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Thumamah
Ibn Uthal
Thumamah ibn Uthal was the head of
the powerful Banu Hanifah tribe, and one of the rulers of
al- Yamamah tribe who were very powerful to the extent
that no one could ever dare to challenge or disobey them.
During the sixth year of Hijra Prophet Mohamed (PBUH)
decided to take a further step in expanding the truth and
light of Islam. So he sent eight letters to various rulers
throughout the Arabian Peninsula inviting them to Islam.
One of the rulers who received an invitation from Prophet
Mohamed (PBUH) was Thumamah ibn Utha, who had not emraced
Islam yet.
After Thumamah received the Prophet's letter, he became
very angry and refused completely to listen to the
invitation of truth and goodness.
He also vowed to kill Prophet Mohamed (PBUH). Not only
that but later through this rage Thumamah killed a number
of the Prophet’s companions. When Prophet Mohamed (PBUH)
heard of this he announced that Thumamah could be killed
lawfully for his actions.
Shortly after these events Thumamah took the decision to
make Umrah to Makkah and make a sacrifice to the idols
there.
But on his way to Makkah he was held captive by a group of
Muslims who did not know who he was and brought him to
Madinah. They tied him near the mosque and waited for
Prophet Mohamed (PBUH) to question him and decide what
should be done with him.
When Prophet Mohamed saw Thumamah he asked his companions:
"Do you know whom you have taken?"
"No, messenger of God," they replied.
"This is Thumamah ibn Uthal,” he said. "You
have done well in capturing him."
Prophet Mohamed (PBUH) then decided to treat him with
generosity and to provide him with all the food he needs
rather than treating him harshly as he deserved.
After he ate, Prophet Mohamed (PBUH) went to him with the
hope of being able to convince him to embrace Islam.
"What do you have to say for yourself?”
Prophet Mohamed (PBUH) asked.
"If you want to kill in reprisal," Thumamah
replied, "you can have someone of noble blood to
kill. If, out of your bounty, you want to forgive, I shall
be grateful. If you want money in compensation, I shall
give you whatever amount you ask."
Prophet Mohamed (PBUH) set him free after trying so many
times to convince him to embrace Islam.
Thumamah left the mosque of Prophet Mohamed (PBUH) and
took off until he came to a palm grove on the borders of
Madinah near al-Baqi'. He watered his camel and washed
himself well and then went back to the Prophet's mosque.
There, he stood before a crowd of Muslims and said:
"I bear witness that there is no god but Allah and I
bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and His
messenger." He then went to the Prophet (PBUH), and
said:
"O Mohamed, by God, there was never on this earth a
face more detestable than yours. Now, yours is the dearest
face of all to me."
"I have killed some of your men," he continued,
"I am at your mercy. What will you have done to
me?"
"There is now no blame on you, Thumamah,"
replied the Prophet. "Becoming a Muslim
obliterates past actions and marks a new beginning."
On hearing that Thumamah felt a great relief and vowed:
"By God, I shall place my whole self, my sword, and
whoever is with me at your service and at the service of
your religion."
Prophet Mohamed (PBUH) then advised him to make the Umrah
as he intended , but in accordance to the Islamic rules.
Thumamah then set off to Makkah to perform the umrah and
as soon as he reached the valley of Makkah, he began
shouting in a loud, resonant voice: "Labbayk
Allakumma labbayk. Labbayka laa shareeka laka labbayk.
Innal hamda wa-n ni'mata laka wa-l mulk Laa shareeka
lak.”
By doing this he became the first Muslim to enter Makkah
reciting the talbiyah.
When The Quraysh heard the sound of the talbiyah they
became very angry and was about to kill Thumamah. But on
realizing who he was they went to him and said:
"What's wrong with you, Thumamah? Have you given in
and abandoned your religion and the religion of your
forefathers?"
"I have not given in," he replied, "but I
have decided to follow the best religion. I follow the
religion of Mohamed."
He then went on: "I swear to you by the Lord of this
House that after my return to al-Yamamah, no grain of
wheat or any of its produce shall reach you until you
follow Mohamed."
Thumamah returned to his people and ordered them to
prevent the supplies from going to Quraysh. Very soon the
boycott began to have an effect and became more and more
stringent. Prices began to rise. Hunger began to bite and
there was even fear of death among the Quraysh.
This lasted until Quraysh tribe sent to the Prophet,
saying: "Our agreement with you (the treaty of
Hudaybiyyah) is that you should maintain the bonds of
kinship but you have gone against that. You have cut the
bonds of kinship. You have killed and caused death through
hunger. Thumamah ibn Uthal has cut our supplies and
inflicted harm on us. Perhaps you would see fit to
instruct him to resume sending us what we need."
Prophet Mohamed (PBUH) at once sent a letter to Thumamah
ordering him to lift the boycott and resume supplies to
the Quraysh, and Thumamah obeyed him immediately.
Thumamah advocated the rest of his life to the service and
worshiping of God.
When Prophet Mohamed (PBUH) died, many Arabs abandoned
Islam. Musaylamah, the imposter, began calling the Banu
Hanifah to believe in him as a Prophet.
Thumamah confronted him and said to his people: "O
Banu Hanifah, beware of this grievous matter. There is no
light or guidance in it. By God, it will only bring
distress and suffering to whoever joins this movement and
misfortune even to those who do not join.
"O Banu Hanifah, two prophets do not come at the same
time and there shall be no Prophet after Mohamed and no
Prophet to share in his mission."
He then gathered together all those who had remained in
Islam and began to wage a jihad against the apostates and
to make the words of God supreme.
The loyal Muslims of Banu Hanifah needed additional help
to stand against the armies of Musaylamah. Their arduous
task was completed by the forces dispatched by Abu Bakr
but at the cost of many a Muslim life.
Thumamah ibn Uthal proved during his life as a Muslim to
have a great impact upon the establishment and spread of
Islam in his region. The worth of a sincere influential
leader of his community cannot be underestimated.
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