Not knowing how else to react, the two sides came to blows, and Saʿd struck one of the idolaters with a camel’s jawbone, splitting his head open; it was the first blood ever shed in Islam.

Al-Umawī relates in his al-Maghāzī, through the chain of al-Waqqāṣī from al-Zuhrī, from ʿĀmir ibn Saʿd, from his father, the same story in full, adding that the man who was wounded was ʿAbd Allāh ibn Khaṭal—may Allah curse him.

Chapter: Allah’s command to His Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, to convey the message

This command was directed to both elite and commoners alike, coupled with the Prophet’s duty to show patience, forbearance, and to turn away from the ignorant, obstinate deniers once proof had been established against them, while noting the harm inflicted on him and his Companions—may Allah be pleased with them.

Allah the Exalted says:
“Warn your nearest kinsfolk,
And lower your wing to those believers who follow you.
But if they disobey you, say, ‘I am innocent of what you do.’
Put your trust in the All-Mighty, the All-Merciful,
Who sees you when you stand
And your movement among those who prostrate themselves;
Indeed, He alone is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing.”
(al-Shuʿarāʾ 26:214-220)

He also says:
“It is indeed a reminder for you and for your people, and you will surely be questioned.”
(al-Zukhruf 43:44)

And He says:
“Surely the One Who has imposed the Qur’an upon you will return you to a place of return.”
(al-Qaṣaṣ 28:85)

That is, the One Who has made it obligatory for you to convey the Qur’an will certainly bring you back to the Abode of the Hereafter, the final return, and will question you about it, just as He says:
“So, by your Lord, We will surely question them all
About what they used to do.”
(al-Ḥijr 15:92-93)

The verses and hadiths on this theme are extremely numerous. We have discussed them exhaustively in our Tafsīr, especially under His statement in Sūrat al-Shuʿarāʾ, ‘And warn your nearest kinsfolk,’ where we cited many narrations. Among them is what Imām Aḥmad recorded:

ʿAbd Allāh ibn Numayr told us, al-Aʿmash told us, from ʿAmr ibn Murrah, from Saʿīd ibn Jubayr, from Ibn ʿAbbās, who said:

When Allah revealed, ‘And warn your nearest kinsfolk,’ the Prophet ﷺ went up to al-Ṣafā, climbed it, and called out, ‘Yā ṣabāhāh!’ The people gathered around him—some came themselves while others sent a messenger. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ then said:

‘O sons of ʿAbd al-Muṭṭalib, O sons of Fihr, O sons of Kaʿb! If I were to inform you that mounted troops were emerging from the foot of this mountain, intent on attacking you, would you believe me?’

They answered, ‘Yes!’ He said, ‘Then I am a warner to you before a severe punishment.’

At this Abū Lahab—may Allah curse him—burst out, ‘May you perish the whole day long! Is this what you summoned us for?’ Whereupon Allah revealed