47/84. Chapter:
Jami at-Tirmidhi 3348 — Angels and the Threat to Prayer
Regarding Surat "Iqra' bismi rabbika" (Surat Al-'Alaq)
Hadith About Abu Jahl Threatening the Prophet’s Prayer
Jami at-Tirmidhi : 3348
Jami at-TirmidhiHadith Number 3348
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ بْنُ حُمَيْدٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ، عَنْ مَعْمَرٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الْكَرِيمِ الْجَزَرِيِّ، عَنْ عِكْرِمَةَ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، رضى الله عنهما : ( سنَدْعُ الزَّبَانِيَةَ ) قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو جَهْلٍ لَئِنْ رَأَيْتُ مُحَمَّدًا يُصَلِّي لأَطَأَنَّ عَلَى عُنُقِهِ . فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " لَوْ فَعَلَ لأَخَذَتْهُ الْمَلاَئِكَةُ عِيَانًا " . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ غَرِيبٌ .
Ibn 'Abbas Narrated from:
Ikrimah narrated from Ibn Abbas [may Allah be pleased with them] regarding: We Will Call On The Guards Of Hell. He Said: “Abu Jahl Said: ‘If I See Muhammad Praying, Then I Shall Stomp Upon His Neck.’ So The Prophet Said: ‘If He Does, He Will Be Visibly Seized By The Angels.’”
Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 3348In-book reference : Book 47, Hadith 400English translation : Vol. 5, Book 44, Hadith 3348
Summary of Jami at-Tirmidhi Hadith 3348
This hadith about Abu Jahl threatening the Prophet’s prayer explains the verse, We will call on the guards of Hell. Ibn Abbas said Abu Jahl claimed that if he saw Muhammad praying, he would stomp on his neck. The Prophet said that if Abu Jahl did that, the angels would seize him visibly. The hadith is direct and powerful. It shows the seriousness of trying to attack the Prophet while he was praying. It also connects the threat with divine protection. The text does not need extra story to make its point: prayer was opposed, but Allah’s help was greater.
What we learn from this hadith
- Threatening the Prophet during prayer was a serious act.
- The hadith connects the verse about the guards of Hell to Abu Jahl’s threat.
- Allah’s angels are mentioned as a response to that threat.
- The Prophet’s prayer was protected from Abu Jahl’s planned harm.
