Was it authentically reported that Abu Jahl killed a Muslim woman?

Was it authentically reported that Abu Jahl killed a Muslim woman? (Question Number: 439598, islamqa.info)

Question: I wanted to confirm the story of Abu Jahl’s killing of a Muslim woman during the Makkan period, because I heard some people say that the story is unfounded and based on a weak narration, while others say the opposite.

Answer: Alhamdulillah (Praise be to Allah). It is well-known among the scholars of biography that Abu Jahl was the killer of Sumayyah bint Khayyaat, the mother of Ammar bin Yasir, may Allah be pleased with them, and it is widely reported among them that she was the first martyr (Shaheedah) in Islam. The reports about her killing are Mursal (disconnected) and not Muttasil (connected).

Ibn Sa’d narrated in “At-Tabaqaat” (3/176): He said: Jarir bin ‘Abdul-Hameed informed us, from Mansur, from Mujahid, who said: “The first seven people to openly declare Islam were: the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), Abu Bakr, Bilal, Khabbab, Suhaib, Ammar, and Sumayyah, the mother of Ammar.” He said: “As for the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), his uncle protected him [protected him: meaning he safeguarded him from the harm of the polytheists]. And as for Abu Bakr, his tribe protected him.”

And the others were taken; they were made to wear iron armor, then they were exposed to the sun until they reached the utmost limit of exhaustion. Then they were given what they asked for. Each of their tribesmen came to them with a water skin, poured water on them, and carried them on their sides, except for Bilal.

When evening came, Abu Jahl arrived, insulting Sumayyah and mocking her. Then he stabbed her, killing her. She was the first martyr in Islam, except for Bilal, for he had become so exhausted that he was no longer a concern to them. They put a rope around his neck, then ordered their children to pull him between the two hills of Makkah.

Bilal kept saying: “Ahad, Ahad” (One, One, referring to the oneness of God).

And Ibn Sa’d also narrated in “At-Tabaqaat Al-Kubra” (8/207-208): He said: Ismail bin Umar Abu Al-Mundhir informed us. Sufyan Ath-Thawri narrated to us, from Mansur, from Mujahid, who said: “The first martyr in Islam was Sumayyah, the mother of Ammar. Abu Jahl came to her, stabbed her with a spear in her private part.”

Ibn Katheer, may Allah have mercy on him, said: “Imam Ahmad said: Waki’ narrated to us, from Sufyan, from Mansur, from Mujahid, who said: ‘The first martyr in Islam was Sumayyah, the mother of Ammar. Abu Jahl stabbed her with a spear in her private part.’ This is a mursal (disconnected) hadith.” (End of quote from “Al-Bidayah wa Al-Nihayah” (4/147)).

And Al-Hafiz Ibn Hajar, may Allah have mercy on him, said: “Ibn Ishaq said in ‘Al-Maghazi’: Men from the family of Ammar bin Yasir told me that Sumayyah, the mother of Ammar, was tortured by the family of Banu Mughirah because of her Islam, and she refused to renounce it until they killed her. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) would pass by Ammar, his mother, and his father, while they were being tortured in the heat of Makkah, and he would say: ‘Be patient, O family of Yasir, for your appointment is Paradise.'”

And Mujahid said: “The first people to openly declare Islam in Makkah were seven: the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), Abu Bakr, Bilal, Khabbab, Suhaib, Ammar, and Sumayyah. As for the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and Abu Bakr, their tribes protected them. As for the others, they were made to wear iron armor, then they were exposed to the sun. Abu Jahl came to Sumayyah and stabbed her with a spear, killing her.”

Reported by Abu Bakr bin Abi Shaybah, from Jarir, from Mansur, from Mujahid. This is a mursal (disconnected) hadith, with a authentic chain of narration (Sahih As-Sanad).

And Ibn Sa’d reported with a authentic chain of narration from Mujahid, who said: “The first martyr in Islam was Sumayyah, the mother of Ammar bin Yasir. She was an old, weak woman. When Abu Jahl was killed on the day of Badr, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said to Ammar: ‘May Allah kill the one who killed your mother.'” (End of quote from “Al-Isabah” (13/494-495)).

In summary, the news of the manner of her killing and her killer is a mursal (disconnected) report, but it is well-known among the scholars of biography. Such reports are accepted and narrated in the events of the Prophetic biography and battles, especially since it does not contain anything objectionable. Each tribe of Quraysh would torment those who converted to Islam from among their weaker members. Sumayyah, may Allah be pleased with her, was a slave woman of Banu Makhzum, and the most hostile, oppressive, and tormenting man from Banu Makhzum against the Muslims was Abu Jahl.

[End of the answer from Islamqa.info]

(Translated by Mohammed bin Thajammul Hussain Manna. For more such content join our paid WhatsApp group at +91-8618575326.)

Summary:

1. It is true without doubt that Abu Jahl killed Sumayyah bint Khayyaat (Radi Allahu Anha).

2. It is proven from many slightly weak chains, thus close to being sure, that Abu Jahl stabbed Sumayyah in her private parts with a spear.

3. The gory details of Abu Jahl tying Sumayyah’s legs to two camels and making them run away from each other splitting her body into two is not authentic, it wasn’t mentioned or even referenced, with even a weak or fabricated chain, in Shaikh Dr.Mahdi Rizqullah’s detailed and referenced work on the Seerah called, ‘As-Seerah An-Nabawiyyah Fee Dau Al-Masadir Al-Asliyyah’.

And Allah knows best.