Muhammad a Prophet For all Humanity 4. Sublime Character
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 ~ 72 ~