Nevertheless, the Quraysh considered their own ancestry to be nobler than those of the
Arab clans of Medinah. On the day of the battle of Badr, when ‘Utba, Shayba, and Walid b.
Rabi’a came forward and challenged the Muslims for a single combat, some youths of the
Ansaar stepped forth to face them. The Qurayshite warriors, however, asked who they were
and on coming to know that they belonged to the Ansaar, replied, “We have nothing to do
with you.” Then one of them called out, “Muhammad, send forth some of your own rank
and blood to face us.” Thereupon the Prophet (r) ordered, “Advance, O ‘Ubayda b. Al-
Harith; “O Hamza; Advance, O ‘Ali. When the three were already up at them and had
already told their names, the Qurayshite said: “Yes, these are noble and our peers." (Ibn
Hisham, Vol. p. 625)
The self-conceited Quraysh used to look down upon farming, the occupation employed by
the Ansaar owing to the physical features of their city. We find a commensurate display of
similar egotism with what Abu Jahl said when he was slain by two Ansaar lads who were
sons of ‘Afra. Abu Jahl said to ‘Abdullah b. Mas’ud although he was nearing his end, “Would
that somebody else than a cultivator had slain me!”