House of Abu Jahal

This spot, just outside the present Masah is

believed to be the approximate location of the

house of Abu Jahal. Abu Jahal was a relative of

the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on

him) and one of the worst enemies of Islam. He

was described by the Prophet (peace and

blessings of Allah be on him) as the ‘Fir’awn’ of

this Ummah.

Abu Jahal’s actual name was Amr ibn Hisham

but he was commonly known as Abu Hakam

(“Father of Wisdom”) among the Quraysh as

he was considered a wise man. His relentless

hostility and belligerence towards Islam earned

him the name Abu Jahal (Father of Ignorance)

among the Muslims. He was a member of the

Banu Makhzum clan of the Quraysh.

Abu Jahal was not a real uncle of the Prophet

(peace and blessings of Allah be on him) [not

his father’s real brother] but his father’s

cousin. He was a staunch polytheist and

greatly disliked the Prophet (peace and

blessings of Allah be on him), taking any

opportunity to rebuke and publicly humiliate

him.

He was one of the greatest persecutors of the

Muslims. When a Muslim convert was

discovered among the hierarchy of a tribe, Abu

Jahal would reprimand the convert and then

ridicule him in front of his fellow tribesmen so

he would lost their respect. When he

discovered a trader had converted to Islam he

gave orders that no one should engage in

business with him. As a result, the convert

trader was unable to sell his wares and

became impoverished.

Convert slaves belonging to the polytheist

Quraysh received the harshest punishment.

Abu Jahal beat Harithah bint al-Muammil

(may Allah be pleased with her), one such

slave, for her conversion to such an extent that

she lost her eyesight. He attacked Sumayyah

bint Khayyaṭ, the mother of Ammar (may Allah

be pleased with him) and inflicted on her

mortal wounds by stabbing her with a spear in

her private parts. This blessed lady was the

first to meet martyrdom in the cause of Islam.

When Umar (may Allah be pleased with him)

embraced Islam, he was determined to

announce his new faith to the Prophet’s

(peace and blessings of Allah be on him)

enemies and the first place he went to was the

house of Abu Jahal. Umar (may Allah be

pleased with him) knocked on his door, Abu

Jahal came out and greeted him, “Welcome!

What brings you here?”

“I have come to tell you that I have embraced

the religion of Allah and His Messenger,

Muhammad,” Umar calmly stated.

Abu Jahal heard this and disgustedly said,

“May God ruin you and what you have

brought! ” and slammed the door shut.

References: Local Makkan guide, When the Moon

Split – Safiur Rahman Mubarakpuri, Fazail-e-

Aamal – Sheik Zakariyya Kandhalvi

, Islamiclandmarks.com