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Safwaan continued without despair asking caravan after caravan until one day he met one and said
to them, "Hasn't anything taken place in Al-Madiinah?" The traveler said, "Yes, a very important matter
occurred." With a radiant face and at the peak of ecstasy Safwaan asked the traveler anxiously, "What
happened? Tell me!" The man said ,"`Umair Ibn Wahb has embraced Islam, and he is there learning the
religion and the Qur'aan!"
Safwaan felt giddy, and the good new which he had announced to his people and for which they were
waiting to make them forget the Battle of Badr came to him that day dreadful enough to cause his ruin!
One day the traveler arrived, and `Umair returned to Makkah holding his sword, ready to fight, and
Safwaan Ibn `Umaiyah was the first who met him. No sooner did Safwaan see `Umair than he got ready
to attack him, but the combat-ready sword in the hand of Umair dissuaded him. He was satisfied with
some insults vented on `Umair and went his way.
`Umair entered Makkah as a Muslim though he had left it a few days earlier as a polytheist. In his
memory was the image of `Umar Ibn Al-Khattaab when he embraced Islam, and cried, "By Allah! I'll sit
as a believer in every place where I sat as a polytheist." Taking these words as a motto and that situation
as a model, `Umair made up his mind to sacrifice his life for the religion that he had boldly fought
against when he had the force to hurt any Muslim. And thus he began to compensate for what he had
missed and to race with time by calling to Islam day and night, secretly and openly. In his heart faith
floods upon him with safety, guidance, and light.
On his tongue are words of truth with which he calls to justice, charity, kindness and good. In this
right hand is a sword with which he terrifies the severers who hinder the believers from the path of Allah
and want it crooked. Within a few weeks, those who embraced Islam by the guidance of `Umair Ibn
Wahb were becoming innumerable. `Umair set forth with them to Al- Madiinah in a delightful, long
caravan.
The desert that they crossed during their journey could not hold its astonishment and wonder at that
man who had crossed it a short while ago holding his sword and hurrying towards Al-Madiinah to kill
the Prophet (PBUH). Then he had crossed it returning from Al Madiinah with quite a different face from
the first one. He was reciting the Qur'aan on the back of his she-camel. Now, he was crossing the desert
for the third time ahead of a long procession of believers filling the desert with the praise of Allah. Yes,
it was a great announcement, that the Satan of the Quraish was turned by the guidance of Allah into a
bold Disciple of Islam who stood beside the Prophet (PBUH) in battles and situations and whose loyalty
to the religion of Allah continued to be firm even after the departure of the Prophet from life.
On the day of the Conquest of Makkah, he did not forget his companion and relative, to call him to
Islam, especially after there was no doubt in the truth of the Prophet (PBUH) and his mission.
Safwaan had traveled to Jeddah on his way to Yemen by sea. `Umair pitied him so much that he
decided to deliver him from Satan by all means. He hurried to the Prophet (PBUH) and said, "O Prophet
of Allah, Safwaan Ibn `Umaiyah is the chief of his people. He set off escaping from you to throw himself
into the sea. Give him safety. Peace be upon you." The Prophet (PBUH) said, "He is safe." `Umair said
"O Prophet of Allah, give me a token for his safety." The Prophet (PBUH) gave him his turban which he
had worn when he entered Makkah.
We let `Urwah Ibn Az-Zubair complete the story: `Umair set off till he reached Safwaan when he was
about to sail. `Umair said, "O Safwaan, I sacrifice my mother and father for you. Avert perishing
yourself. This is the safety of the Prophet of Allah (PBUH) I came to you with." Safwaan said to him,
"Woe to you! Go away, don't speak to me." `Umair said to him, "O Safwaan! I sacrifice my mother and
father for you. The Prophet of Allah is the best, the most righteous, and the most clement of all people.
His glory is yours and his honor is yours." Safwaan said, "I'm afraid." `Umair said, "He's more clement
and more generous than that." He returned with him until they came to the Prophet (PBUH). Safwaan
said to the Prophet, "He claims that you have given me safety." The Prophet said, "He speaks the truth."
Safwaan said to the Prophet, "Give me the option for four months." The Prophet (PBUH) said, "You