ʿAbd Allāh ibn Muḥammad said:
My father, Muḥammad ibn ʿImrān, narrated to me, from al-Qāsim ibn Muḥammad, from ʿĀʾishah—may Allah be pleased with her—who said:

When the companions of the Prophet ﷺ had gathered and numbered thirty-eight men, Abū Bakr kept urging the Messenger of Allah ﷺ to make a public appearance. The Prophet replied, “Abū Bakr, we are still few.” Yet Abū Bakr persisted until the Messenger of Allah ﷺ went forth. The Muslims then spread throughout the mosque, each man among his own clan. Abū Bakr rose to address the people while the Messenger of Allah ﷺ sat, and he was the first speaker ever to call openly to Allah and to His Messenger ﷺ.

The idolaters leapt upon Abū Bakr and the Muslims, beating them savagely in every corner of the mosque. Abū Bakr was trampled and struck fiercely; the wicked ʿUtbah ibn Rabīʿah drew near and struck him with a pair of sandals stitched with leather thongs (1), smashing them against his face, then leapt upon his stomach until one could no longer tell his face from his nose. The Banū Taym came running, drove the idolaters away from Abū Bakr, and carried him in a cloth until they brought him home, convinced he would die.

The Banū Taym then returned to the mosque and declared, “By Allah, if Abū Bakr dies we shall kill ʿUtbah ibn Rabīʿah!” They went back to Abū Bakr, and Abū Quḥāfah and the men of Banū Taym spoke to him until he responded. Late in the day he managed to say, “What has become of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ?” They reproved him with their tongues and scolded him, then rose and said to his mother, Umm al-Khayr, “See if you can give him something to eat or drink.”

When she was alone with him she pressed him, but he kept repeating, “What has become of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ?” She said, “By Allah, I have no knowledge of your companion.” He replied, “Go to Umm Jamīl daughter of al-Khaṭṭāb and ask her about him.” She went out and found Umm Jamīl and said, “Abū Bakr is asking you about Muḥammad ibn ʿAbd Allāh.” She answered, “I do not know Abū Bakr or Muḥammad ibn ʿAbd Allāh, but if you wish I will go with you to your son.” She said, “Yes,” and they went together until they found Abū Bakr lying prostrate and gravely injured.

Umm Jamīl drew near, raised her voice in lament, and said, “By Allah, the people who have done this to you are steeped in wickedness and disbelief, and I pray Allah will avenge you upon them.” Abū Bakr asked, “What has become of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ?” She said, “Your mother is listening.” He replied, “There is no blame upon her (2).” She said, “He is safe and sound.” “Where is he?” he asked. She answered, “In the house of Abū (3) al-Arqam.”

He said, “I vow to Allah that I will taste neither food nor drink until I go to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.” They waited until the streets had quieted and the people had settled; then the two women set out with him, supporting him between them, until they brought him to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.

The Prophet ﷺ bent over him and kissed him, and the Muslims gathered around him. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was deeply moved with compassion for him. Abū Bakr said, “May my father and mother be your ransom, O Messenger of Allah! I am unharmed except for what that sinner has done to my face. This is my mother—she is dutiful to her parents (4). You are blessed; call her to Allah and pray for her. Perhaps Allah will save her from the Fire through you.”

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ prayed for her and invited her to Allah, and she embraced Islam. They remained with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ in the house for a whole month—thirty-nine men in all—and Ḥamzah ibn ʿAbd al-Muṭṭalib had accepted Islam on the very day Abū Bakr was beaten.