (RA) "While I was fighting in the front file on the day (of the battle) of Badr, suddenly I looked behind and saw on my right and left two young boys and did not feel safe by standing between them. Then one of them asked me secretly so that his companion may not hear, "O Uncle! Show me Abu Jahl." I said, "O nephew! What will you do to him?" He said, "I have promised Allah that if Isee him (i.e. Abu Jahl), I will either kill him or be killed before I kill him."
Then the other said the same to me secretly so that his companion should not hear. I would not have been pleased to be in between two other men instead of them. Then I pointed him (i.e. Abu Jahl) out to them. Both of them attacked him like two hawks till they knocked him down. Those two boys were the sons of Afra (i.e. an Ansari woman)."
This article was culled from the publications of Deen Communication Limited