"Indeed, We have sufficed you against the mockers"

Against you, or against you and the Quran, as has been narrated from Ibn Abbas—by suppressing and destroying them. Al-Tabarani in al-Awsat, al-Bayhaqi and Abu Nu’aym both in al-Dala’il, and Ibn Marduyah narrated with a hasan (sound) chain that they said: The mockers were al-Walid ibn al-Mughirah, al-Aswad ibn ‘Abd Yaghuth, al-Aswad ibn al-Muttalib, al-Harith ibn ‘Aytal al-Sahmi, and al-‘As ibn Wa’il. Gabriel, peace be upon him, came to him, so he complained to him about them. He showed him al-Walid, and Gabriel pointed to his jugular vein. He (the Prophet, may Allah exalt his mention) said, "I have not done anything [to him]." He replied, "I have sufficed you against him." Then he showed him al-Aswad ibn al-Muttalib, and he pointed to his eyes. He said, "I have not done anything." He replied, "I have sufficed you against him." Then he showed him al-Aswad ibn ‘Abd Yaghuth, and he pointed to his head. He said, "I have not done anything." He replied, "I have sufficed you against him." Then he showed him al-Harith, and he pointed to his belly. He said, "I have not done anything." He replied, "I have sufficed you against him." Then he showed him al-‘As ibn Wa’il, and he pointed to the sole of his foot. He said, "I have not done anything." He replied, "I have sufficed you against him."

As for al-Walid, he passed by a man from Khuza’ah who was feathering arrows; it struck his jugular vein and severed it. As for al-Aswad ibn al-Muttalib, he descended beneath an acacia tree and began saying, "O my sons, will you not defend me? I have perished, I am being pricked by thorns in my eyes!" They began saying, "We see nothing," and he remained in that state until his eyes went blind. As for al-Aswad ibn ‘Abd Yaghuth, ulcers broke out on his head and he died from them. As for al-Harith, he was seized by al-ma' al-asfar (ascites/yellow water) in his belly until his excrement came out of his mouth and he died from it. As for al-‘As, he rode to Ta’if and rested upon a shibriqah (thorny plant); a thorn entered the sole of his foot and killed him.

Al-Kirmani stated in his commentary on al-Bukhari that the mockers were the seven who cast filth upon the Messenger of Allah, may Allah exalt his mention, while he was praying, as mentioned in the hadith of al-Bukhari. They are: ‘Amr ibn Hisham, ‘Utbah ibn Rabi’ah, Shaybah ibn Rabi’ah, al-Walid ibn ‘Utbah, Umayyah ibn Khalaf, ‘Uqbah ibn Mu’ayt, and ‘Amarah ibn al-Walid. In al-A’lam by al-Suhayli, it is mentioned that they were thrown into the well of Badr, and he enumerated them differently from what was mentioned [by others]. In al-Durr al-Manthur and elsewhere, there are many differing narrations regarding their number, their names, and the manner of their destruction. Al-Sha’bi counted Hubayr ibn al-Aswad among them, but this was countered in al-Bahr by the fact that Hubayr converted to Islam on the day of the Conquest [of Mecca] and traveled to Medina; thus, counting him as one of them is an error. This is definitive if "sufficing against them" implies their destruction, which is what is apparent. The Imam mentioned something similar to what we have cited regarding the disagreement of the narrations, then said: There is no need for any of that. The known extent is that they were a group possessing power and influence, for such as they were the ones capable of such insolence toward the Messenger of Allah, may Allah exalt his mention, given his high status and great rank. The Quran indicates that Allah, the Glorified, caused their extinction and eradication, and removed their plotting.