Nadr ibn al-Harith

Al-Naḍr ibn al-Ḥārith ibn ʿAlqama ibn Kalada ibn ʿAbd Manāf ibn Abd al-Dār ibn Quṣayy () (d. 624 CE) was an Arab pagan physician who lived in the same time and region as the Islamic prophet Muhammad. He was captured after the Battle of Badr and was executed for criticising and ridiculing Quran and Muhammad. Muhammad commanded to cut his (Al-Nadr's) head before him and that was done as Ali beheaded him in front of Muhammad and his companions. It is known that he was a critic of Islam and Muhammad. Surah At-Taubah 61 was sent down after he attacked the prophet Muhammad. After the battle, Muhammad decided to return to Medina. While Muhammad was returning to Medina, he received a revelation regarding the distribution of war booty. This per ''tafsir'' was the Quran verse Quran 8:41.

According to the authentic Books of history of Islam, two captives – Nadr bin Harith and ‘Uqbah ibn Abū Mu‘ayṭ were beheaded by Ali. The event is claimed to have inspired Nadr's relative Qutayla to compose an elegy on his death, upbraiding Muhammad for the execution.

Life

Per Islamic traditionists like Muqatil ibn Sulayman, Nadr had accused Muhammad of plagiarism in his Quranic verses based on the stories of ancient people. He was captured after the Battle of Badr and then executed. Mohar Ali states that while he did accuse Muhammad of plagiarism, he was executed for other offences though he doesn't specify what it was, although he names al-Nadr as one of the assassins who tried to kill Muhammad before his migration to Medina. David Samuel Margoliouth, however, claims that he was executed for his challenge and ridiculing Muhammad, a version supported by some ninth and tenth-century Muslim sources including Tabari who cites an oral report of Muhammad justifying his order on basis of Nadr accusing him. Al-Waqidi mentions a report that when Nadr asked the Muslims why he was to be executed, they replied that it was for his persecuting and torturing the Muslim as well as ridiculing the Quran.

Quran verse about the beheading of an-Nadir bin al-Harith

Ibn Kathir also mentions this incident in his book ''Tafsir Ibn Kathir'' and states the Quran verse Quran 8:31 was revealed about an-Nadir bin al-Harith. Ibn Kathir's commentary on Quran 8:31 and Quran 8:5 is as follows:Muhammad Saed Abdul-Rahman
The Meaning and Explanation of the Glorious Qur'an (Vol 3) 2nd Edition
p. 412, , MSA Publication Limited, 2009.
online

See also

* Hejaz
*List of expeditions of Muhammad
* Qutayla ukht al-Nadr

References

{{Reflist

7th-century Arabs
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People executed by decapitation
7th-century executions
624 deaths