Mut‘im ibn ‘Adi

Mut‘im ibn ‘Adi (Arabic: مطعم بن عدي‎) was a non-Muslim, uncle of the Islamic prophet Muhammad and the chief of the Banu Nawfal clan of the Banu Quraish tribe.^[1]

Biography

Family

Mut‘im died a non-Muslim;^[2] however, his son Jubayr ibn Mut'im became a Muslim.^[3]

Muhammad's era

‘A’isha (610)

In 12 BH (610 CE), Abu Bakr had initially engaged his daughter ‘A’isha to Mut‘im's son Jubayr ibn Mut'im, but when Mut‘im was informed that Abu Bakr had adopted Islam, he no longer wished his son to marry ‘A’isha.^[4]

Third deputation with Abu Talib (7 BH (614–615 CE))

Mut‘im was part of the third deputation aimed at having Abu Talib stop protecting Muhammad.^[5]

Meccan boycott of the Hashemites (617-619)

Mut‘im, together with four other people, took a prominent initiative that resulted in the end of the Meccan boycott that was causing starvation to the Muslims.^[6]

Muhammad's visit to Ta'if (620)

When Muhammad and Zaid ibn Muhammad (son of Haritha, who was for a time the adopted son of Muhammad) went to Ta'if to invite them to Islam, but did not succeed and returned to Mecca, he did not return openly. Muhammad sent Zaid to seek asylum for him among his friends in Mecca. Mut‘im provided asylum for him and he returned to Mecca.^[6][7]

Isra and Mi‘raj (620)

After Muhammad stated that he had undergone the Isra and Mi‘raj, Mut‘im said:

All of your affair before today was bearable, until what you said today. I bear witness that you are a liar. We strike the flanks of the she-camels for one month to reach the Hallowed House, then for another month to come back, and you claim that you went there in one night! By Allat, by al-‘Uzzá! I do not believe you.^[2]

Abu Bakr said:

O Mut‘im, what an evil thing you said to the son of your brother when you faced him thus and declared him a liar! As for me I bear witness that he spoke the truth.^[2]

Second pledge at al-Aqabah (622)

Sa'd ibn Ubadah participated in the secret Second pledged. It was not after that the Medinan pilgrims had left the city that the Meccans became aware of meeting and in a fit of rage, they pursued the pilgrims but only managed to catch hold of Sa‘d, who they subjected to great tortures, but he was later rescued by Mut‘im and Harith ibn Harb with whom Sa‘d had trade relations.^[5]

References