Nice way of conduct of the Prophet (s) toward a person who had threatened him several times
There was a man named Thamamat ibn Athāl who was said to be Christian. He was the head of the Yamama tribe, who at that time were the exporter of wheat to Mecca. He was one of the stubborn enemies of Islam, who several times had sent messages in person and threatened the Prophet (s) to kill, saying: “I finally kill you by my own hand.” The Prophet (s) smiled and said: “May you not reach your goal. I hope God dominate me over you.”
Thamamat ibn Athāl was arrested by Muslims in one of armed confrontations. They brought him to the Prophet’s mosque in Medina, rushed to the Prophet (sa), and said: “O Messenger of Allah (s), give us reward for we arrested your enemy.”
The Prophet (s) said: “I do the prayer first, then come”. After doing the prayer, he came to Thamama and asked: “What should I do with you?” I can give them three orders: The first is to take you to kill as you got armed and intended to kill Muslims.”
Thamamat ibn Athāl said: “O Messenger of Allah (s), if you kill me, you have killed a great man and it is not appropriate for you.”
The Prophet (s) then said: The second is to turn you back to your tribe and get money, or one hundred camel loads of wheat. When he said this, Abu Huraira (one of the companions) said: “O Messenger of Allah (s), do not say the third one. That is good.”
At that time, Muslims were financially in great need. The Prophet (s) addressed Abu Huraira: “Sit down and do not talk”, and continued: “The third is to excuse you and let you go in God’s safe, as He has ordered me that “adopt [a policy of] excusing [the faults of people].” (Surah: Al-A’raf, verse: 199)
Thamamat ibn Athāl said: “If you issue this verdict, you have applied gentility and done me a favor”. The Prophet (s) ordered to open him to go wherever he wants. Thamamat ibn Athāl left the mosque, but returned again. They asked him why did he return? He said: “I want to become a Muslim”. Then he made an ablution (Ghusl), and became Muslim.
Sources:
Book of the Figure of the Companions, Published in Qom
