ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn Abī al-Zinād related from his father, from Rabīʿah ibn ʿUbād of Banū al-Dīl—who had once been a pagan and later embraced Islam—that he saw the Prophet ﷺ at Dhū’l-Majāz. The Prophet was walking in the midst of the people, saying: “O people, say: lā ilāha illā Allāh (there is no deity but Allah) and you will prosper; say: lā ilāha illā Allāh and you will prosper.” Behind him was Abū Lahab. Rabīʿah added, “At that time I was inflating a water-skin for my family.”

Shuʿbah narrated from al-Ashʿath ibn Sulaym, from a man of Kinānah, who said: “I saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ in the marketplace of Dhū’l-Majāz saying, ‘Say: lā ilāha illā Allāh and you will prosper.’ A man followed behind him, scattering dust upon him; it was Abū Jahl, who kept saying, ‘Do not let this man turn you away from your religion. All he wants is for you to abandon the worship of al-Lāt and al-ʿUzzā.’ Its chain of transmission is strong.”

Al-Muʿtamir ibn Sulaymān reported from his father that Naʿīm ibn Abī Hind told him, from Abū Ḥāzim, from Abū Hurayrah: Abū Jahl once asked, “Does Muḥammad put his face on the ground in your midst?” They replied, “Yes.” He said, “By al-Lāt and al-ʿUzzā, if I see him doing that I will trample his neck and rub his face in the dirt.” He then came upon the Messenger of Allah ﷺ while he was praying, intending to step on his neck; but suddenly he was seen retreating on his heels, shielding himself with his hands. People asked, “What is the matter with you?” He answered, “Between him and me there is a trench of fire.” The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “Had he come any nearer to me, the angels would have snatched him limb by limb.” Recorded by Muslim.

ʿIkrimah narrated from Ibn ʿAbbās: Abū Jahl said, “If I see Muḥammad praying at the Kaʿbah, I will stomp on his neck.” When this reached the Prophet ﷺ he remarked, “If he were to do so, the angels would seize him before your very eyes.” Recorded by al-Bukhārī.