Ghawrath al-Ghatafani
غَوْرَثُ الْغَطَفَانِيُّGhawrath al-Ghaṭafānī
Biography
Ghawrath was a Bedouin of the tribe of Ghaṭafān who, reportedly for payment from his tribe, attempted to assassinate the Prophet (ﷺ) during the Ghazwah of Dhāt ar-Riqāʿ, while the Muslim army rested during the heat of the day and the Prophet (ﷺ) lay alone asleep under a tree. He took the Prophet's (ﷺ) own sword from where it hung, woke him by drawing it, and demanded to know if he was afraid, but began trembling uncontrollably and dropped the sword when the Prophet (ﷺ) answered that Allah would protect him. The Prophet (ﷺ) picked up the sword and turned the same question back on him; Ghawrath begged for mercy, and the Prophet (ﷺ) forgave him outright. He did not accept Islam, but promised never to fight the Muslims again and returned to his people declaring, "I have come from the best of mankind."
Significance
Attempted to assassinate the Prophet (ﷺ) while he slept alone at Dhat ar-Riqa; lost his nerve and was disarmed and forgiven outright, an episode frequently cited as a demonstration of the Prophet's (ﷺ) mercy toward those who sought his life