Mukhtasar Muslim

Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Who will bring me news of Abu Jahl?" Upon hearing this, Sayyiduna Ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with them both) went and saw that the sons of 'Afra had beaten him so much that he was lying on the ground (i.e., near death). Sayyiduna Ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with them both) grabbed his beard and said, "Are you Abu Jahl?" He replied, "Have you killed a person of higher rank than this man (Abu Jahl)?" (i.e., there is no one of higher status among the Quraysh than me), or he said, "Has his people killed a greater man than him, who is greater than me?" (i.e., if you have killed me, it is no disgrace for me). Abu Majliz said that Abu Jahl said, "If only someone other than a farmer had killed me."