Arbad ibn Qays

Arbad ibn Qays was the strongest warrior of Banū ʿĀmir ibn Ṣaʿṣaʿah, chosen by his chieftain ʿĀmir ibn al-Ṭufayl to carry out an assassination in the masjid of Madinah: ʿĀmir would occupy the Prophet ﷺ with questions and give a signal, at which Arbad was to draw his dagger and strike. The signal came three times and Arbad did nothing. Outside, confronted furiously by ʿĀmir, he explained that from the moment he entered he could see nothing but ʿĀmir himself, the Prophet ﷺ was simply not visible to him: did you want me to kill you?

He reached his people before ʿĀmir did, and when they asked him what had happened he answered with words about Allah so foul that they are not repeated. The next day he rode out before his community and lightning came down and incinerated him and his camel where they stood. The books of tafsīr take Sūrat al-Raʿd 11–13, He sends the thunderbolts and strikes with them whom He wills, while they dispute about Allah, to refer to him.