Surah Al-Alaq (96) — Ayah 9

(Ayah 9 to 14){ اَرَءَيْتَ الَّذِيْ يَنْهٰى …:} In these verses, attention is drawn to the behavior of Abu Jahl. It is said, O addressee! Have you seen the person who forbids Allah’s servant, that is, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), from performing prayer? Is this even a crime that he is forbidding? Then have you seen, if this one who is praying is on the right path or is enjoining good, should he be treated in this way? Then have you seen, if this one who is forbidding is denying and turning away, does he not know that Allah Almighty is watching? One interpretation of Ayah: « اَرَءَيْتَ اِنْ كَانَ عَلَى الْهُدٰۤى (11) اَوْ اَمَرَ بِالتَّقْوٰى » is also that have you seen, if this one who forbids prayer, instead of stopping from prayer, were on guidance or enjoining righteousness, how good it would be.

The exegesis of this verse has been done along with the previous verse.

9. Have you seen the one who forbids [9]—

[9]
Abu Jahl’s Fury at the Prophet ﷺ Praying in the House of Allah and His Multiple Attacks:

Once, Abu Jahl said to the chiefs of Quraysh: “Muhammad ﷺ puts his face in the dust in front of you all.” (Meaning, he prostrates during prayer in the House of Allah.) The people replied: “Yes.” He said: “By Lat and ‘Uzza! If I see him in this state again, I will trample his neck and rub his face in the dirt.” After this, when he saw the Prophet ﷺ praying in the Ka‘bah, he advanced towards him with this evil intention. Then suddenly, he began to retreat. When the chiefs of Quraysh saw their leader in this state, they asked in astonishment: “Abu al-Hakam, what happened?” He replied in a frightened tone: “A terrifying fire came between me and Muhammad ﷺ.” And the Messenger of Allah ﷺ told the people: “If he had come near me, the angels would have snatched away each of his limbs.” [بخاری، کتاب التفسیر۔ تفسیر لئن لم ینتہ، نیز مسلم کتاب صفۃ القیامۃ والجنہ والنار]

Also, once Abu Jahl said to his companions: “Muhammad ﷺ has humiliated our gods and insulted our elders, making our lives miserable. Now I have vowed to Allah that when I see him in prayer, I will crush his head with a heavy stone. Then, whether you Banu ‘Abd Manaf protect me or leave me helpless, do as you wish.” His companions said: “We will not leave you helpless. Do whatever you want to do.” So, when morning came and the Prophet ﷺ began to pray as usual, Abu Jahl, according to his plan, picked up a heavy stone and advanced, waiting for the Prophet ﷺ to go into prostration. As he drew near, he again began to retreat. His color faded, and in his panic, he could not even drop the stone from his hand. His friends asked: “Abu al-Hakam! What happened?” When he regained his senses, he said: “What can I say? A hideous-looking camel came in the way. I have never seen a skull, a neck, or teeth like that camel’s. That camel wanted to devour me.” [ابن هشام 1: 298، 299]

The Prophet’s Supplication Against the Harmful Disbelievers:

Once, the Prophet ﷺ was praying near the Ka‘bah. Abu Jahl and his companions were also sitting there. Abu Jahl addressed his companions, saying: “Who among you will bring the placenta of a slaughtered she-camel from so-and-so’s house and, when Muhammad ﷺ goes into prostration, place it on his back?” ‘Utbah bin Abi Mu‘ayt immediately said: “I will do it.” So he went and brought the placenta. Then, when the Prophet ﷺ went into prostration, he placed it between his shoulders. ‘Abdullah bin Mas‘ud ؓ says: “Because of my weakness compared to them, I could do nothing. I wish I could have helped the Prophet ﷺ.” Seeing this scene, Abu Jahl and his companions laughed so much that they fell over each other, and the Prophet ﷺ could not even raise his head due to the weight. Meanwhile, someone informed Sayyidah Fatimah رضی اللہ عنہا. She came and removed the placenta from the Prophet’s ﷺ neck and threw it away, and began to scold them. The Prophet ﷺ raised his head from prostration and then said three times: ﴿اللهم عليك بقريش﴾ (O Allah, You deal with these Quraysh yourself). Hearing these words, those people became fearful, because they realized that the Prophet’s ﷺ supplication would surely be answered. Then the Prophet ﷺ named six men from that gathering and supplicated against them, saying: “O Allah! Deal with Abu Jahl, ‘Utbah bin Rabi‘ah, Shaybah bin Rabi‘ah, Walid bin Umayyah, Umayyah bin Khalaf, and ‘Utbah bin Abi Mu‘ayt.” Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah bin Mas‘ud ؓ says: “By Allah, in Whose hand is my soul, all these men were killed in the Battle of Badr and thrown into the well of Badr.” [بخاری۔ کتاب الجہاد والسیر۔ باب دعاء النبی علی المشرکین]