Born Amr ibn Hisham, he was given the name Abu Jahl ('Father of Ignorance') by the Muslims for his fierce opposition to Islam.
As a leading member of the Banu Makhzum clan, he organized the boycott against Muhammad's clan, the Banu Hashim, and was involved in various plots to assassinate Muhammad.
He was the commander of the Meccan army at the Battle of Badr, where he was eventually killed, marking a significant blow to the Meccan leadership.