Home > Sira > The conversion of Hamza ibn Abd al-Muttalib
The conversion of Hamza ibn Abd al-Muttalib: Abu Jahl’s insult at Safa, Hamza’s bow strike and his public testimony, the night of satan’s whispers and the faith cast into his heart, from Ibn Ishaq and al-Bayhaqi.
Abu Jahl insulted the Messenger of Allah near Safa: Hamza ibn Abd al-Muttalib, returning from the hunt with his bow in hand, struck his head and publicly declared: «I testify that he is the Messenger of Allah», refusing to retract before Quraysh. Quraysh then realized that the Prophet had become protected and ceased harming him. The account then relates the night when the devil whispered to Hamza, who asked Allah to fix its confirmation in his heart if it was right guidance, and Allah cast faith into his heart.
Updated on 07 October 2026 at 9:23 AM
Younous ibn Bukayr reported, from Muhammad ibn Ishaq, from a man of Aslam who was a carrier of oral accounts: Abu Jahl accosted the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) near Safa, harmed him and insulted him, going so far as to reproach him for his religion. The news reached Hamza ibn Abd al-Muttalib, who was returning from the hunt, bow in hand: he walked straight to Abu Jahl and struck his head with the bow, opening a deep wound. Men of Quraysh, of the Banu Makhzum, rose to defend Abu Jahl and said to Hamza: “Have you not turned Sabaean, O Hamza!”
Hamza answered: “Who would prevent me, now that I have followed his religion? I testify that he is the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and that what he says is true. By Allah, I will not retract: stop me then, if you are able.” Abu Jahl said: “Leave Abu Umara alone: by Allah, I did insult his nephew grievously.” When Hamza embraced Islam, Quraysh realized that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) had become protected and strong, and she ceased harming him as she had been doing.
Ibn Ishaq said: Hamza returned to his house, and the devil came to him: “You are the master of Quraysh, and you have followed this Sabaean, abandoning the religion of your fathers: death would have been better for you than what you have done.” Anguish seized Hamza, who said: “What have I done! O Allah, if this is right guidance, fix its confirmation in my heart; otherwise, grant me an exit from what I have fallen into.” He spent a night such as he had never spent, amid the whispers of the devil.
In the morning, he went to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and said: “O son of my brother, I have fallen into an affair whose exit I cannot see: I now stand firm upon something I know not whether it is guidance or error, and it is severe. Speak to me, for I long for you to speak to me, O son of my brother.” The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) reminded him of Allah, exhorted him, made him fear [the punishment] and gave him glad tidings, and Allah cast into his heart faith in what the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said. Hamza said: “I bear witness that you are truthful with the truthfulness of truth: make your religion manifest, O son of my brother. By Allah, I would not love to own all that the sky overshadows and remain upon my former religion.” Hamza was thus among those through whom Allah honored the religion. This is what al-Bayhaqi related, from al-Hakim, from al-Asamm, from Ahmad ibn Abd al-Jabbar, from Younous ibn Bukayr.