5. Abu Ali al-Ash’ari has narrated from Muhammad ibn Salim from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn abu Nasr from ‘Amr ibn Shimr from Jabir from abu Ja’far who has said the following:

“Once abu Jahl along with a people from Quraysh went to abu Talib and said, ‘Your cousin has offended us and has harmed our idols, call him and command him to stop bothering our gods and we will stop bothering his Lord.’ “The Imam said, ‘Abu Talib sent for the Messenger of Allah. He was called and he came. He did not see in the house but pagans and he said, ‘(I offer) greetings of peace to those who follow guidance.’ He sat down and abu Talib informed him of what the people had said. The Messenger of Allah asked, ‘What if I instruct them with a word of goodness that will be better for them than this and with which they can rule the Arabs and subdue their stiff necks?’ Abu Jahl then asked, ‘What is that word?’ The Messenger of Allah advised him to say, ‘No one deserves to be worshipped except Allah.’ They placed their fingers in their ears and fled saying, ‘We have not heard anything like this in other religions. This is only something falsely invented.’ Allah, the Most High, then sent this: ‘Sad. I swear by the Quran, which is full of reminders of Allah (that you are a Messenger) (38:1). In fact, the unbelievers are the ones who are boastful and quarrelsome (38:2). How many ancient generations did We destroy? (On facing Our torment) they cried out for help, but it was too late for them to escape.’ (38:3) ‘It seems strange to the pagans that a man from their own people should come to them as a prophet. The unbelievers have said, ‘He is only a lying magician’ (38:4). They ask, ‘Has he condemned all other gods but One? This is certainly strange.’ (38:5) ‘A group of the pagans walked out of a meeting with the Prophet and told the others, ‘Let us walk away. Be steadfast in the worship of your gods. This man wants to dominate you (38:6). We have heard nothing like this in the latest religion. This is only his own false invention.”” (38:7)