Mustadrak al-Hakim — Hadith 5912

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abd al-Rahman bin Awf (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said: On the day of Badr I was standing in the row. I looked to my right and my left, and found myself between two young boys of the Ansar who were very young in age. I wished that I were between people stronger and sturdier than them. Then one of them nudged me with his elbow and asked: "O uncle! Do you recognise Abu Jahl?" I said: Yes, but what do you want with him, my nephew? He said: I have been told that he insults the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). By the One in whose Hand is my soul! If I see him, my body will not part from his body until whichever of us is destined to die first dies. I was greatly astonished at what he said. Then the other boy nudged me in the same way and said the same thing to me. Only a short while had passed when I saw Abu Jahl moving about among the people. I said to the two of them: Look! This is the man you were asking me about. On hearing this, both of them rushed at him with their swords drawn and struck him until they killed him. Then they came to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and informed him of what had happened. He (peace and blessings be upon him) asked: "Which of you killed him?" Each of them claimed: I killed him. He (peace and blessings be upon him) asked: "Have you wiped your swords clean?" They said: No. He (peace and blessings be upon him) examined both swords and said: "Both of you killed him." Then he (peace and blessings be upon him) awarded Abu Jahl's battle gear (salab) to Sayyiduna Mu'adh bin Amr bin al-Jamuh (may Allah be pleased with him). The two of them were Mu'adh bin Afra' and Mu'adh bin Amr bin al-Jamuh (may Allah be pleased with them both).