Mukhtasar Muslim

Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) sent some horsemen towards Najd, and they brought back a man from Banu Hanifah, Thumamah bin Uthal, who was the chief of the people of Yamamah. Then he was tied to one of the pillars of the mosque. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) went to him and said, “O Thumamah! What do you think (that I will do with you)?” He replied, “O Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), my opinion is good. If you kill me, you will kill a person whose blood will not go in vain (i.e., there are people who will seek retribution for me). And if you show kindness and set me free, I will be grateful to you. And if you want wealth, then ask for it, as much as you wish.” Hearing this, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) left. The next day, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) again asked, “O Thumamah! What do you think?” He replied, “My opinion is the same as I have already said: if you show kindness and set me free, I will be grateful to you; if you kill me, you will kill a person whose blood will be avenged; and if you want wealth, then ask for it, whatever you wish will be given.” The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) left him tied as he was. Then on the third day, he asked, “O Thumamah! What do you think?” He replied, “The same as I have already said: if you show kindness and set me free, I will be grateful to you; if you kill me, you will kill a person whose blood will be avenged; and if you want wealth, then ask for it, whatever you wish will be given.” The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Release Thumamah.” The people complied with the order and released him. Thumamah went to a palm grove near the mosque, performed ghusl (ritual bath), then came to the mosque and said, “I bear witness that there is no true god except Allah, and indeed Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) is the Messenger of Allah. O Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him)! By Allah, there was no face on the entire earth that I hated to look at more than yours, but today your face has become the most beloved to me. And by Allah, there was no religion more hateful to me than your religion, but now your religion is the most beloved to me. And by Allah, there was no city more hateful to me than your city, but now your city is the most beloved to me of all cities. Your horsemen captured me while I was going for ‘Umrah. Now, what do you command?” The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) congratulated him and permitted him to perform ‘Umrah. When he reached Makkah, someone said to him, “Have you become irreligious?” He replied, “No, by Allah, rather I have become obedient to Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). And by Allah, not a single grain of wheat will come to you from Yamamah until the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) permits it.”