11 – Narrated by Muḥammad ibn al-Sāʾib al-Kalbī, from Abū Ṣāliḥ, from Ibn ʿAbbās (may Allah be pleased with him):

When Wahshī had killed Ḥamzah, he stayed away for a time. Later, Islam found its way into his heart, so he sent word to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, saying, “Faith has now settled in me, yet I heard you recite from Allah, Most High:

‘Those who do not call upon any other deity alongside Allah, who do not take a life which Allah has made sacred except with justice, and who do not commit fornication—whoever does that shall meet a penalty; the punishment will be doubled for him on the Day of Resurrection, and he will abide therein disgraced’ (al-Furqān 25:68–69).

I have done all three. Is there any concession for me?”

Gabriel descended and said, “O Muḥammad, say to him:

‘Except for those who repent, believe, and do righteous deeds—for such people Allah will replace their evil deeds with good ones. Allah is ever Forgiving, Merciful’ (al-Furqān 25:70).”

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ sent this verse to Wahshī. When it was read to him he said, “But this verse sets conditions, and I fear I may not fulfill them—what if I cannot consistently do righteous deeds? Do you have anything broader than that, O Muḥammad?”

Then Gabriel brought down the verse:

‘Say, My servants who have transgressed against their own souls, do not despair of Allah’s mercy. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins; He is the All-Forgiving, the All-Merciful’ (az-Zumar 39:53).

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ wrote this verse and dispatched it to Wahshī. When he heard it, Wahshī said, “As for this verse—yes!”

He therefore accepted Islam and wrote to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ: “I have embraced Islam; grant me permission to meet you.” The Messenger of Allah ﷺ replied, “Conceal your face from me, for I cannot bear to look directly at the killer of Ḥamzah, my uncle.” Wahshī remained silent—until Musaylamah wrote to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ:

“From Musaylamah, the Messenger of Allah, to Muḥammad, the Messenger of Allah. Peace be upon you. I have been given a share of the earth: half of it is mine and half is Quraysh’s, though Quraysh are a people who transgress.”

Two men brought the letter to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. When it had been read aloud, he said to the envoys, “Were it not that you are messengers, I would have killed you.”

He then summoned ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib (may Allah ennoble his face) and instructed him: “Write: In the Name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful. From Muḥammad, the Messenger of Allah, to Musaylamah the Liar. Peace be upon whoever follows guidance. To proceed: ‘The earth belongs to Allah; He gives it in heritage to whom He wills of His servants, and the good end is for the God-fearing’ (al-Aʿrāf 7:128). And may Allah send blessings upon our master Muḥammad.”

When Wahshī heard what Musaylamah had written to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, he brought out his spear, sharpened it, and resolved to kill Musaylamah. He held firmly to that resolve until he slew him on the Day of al-Yamāmah.