Ubay ibn Khalaf was a man of the Quraysh who had mocked the Prophet ﷺ for years in Makkah and vowed to kill him. At Uhud he charged at the Prophet ﷺ on his horse. The Prophet ﷺ took a spear from one of his companions, dodged Ubay's blow and pierced his armour at the neck. Ubay's companions carried him off and told him the wound would heal. He insisted that it was a fatal wound. He died before reaching Makkah, in the valley of Sarif.
Ubay ibn Khalaf was the only pagan ever killed directly by the hand of the Prophet ﷺ. Years earlier in Makkah, Ubay had boasted that he was fattening a horse on which he would ride out to kill the Prophet ﷺ. The Prophet ﷺ replied that it was he who would kill Ubay, insha'Allah. It was the only time the Prophet ﷺ ever responded to a taunt.
Other events recorded in 3 AH. Their order within the year is not established; use the storyline above for the sequence.
This is not a minor wound, it's a death wound! Wallahi, if Muhammad ﷺ had just spat in my face, I would have fallen dead!
Said to companions who tried to reassure him the wound would heal, as he was carried off toward Makkah.
Allah's anger becomes more severe on anyone whom the prophets kill.
I passed by the valley of Sarif at night and saw a fire that frightened me. Going to see what it was, I found the image of Ubay ibn Khalaf coming out of it, crying, 'Thirst! Thirst!' Then an angel behind him said, 'Do not give him anything: this is the one whom the Prophet ﷺ has killed.'
Recalled by Ibn Umar RA years after Ubay ibn Khalaf's death.