Abu Sufiyan’s Attempt to Martyr The Holy Prophet ﷺ

Before accepting Islam, Abu Sufiyan was included among the major enemies of Prophet Muhammad ¹ who even tried to kill him. ² When Allah Almighty revealed the chapter of Al-Lahab in the Holy Quran, Abu Sufiyan’s sister Umm-e-Jameel, who was also Abu Lahab’s wife, assumed that Prophet Muhammad had composed poetry against her husband. ³ She went to Masjid Al-Haram to harm Prophet Muhammad , but Allah protected him by putting a barrier between him and Umm Jameel. Prophet Muhammad was present there, but she was unable to see him. ⁴ Umm Jameel then went to Abu Sufiyan and complained about Prophet Muhammad . She angrily told him that Muhammad had composed poetry against her husband Abu Lahab and had also insulted her in it. Then, she provoked Abu Sufiyan to take action strict against Prophet Muhammad for insulting her. Thus, he took out his sword and hurriedly went out to martyr the Holy Prophet , however, soon, he returned unsuccessful and in a state of panic. Umme Jameel asked him whether he had killed Muhammad or not. Abu Sufiyan replied that Prophet Muhammad was protected by a huge venomous snake, which was about to attack him if he went near the Holy Prophet . Thus, he was unable to perform the task and had to flee to save his own life. ⁵

• ¹  Ahmed ibn Yahya ibn Jabir ibn Dawood Al-Baladhuri (1996), Jumal Min Ansab Al-Ashraf, Dar Al-Fikr, Beirut, Lebanon, Vol. 1, Pg. 124.
• ²  Ali ibn Ibrahim ibn Ahmed Al-Halabi (1427 A.H.), Al-Seerah Al-Halabiyah, Dar Al-Kutub Al-Ilmiyah, Beirut, Lebanon, Vol. 1, Pg. 412.
• ³  Abu Al-Abbas Ahmed ibn Ali Al-Husaini (1999), Imta’ Al-Asma bima lin Nabi Min Al-Ahwal wal-Amwal wal-Hafadah wal-Mata’a, Dar Al-Kutub Al-Ilmiyah, Beirut, Lebanon, Vol. 6, Pg. 258.
• ⁴  Ahmed ibn Yahya ibn Jabir ibn Dawood Al-Baladhuri (1996), Jumal Min Ansab Al-Ashraf, Dar Al-Fikr, Beirut, Lebanon, Vol. 1, Pg. 122.
• ⁵  Ali ibn Ibrahim ibn Ahmed Al-Halabi (1427 A.H.), Al-Seerah Al-Halabiyah, Dar Al-Kutub Al-Ilmiyah, Beirut, Lebanon, Vol. 1, Pg. 412.