It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that once the Muslims captured a man named Thumamah bin Uthal (who was a highly respected and wealthy person in his tribe) and imprisoned him. When he passed by the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) asked him, "What is Thumamah's intention?" He replied, "If you kill me, you will kill a person whose blood is precious. If you show kindness to me, you will show kindness to a grateful person. And if you desire wealth, you will get it." Whenever the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) passed by him, he would ask him the same question as above, and he would give the same answer as before.

One day, Allah put it in the heart of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and he decided that Thumamah should be released. So the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) set him free. At his request, the people took him to a well belonging to the Ansar, where he was given a bath, and then he accepted Islam. He said, "O Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), until yesterday evening, there was no face more disliked in my eyes than your face, no religion more disliked than your religion, and no city more disliked than your city. But now, your religion is the most beloved of all religions to me, your blessed face is the most beloved of all faces, and your city is the most beloved of all cities to me. From today onwards, not a single grain of food from Yamamah will reach the Quraysh."

At this point, Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said, "By Allah, he was more despicable in my eyes than a pig, and now he is greater than a mountain." And his path was left open. So Thumamah went to Yamamah and stopped the supply of grain to the Quraysh, which caused the Quraysh to cry out in distress and they became very worried. Forced by circumstances, they wrote a petition to the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), requesting him to order Thumamah to show kindness and leniency. So the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) wrote a letter to Thumamah of this nature.