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The story of the man of Irash wronged by Abu Jahl: Prophet Muhammad demands the restoration of his right, Abu Jahl driven by terror and the heavenly camel of his account, from Muhammad ibn Ishaq.
Updated on 07 September 2026 at 11:07 PM
Younous ibn Bukayr reported, from Muhammad ibn Ishaq, from Abd al-Malik ibn Abi Soufyan ath-Thaqafi: a man of Irash arrived in Mecca with she-camels. Abu Jahl ibn Hisham bought them from him, then delayed paying their price. The man of Irash came to Quraysh’s council, while the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) sat apart in the mosque, and cried out: “O assembly of Quraysh, who will stand for me against Abu al-Hakam ibn Hisham? I am a stranger, a traveler, and he has wronged me of my right!”
Those of the council, mocking him and pointing him to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), for they knew what stood between him and Abu Jahl, said: “Go to him: he will get you your due.” The man of Irash came to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and stated his affair, and he rose with him. When they saw him rise, they said to one of their men: “Follow him and see what he does.” The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) walked to Abu Jahl’s door and knocked. “Who is this?” was asked. He answered: “Muhammad. Come out.” Abu Jahl came out, not a drop of blood in his face, his color changed. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Give this man his right.” Abu Jahl replied: “Let him not leave: I will give him what is his.” The man of Irash then entered and received his right, and Abu Jahl handed it over. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) departed, telling the man of Irash: “Attend to your affair.”
The man of Irash returned to the council and said: “May Allah reward him: I have obtained my due.” The man sent after them returned, and was asked: “Woe to you, what did you see?” He answered: “Wonder upon wonder: by Allah, he had hardly knocked at his door when Abu Jahl came out, his soul shaken, saying: ‘Give this man his right.’ I said: yes, let him not leave until his right is handed over to him; he went in and gave him what was his.” Soon after, Abu Jahl arrived and they said to him: “Woe to you, what is the matter with you? By Allah, we have never seen the like of what you did!” He answered: “Woe to you: by Allah, he had hardly knocked at my door and I heard his voice when terror filled me. I went out, and above his head was a stallion camel the like of whose head, chest and fangs I had never seen: by Allah, had I refused, he would have devoured me.”