There is also another narration regarding Abū Jahl falling in awe of the Holy Prophetsa by which we find that it is the custom of God to especially impress the awe of His messengers upon those who act rudely towards them. As such, it is written that on one occasion, a man named Urāshah came to Makkah to sell some camels, and Abū Jahl purchased these camels from him. After taking hold of these camels he began to defraud him and made excuses in offering payment. Upon this, Urāshah, who was a foreigner without any relations or support, became very troubled. After a few days of earnest requesting and begging before Abū Jahl, he finally approached an assembly of the Chieftains of the Quraish who had gathered near the Ka‘batullāh, and said, “O Honoured ones of the Quraish! A man from among you, Abul-Ḥakam, has seized the value of my camels. Please have mercy and have my payment given to me.” The Quraish mischievously said, “There is a man named Muḥammad bin ‘Abdullāh[sa] who lives here. Go to him and he will have your payment given to you.” Their purpose was that the Holy Prophetsa will definitely refuse, and in this way the foreigner will disgrace and laugh at the Holy Prophetsa. When Urāshah set off from there, the Quraish sent a man behind him to see the spectacle. Therefore, in his simplicity, Urāshah came to the Holy Prophetsa and said, “I am but a wayfarer and a Chieftain of thy city, Abul-Ḥakam, has withheld my money. I have been told that you are one who can get me my payment. Please have mercy and acquire me my payment.” The Holy Prophetsa immediately stood up and said, “Come, I shall go with you.” Therefore, the Holy Prophetsa brought him to Abū Jahl’s home and knocked on the door. When Abū Jahl came out, upon seeing the Holy Prophetsa, he was flabbergasted, and without a word, began to stare at the Holy Prophetsa. The Holy Prophetsa said, “This man says that you are indebted to him. He is a wayfarer, why do you deprive him of his due right?” At the time, Abū Jahl was turning pale. He said, “Muḥammad[sa] hold on, I shall fetch the money right away.” Therefore, he went inside and immediately gave Urāshah his money. Urāshah expressed immense gratitude to the Holy Prophetsa and then returned to that very assembly of the Quraish and thanked them as well, saying, “You sent me to a good man. May Allāh reward him. He immediately had my money given to me.” The Chieftains of the Quraish were speechless, and looked at each other in astonishment. When Urāshah left, they inquired of the man that followed Urāshah to Abū Jahl’s home as to what happened. He said:
“By Allāh, I witnessed a strange sight. When Muḥammad[sa] knocked at Abul-Ḥakam’s door and Abul-Ḥakam came out and saw Muḥammad[sa], his state was as if a lifeless being. As soon as Muḥammad[sa] said, ‘Pay him his money’, he immediately went inside and paid every penny.”
After some time, Abū Jahl also joined that gathering. Upon seeing him, everyone swarmed him saying, “O Abul-Ḥakam, what happened to you that you became so frightened of Muḥammad[sa]?” He said,
“I swear by God! When I saw Muḥammad[sa] at my door, it appeared to me as if a furious and enraged camel was standing by him. It seemed to me that if I moan or complain even a little, it would devour me.”1
1 As-Sīratun-Nabawiyyah, By Abū Muḥammad ‘Abdul-Malik bin Hishām, pp. 281-282, Bābu Amril-Irāshilladhī Bā‘a Abā Jahlin Ibilahū, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (2001)