The Conversion of Ḥamzah ibn ʿAbd al-Muṭṭalib — the Prophet’s ﷺ uncle

Yūnus ibn Bukayr relates from Muḥammad ibn Isḥāq (1):

A trustworthy Muslim informed me that Abū Jahl once confronted the Messenger of Allah ﷺ at al-Ṣafā. He abused him, reviled him, and hurled at him every slander he detested regarding his faith. News of this reached Ḥamzah ibn ʿAbd al-Muṭṭalib. Ḥamzah went straight to Abū Jahl; when he was standing right over him, he lifted his bow and struck Abū Jahl a blow that split his head wide open. Men of Quraysh from Banū Makhzūm rushed toward Ḥamzah to defend Abū Jahl and said, “We see, Ḥamzah, that you too have abandoned our religion!”

Ḥamzah replied, “And who will stop me? It has become clear to me that he is the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and that what he says is the truth. By Allah, I will not turn back—stop me if you can!”

Abū Jahl then said, “Leave Abū ʿUmārah alone. By Allah, I did indeed heap vile insults upon his nephew.”

When Ḥamzah embraced Islam, Quraysh realized that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ had now become strong and protected, so they desisted from much of the abuse they had been directing at him. Ḥamzah even composed poetry on the occasion (3).

Ibn Isḥāq (4) continues: Ḥamzah returned home, where Satan came to him and whispered, “You are a leader of Quraysh, yet you have followed this ‘apostate’ and abandoned the religion of your forefathers. Death would be better for you than what you have done!”

Filled with anxiety, Ḥamzah cried out, “What have I done? O Allah, if this is guidance, place conviction of it in my heart; but if it is error, grant me a way out of what I have fallen into.” That night he could hardly sleep, tormented by Satan’s misgivings until dawn.

At daybreak he went to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and said, “Nephew, I have involved myself in a matter and I do not know how to escape. A man of my standing cannot remain upon something when he does not know whether it is guidance or grievous error. Tell me—my nephew, I long for you to speak to me.”

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ then addressed him, admonished him, inspired fear and gave glad tidings, until Allah cast faith into Ḥamzah’s heart concerning what the Prophet ﷺ had said. Ḥamzah declared, “I bear truthful witness that you are indeed the truthful one. Proclaim, nephew, your religion. By Allah, I would not wish to possess everything beneath the sky while remaining upon my former creed.” Thus Ḥamzah became one through whom Allah strengthened Islam.

Al-Bayhaqī (5) transmits the same report through al-Ḥākim, from al-Aṣamm, from Aḥmad ibn ʿAbd al-Jabbār, from Yūnus ibn Bukayr.