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nature feeling that lay behind that fragile cover of pre-Islamic ignorance and mentality. His sharp
temper and excessive enmity towards the Prophet (Peace be upon him) led him one day to leave his
house, sword in hand, with the intention of killing the Prophet (Peace be upon him) . He was in a fit
of anger and was fretting and fuming. Nu'aim bin 'Abdullah, a friend of 'Umar's, met him
accidentally half way. What had caused so much excitement in him and on whom was the fury to
burst, he inquired casually. 'Umar said furiously: "To destroy the man Muhammad (Peace be upon
him) this apostate, who has shattered the unity of Quraish, picked holes in their religion, found folly
with their wise men and blasphemed their gods." "'Umar, I am sure, your soul has deceived you, do
you think that Banu 'Abd Munaf would let you walk on earth if you slain Muhammad (Peace be upon
him)? Why don't you take care of your own family first and set them right?"
"Which of the folk of my house?" asked 'Umar angrily. "Your brother-in-law and your sister have
apostatized [meaning to say: They have become followers of Muhammad (Peace be upon him)] and
abandoned your religion."
'Umar directed his footsteps to his sister's house. As he drew near, he heard the voice of Khabbab
bin Aratt, who was reading the Qur'ânic Chapter
Tâ-Hâ
(mystic letters, T. H.) to both of them.
Khabbab, perceiving the noise of his footsteps retired to a closet. Fatimah, 'Umar's sister, took hold
of the leaf and hid it. But 'Umar had already heard the voice. "What sound was that I have heard
just now?" shouted the son of Khattab, entering angrily. Both his sister and her husband replied,
"You heard nothing." "Nay," said he swearing fiercely, "I have heard that you have apostatized." He
plunged forward towards his brother-in-law and beat him severely, but Fatimah rushed to the
rescue of her husband. Thereupon, 'Umar fell upon his sister and struck upon her head. The
husband and wife could not contain themselves and cried aloud: "Yes, we are Muslims, we believe in
Allâh and His Messenger Muhammad (Peace be upon him) so do what you will." When 'Umar saw
the face of his dear sister besmeared with blood, he was softened and said: "Let me see what you
were reading, so that I may see what Muhammad (Peace be upon him) has brought." Fatimah was
satisfied with the assurance, but said: "O brother, you are unclean on account of your idolatry, none
but the pure may touch it. So go and wash first." He did so, and took the page and read the opening
verses of the Chapter
Tâ-Hâ
until he reached:
"Verily! I am Allâh!
Lâ ilâha illa Ana
(none has the right to be worshipped but I), so worship
Me and offer prayers perfectly (
Iqâmat-as-Salât
), for My Remembrance." [20:14].
'Umar read the verses with great interest and was much entranced with them. "How excellent it is,
and how graceful! Please guide me to Muhammad (Peace be upon him) ." said he. And when he
heard that, Khabbab came out of concealment and said, "O 'Umar, I hope that Allâh has answered
the prayer of the Prophet (Peace be upon him) , for I heard him say: 'O Allâh! Strengthen Islam
through either 'Umar bin Al-Khattab or Abu Jahl bin Hisham.'" 'Umar then left for a house in Safa
where Muhammad (Peace be upon him) had been holding secret meetings along with his
Companions. 'Umar reached that place with the sword swinging by his arm. He knocked at the door.
The Companions of the Prophet (Peace be upon him) turned to see who the intruder was. One of
them peeped through a chink in the door and reeled back exclaiming: "It is 'Umar with his sword."
Hamzah, dispelling the fears of his friends, said: "Let him in. As a friend he is welcome. As a foe, he
will have his head cut off with his own sword." The Prophet (Peace be upon him) asked his
Companions to open the door. In came the son of Khattab. The Prophet (Peace be upon him)
advanced to receive the dreadful visitor, caught him by his garment and scabbard, and asked him
the reason of his visit. At that 'Umar replied: "O Messenger of Allâh (Peace be upon him), I come to
you in order to believe in Allâh and his Messenger and that which he has brought from his Lord."
Filled with delight, Muhammad (Peace be upon him) together with his Companions, cried aloud:
'
Allâhu Akbar
' (Allâh is Great).
The conversion of 'Umar was a real triumph for the cause of Islam. So great and instant was the
effect of his conversion on the situation that the believers who had hitherto worshipped Allâh within
their four walls in secret now assembled and performed their rites of worship openly in the Holy
Sanctuary itself. This raised their spirits, and dread and uneasiness began to seize Quraish.
Ibn Ishaq narrated on the authority of 'Umar (May Allah be pleased), "When I embraced Islam, I
remembered the archenemy of Muhammad (Peace be upon him), i.e. Abu Jahl. I set out, and
knocked at his door. When he came out to see me, I told him directly that I had embraced Islam. He
immediately slammed the door repulsively denouncing my move as infamous and my face as ugly."
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