Concerning Ibn Maẓʿūn, Ṣāliḥ ibn Ibrāhīm ibn ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn ʿAwf related to me, from someone who reported to him, that ʿUthmān said:

When ʿUthmān ibn Maẓʿūn—may Allah be pleased with him—saw the hardship that had befallen the Companions of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, while he himself came and went under the protection of al-Walīd ibn al-Mughīrah, he declared, “By Allah, for me to set out morning and evening under the protection of a man from the people of polytheism while my companions and those who share my faith endure affliction and harm in the cause of Allah—harm that does not touch me—is a serious deficiency in my own soul.”

He therefore went to al-Walīd ibn al-Mughīrah and said, “Abū ʿAbd Shams, you have indeed fulfilled your pledge, but I now return to you your protection.”

Al-Walīd asked, “Why, my nephew? Has someone from my tribe injured you?”

He replied, “No. I am satisfied with the protection of Allah, and I do not wish to seek refuge with anyone besides Him.”

Al-Walīd said, “Then come to the mosque and repudiate my protection publicly, just as I granted it to you publicly.”

The two of them set out until they reached the mosque, where al-Walīd announced, “This is ʿUthmān, who has come to return my protection.”

ʿUthmān said, “He speaks the truth. I have found him loyal and generous in his guardianship, but I prefer not to seek refuge with anyone other than Allah, and so I have returned his protection to him.” ʿUthmān then departed.

Labīd ibn Rabīʿah ibn Mālik ibn Jaʿfar was at that moment reciting poetry to a gathering of Quraysh. ʿUthmān sat down with them, and Labīd recited:

Behold! Everything apart from God is vanity.

ʿUthmān responded, “You have spoken the truth.” Labīd continued:

And every delight is, without doubt, destined to disappear.

ʿUthmān retorted, “You have lied; the bliss of Paradise never vanishes.”

Labīd exclaimed, “People of Quraysh, by Allah, your guest has never before been offended—when did this begin among you?”

A man in the gathering said, “This fool is one of a band of fools who have abandoned our religion; pay no heed to his words.” ʿUthmān answered him back until their dispute flared up. The man then rose, struck ʿUthmān on the eye, and bruised it, while al-Walīd ibn al-Mughīrah stood nearby, witnessing what had befallen ʿUthmān.

Al-Walīd said, “By Allah, nephew, your eye could have been spared this; you were under strong protection.”

ʿUthmān replied, “By Allah, my sound eye is in need of the same treatment that befell its sister for the sake of Allah! I am now under the protection of One who is mightier and more capable than you, Abū ʿAbd Shams.”

Al-Walīd said, “Come, nephew; return to your protection.”

He answered, “No.”

Ibn Isḥāq said: As for Abū Salamah ibn ʿAbd al-Asad, my father Isḥāq ibn Yasār told me—on the authority of Salamah ibn ʿAbd Allāh ibn ʿUmar ibn Abī Salamah—that he said:

When Abū Salamah sought the protection of Abū Ṭālib, men from Banū Makhzūm came to Abū Ṭālib and said, “Abū Ṭālib, why have you not restrained your nephew Muḥammad from us, yet you keep our companion from our reach?”

He replied, “He has sought my protection, and he is my sister’s son. If I do not protect my sister’s son, I will certainly not protect my brother’s son.”

Then Abū Lahab stood up and said, “O company…"