~Around the time of the return from the first Abyssinian emigration · 7 BH
When Uthman ibn Maz'un RA returned to Makkah, he was given protection by his friend al-Walid ibn al-Mughira, one of the most powerful men in the city. Under this protection no one could touch him. But he saw his fellow Muslims still being persecuted while he was safe, and his conscience troubled him. So he asked al-Walid to take the protection back.
As he walked back without protection, he passed the famous poet Labid ibn Rabi'ah, who was reciting verses to a gathering of the Quraysh. Labid recited that everything other than Allah is worthless, and Uthman called out that he had spoken the truth. Then Labid recited that every blessing will one day disappear. Uthman called out that this was a lie, because the blessings of Jannah (Paradise) will never end. Labid was offended at being interrupted, and a man from the crowd punched Uthman and blackened his eye.
When al-Walid heard what had happened, he offered to give Uthman his protection again. Uthman refused. He said that his other eye now needed the same blessing his injured eye had received.
Uthman ibn Maz'un RA was allowed to keep his protection, and nothing obliged him to give it up. He chose to share the hardship of his persecuted brothers out of conscience.
Other events recorded in 7 BH. Their order within the year is not established; use the storyline above for the sequence.
I have given my protection to Uthman ibn Maz'un.
Please take your protection back. I cannot bear to see my fellow brothers suffer while I have this freedom.
Uthman has asked his protection be returned.
How come they are suffering and I am in safety?
Said after seeing his fellow Muslims being persecuted while he himself remained safe under al-Walid ibn al-Mughira's protection.
Verily, everything other than Allah is useless.
Recited at a poetry gathering of the Quraysh, as Uthman ibn Maz'un RA walked back unprotected.
صدقت
Sadaqta, you have spoken the truth.
Every blessing, without any doubt, will disappear.
كذبت
Kadhabta, you have just lied, Jannah will never disappear, the pleasures of Jannah will never come to an end.
For interrupting Labid's recitation, someone in the crowd struck Uthman ibn Maz'un RA, blackening his eye.
Since when have you treated your guests in this manner?
Labid, unaware of the tension between the pagans and the Muslims, took the interruption as a breach of hospitality; someone in the crowd struck Uthman ibn Maz'un RA, blackening his eye.
My nephew, why have you taken back the protection? Come back and I will give the protection back to you.
On hearing that Uthman ibn Maz'un RA had been struck.
No, this is not a problem at all. Verily, my other eye is now in need of the blessings that my left eye has gotten.