Chapter: “Indeed, We will defend you against the scoffers.”

Al-Thawri narrated—from Jaʿfar ibn Iyas, from Saʿid ibn Jubayr, from Ibn ʿAbbas—concerning Allah’s saying, “Indeed, We will protect you from the mockers” (al-Ḥijr 15:95). He said: “The mockers were al-Walid ibn al-Mughira, al-Aswad ibn ʿAbd Yaghuth al-Zuhri, Abū Zamʿah al-Aswad ibn al-Muṭṭalib of Banū Asad ibn ʿAbd al-ʿUzzā, al-Ḥārith ibn ʿAytal al-Sahmi, and al-ʿĀṣ ibn Wāʾil.

Gabriel came to the Prophet ﷺ, and the Prophet complained to him about these men. Gabriel first showed him al-Walid and pointed to the tendon of his ankle. The Prophet asked, “What have you done?” He replied, “I have dealt with him.” Then he showed him al-Aswad; Gabriel pointed to his eyes. “What have you done?”—“I have dealt with him.” Next he showed him Abū Zamʿah, and Gabriel pointed to his head. “What have you done?”—“I have dealt with him.” He then showed him al-Ḥārith and pointed to either his head or his belly, saying, “I have dealt with him.” Finally, when al-ʿĀṣ passed by, Gabriel pointed to the arch of his foot and said, “I have dealt with him.”

As for al-Walid, he passed by a man from Khuzaʿah who was straightening his arrows; one of them struck the tendon of his ankle and severed it. Al-Aswad went blind. Ibn ʿAbd Yaghuth developed ulcers on his head and died from them. Al-Ḥārith was seized by jaundice in his abdomen until his filth came out through his mouth and he died from it. As for al-ʿĀṣ, a thorny twig pierced the arch of his foot, the wound filled with pus, and he died from it. And he said