Account of the Killing of Abu Jahl in the Battle of Badr (Hazrat Musleh Mau'd's (ra) Narration)
Whilst mentioning this same account, Hazrat Musleh Maud (ra) has explained it in the following manner:
“Whilst Abu Jahl, who was the leader of the whole of Mecca and the commander of the Meccan army, was arranging the rows of his army for battle, Hazrat Abdur Rahman (ra) bin Auf, an experienced general, states that he looked to his right and to his left to see what kind of support he had. He found to his amazement that he had only two young boys from the Ansar on his flanks, who were around 15 or 16 years of age. His heart sank and he said to himself, ‘Today I will not be able to carry out what my heart yearns for because unfortunately I have two inexperienced youths on either side of me. Moreover, they belong to the Ansar and thus are completely inexperienced in the art of war.’”
Hazrat Musleh Maud (ra) further relates:
“Hazrat Abdur Rahman (ra) bin Auf had hardly finished saying this to himself when one of the boys touched his side with his elbow. Assuming that he wanted to say something to him, he turned towards him and he said, ‘O my Uncle, can you crouch a little more for I wish to say something in your ear, lest my companion hears me.’ Hazrat Abdur Rahman (ra) bin Auf states that as he bent down to hear him, the youth said, ‘Which one is Abu Jahl, who used to cause pain and torment the Holy Prophet (sa). Uncle, I wish to fight him; tell me where he is.’ Hazrat Abdur Rahman (ra) bin Auf had not yet replied to this youth’s enquiry, when his attention was similarly drawn by the boy on the other side, who tapped his elbow and asked him the same question, ‘O Uncle, which one is Abu Jahl, who used to cause pain and torment the Holy Prophet (sa)? I wish to kill him today.’
“Hazrat Abdur Rahman (ra) bin Auf states that despite being a seasoned soldier, he did not think that even he would be able to kill Abu Jahl, who was not only the commander of the enemy but was surrounded by such experienced and skilled soldiers. Hazrat Abdur Rahman (ra) bin Auf raised his finger to point at Abu Jahl for both of them and said, ‘There is Abu Jahl, who is armed to the teeth and standing behind the lines protected by those strong and fearless generals, with drawn swords.’ By this, Hazrat Abdur Rahman (ra) bin Auf meant that to do such a thing was impossible for such inexperienced youth. However, he had not even dropped his finger, when the two boys dashed into the enemy ranks like an eagle catches its prey, making straight for their chosen target. Ikramah, the son of Abu Jahl, was standing in front of him, who was also a very experienced and fearless general, however, the two Ansari youth went so suddenly that no one could even react quick enough to find out why they were advancing ahead and quickly reached the guards in order to attack Abu Jahl. Their attack was so swift and sudden that the soldiers stood at guard could not even bring down their unsheathed swords, except for one and he cut the arm off of one of the Ansari boys. However, those who are ready and willing to sacrifice their life, what can a severed arm do to stop them? The two youths pounced with such force upon those stood at guard just like a rock falls from a mountain and ultimately attacked Abu Jahl, killing the commander of the enemy even before the battle had commenced.
“Hazrat Abdullah (ra) bin Mas‘ud states that towards the end of the battle, he arrived at the location where Abu Jahl was on the floor and breathing his last. Hazrat Abdullah (ra) bin Mas‘ud enquired his condition and Abu Jahl responded, ‘I am dying but in a state of anguish. Death is nothing significant, but the most regretful thing is that before I could even fulfil what my heart desired, I was attacked by two youths of the Ansar.’ The people of Mecca would consider the Ansar to be very lowly people hence he was dying in a state of anguish for he had been slain by two youths of the Ansar. He then said to Abdullah (ra) bin Mas‘ud, ‘I am in extreme pain. Do me a favour, sever my head with one single blow of your sword, but ensure that you cut my head from the lower part of the neck because the neck cut in this manner is the sign of a slain general.’ Although Hazrat Abdullah (ra) bin Mas‘ud accepted this request of his to kill him and cut short his pain, but severed his head in a way that it was closer to his chin. In other words, even at the time of his death, this desire of his went unfulfilled, i.e. to have his head severed in a manner where his neck would remain long.”
(Tafsir-e-Kabir, Vol. 8, p. 100)
Hazrat Musleh Maud (ra) has related this account in regard to the subject of sacrifice in that even the children were filled with such deep love and affection for the Holy Prophet (sa) and how they sought to take revenge against those who opposed the Holy Prophet (sa).
This account has been related a few times before as well, but in any case, such was their level of sacrifice and love and affection for the Holy Prophet (sa) that they did not even have any concern for their own lives.