It is narrated from Sayyidah Asma' bint Abi Bakr (may Allah be pleased with them both) that people asked her: "How severe did you find the polytheists towards the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) (in causing him harm)?" She said: Once the polytheists were sitting in al-Masjid al-Haram, talking about the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and what he (peace and blessings be upon him) said about their self-made gods, when meanwhile the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) arrived there, and all of them fell upon him (peace and blessings be upon him) at once. Then someone crying for help reached Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) and called out: "Come to the aid of your companion!" Sayyiduna Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him) immediately left us; at that time his hair was done in four locks (braids). He was saying (addressing the polytheists): {Would you kill a man merely because he says, "My Lord is Allah," while he has brought you clear proofs and signs from your Lord?} [Surah Ghafir: 28]. Asma' (may Allah be pleased with her) relates: On hearing this, the polytheists left the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and turned upon Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) (and beat him severely). She says: Then, when Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) came back to us, (his condition was such that) whichever lock of his hair he touched would come away in his hand (having been torn loose by the polytheists' pulling), and even in that state he was saying: «Tabarakta ya Dha al-Jalali wal-Ikram» "O Possessor of majesty and honour, You are most blessed."
Takhrij: Imam al-Humaydi and Imam Abu Ya'la narrated it, and its chain is hasan (good).
Hadith Referenceالمطالب العالية بزوائد المسانيد الثمانية / كتاب السيرة والمغازي / 4228
Hadith Gradingمحدثین:إسناده صحيح
Hadith Takhrij«حکم الحدیث المطالب العالیہ محققاً تنسیق د. سعد بن ناصر بن عبد العزيز الشَّثري- مکتبہ شاملہ :إسناده صحيح. » «انفرد به المصنف من هذا الطريق»