The defeat the pagans suffered at the Abyssinian court gave them further cause to hate Islam. Naturally, they took out their frustrations on the Muslims who still lived in Makkah.

Once, Atiba bin Abi Lahab, who at this point was divorced from the Prophet’s daughter, Umm Kulthoom, came to the Prophet and quoted a verse from Surah Al-Najm, only to say, “I disbelieve in the one who revealed this verse.” He reiterated that although the Quraysh had prostrated along with the Prophet after a recitation of this Surah they clung to their disbelief in the divine source of Muhammad’s prophethood and of the revelations he received.

From this point onward, Atiba became a source of constant irritation for the Prophet . He once tore the Prophet’s clothes and spat in his face. “O Allah,” the Prophet said in response, “set one of your dogs on him.” Soon after that, Atiba went to Syria along with a caravan. When the caravan halted at Zarqaa, a lion began to circle them. Atiba panicked and cried, “By God, it will devour me, just as Muhammad prayed. I am in Syria and he is in Makkah, but he will still kill me.”

When they went to sleep that night, the other members of the caravan let Atiba sleep in the middle. Despite this arrangment the lion passed by the camels and other men and pounced on Atiba. It took his head in its jaws and killed him on the spot.

One enemy was vanquished. Others remained to plague the Prophet . Uqba bin Abi Mu’ayt, who had placed the camel intestines on the Prophet’s back, once saw the Prophet praying and waited for him to palce his forehead on the ground. He then placed his foot on the Prophet’s neck and pressed down with all his weight until finally the Prophet’s eyes bulged.