When Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) reached the cave of Hira, he sent a message to Akhnas bin Shuraiq asking, “Do you grant me amnesty and protection to enter Makkah Mukarramah?” Akhnas responded saying, “I am an ally of the Quraish, hence I cannot grant you amnesty and protection.”
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) thereafter sent a message to Suhail bin ‘Amr, requesting him for amnesty and protection to enter Makkah Mukarramah. Suhail replied, “The clan of Banu ‘Aamir cannot grant amnesty and protection in opposition of the clan of Banu Ka’b.”
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) then sent a message to Mut’im bin ‘Adiyy asking, “Do you grant me amnesty and protection to enter Makkah Mukarramah?” Mut’im accepted the request of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and agreed to grant him amnesty and protection.
He thus gathered his sons and his clan and instructed them to arm themselves and stand at the door of the haram. He informed them saying, “I have granted amnesty and protection to Muhammed (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam).” He then mounted his camel and came to the haram where he stood and called out to the people saying, “O people of the Quraish! I have granted amnesty and protection to Muhammed (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), so no person should interfere with him!”
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) then entered the haram, kissed the Hajar-e-Aswad, performed tawaaf of the Ka’bah and performed two rakaats of salaah. He then proceeded to his home with Mut’im and his sons escorting him and protecting him.
On account of Mut’im showing this kindness to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) had mentioned the following on the occasion of Badr, regarding the disbelievers taken as prisoners:
لو كان المطعم بن عدي حيا ثم كلمني في هٰؤلاء النتنٰى لتركتهم له
If Mut’im bin ‘Adiyy was alive today and he had interceded to me on behalf of these impure people (i.e. the captives of war, asking me to release them), then out of consideration for him, I would have released all of them.
(Extracted from Seeratul Mustafa 1/281-282)