Musnad Ahmad

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Rabi’ah that I heard Abu Lahab at the fair of ‘Ukaz following the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and saying: “O people, this man has gone astray, beware lest he turn you away from your gods.” The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would avoid him, but he would keep following behind. At that time, we were children, and we also joined Abu Lahab and followed along with him. The scene is still before my eyes: I am circling around you, you have two sheep, and among the people, you are the fairest in complexion and the most beautiful.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Rabi’ah that I saw the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) presenting his message to the people in the market called Dhu’l-Majaz. Behind the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was a squint-eyed man who was saying, “This man should not turn you away from the religion of your gods.” I asked the people, “Who is this squint-eyed man behind him?” The people replied, “He is the Prophet’s (peace and blessings be upon him) uncle, Abu Lahab.”

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Rabi’ah that I saw the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) presenting his message to the people in the market called Dhu’l-Majaz. Behind the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) there was a squint-eyed man who was saying, “Do not let this man turn you away from the religion of your gods.” I asked the people, “Who is this squint-eyed man behind him?” The people replied, “He is the Prophet’s (peace and blessings be upon him) uncle, Abu Lahab.”

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Rabi’ah, who had witnessed the era of ignorance and later became a Muslim, that I saw the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) presenting his message to the people in the market called Dhu’l-Majaz, saying: “O people! Say La ilaha illallah so that you may succeed.” He would enter the streets and people would gather around him. No one was saying anything to him, and he kept repeating his words without pausing. Behind the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was a squint-eyed man, his complexion was fair and he had two braids, and he was saying: “This man is irreligious and a liar (Allah forbid).” I asked, “Who is this man?” People told me, “This is Muhammad bin Abdullah, who claims prophethood.” I asked the people, “Who is the man behind him who is denying him?” People told me, “This is the Prophet’s (peace and blessings be upon him) uncle, Abu Lahab.” The narrator said to him, “You must have been very young at that time.” He replied, “No, by Allah, I was sensible at that time.”

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Rabi’ah (may Allah be pleased with him) that before the migration to Madinah, I saw the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) presenting his message to the people in the market called Dhu’l-Majaz. Behind the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was a squint-eyed man who was saying, “This man should not turn you away from the religion of your gods.” I asked the people, “Who is this squint-eyed man behind him?” The people replied, “He is the Prophet’s (peace and blessings be upon him) uncle, Abu Lahab.”

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Rabi’ah that in my youth, I saw the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) with my father in the market called Dhu al-Majaz, going among the various tribes of people and presenting his message to them. Behind the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was a squint-eyed man, whose complexion was fair and whose hair was long. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would stop by a tribe and say, “O Banu so-and-so, I am Allah’s Messenger to you. I command you to worship Allah and not associate anything with Him. Affirm my truthfulness and protect me so that I may convey Allah’s message.” When the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) finished his words, that man would say from behind, “O Banu so-and-so, this man wants you to abandon Lat, Uzza, and your allied tribes, and to turn you towards his newly invented religion. So do not listen to him and do not follow him.” I asked my father, “Who is this squint-eyed man behind?” The people said, “This is the Prophet’s (peace and blessings be upon him) uncle, Abu Lahab.”

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Rabi’ah that in my youth, I saw the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) with my father in the market called Dhu’l-Majaz, going among the various tribes and presenting his message to them. Behind the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was a squint-eyed man, whose complexion was fair and hair was long. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would stop by a tribe and say, “O Banu so-and-so, I am Allah’s Messenger to you. I command you to worship Allah and not associate anything with Him. Affirm my truthfulness and protect me so that I may convey Allah’s message.” When the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) finished his words, that man would say from behind, “O Banu so-and-so, this man wants you to abandon Lat, ‘Uzza, and your allied tribes, and to bring you to his newly invented religion. So do not listen to him and do not follow him.” I asked my father, “Who is this squint-eyed man behind?” People told me, “This is the Prophet’s (peace and blessings be upon him) uncle, Abu Lahab.”

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Rabi’ah that in my youth, I saw the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) with my father in the market called Dhu al-Majaz, going among the various tribes of people and presenting his message to them. Behind the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was a squint-eyed man, whose complexion was fair and whose hair was long. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would stop by a tribe and say, “O Banu so-and-so, I am Allah’s Messenger to you. I command you to worship Allah and not associate anything with Him. Affirm my truthfulness and protect me so that I may convey Allah’s message.” When the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) finished his words, that man would say from behind, “O Banu so-and-so, this man wants you to abandon Lat, Uzza, and your allied tribes, and to turn you towards his newly invented religion. So do not listen to him and do not follow him.” I asked my father, “Who is this squint-eyed man behind?” The people said, “This is the Prophet’s (peace and blessings be upon him) uncle, Abu Lahab.”