Al-Nadr ibn al-Harith

Nadr ibn al-Harith ibn Alqama ibn Kalada ibn Abd al-Manaf ibn Abd al-Dar ibn Qusayy was an Arab physician who is considered one of the greatest Qurayshi opponents to the Islamic prophet Muhammad. He was captured after the Battle of Badr as one of the pagan fighters and flag-bearers. He was sentenced to death for his participation and persecution of Muhammed and Muslims in Mecca. The execution was conducted by Ali by beheading him in front of Muhammad and his companions at as-Safra' before they had returned to Medina from the battle.

According to the Sīrah, two captives, Nadr ibn al-Harith and Uqbah ibn Abi Mu'ayt, were executed during this event, the former by Ali and the latter by Asim ibn Thabit. According to Professor Sarah Bowen Savant, the event is claimed to have inspired Nadr's sister, Qutayla ukht al-Nadr, to compose an elegy on his death, upbraiding Muhammad for the execution.

Life During the Meccan period, Nadr ibn alharits was known as one of the authors a document advocating for the boycott of the small Muslim community by withholding the sale of any goods, effectively leading to their starvation. He is also considered one of the greatest opponents to the Islamic prophet Muhammad and his message during the Meccan era, and a propeller of their persecution. Al-Waqidi mentions a report that when Nadr asked the Muslims why he was to be executed, they replied that it was for his persecuting and torturing the Muslim as well as ridiculing the Quran.

Quran verse about the beheading of an-Nadir bin al-Harith

In Ibn Kathir's book "Tafsir Ibn Kathir", he claims in his tafsir that the verse Quran 8:31 was revealed about Nadir bin al-Harith, despite no direct mention of him or his execution in the Quran itself. Ibn Kathir's commentary on Quran 8:31 and Quran 8:5 is as follows:

In addition, the actual execution and death of, the Prophet's nemesis, al-Nadr bin al-Harith, is attested to in the Sunnah Hadith tradition;

"A questioner" According to several highly regarded tafsirs, al-Nadr ibn al-Harith, is described in Surah Al-Maʻārij (Arabic: المعارج, "The Ascents") [Quran 70:1–3] as;

In the commentary (tafsir), of ibn Abbas (Tanwir al-Miqbas min Tafsir ibn Abbas), al-Nadr ibn al-Harith, is specifically named as being "A questioner". Thus, he is portrayed as a fierce, unrelenting critic and a challenger to the Prophet Muhammad, and the Quran, during the Prophet's early Meccan ministry;

Al-Nadr bin al Harith, is also described as being the "a petitioner"/"a supplicator" of Quran 70:1, by the commentary Tafsir al-Jalalayn: