With Abu Jahal

Al-Hamza set off for the hills overlooking Makkah. His strong horse was going up the sand hills. It was galloping along the valleys. Al-Hamza was looking carefully at the lovely scenery.

The sky was blue and clear. The hills were covered with sunshine. So the grains of sand were glittering in the sun.

Al-Hamza was thinking about our Master Muhammad's mission. His heart was with Allah's Apostle. He was repeating to himself:

Really there's no god but Allah. Al-Lat, al-Uzza and Munat are rocks. Man has made them with his hand. So why does he worship them?

The horse was roaming through the desert. The horse ran away when it saw a man holding a bow and looking for the lions.

Our Master Muhammad [s] sat on a rock on the road to al-Masa between al-Safa Mount and al-Marwa Mount. As usual, he was absorbed in thinking.

He was always thinking about his people and those who disbelieved in him and Allah's mission.

There was a house near the road to al-Masa. The house had a balcony overlooking the road. Two young girls were sitting in the balcony. They saw our Master Muhammad [s] thinking and looking at the sky and the mountains.

At that moment, Abu Jahal and some foolish persons from Makkah appeared. They were laughing loudly.

Abu Jahal looked at our Master Muhammad [s]. His eyes glittered out of spite. He wanted to sneer at him. So, he shouted:

Look at this magician! Look at this madman! He doesn't laugh as we do! He's silent!

The foolish persons laughed. Their satanic laughter filled the space.

Ha, Ha, Ha!

The two girls sadly watched what was happening. They saw Abu Jahal going round and round our Master Muhammad [s] laughing and being silly.

Abu Jahal took a handful of dust. He put the dust on the Prophet's head. The dust fell on the Prophet's face and clothing.

Abu Jahal and his foolish friends laughed. But our Master Muhammad [s] kept silent. He was sad.

The two young girls felt pain and sadness for our Master Muhammad [s]. Abu Jahal and his foolish friends went away. So, our Master Muhammad [s] stood up. He dusted is head and face and clothing. Then he went home.

The two girls decided to tell al-Hamza. So, they waited for him.

In the distance, al-Hamza appeared. He was coming down the hills riding his horse. 

The girl shouted:

Hamza, come back!

The girl said to her sister:

Come on! Let's tell him!

The girl shouted:

Aba Amara!

Al-Hamza stopped and looked at the girl. The girl sadly said:

Aba Amara, Abu Jahal mistreated your nephew Muhammad.

Al-Hamza asked:

Did he mistreated him?

The girl said:

He came across him on the road. He abused him and put some dust on his head.

Al-Hamza was filled with anger. He hit his horse with the bow. The horse jumped angrily. Al-Hamza headed for the Ka'aba. He used to pass by the men and greet them when he came back from hunting. This time, he was angry for our Master Muhammad [s]. So, he did not greet anyone and went directly to Abu Jahal.

Al-Hamza jumped off his horse like the lion. He raised his bow and hit Abu Jahal on the head. Abu Jahal was afraid when he saw al-Hamza angry. So, he said humbly:

Aba Amara, he has abused our gods and stultified our thoughts.

Al-Hamza shouted angrily:

Answer me if you can!

The outcry of truth sounded in the yard of the Ka'aba. Al-Hamza said loudly:

I confess that there's no god but Allah and that Muhammad is Allah's Apostle.

Al-Hamza angrily looked at Abu Jahal and said:

Why did you abuse him? Don't you know that I follow his religion.

Abu Jahal bent his head humbly and kept silent. The foolish persons escaped with alarm.

While al-Hamza was in tears, he embraced our Master Muhammad [s]. Our Master Muhammad [s] became happy when his uncle al-Hamza became Muslim.

So, he named him the Lion of Allah and the Lion of His Apostle.

The Birthday

Al-Hamza was born in 570 AD., namely in the year of the Elephant. He was our Master Muhammad's foster brother, for a woman called Thwaibah suckled them.

Al-Hamza was brave and strong. He became Muslim in the second year of our Master Muhammad's mission.

The men knew that al-Hamza believed in Islam. So, the Muslims became happy. But the polytheists became sad.

Some Muslims hid their belief in Islam because they were afraid of Quraish. When al-Hamza became Muslim, a new time began - our Master Muhammad's followers became strong, so the Quraish were afraid of them and had a thousand apprehensions about them.

The Ninth Year after the Mission

Nine years after our Master Muhammad's mission passed. The number of the Muslims increased.

Umar bin al-Khattab was very sensitive.

One day, he took his sword to kill our Master Muhammad [s]. He asked about him. It was said to him:

He's with his Companions in a house near al-Safa Mount.

So, Umar headed for him. On the way to al-Safa Mount, a man belonging to the tribe of Umar named Naeem came across and asked him:

Umar, where are you going?

Umar rudely answered:

I want to kill Muhammad because this boy has abused our religion.

Naeem believed in Islam secretly So, he said to him:

If you hurt Muhammad, Bani Hashim won't leave you alive. Besides your sister and her husband have believed in Islam.

Umar shouted angrily:

What? My sister Fatimah?

Umar went to his sister's house. when he stopped at the door, he heard a man reading the Qur'an.

The Divine Words were impressive:

In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful. Taha, we have not revealed the Qur'an to you so that you may be unsuccessful.

Umar knocked at the door and entered. His sister hid the page of the Qur'an for he wanted to tear it up. He hit his sister. So, blood flowed out of her face.

Umar felt regret, So, he went out.

Our Master Muhammad [s] and some Companions were in a house near al-Safa Mount. He was teaching them the Qur'an and wisdom. He was reading to them of the Divine verses.

In the meantime, they heard a man knocking loudly at the door. One of the Muslims got up. He looked through a hole in the door.

Al-Hamza asked:

Who is it?

The Muslim answered

It's Umar holding a sword.

AI-Hamza said:

Do not be afraid. Open the door. If he wants good we'll give it to him. If he wants evil, we'll kill him with his sword!

Al-Hamza stood up to receive the newcomer. He opened the door and asked:

Bin al-Khattab, what do you want?

Umar answered:

I've come to confess that there's no god but Allah and Muhammad is Allah's Apostle!

Our Master Muhammad [s] said:

Allah is great!