The Captive of Badr

Suhayl ibn 'Amr was one of the most eloquent and influential men of Quraysh, known as their orator. His son 'Abdullah had embraced Islam early and even emigrated, but his father held him back in Makkah. At Badr, 'Abdullah was brought out with the army of Quraysh; when the two forces met, he slipped across to the Muslims.

Suhayl himself was captured at Badr. 'Umar ibn al-Khattab asked the Prophet ﷺ to let him pull out Suhayl's front teeth, so his tongue would never again speak against the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. The Prophet ﷺ refused, saying he would not disfigure anyone, lest Allah disfigure him though he was a prophet, and that perhaps Suhayl would one day stand in a position that 'Umar would not blame.

Suhayl was later ransomed by Quraysh. The scene shows how the Prophet ﷺ regarded even his bitter opponents: as people in whom good might still appear.