It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) sent a cavalry expedition towards Najd. They captured a man from the tribe of Banu Hanifah, Thumamah bin Uthal, who was the chief of the people of Yamamah. The Muslims tied him to one of the pillars of the mosque. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) came to him and asked: "Thumamah! What is your plan?" He replied: "O Muhammad! My plan is good. If you kill me, do not think that I am an ordinary man; rather, my people will surely seek revenge for my blood. And if you show kindness and set me free, I will be grateful to you. If you are in need of wealth, then ask, whatever you demand will be given to you." The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) left him. The next day, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) again said to him: "Thumamah! What is your plan?" He replied: "The same as I told you before. If you show kindness, you will show kindness to a grateful person, and if you kill me, my blood is not insignificant; my people will surely seek revenge. And if you are in need of wealth, then ask, whatever you want will be given to you." The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) left him as he was. On the third day, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said to him: "Thumamah! What is your plan?" He replied: "My plan is the same as I have already told you. If you show kindness to me, you will show kindness to a grateful person, meaning I will remain grateful and thankful to you. And if you kill me, you will kill an honored man, whose people will surely seek revenge. And if you want wealth and riches, then ask, whatever you want will be given to you." The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Release Thumamah." The Companions took Thumamah to a date orchard near the mosque, where he performed ghusl (ritual bath), then came into the mosque and said: "I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah." O Muhammad! By Allah, there was no face on the surface of the earth more disliked by me than your face, but now your radiant face is the most beloved and preferred to me among all people. By Allah! There was no religion more disliked by me than your religion, but now your religion is the most beloved and preferred to me among all religions. By Allah! There was no city in the world more disliked by me than your city, but now your city is the most beloved and preferred to me among all cities. Your cavalry had captured me. I was going for ‘Umrah. Now, what do you command?" The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) gave him glad tidings and ordered him to perform ‘Umrah. When he reached Makkah, someone said to him: "Have you become irreligious?" He replied: "No, I have not become irreligious, rather I have accepted Islam at the hand of Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). By Allah! Not a single grain of wheat will come to you from Yamamah until the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) permits it."