Muhammad: Seal of the Prophets — Page 208
MUHAMMAD : SEAL OF THE PROPHETS 208 purpose. The kindly treatment was thus prolonged, and left a favourable impression on the minds even of those who did not at once go over to Islam. When the prisoners had been presented before the Holy Prophet, peace be on him, he said, ‘If Mut’am bin Adi had been alive and had interceded on behalf of these prisoners, I would have set them free. ’ The Holy Prophet, no doubt, had in mind the kindness of Mut’am, which he had exhibited towards the Holy Prophet and the Muslims when they were being severely persecuted in Mecca. He had been instrumental in terminating the prolonged boycott of the Muslims and the whole of Banu Hashim, and on the occasion of th e Holy Prophet’s return from Taif, had extended his protection to him. Among the prisoners were several leading men of Quraish, like Nadhar bin Harith and Suhail bin Amr. Some of the prisoners were related closely to the Holy Prophet, for instance, his uncle Abbas bin Abdul Muttalib, his cousin Uqail bin Abi Talib who was a r eal brother of Ali, Abul Aas bin Rabi’i, his son - in - law, being the husband of his daughter Zainab. Out of the prisoners of war, Nadhar bin Harith, who had taken part in the murder of innocent Muslims in Mecca, including Harith bin Abi Hallah, foster brothe r of the Holy Prophet, was condemned to death on account of these offences. Subsequently, when the Holy Prophet heard the pathetic verses in which his sister had set forth an appeal for mercy being shown to her brother, he observed that if those verses had reached him in time he would have forgiven Nadhar. Before setting out for Medina from the field of Badr, the Holy