He is known by his full name Abu Abdi Shams Al Walid, son of Mughira, grandson of Abdallah, great-grandson of Umar from the Makhzum clan of the Quraysh tribe.
He was a prosperous figure, recognized as Waheed and Ibn Sakhra, commanding high esteem and holding considerable influence among his tribal community.
He was one of Prophet Muhammad's notable adversaries. Initially, he recognized the Quran's authenticity but later falsely attributed lies to it, influenced by his desire for power within his tribal community. His response to the Quran illustrates how earthly ambitions can corrupt, even in the presence of undeniable truths.
Walid was born in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, in 550 A.D to Abdallah bin Umar, who held the position of Chief of Quraish in Banu Makhzum. He followed in his father's footsteps and later became the Chief of Quraish himself.
He was a courageous, fearless, and lionhearted chief of Quraish. Raised in the wealthy Banu Makhzum tribe, he inherited both riches and influence.
Through the years, he accumulated vast wealth, establishing himself as the wealthiest person in Mecca. According to Ibnu Abbas, his possessions, which included land and gardens, extended from Mecca to Taif...
Walid bin Mughira had many sons, among them Khalid bin Walid, the undefeated military commander. unlike his father, Khalid emerged as one of the most distinguished Muslim generals in Islamic history.
Walid bin Mughira is mentioned in numerous verses, with one of the most prominent being in Surah Al Mudathir, specifically from verse 11 to 25...
The Holy Quran says:
74:11) Leave Me with him whom I alone have created,11 (74:12) whom I have endowed with abundant riches, (74:13) and sons ever present with him.,12 (74:14) and for whom I have smoothed the way (to power and riches), (74:15) and who still greedily desires that I should bestow upon him more.13 (74:16) By no means; he is stubbornly opposed to Our Signs. (74:17) I shall soon constrain him to a hard ascent. (74:18) He reflected and then hatched a scheme. (74:19) Ruin seize him, how did he hatch a scheme? (74:20) Again, ruin seize him, how did he hatch a scheme? (74:21) He looked (at others); (74:22) then frowned and scowled; (74:23) then he retreated and waxed proud, (74:24) and said: “This (Qur'an) is merely a sorcery of yore; (74:25) this is nothing but the word of a mere mortal!”14 (74:26) Him shall I soon roast in Hell.
What was the cause for the revelation of these verses?
On a certain day, Walid bin Mughira encountered Rasul s.a.w. during his prayer, where the Holy Prophet s.a.w. was reciting verses from the Holy Quran. Walid bin Mughira attentively listened to the recitation, which deeply moved him. Subsequently, he went to his tribe, Banu Makhzum, and shared with them his experience.
With confidence, he stated that he had recently delved into the profound teachings of Muhammad, acknowledging their exceptional source that surpasses both human and jinn domains. He described them eloquently as soothing and harmonious, like a fruitful tree with easily accessible fruits. He emphasized their unmatched quality, asserting that they were incomparable.
Upon hearing him speak about the Quran in this manner, his followers expressed concern that Waleed had forsaken their faith and embraced the teachings of Muhammad. They feared that if they did not intervene, the Arabs would all convert to Islam, so they felt compelled to take action to prevent this.
They went straight to Amru bin Hisham, commonly known as Abu Jahal, and presented all the information they had collected about Walid. After attentively listening, he comforted them by saying, "Do not fret, entrust Walid to me. It's a small issue that I will take care of.".
End of Part One
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