Umar
bin Khattâb's conversion to Islam
Umar bin Khattâb's acceptance of
Islam plunged the Quraish into immense grief and their hostility took a serious
turn. Umar bin Khattâb was, like Hamzah bin Abdul-Muttalib (radhiyallahu
'anha), a well-known wrestler and one of the most famous brave men of Arabia.
He played a prominent role in targeting the Muslims because of their new faith.
He took hold of a Muslim and kept on thrashing him till he himself became
exhausted and resumed the beating after having to take a rest. He tried his
level best to bring the Muslims back to the old faith but miserably failed in
this endeavor. Being frustrated to the core he, one day announced in a assembly
of the disbelievers his plan to do away with Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم), the cause of the discord in Arabia.
Having heard about this heinous
plan, Abu Jahl encouraged him by offering one hundred camels and one thousand
Uqiyah (about 125 kilograms) of silver if the task was accomplished. In this
state he came out with unsheathed sword in his hand in search of Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم). "Where are you
going in this manner?" Saad bin Abu Waqqâs asked Umar. "I am going to
assassinate Muhammad today so that the calamity that has overtaken the Makkans
is not experienced anymore." "Do you not fear the retaliation of Banu
Hâshim?" Saad bin Abu Waqqâs (radhiyallahu 'anha) pleaded with Umar bin
Khattâb. "So far as there is a sword in my hand I fear none." Umar
bin Khattâb retorted and added, "As you appear to be a staunch supporter
of Muhammad, let me kill you first." Saad bin Abu Waqqâs (radhiyallahu
'anha) replied, "Take care of your own household first before killing
Muhammad and me, for your sister has already embraced Islam."
Hearing this sarcastic reply, Umar
turned mad with rage and proceeded straight towards the house of his sister.
His turning towards the house of his sister was, in fact, his turning to Islam.
Khabbâb bin Al-Aratt (radhiyallahu 'anha) was then giving Fâtimah (radhiyallahu
'anha), the sister of Umar bin Khattâb and Saeed bin Zaid (radhiyallahu 'anha),
her husband, lessons in the Quran.
Having heard the footsteps, Khabbâb
(radhiyallahu 'anha) hid somewhere in the house along with the written pages of
the Quran. "What were you all reading?" Umar inquired in a fit of
anger and grappled with his brother-in-law beating him mercilessly. When his
sister intervened to save her husband, Umar hit her too making her bleed.
Thereupon she mustered courage enough to throw a challenge to Umar saying
"Umar; We have become Muslims and have been obeying Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم), so do whatever you
want."
On this courageous reply, Umar
looked towards the bleeding face of his sister and his heart was moved at the
pathetic sight, with the result that his furious storm subsided to a great
extent. Umar then asked his sister to show him what they were reading. Since
Umar was talking sense, his sister dared to ask him to take a bath first before
touching the Scripture. Umar took a bath and then went through the Words of
Allâh only to admit with fervor:
"What sweet words these are, I
am feeling the impression on my heart."
Having heard this, Khabbâb (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) came out from his
hiding and said, "Congratulations, O Umar! The prayer of Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) has been accepted,
for I have heard the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم)
invoking Allâh: 'O Allâh! Convert to Islam either Umar bin Khatțâb or Abu Jahl
bin Hishâm.'" Then Khabbâb read out the first Ruku' of Sûrat Tâ-Hâ. Umar
upon hearing the Verses of the Quran, started weeping emotionally. Following
this, Umar demanded from Khabbâb (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ
عَنْهُ) to take him to the Prophet (صلى الله
عليه وآله وسلم). Umar still had the unsheathed sword in his hand but his
purpose was changed.
Umar knocked at the door of the
house of Arqam. Since he had an unsheathed sword in his hand, the Companions
were reluctant to open the door. But the Prophet (صلى
الله عليه وآله وسلم) asked them to throw the door open. Hamzah
(رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) encouraged them
saying, "Let him in. If he has good intentions it is better, otherwise he
will be beheaded with his own sword."
As Umar stepped in, the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) moved forward and
said seizing his cloak rather violently: "Will you not leave your
path?" Umar answered: "O Messenger of Allâh! I have come to embrace
Islam." As the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم)
heard this, he raised the cry of Allâhu Akbar, and his Companions joined him so
loudly that it resounded through the hills of Makkah.
Islam was immensely strengthened
with Hamzah and Umar (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ)
marching to the path of Islam one after another. After converting to Islam,
Umar bin Khatțâb (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ)
proceeded straight to the house of Abu Jahl and knocked at his door. He came
out and fervently greeted Umar bin Khatțâb (رَضِيَ
ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) and said, "What for have you come?" Umar replied,
"By the grace of Allâh, I have embraced Islam and I now believe in
Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) as the Messenger of
Allâh." Hearing this Abu Jahl shut his door in rage and went in. Umar (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) also came back. He
meant by it to break this news to the greatest enemy of Islam.
Umar bin Khatțâb (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) soon after believing in Allâh and His
Messenger, suggested to the Prophet (صلى الله عليه
وآله وسلم): "We need not pray to Allâh secretly in houses, we should
do it publicly at the Ka'bah." Umar bin Khatțâb (رَضِيَ
ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) fought back anyone who stood against it. Now the Muslims made
it a practice to perform their prayers at the Ka'bah and Islam made its
presence felt open and above board. This event took place at the end of the
last month of the sixth year of Prophethood. Umar bin Khatțâb (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) was then 33 years of
age. With his conversion to Islam the number of Muslims in Makkah reached 40.
No comments:
Post a Comment