Islam and the Freedom of Conscience — Page 44
~ 44 ~ he went back to his people, and the grain export was stopped. The situation got quite bad. Eventually Ab u Sufy a n took a plea to the Holy Prophet sa saying that people were starving, and asked for some pity to be shown to his people. The Holy Prophet sa did not say you would only get the grain if you accepted Islam. Rather, he promptly sent a message to Thum a mah to stop the embargo as it was cruel. The young, the elderly, the sick needed food and it should be available for them. 17 We see that it was not said to the prisoner, Thum a mah, that you are in our control, accept Islam. Rather, he was treated well for three days and then the higher standards of treatment were established in that he was released. Thum a mah too had the insight that as soon as he was given the freedom he presented himself for the subjugation of the Holy Prophet sa knowing full well that his worldly and spiritual welfare was indeed in this subjugation. Likewise, the Holy Prophet sa did not coerce a Jewish slave into doing what he wished just because he was under his authority. The man fell very ill and when the Prophet saw that his life was in danger he was concerned for his good ending. He was concerned that he should not depart this world without accepting the final 17 As ‐ S i ratun ‐ Nabawiyyah Iibn ‐ e ‐ Hishsh a m , ’asru Thum a mah bin Ath a lul ‐ H anaf i was ‐ sal a mah Khur u juh u il a Makkata wa qi ss atuh u ma‘ Quraish