Life of Hazrat Umar R.A Accepts Islam

Hazrat Umar R.A accepts Islam

One hot afternoon the leaders of the Quraish tribe got together and decided to kill the Holy Prophet. Umar was  amongst  them and readily offered himself for the task. The Makkan leaders accepted his offer. Brandishing his sword Umar went in search of the Holy Prophet. The Holy Prophet was staying in the house of Arqam who had already accepted Islam.

As Umar was walking towards the house, another Makkan Naeem bin Abdullah met him on the way and asked him where he was going in such haste. “To kill Muhammad,” replied Umar. Naeem said to him, “You will repent for this.  The  followers of Muhammad will not leave you alive. They would rather kill you than let you reach Muhammad.”

Umar said, “It seems that you too have changed your religion. Had I known that before I would have killed you first.”

Naeem retorted, “What if I tell you that your sister and her husband have become Muslims?”

Hearing this Umar was outraged and went straight to his sister’s house. He knocked at the door. He could hear someone reciting something inside. His sister opened the door. Umar demanded to know whether they had become  Muslims. His brother-in-law acknowledged this and tried to explain but Umar was in no mood to listen to any  explanation. He drew his sword and advanced towards his brother-in-law but his sister stepped in his way and was injured. She looked at Umar and said boldly, “Do what you may. We are Muslims and will remain so.” Then she recited Kalima Tayyaba, ‘La ilaha illallahu Muhammad-ur-Rasool-ullah’, the declaration of Islamic faith. It means, ‘There is none worthy of worship except Allah; Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.’ Noticing the blood on his sister’s face and hearing her bold reply, Umar was deeply touched and came to his senses. He asked them what they were reading. His sister replied, “Wash your hands and face and then I will allow you to read the verses of the Holy Quran, which we were reading.” These were some verses from the Chapter TAHA of the Holy Quran.

“Verily, I am Allah; there is no god beside Me; so worship Me alone, and observe Prayer for My remembrance.  Surely, the Hour is coming and I am going to manifest it, so that every one may be recompensed according to his endeavour.” (Ch 20: 15,16).

As soon as Umar recited these verses of the Holy Quran, he was deeply impressed and decided to become a Muslim.

He went to the house where the Holy Prophet was staying and knocked at the door. Seeing him armed caused concern among the Companions but the Holy Prophet said, “Let him come in.”

When Umar entered the room the Holy Prophet calmly asked him the purpose of his visit.

“To become a Muslim,” was the prompt reply. Thereupon the Holy Prophet praised God and shouted Allah-o-Akbar. All his Companions followed in a loud chorus of Allah-o-Akbar, which echoed far and wide.

It should be noted that only the previous day the Holy Prophet of Islam had expressed his wish that either Umar bin  Khattaab or Umar bin Hishaam, who was later known as Abu Jahl, may become Muslim. Both of them were influential and powerful persons in Makkah. God accepted his prayers and so ordained that the very person chosen by the enemy  to  kill the Holy Prophet became a humble servant of Islam. Before Hadhrat Umar accepted Islam, Muslims used to offer their Prayers in secret.

With Umar’s acceptance of Islam their courage was boosted and they felt that they could worship God openly.

The Holy Prophet gave Hadhrat Umar the title ‘Farooq’, so he was known by the name ‘Umar Farooq’. Farooq means, “the one who distinguishes between right and wrong.”