Mālik had been afraid that the tribe of Thaqīf might kill him after the Prophet ﷺ had spoken about him. He therefore ordered that a riding camel be made ready and had his horse brought to him. Leaving by night, he caught up with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ—either at al-Jiʿrānah or in Mecca. The Prophet restored to him his family and his property and granted him one hundred camels. In gratitude Mālik recited:

I have never seen, nor even heard of, anyone
Among all mankind the equal of Muhammad.
Most faithful, most generous with abundant gifts when asked;
And if you will, he tells you what tomorrow holds.
When the battalion bares its gleaming fangs,
The enemy is struck therein by every well-forged blade.
He is like a lion among its cubs,
Crouching in its den, poised to spring.

The Prophet ﷺ then appointed him over those of his people who had embraced Islam—namely the clans of Thamālah, Salamah, and Fahm. With them he fought against Thaqīf: their herds never left the settlement without his raiding them and carrying off spoil.

Ibn ʿAsākir relates that Mālik ibn ʿAwf was present at the conquest of Damascus, where he owned a house.

Abū ʿĀṣim narrated: Jaʿfar ibn Yaḥyā ibn Thawbān told us; my uncle ʿUmārah ibn Thawbān informed me that Abū al-Ṭufayl said, “I was a young boy carrying a piece of camel meat, and I saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ distributing meat at al-Jiʿrānah. A woman approached him and he spread his cloak for her. I asked, ‘Who is she?’ They said, ‘His wet-nurse.’”

Al-Ḥakam ibn ʿAbd al-Malik transmitted from Qatādah: When Hawāzin was conquered, a woman came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and said, “I am your sister, Shaymāʾ bint al-Ḥārith.” He replied, “If you are truthful, you carry a mark of mine that will never fade.” She exposed her upper arm and said, “Yes, Messenger of Allah. I carried you when you were small, and you bit me right here.” He spread his cloak for her and said, “Ask and you will be given, and intercede so that your intercession may be accepted …”