64/70. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 4372 — Thumama bin Uthal Embraces Islam
The delegation of Banu Hanifa
Thumama bin Uthal Hadith: From Captive to Muslim
Sahih Bukhari : 4372
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 4372
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ يُوسُفَ، حَدَّثَنَا اللَّيْثُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي سَعِيدُ بْنُ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ، أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ بَعَثَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم خَيْلاً قِبَلَ نَجْدٍ، فَجَاءَتْ بِرَجُلٍ مِنْ بَنِي حَنِيفَةَ يُقَالُ لَهُ ثُمَامَةُ بْنُ أُثَالٍ، فَرَبَطُوهُ بِسَارِيَةٍ مِنْ سَوَارِي الْمَسْجِدِ، فَخَرَجَ إِلَيْهِ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ " مَا عِنْدَكَ يَا ثُمَامَةُ ". فَقَالَ عِنْدِي خَيْرٌ يَا مُحَمَّدُ، إِنْ تَقْتُلْنِي تَقْتُلْ ذَا دَمٍ، وَإِنْ تُنْعِمْ تُنْعِمْ عَلَى شَاكِرٍ، وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تُرِيدُ الْمَالَ فَسَلْ مِنْهُ مَا شِئْتَ. حَتَّى كَانَ الْغَدُ ثُمَّ قَالَ لَهُ " مَا عِنْدَكَ يَا ثُمَامَةُ ". قَالَ مَا قُلْتُ لَكَ إِنْ تُنْعِمْ تُنْعِمْ عَلَى شَاكِرٍ. فَتَرَكَهُ حَتَّى كَانَ بَعْدَ الْغَدِ، فَقَالَ " مَا عِنْدَكَ يَا ثُمَامَةُ ". فَقَالَ عِنْدِي مَا قُلْتُ لَكَ. فَقَالَ " أَطْلِقُوا ثُمَامَةَ "، فَانْطَلَقَ إِلَى نَخْلٍ قَرِيبٍ مِنَ الْمَسْجِدِ فَاغْتَسَلَ ثُمَّ دَخَلَ الْمَسْجِدَ فَقَالَ أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ، يَا مُحَمَّدُ وَاللَّهِ مَا كَانَ عَلَى الأَرْضِ وَجْهٌ أَبْغَضَ إِلَىَّ مِنْ وَجْهِكَ، فَقَدْ أَصْبَحَ وَجْهُكَ أَحَبَّ الْوُجُوهِ إِلَىَّ، وَاللَّهِ مَا كَانَ مِنْ دِينٍ أَبْغَضَ إِلَىَّ مِنْ دِينِكَ، فَأَصْبَحَ دِينُكَ أَحَبَّ الدِّينِ إِلَىَّ، وَاللَّهِ مَا كَانَ مِنْ بَلَدٍ أَبْغَضُ إِلَىَّ مِنْ بَلَدِكَ، فَأَصْبَحَ بَلَدُكَ أَحَبَّ الْبِلاَدِ إِلَىَّ، وَإِنَّ خَيْلَكَ أَخَذَتْنِي وَأَنَا أُرِيدُ الْعُمْرَةَ، فَمَاذَا تَرَى فَبَشَّرَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَأَمَرَهُ أَنْ يَعْتَمِرَ، فَلَمَّا قَدِمَ مَكَّةَ قَالَ لَهُ قَائِلٌ صَبَوْتَ. قَالَ لاَ، وَلَكِنْ أَسْلَمْتُ مَعَ مُحَمَّدٍ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم، وَلاَ وَاللَّهِ لاَ يَأْتِيكُمْ مِنَ الْيَمَامَةِ حَبَّةُ حِنْطَةٍ حَتَّى يَأْذَنَ فِيهَا النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم.
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
The Prophet (ﷺ) sent some cavalry towards Najd and they brought a man from the tribe of Banu Hanifa who was called Thumama bin Uthal. They fastened him to one of the pillars of the Mosque. The Prophet went to him and said, "What have you got, O Thumama?" He replied," I have got a good thought, O Muhammad! If you should kill me, you would kill a person who has already killed somebody, and if you should set me free, you would do a favor to one who is grateful, and if you want property, then ask me whatever wealth you want."He was left till the next day when the Prophet (ﷺ) said to him, "What have you got, Thumama? He said, "What I told you, i.e. if you set me free, you would do a favor to one who is grateful." The Prophet (ﷺ) left him till the day after, when he said, "What have you got, O Thumama?" He said, "I have got what I told you. "On that the Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Release Thumama."So he (i.e. Thumama) went to a garden of date-palm trees near to the Mosque, took a bath and then entered the Mosque and said, "I testify that None has the right to be worshipped except Allah, and also testify that Muhammad is His Apostle! By Allah, O Muhammad! There was no face on the surface of the earth most disliked by me than yours, but now your face has become the most beloved face to me. By Allah, there was no religion most disliked by me than yours, but now it is the most beloved religion to me. By Allah, there was no town most disliked by me than your town, but now it is the most beloved town to me. Your cavalry arrested me (at the time) when I was intending to perform the `Umra. And now what do you think?"The Prophet (ﷺ) gave him good tidings (congratulated him) and ordered him to perform the `Umra. So when he came to Mecca, someone said to him, "You have become a Sabian?" Thumama replied, "No! By Allah, I have embraced Islam with Muhammad, Apostle of Allah. No, by Allah! Not a single grain of wheat will come to you from Yamamah unless the Prophet gives his permission."
[1] This means: What do you think I am going to do to you?(2) Thumāma had a good idea about the Prophet ﷺ for he knew that he would not oppress people, but forgive and help them.Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 4372In-book reference : Book 64, Hadith 398USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 5, Book 59, Hadith 658
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 4372
This Hadith tells the powerful story of Thumama bin Uthal. The Prophet's cavalry brought him from Banu Hanifa and tied him to a pillar of the mosque. The Prophet asked him more than once what he had, and Thumama answered that if he was treated with favor, he would be grateful, and if wealth was wanted, it could be asked. After the repeated exchanges, the Prophet ordered that Thumama be released. Thumama went to a nearby date-palm garden, bathed, returned to the mosque, and declared the two testimonies of faith. He then said that the Prophet's face, religion, and city had changed from being most disliked to most loved by him. The Hadith focuses on release, personal change, and a clear entry into Islam.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet questioned Thumama over several days before ordering his release.
- Thumama bathed before entering the mosque and declaring Islam.
- His feelings changed strongly after embracing Islam.
- The Prophet gave him good tidings and instructed him regarding Umrah.
