Sumama ibn Uthal [radiyallahu anh]

Sumama [radiyallahu anh] was one of the two great leaders of the Yamama region (present-day Riyadh). After embracing Islam, he was appointed by the Messenger of Allah [sallallahu alayhi wa sallam] as the governor of Yamama.

He was the first to inform the Prophet [sallallahu alayhi wa sallam] of the disturbances caused by the false prophet Musaylima al-Kadhdhab. After the passing of the Prophet [sallallahu alayhi wa sallam], he fought against Musaylima and spent the rest of his life battling other apostates.

Eventually, he was defeated by the army led by the apostate commander Hutam ibn Dubay and was martyred on the battlefield. 

May Allah be pleased with him.

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The Boycott Against the Idolaters

After embracing Islam, Sumama [radiyallahu anh] sought permission from the Messenger of Allah [sallallahu alayhi wa sallam] to perform Umrah. As he entered Makkah, he raised his voice in talbiyah, just as he had learned from the Prophet:

"Labbayk Allahumma labbayk, labbayka la sharika laka labbayk…"

Thus, he became the first Muslim to enter Makkah while openly proclaiming the talbiyah.

Hearing his declaration, the Quraysh idolaters were astounded that a man of such status had accepted Islam. Enraged, they drew their swords and rushed toward the source of the voice.

But as they approached, they found him standing before them, radiating an aura of dignity and composure. Some young men among them prepared to shoot their arrows at him, but the elders intervened, warning:

- Be careful! Do you know who this is? This is Sumama ibn Uthal, the leader of Yamama. If you harm a single hair on his head, his people will cut off our food supply and leave us to starve!

Some of the elders then approached Sumama [radiyallahu anh] and asked:

- Tell us, O Sumama, have you abandoned the faith of your ancestors?

He replied firmly:

- No. Rather, I have followed the best of all religions—I have believed in Muhammad.

Then, turning to the crowd, he proclaimed loudly:

- By the Lord of this Sacred House! From this day forward, unless you follow Muhammad, I will send you neither a grain of wheat nor any other provision!

And indeed, he fulfilled his word. He imposed an economic boycott on the Quraysh, cutting off their food supply. The impact was so severe that prices skyrocketed, and people began to suffer from hunger. The very same boycott they had once imposed on the Muslims was now being used against them.

Unable to endure the hardship any longer, they wrote a letter to the Prophet [sallallahu alayhi wa sallam]:

"O Muhammad! We have always known you as one who upholds family ties and seeks the well-being of his kin. Yet now, you turn away from your own relatives! You have slain their fathers by the sword, and now you wish to let their children die of hunger!

Sumama, one of your followers, is boycotting us, refusing to send us the provisions we need. If you are truly as merciful as you claim, send him word to lift the embargo."

Upon receiving this message, the Prophet [sallallahu alayhi wa sallam] sent instructions to Sumama, who then lifted the boycott.

Standing Against Musaylima

Sumama [radiyallahu anh] continued to serve as the governor of Yamama until the passing of the Messenger of Allah [sallallahu alayhi wa sallam]. Shortly before the Prophet’s demise, he personally traveled to Madinah to inform him of Musaylima’s false claim to prophethood.

Returning to the Banu Hanifa tribe, he endeavored to dissuade them from following Musaylima.

One day, Musaylima gathered his people, urging them to believe in his supposed prophethood.  Sumama stood before the crowd and addressed them with these powerful words:

"O people! Beware! Do not follow this man, who brings nothing but misfortune wherever he goes! By Allah, this man is a wretched deceiver whom Allah has sent as a trial for you. O children of Hanifa! By Allah, there cannot be two prophets at the same time. Muhammad is the Seal of the Prophets. After him, there shall be no other prophet!"

He then recited the opening ayahs of surah Al-Ghafir:

"Ha Mim. The revelation of this Book is from Allah, the Almighty, the All-Knowing."

Turning to the people, he asked:

"When you have the divine words of Allah before you, will you still believe in the nonsense that Musaylima claims to be revelation?"

Then, he recited some of the ridiculous verses that Musaylima had fabricated:

"What is the elephant? And what will make you understand what the elephant is? It has a tail like a palm fiber and a trunk that is long!"

And another:

"O daughter of the frog! Why do you croak? Your upper part is in the water, and your lower part in the mud. You neither disturb the drinker nor prevent him from drinking!"

Upon hearing this, a group of people abandoned Musaylima and joined Sumama. He continued his struggle against Musaylima and other apostates for the rest of his life, waging jihad against them until his final breath.

May Allah be pleased with him.