Muhammad a Prophet For all Humanity
4. Sublime Character
~ 72 ~
Makkah became a living testament to truth of the
prophet’s faith. Even as a prisoner, Abu Jandal
began to appear to his captives as a threat to their
national security. Eventually they deemed it
prudent to free him and deport him from Makkah.
While the Prophet was living in Madinah, where he
had attained religious and political leadership, he
sent some riders to Najd, the inhabitants of which
were his sworn enemies. On the way, they came
across the ruler of the city of Yamamah, Thamamah
ibn Uthal. They took him captive and brought him
to Madinah, where they tied him up against a pillar
of the mosque. The Prophet came to enquire after
him. “If you kill me,” Thamamah said, “my people
will avenge my blood; and if you release me, I will
always be indebted to you. If it’s money you want,
then I am ready to give you as much as you desire.”
The Prophet did not kill Thamamah physically, but
by his humane treatment he conquered the man’s
soul. After his release, Thamamah went to a nearby
garden, had a bath, and then returned to the
mosque. People wondered what he had come back
for. But when he proclaimed his conversion to Islam
by pronouncing the testimony of faith in a loud
