Muhammad (saw) – The Perfect Man — Page 382
CHAPTER 17 The Prophet sa as a Summoner to All a h 382 They arrested Thum a mah bin Uth a l, a chief of Ban i H unaifah tribe and tied him to a pillar in the Prophet's Mosque. The Holy Prophet Muhammad sa asked Thum a mah, "What is your expectation?" meaning what treatment he expected from him. He replied, "I expect good as you always show graciousness. If you kill me, my tribe will avenge my death and if you show favour it will be kindness to a grateful person. If you want ransom, you can ask for any amount. " H u du r sa left him alone (the purpose being that he could watch Muslims praying). Next day H u du r sa asked him the same question. He gave the same reply that if he was to be freed, it would be a favour to a grateful person. H u du r sa left him alone yet again. On the third day, when asked the same question he replied exactly the same as he had done on the previous two days. The Holy Prophet Muhammad sa told his Companions to release Thum a mah. He was so much impressed by the kind treatment of the Holy Prophet Muhammad sa 's, the scenes of Muslims praying five times a day, their unity and obedience to their master, that as soon as he was freed, he went and washed himself in an oasis, came back to the Prophet's Mosque and by reciting Kalimah accepted Islam. He said, "O Mu h ammad, In the whole world your face was most detestable to me, but today in the whole world you are most lovable to me. By God, no