Saalih ibn Ibraaheem ibn ‘Abdur-Rahmaan ibn ‘Awf reported from his father that his grandfather, may Allaah be pleased with them, said: "While I was standing in the row on the day (of the battle) of Badr, I looked to my right and my left and saw two young Ansaari boys, and I wished I had been stronger than they. One of them called my attention saying, "O Uncle! Do you know Abu Jahl?" I said, "Yes, What do you want from him, O my nephew?" He said, "I have been informed that he abuses the Messenger of Allaah, peace and blessing be upon him. By Him in Whose Hands my life is, if I should see him, then my body will not leave his body till either of us meet his fate." I was astonished at that talk. Then the other boy called my attention saying the same as the other had said. After a while I saw Abu Jahl walking amongst the people. I said (to the boys), "Look! This is the man you asked me about." So, both of them attacked him with their swords and struck him to death and returned to the Messenger of Allaah, peace and blessing be upon him, to inform him of that. The Messenger of Allaah, peace and blessing be upon him, asked, "Which of you has killed him?" Each of them said, "I Have killed him." The Messenger of Allaah, peace and blessing be upon him, asked, "Have you cleaned your swords?" They said, "No." He, peace and blessing be upon him, then looked at their swords and said, "No doubt, you both have killed him and the spoils of the deceased will be given to Mu‘aath ibn ‘Amr ibn Al-Jamooh." The two boys were Mu‘aath ibn ‘Afraa' and Mu‘aath ibn ‘Amr ibn Al-Jamooh. (1).

Amongst the lessons drawn from the above-mentioned Hadeeth (2):

1- One should hasten to do good deeds and have eagerness to do noble actions as we have seen in the example of those young boys, may Allaah be pleased with them.

2- Courage and bravery of the companions of the Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him; the young and old of them.

3- This Hadeeth indicates that anger should be for the Sake of Allaah The Almighty and His Messenger, peace and blessing be upon him, and the greatness of the love of the companions for the Messenger of Allaah, peace and blessing be upon him.

4- One should not disdain anyone for some of those whom one believes unable to do something great may do it in the best way as it was occurred for such young boys.

5- Some scholars used that Hadeeth as an argument to substantiate their opinion that the killer deserves the booty.

6- An-Nawawi, may Allaah have mercy upon him, said: "Scholars hold different opinions regarding the meaning of that Hadeeth. Our Shaafi‘i scholars, may Allaah have mercy upon them, said: "Both young boys shared wounding him; however, Mu‘aath ibn ‘Amr ibn Al-Jamooh, may Allaah be pleased with him, wounded him first and thus deserved the booty. The Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him, said: "Both of you have killed him" to soothe the heart of the other i.e. that he has shared killing him.

7- Evil end of the disbelief and averting people from the way of Allaah The Almighty as it was occurred to Abu Jahl, the Pharaoh of that nation, whom Allaah The Almighty has humiliated and destroyed in the worldly life along with the punishment and shame prepared for him in hereafter.

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(1)         Reported in Saheeh Al-Bukhaari No. (3141) and Muslim (4668).

(2)         Refer to Fat-h Al-Baari by Ibn Hajar (7/427).

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