Acceptance of ‘Umar (ra) — Seal of the Prophets Vol. 1
Introduction
In this discourse from The Life & Character of the Seal of the Prophets (Volume 1), Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad (ra) details the historical events and scholarly insights surrounding Acceptance of ‘Umar (ra).
Book Series: The Life & Character of the Seal of the Prophets (Volume 1)
Author: Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad (ra)
Section: VII-Days of Struggle
Pages: Book pp. 219–222 (PDF pp. 243–246)
Navigation: Book Table of Contents | « Previous: [Acceptance of Hamzah (ra)] | Next: [A Meeting of the Holy Prophet (sa) with a Delegation of the Quraish] »
Historical Account
heart of ‘Umarra. After a short silence, he said to his sister, “Show me the word that you were reading.” “I shall not,” responded Fāṭimahra, “for you will destroy the leaflets.” ‘Umarra replied, “Nay, Nay! Please show me, I shall indeed return them to you.” “But you are unclean,” said Fāṭimahra, “and the Qur’ān should be touched in a state of purity. First bathe, then read.” Perhaps her desire was also that by taking a bath, ‘Umar’sra rage would fully subside, after which he would be able to reflect with a cool heart. When ‘Umarra had taken a bath, Fāṭimahra placed the leaflets of the Qur’ān before him. When he took hold of them and saw, they were the opening verses of chapter Ṭā Hā. Ḥaḍrat ‘Umarra began to read them with an awe-inspired heart and every single word deeply impressed the heart of this well-natured man. While reading, Ḥaḍrat ‘Umarra reached the following words:
Meaning, “I am the one and only Creator and Master of this world. There is none worthy of worship except Me. So worship Me alone and devote your prayers to My remembrance. Lo! The promised hour cometh, but we have kept it secret, so that everyone may be recompensed for his endeavours.”
[Ṭā Hā (20:15-16)]
When Ḥaḍrat ‘Umarra recited this verse, it was as if his eye was opened, and his latent disposition was suddenly aroused. He powerlessly said, “What a strange and holy word this is!”
When Khabbābra heard these words, he immediately came out, thanked God, and said:
“This is due to the prayer of the messenger of Allāh. By God, it was only yesterday I heard the Holy Prophetsa pray that, ‘O Allāh! Do bless either ‘Umar bin Al-Khaṭṭāb or ‘Amr bin Hishām (meaning Abū Jahl) with Islām.’”
Every moment was now becoming difficult for Ḥaḍrat ‘Umarra and he said to Khabbābra, “Tell me the way to Muḥammadsa at once.” In the fervour of his excitement, he kept his sword unsheathed. During this time, the Holy Prophetsa was in the Dār-e-Arqam; as such, Khabbābra gave him the location. ‘Umarra went
there, and firmly knocked at the door. When the companions peered through the crack in the door, and saw ‘Umarra holding an unsheathed sword, they were reluctant in opening the door, but the Holy Prophetsa said, “Open the door.” Ḥaḍrat Ḥamzahra also said “Open the door. If he has come with pure intentions then well and good, otherwise, if his intentions are evil, by Allāh, I shall sever his head off by his own sword.” The door was opened, and ‘Umarra entered, unsheathed sword in hand. Upon seeing him, the Holy Prophetsa moved forward and taking hold of Ḥaḍrat ‘Umar’sra mantle he yanked it, saying, “O ‘Umar, with what intention have you come? By Allāh, I see that you have not been created for the chastisement of Allāh.” “O Messenger of Allāh,” responded ‘Umarra, “I wish to become a Muslim.” When the Holy Prophetsa heard these words, in the fervour of his happiness, he said, “Allāhu Akbar!” and his companions called out the slogan of ‘Allāhu Akbar’ so loudly that the mountains of Makkah began to resonate.
[As-Sīratun-Nabawiyyah, By Abū Muḥammad ‘Abdul-Malik bin Hishām, p. 253, Bābu Islāmi ‘Umar bin Al-Khaṭṭābra, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (2001) * Ar-Rauḍul-Anf, By Imām Abul-Qāsim ‘Abdur-Raḥmān Suhailī, Volume 2, pp. 120-124, Bābu Dhikri Islāmi ‘Umar bin Al-Khaṭṭābra, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (2001) * Sharḥul-‘Allāmatiz-Zarqānī ‘alal-Mawāhibil-Ladunniyyah, By Muḥammad bin ‘Abdul-Bāqī Az- Zarqānī, Volume 2, p. 8, Bābu Islāmil-Fārūq, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (1996) * With regards to Ḥaḍrat ‘Umar’sra acceptance of Islām there are various other narrations as well, but here, we have only taken the well-known narrations of the scholars of Sīrat. (Author)]
At that time, Ḥaḍrat ‘Umarra was thirty-three years of age, and he was the Chieftain of his tribe, the Banū ‘Adiyy. Among the Quraish he also held the responsibility of being an ambassador, and was very awe-inspiring, valiant, and courageous. By his acceptance of Islām, the Muslims gained significant strength. They left the Dār-e-Arqam and began offering their Ṣalāt openly in the Masjid-e-Ḥarām. Ḥaḍrat ‘Umarra was the last companion to accept Islām in the Dār-e-Arqam. This occurred in the last month of the sixth year after the prophetic commission. At that time the number of Muslim men totalled forty.
[Sharḥul-‘Allāmatiz-Zarqānī ‘alal-Mawāhibil-Ladunniyyah, By Muḥammad bin ‘Abdul-Bāqī Az- Zarqānī, Volume 2, p. 3-4, Bābu Islāmil-Fārūq, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (1996)]
When news of Ḥaḍrat ‘Umar’sra acceptance spread, the Quraish became exceedingly furious. In this very state of fury, they besieged the home of Ḥaḍrat ‘Umarra. When Ḥaḍrat ‘Umarra stepped out, a large party of people gathered around him. It was nigh that various enraged young men attack Ḥaḍrat ‘Umarra, but he stood his ground with extreme audacity. At last, in this state, a Chieftain of Makkah, ‘Āṣ bin Wā’il, arrived and upon noticing this
multitude, he moved forward in his authoritative manner and said, “What is the matter?” The people said, “‘Umar has become a Ṣābī.” After judging the situation he said, “Alright, even still, there is no need for this commotion. I give ‘Umar my protection.” At this voice, in accordance with the Arab custom, people were compelled to silence and they gradually dispersed. After that, Ḥaḍrat ‘Umarra remained in security for a few days, because no one would confront him on account of the protection of ‘Āṣ bin Wā’il. But the honour of Ḥaḍrat ‘Umarra could not bear this state for long. Hence, much time had not passed before he went to ‘Āṣ bin Wā’il and said, “I leave your protection”. Ḥaḍrat ‘Umarra relates, “After this, I would remain in a constant brawl in the streets of Makkah.” However, Ḥaḍrat ‘Umarra never lowered his gaze before anyone.
[Sharḥul-‘Allāmatiz-Zarqānī ‘alal-Mawāhibil-Ladunniyyah, By Muḥammad bin ‘Abdul-Bāqī Az- Zarqānī, Volume 2, pp. 9-10, Bābu Islāmil-Fārūq, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (1996)]
Shortly after Ḥaḍrat ‘Umarra accepted Islām, his son, ‘Abdullāh bin ‘Umarra also became Muslim. At that time, ‘Abdullāhra was only a child but after the demise of the Holy Prophetsa, he acquired great status, and was looked upon as a great scholar of Islām.
A Meeting of the Holy Prophetsa with a Delegation of the
Quraish
When the Quraish noticed powerful people the likes of Ḥaḍrat Ḥamzahra and Ḥaḍrat ‘Umarra entering the fold of Islām they became quite worried. After mutual consultation, at first, they sent ‘Utbah bin Rabī‘ah to the Holy Prophetsa, that in one way or another, he might convince the Prophetsa to stop the propagation of Islām. But when ‘Utbah was unsuccessful in this mission, rather, when the Quraish saw that, quite the contrary, ‘Utbah returned impressed and awe-inspired by the Holy Prophetsa, they gathered near the Ka‘bah one day, and deliberated. It was proposed that a few Chieftains collectively speak to the Holy Prophetsa. Therefore, in accordance with this proposal, Walīd bin Mughīrah, ‘Āṣ bin Wā’il, Abū Jahl, Umaiyyah bin Khalaf, ‘Utbah, Shaibah, Abū Sufyān, Aswad bin Muṭṭalib, Naḍr bin Ḥārith and Abul-Bakhtarī, etc., assembled near the Ka‘bah and one man was sent to the Holy Prophetsa with the message that
Book Series: The Life & Character of the Seal of the Prophets (Volume 1)
Section: VII-Days of Struggle | Navigation: « Previous: [Acceptance of Hamzah (ra)] | Next: [A Meeting of the Holy Prophet (sa) with a Delegation of the Quraish] »