His submission to Islam was sound, and he passed away after the Messenger of Allah ﷺ but before the people of Bahrayn lapsed into apostasy, while al-ʿAlāʾ was still with him as the Prophet’s governor over Bahrayn.

For this reason al-Bukhārī relates—through Ibrāhīm ibn Ṭahmān, from Abū Jamrah, from Ibn ʿAbbās—who said:

“The first Friday congregational prayer held after the one established in the Mosque of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was in the mosque of ʿAbd al-Qays at Juwathā in Bahrayn.”

Al-Bukhārī also reports from Umm Salamah that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ postponed the two rakʿahs that follow Ẓuhr because of the delegation of ʿAbd al-Qays, and he did not perform them until after ʿAṣr in her house.

I say: The wording in Ibn ʿAbbās’s tradition nevertheless indicates that the delegation of ʿAbd al-Qays arrived before the Conquest of Mecca, for they said, “Between us and you stands this clan of Muḍar; we can reach you only in a sacred month.” Allah knows best.

The Story of Thumāmah and the Delegation of Banū Ḥanīfah, among whom was Musaylimah the Liar

Al-Bukhārī records, under the chapter “The Delegation of Banū Ḥanīfah and the Story of Thumāmah ibn Uthāl,” that ʿAbdullāh ibn Yūsuf narrated to us, al-Layth ibn Saʿd narrated to us, and Saʿīd ibn Abī Saʿīd related that he heard Abū Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) say:

“The Prophet ﷺ sent a cavalry detachment toward Najd, and they brought back a man from Banū Ḥanīfah named Thumāmah ibn Uthāl. They tied him to one of the pillars of the mosque. The Prophet ﷺ came out to him and said, ‘What do you have to say, O Thumāmah?’ He replied, ‘I have nothing but good to say, O Muhammad. If you kill me, you kill a man whose blood will be avenged; if you show favor, you show favor to one who will be grateful; and if you desire wealth, ask of it whatever you wish.’

“The Prophet left him until the next day, then said, ‘What do you have to say, O Thumāmah?’ He answered, ‘What I already told you: if you show favor, you show favor to one who will be grateful.’ He left him until the following day and again asked, ‘What do you have to say, O Thumāmah?’ He replied, ‘I have told you what I have to say.’

“Then the Prophet said, ‘Release Thumāmah.’ He went to a date-grove near the mosque, bathed, and returned to the mosque declaring, ‘I bear witness that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. O Muhammad, by Allah, there was no face on earth more hateful to me than yours, yet today your face has become the most beloved of all to me. By Allah, there was no religion more detested by me than your religion, yet today your religion is the dearest to me. By Allah, there was no land…’”