The Life of the Prophet Muhammad by Ibn Kathir - Volume 1 of 4

368 THE LIFE OF THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD
b. Khlid, quoting Ahmad b. Khalaf, quoting Isrx'il, from Abii Ishaq, who
stated, "The Prophet (SAAS) passed by Aba Jahl and Abii Sufyxn while they
were both seated. Aba Jahl said, 'This is your prophet then, 0 Bann CAbd
Shams.' Aba Sufy2n replied, 'You're surprised that one of us could be a
prophet? A prophet could arise among those fewer in number and lower in status
than us! '
"Aba Jahl commented, 'I'm surprised that a young man among sheikhs of age
and maturity could be a prophet!'
"The Messenger of God (SAAS) overheard them and approached. He
addressed them, 'As for you, Abn Sufym, it's not because you care for God and
His Messenger that you became angry; you're just burned for the lineage. As for
you, Abii al-Hakam, you are going to laugh very little and weep a great deal.'
Abn Jahl commented, 'So, nephew, what an evil you promise me coming out of
your being a prophet!'"
This hadith is lacking early links in its chain of authorities, and it is somewhat
strange; equally strange are the comments of Abn Jahl, God curse him! In
reference to him and people like him, God Almighty stated, "And when they see
you, they take you for a joke, saying, 'Is this fellow he whom God sent as a
messenger? He might almost have enticed us away from our gods, if we had not
stayed patiently with them.' They will know when they see the punishment who
it is who strays furthest from the path" (stirat al-Furqdn, XXV, v.41-2).
Ima Ahad stated that Hushaym related to him, quoting Abii Bishr, from
Sacid b. Jubayr, from Ibn 'Abbs, who said, "This verse was sent down while the
Messenger of God (SAAS) was in hiding in Mecca, 'and do not speak the prayer
loudly, nor speak it too softly'" (swat al-Isrd", XVII, v.110).
He went on, "When he prayed with his followers, he would raise his voice as
he recited the Qur'm. On hearing this, the polytheists would curse the Qur'm,
along with him who sent it down and him who conveyed it. And so God
Almighty told his Prophet Muhammad (SAAS), 'and do not speak the prayer
loudly' that is, when you recite it, lest the polytheists hear it and curse the
Qur'm. And 'nor speak it too softly' lest your followers won't hear the Qur'm
and learn it from you. And so 'seek a path between these'" (swat al-Isrd', XVII,
v.110).
This tradition is similarly given by both authors of the sahib collections, from
a hadith of Abn Bishr Jacfar b. Abn Hayya.
Muhammad b. Ishxq stated that D2-d b. al-Husayn related to him from
Clkrima, from Ibn (Abbas, who said, "When the Messenger of God (SAAS)
spoke the Qur'an loudly as he prayed, people would move away and refuse to
listen to him. If anyone did want to hear any of what the Messenger of God was
reciting as he prayed, he had to strain his ears away from the rest. And if he
knew that they were aware that he was listening he would have to leave, for fear