Name Nadr al-Harith | ||
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al- Naḍr b. al- Ḥārith b. ʿAlḳama b. Kalada b. ʿAbd Manāf b. ʿAbd al-Dār b. Ḳuṣayy (d. 624 CE) was an Arab pagan who lived in the same time and region as the Islamic prophet Muhammad. He fought on the side of Meccans against the Muslims during the Battle of Badr and was captured after which he was executed. After the Battle of Badr, Muhammad decided to return to Medina. While Muhammad was returning to Medina, he reportedly received a revelation regarding the distribution of war booty. This per tafsir was the Quran verse Quran 8:41.
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According to the Muslim scholar Safiur Rahman al-Mubarakpuri, two captives – Nadr bin Harith and ‘Uqbah ibn Abū Mu‘ayṭ were beheaded by Ali. Mubarakpuri mentions that this incident about the beheading is also mentioned in the Sunan Abu Dawud no 2686 and Anwal Ma'bud 3/12 The event is claimed to have inspired Nadr's relative Qutayla to compose an elegy on his death, upbraiding Muhammad for the execution.
Life
The son of al-Harith ibn Kalada, a doctor who attended the Persian school in Gundeshapur, Nadr ibn al-Harith was also a doctor and pactitioned in Hejaz. He came from Taif and used to tell the Arabs stories of Rustam and Isfandiyar. 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 fought on the side of Meccans during the Battle of Badr and was captured after which he was 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 Nadr asked the Muslims why he was to be executed, they replied that it was for him persecuting and torturing the Muslim as well as ridiculing the Quran.
Quran verse about the beheading of al-Nadir ibn 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 al-Nadir ibn al Harith. Ibn Kathir's commentary on Quran 8:31 and Quran 8:5 is as follows: