In the commentary of Imam Hasan Askari (a.s.), it is related that one day the Prophet said to Abu Jahl: “Allah has preserved you from punishment because you will be the father of a son who will embrace Islam, that is Akrama. And the problem of Wilayat will crop up and in that if he obeys Allah, he will gain salvation.
Same is the case of all Quraish that the Almighty Allah gives respite to some because He knows that some will embrace Islam and regarding some it is that there will be Muslims in their progeny. Then the Holy Prophet (S) said: “Look at the heavens.” On doing so they beheld its gates open and fire coming down and impending over their heads. It approached so near that they could feel its heat and they began to tremble.
“Be not alarmed,” said the Prophet, “for it will not burn you yet. It is sent as a lesson for you.” Then they saw an effulgence emerge from their backs and it extinguished that fire. So much so that it reached upto the sky. Some of these effulgences belong to those about whom the Almighty Allah knows that they would become Muslims and some of their descendants would embrace Islam.