The Chief Who Ran Away

'Adi was the son of Hatim, whose generosity the Arabs used as a proverb. He inherited his father's standing and led Tayyi' as a Christian, taking a share of the tribe's wealth as its chief. He disliked the rise of the Prophet ﷺ and knew that Islam would end his rule.

When he heard that a Muslim force sent by the Prophet ﷺ was heading for the shrine of Tayyi', he gathered his family and fled to Syria, to the Christians there. In the haste of his flight he left behind a sister, who was taken among the captives and brought to Madinah.

The reports say that she was held with the captives until the Prophet ﷺ passed by, and she asked him to release her for the sake of her father's character. He freed her, gave her provisions, and sent her home with kindness. Her first words to her brother were to urge him to go to the Prophet ﷺ without fear.