Thumama ibn Uthal

From Captive to Muslim

Thumama ibn Uthal was a chief of Banu Hanifa of Yamama. Captured by the Qurta sariyya of Muhammad ibn Maslama and brought to Madinah, he was tied to a pillar of the mosque for three days. Each day the Prophet ﷺ came to him and asked, “What do you have to say, O Thumama?” He answered:

“If you execute me, you will execute one who deserves it. If you extend munificence to one who is grateful, you will be munificent to one who is grateful. And if it is wealth you want, then ask whatever you wish.”

On the third day the Prophet ﷺ ordered his release. Thumama went to a nearby grove, bathed, returned, and made his shahada. 1 Seerat-e-Mustafa · Vol 2 · pp. 95–96 — Idris Kandhlawi — Thumama tied to a pillar for three days; his answer; he bathes and embraces Islam.

The Grain of Yamama

Returning to Yamama, the granary of the Arabs, he cut off its grain caravans to Makkah, which was still hostile to Islam. Hard-pressed by the shortage, the Quraysh appealed to the Prophet ﷺ, who asked Thumama to let the supplies through again — a mark of how the new Muslim wielded even trade in the cause of his faith. 2 History of Islam · Vol 1 · pp. 197 — Najeebabadi — Thumama blocks grain to Makkah until the Quraysh appeal to the Prophet, who has him relent.

Three Thousand Reclaimed From Musaylama

Years later, during the Yamama apostasy under Musaylama, Thumama’s recitation of the opening of Surah Ha Mim reclaimed about three thousand of Musaylama’s followers to Islam. 4 Seerat-e-Mustafa · Vol 2 · pp. 95–96 — Idris Kandhlawi — Thumama's Ha Mim recitation reclaims ~3,000 of Musaylama's followers during the Yamama apostasy.