Account of the Killing of Abu Jahl in the Battle of Badr

Hazrat Abdur Rahman (ra) bin Auf participated in all the battles alongside the Holy Prophet (sa), including the Battle of Badr and Uhud.

(al-Tabaqaat-ul-Kubra li ibn Sa‘d, Vol. 3, p. 95, Abdur Rahman bin Auf, Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 1990)

Relating an account from the Battle of Badr, Hazrat Abdur Rahman (ra) bin Auf relates:

“I was standing in the rows for battle on the day of Badr. When I looked to my right and left, I saw two Ansari youths standing on either side of me, who were very young in age. At that moment, I wished that I was in between two people who were more mature and stronger. Thereupon, one of the youths nudged my hand and asked, ‘O my uncle! Do you recognise Abu Jahl?’ to which I said, ‘O my nephew, why is it that you ask?’ The young boy replied, ‘I heard that he would use foul language for the Holy Prophet (sa). I swear by the One in Whose hands is my life, if I see him, I will not let him out of my sight until the one who is destined to die from among us perishes.’ I was astonished by this reply. Then the other boy also tapped my hand and made the same enquiry. A short while passed when I saw Abu Jahl walking between the ranks. I said to the two young boys that there was the one about whom they enquired. Immediately the two youths drew their swords and cutting the ranks pounced on Abu Jahl and killed him. They then returned to inform the Holy Prophet (sa) of the news. The Holy Prophet (sa) asked which one from among them killed him? They both laid claim to the kill. The Holy Prophet (sa) then asked whether they had wiped their swords after they had killed him? They replied in the negative. The Holy Prophet (sa) then inspected their swords and said that both of them had in fact killed him. The Holy Prophet (sa) then said that the spoils of war would be given to Mu‘az bin Amr bin Jamooh. Both youths had the same name; one was Mu‘az bin Afraa and the other was Mu‘az bin Amr bin Jamooh.” This is a narration from Bukhari.

I have previously presented the clarification in relation to Abu Jahl’s killing but will mention it once again. According to some narrations, the two sons of Afraa, Mu‘awwiz and Mu‘az severely wounded Abu Jahl to the extent that he was on the brink of death and afterwards Hazrat Abdullah (ra) bin Mas‘ud severed his head. Imam Ibn Hajar has also stated the possibility that, “After Mu‘az bin Amr and Mu‘az bin Afraa attacked Abu Jahl, Mu’awwiz bin Afraa may have also attacked him as well.” This has been mentioned in the commentary of Bukhari, Fath-ul-Bari.

(Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab Fard al-Khumus, Bab Man lam Yakhmus al-Aslab, Hadith 3141, Kitabul Maghazi, Bab Qatl Abi Jahl, Hadith 3961-3962) (Fath-ul-Bari Sharh Sahih Bukhari, Vol. 7, pp. 295-96, al-Maktabah al-Salafiyyah)