It is narrated from Abu al-Hasan, the mawla of Banu Nawfal, that when this verse of Surah al-Shu'ara' was revealed: "And as for the poets, those who go astray follow them" [Surah al-Shu'ara': 224] , Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Rawahah and Sayyiduna Hassan bin Thabit (may Allah be pleased with them both) came weeping to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). He (peace and blessings be upon him) was reciting to them until, when he (peace and blessings be upon him) reached this part: "Except those who believe and do righteous deeds", he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "This refers to you." Then when he recited: "And remember Allah much", he said: "This refers to you." And when he recited: "And defend themselves after they have been wronged", he said: "This too refers to you." [Surah al-Shu'ara': 227]

It is narrated from Sayyiduna al-Bara' bin Azib (may Allah be pleased with him) that it was said to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him): O Messenger of Allah, Abu Sufyan bin al-Harith bin Abd al-Muttalib is satirising you. So Sayyiduna Ibn Rawahah (may Allah be pleased with him) stood up and said: "O Messenger of Allah, grant me permission to satirise him." He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Are you the one who said, 'May Allah make firm'?" He said: Yes, I said: "May Allah make firm the goodness He has granted you, as He made Musa (peace be upon him) firm, and grant you victory like the victory granted to him." He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "And may Allah treat you with the same goodness." Then Sayyiduna Ka'b (may Allah be pleased with him) stood up and said: "O Messenger of Allah, grant me permission to satirise him." He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Are you the one who said, 'Hammat' (it intended)?" He said: Yes, O Messenger of Allah: "The tribe of Quraysh intended to overpower its Lord; and whoever contends with the Overpowerer of all overpowerers (Allah) will surely be overpowered." He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Know that Allah has not forgotten this saying of yours." Then Sayyiduna Hassan (may Allah be pleased with him) stood up and said: "O Messenger of Allah, grant me permission," and he put out his black tongue and said: "O Messenger of Allah, grant me permission; if you wish, I will tear the water-skins of their honour to pieces with my tongue." He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Go to Abu Bakr so that he may inform you of the history of this people, their days and their genealogies, then satirise them, and Jibril will be with you." This hadith has a sahih (authentic) chain, but the two Shaykhs did not record it with these words; however, Imam Muslim recorded it at length through the narration of Khalid bin Yazid.