Islam > Hadiths > The noble quran and quranic sciences > If he had come near me, the angels would have torn him to pieces
Authentic hadithUpdated on 24 September 2026 at 12:34 AM
📖 3 min readعن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه ، قال أبو جهل: هل يُعَفِّر محمدٌ وجهَه بين أَظْهُركم؟ قال فقيل: نعم، فقال: واللَّات والعُزَّى لَئِن رأيتُه يفعل ذلك لأَطَأَنَّ على رقبتَه، أو لأُعَفِّرنَّ وجهَه في التراب، قال: فأتى رسولَ الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وهو يصلِّي، زَعَم لَيَطَأ على رقبته، قال: فما فَجِئَهم منه إلا وهو يَنْكِصُ على عَقِبَيْه ويتَّقي بيديْه، قال: فقيل له: ما لك؟ فقال: إنَّ بيْني وبيْنه لخَنْدَقًا من نار وهَوْلًا وأجنِحة، فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : «لو دنا منِّي لاخْتَطفَتْه الملائكةُ عُضْوًا عُضْوًا» قال: فأنزل اللهُ -عزَّ وجلَّ- -لا ندري في حديث أبي هريرة، أو شيء بلغه -: {كَلَّا إِنَّ الْإِنْسَانَ لَيَطْغَى، أَنْ رَآهُ اسْتَغْنَى، إِنَّ إِلَى رَبِّكَ الرُّجْعَى، أَرَأَيْتَ الَّذِي يَنْهَى، عَبْدًا إِذَا صَلَّى، أَرَأَيْتَ إِنْ كَانَ عَلَى الْهُدَى، أَوْ أَمَرَ بِالتَّقْوَى، أَرَأَيْتَ إِنْ كَذَّبَ وَتَوَلَّى} [العلق: 7]- يعني أبا جهل - {أَلَمْ يَعْلَمْ بِأَنَّ اللَّهَ يَرَى، كَلَّا لَئِنْ لَمْ يَنْتَهِ لَنَسْفَعًا بِالنَّاصِيَةِ، نَاصِيَةٍ كَاذِبَةٍ خَاطِئَةٍ، فَلْيَدْعُ نَادِيَهُ، سَنَدْعُ الزَّبَانِيَةَ، كَلَّا لَا تُطِعْهُ} [العلق: 14]، زاد عبيد الله -أحد الرواة- في حديثه قال: وأمره بما أمره به. وزاد ابن عبد الأعلى -راوٍ آخر-: {فَلْيَدْعُ نَادِيَهُ} [العلق: 17]، يعني قومه.
One day, Abu Jahl asked his companions whether Muhammad prayed and prostrated on dust while they saw him. They said: 'Yes.' So he swore by the two idols of Al-Lāt and Al-‘Uzza that if he saw Muhammad (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) prostrate, he would trample on his neck or throw dust on his face. Abu Jahl saw the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) prostrate, so he came over to step on his neck. Suddenly, however, the people saw Abu Jahl retreat in terror, extending his hand as if he was pushing something away. His companions asked why he was doing so. He told them that when he tried to step on the Prophet's neck, he saw a ditch of fire, wings, and horrible things in between the both of them. The scene terrified him so much that he withdrew. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) remarked that had Abu Jahl drawn closer to him, the angels would have torn him apart. Hence, Allah revealed these verses: {No! [But] indeed, man transgresses, because he sees himself self-sufficient. Indeed, to your Lord is the return. Have you seen the one who forbids a servant when he prays? Have you seen if he is upon guidance or enjoins righteousness? Have you seen if he (Abu Jahl) denies and turns away? Does he not know that Allah sees? No! If he does not desist, We will surely drag him by the forelock - a lying, sinful forelock. Then let him call his associates; We will summon the guards of Hell. No! Do not obey him} [Sūrat al-‘Alaq: 6-19]. In these verses, ''man'' refers to Abu Jahl, who indulged himself in disbelief, sins, and injustice, for he considered himself rich enough. This disbeliever will return to your Lord, O Muhammad, so that Allah lets him taste a painful punishment. Abu Jahl indeed tried to prevent the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) from praying at the Ka‘bah, puffed with arrogance and unbelief. That is quite amazing. The verses go on to draw this comparison between the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and Abu Jahl. The former was on the right way, commanding piety. The latter, however, was belying the truth with which Muhammad was sent. So he did not believe in him. Yet, Abu Jahl should have learnt that Allah sees him and will punish him on the Day of Resurrection. He is even warned that if he does not stop offending the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) Allah will take him by the forehead, the forehead of a monstrous liar. Again, let Abu Jahl seek the support of his companions. If he does, then strong harsh angels will be summoned against them. Finally, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) is commanded not to listen to Abu Jahl and just continue his prayers to get closer to Allah through worship.
Categories : The Noble Qur'an and Qur'anic Sciences · Occasions of Revelation · Prophet's Biography · Seerah and History · Prophetic characteristics · Revelation and Collection of the Qur'an