Persecution

Ubay ibn Khalaf's Taunt and the Prophet's ﷺ Prophecy

Name: Ubay ibn Khalaf's Taunt and the Prophet's ﷺ Prophecy
Location: Makkah

~Meccan period (pre-Hijrah)

What happened

Ubay ibn Khalaf, a fellow Qurayshi, mocked and taunted the Prophet ﷺ more than most, telling him he would kill him one day and boasting that he was fattening a special horse to ride when he did it.

Significance

The Prophet ﷺ's reply (that he, not Ubay, would be the one to do the killing) is the only recorded instance of him ﷺ ever responding to a taunt in kind, and it was fulfilled years later at Uhud.

Around this time

Other events recorded around the same time. Their order within the year is not established; use the storyline above for the sequence.

MigrationThe First Emigration to Abyssinia~Rajab, 5th year of the dawah (c. 615 CE) · 7 BH ConversionA Physician Seeks to "Cure" the Prophet ﷺ and Converts~c. 615 CE DelegationA Quraysh Meeting at Abu Talib's House Offers "One Word"~c. 615 CE IncidentAbu Bakr's Foiled Emigration & the Protection of Ibn al-Daghina~Around the time of the return from the first Abyssinian emigration · 7 BH PersecutionAbu Jahal and Abu Lahab Warn Pilgrims Against the Prophet ﷺ~c. 615 CE RevelationAbu Jahal's Objection to the Poor Believers~c. 615 CE (Meccan period) · 7 BH IncidentAbu Salama's Protection under Abu Talib~Around the time of the return from the first Abyssinian emigration · 7 BH PersecutionAmmar ibn Yasir's Confession at Dar al-Arqam~c. 615 CE (Meccan period) · 7 BH ConversionConversion of Dimad al-Azdi~During the Makkan period, before the Hijrah (exact year unknown) · 7 BH MiracleFood Praises Allah in the Prophet ﷺ's Mouth MiracleJibril Conveys Glad Tidings to Khadija RA~During the years of revelation in Makkah, before Khadija RA's passing in 619 CE PersecutionKhabbab's Complaint to the Prophet ﷺ in the Shade of the Ka'bah~c. 615 CE (Meccan period) · 7 BH

Sayings & Actions1

Ubay ibn KhalafTo Muhammad ﷺ

Saying · Meccan period (pre-Hijrah)

I'm going to kill you one day!

Said to the Prophet ﷺ in Makkah, years before Uhud; both men were of Quraysh.

Ubay ibn KhalafTo Muhammad ﷺ

Saying · Meccan period (pre-Hijrah)

I have a special horse that I am feeding the best barley and grain, in order that it grows fat and healthy so that I can kill you while I ride it!

Muhammad ﷺTo Ubay ibn Khalaf

Saying · Meccan period (pre-Hijrah)

No. Actually, I will be the one killing you, insha'Allah.

The only recorded instance of the Prophet ﷺ ever responding to a taunt in kind.

Ubay ibn Khalaf's Taunt and the Prophet's ﷺ Prophecy

Original text & sources

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What happened

Significance

Around this time

Sayings & Actions1

Original text & sources

Original text & sources

Original text & sources

People involved2

quraysh

muslim

Ubay ibn Khalaf's Taunt and the Prophet's ﷺ Prophecy

Original text & sources

Report an inaccuracy

What happened

Significance

Around this time

Sayings & Actions1

Original text & sources

Original text & sources

Original text & sources

People involved2

quraysh

muslim