The Killing of Abu Jahl [Hazrat Musleh Mau'd's (ra) Narration]

Whilst relating this incident, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih II (ra) states:

“Abu Jahl was that individual, at the birth of whom camels were slaughtered for weeks, and the meat distributed among the people; at the birth of whom Mecca was echoing with the sound of tambourines.”

In other words, on the news of his birth, the people of Mecca were rejoicing with the sound of drums and other musical instruments. He further writes:

“When he was killed during the Battle of Badr, it was two fifteen-year-old youngsters of the Ansar who wounded him. Hazrat Abdullah bin Mas‘ud (ra) relates, ‘When the people were returning from the battle, I went to see those injured in combat.’ He too was from Mecca, so Abu Jahl would have recognised him instantly. He states, ‘I was walking in the battlefield when all of a sudden, I saw Abu Jahl injured and was groaning with pain. When I approached him, he said to me, “It does not seem as if I will survive this, my injury has taken a turn for the worst. Seeing as you are also a Meccan, it is my wish that you kill me to put an end to my suffering. But as you are aware, I am an Arab chief, and it is an Arab custom to cut the neck in a manner that it would be prominent as this is the sign of a slain chief. So I want you to cut my neck in this manner.”’ Hazrat Abdullah bin Mas‘ud (ra) continues, ‘I cut his neck in a manner that it was short (i.e., near to his chin), and said that even your last wish will not be fulfilled.’ Now in terms of their end, observe how humiliating the death of Abu Jahl was, whose head was always held high during his lifetime, but at the time of his death his neck was cut very short and even his final wish was left unfulfilled.”

(Tafsir-e-Kabir, Vol. 7, p. 101)