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Conversion of Umar ibn Al Khattab R.A to Islam : A thread.
Umar's acceptance of Islam is perhaps one of the most extraordinary.
As influence of Muhammad ﷺ grew, Umar R.A became increasingly resentful.
Umar's acceptance of Islam is perhaps one of the most extraordinary.
As influence of Muhammad ﷺ grew, Umar R.A became increasingly resentful.
In the sixth year of the revelation, Umar R.A was appointed by a group of Quraish men to kill the Prophet ﷺ. He set out towards the Prophet ﷺ, sword in hand, ready to kill him.
Enroute he met a friend and when Umar RA explained what he intended to do, imagine Umar R.A's horror when his friend said, "Why don't you take care of your own family first & set them right?".It turned out that Umar's own sister,Fatimah,& her husband had secretly embraced Islam
He was so mortified and furious at this news,& went straight to Fatimah's house where he heard the voice of his brother in law, reciting from the Qur'an Umar swiftly started assaulting him, whereupon Fatimah threw herself between Umar and her husband in order to defend the latter
Umar R.A struck her violently, until she was bleeding. Injured as she was, Fatimah defiantly told Umar "O Umar, you can do what you like,but you cannot turn our hearts away from Islam"
These words had a profound effect on Umar
What was this faith that made weak women so strong of heart?
He felt pity for his sister,& his instinctive sense of fairness prevailed. So he asked Fatimah to show him what she was reading,so that he could know what Prophetﷺ had brought
What was this faith that made weak women so strong of heart?
He felt pity for his sister,& his instinctive sense of fairness prevailed. So he asked Fatimah to show him what she was reading,so that he could know what Prophetﷺ had brought
She refused to give it to him by saying "No, for none but the purified persons [i.e. clean from idolatry] are to touch it. Go and take a bath and get yourself purified". He did so, returned and Fatimah gave him the Qur'an.
Ta-Ha. We have not sent down the Quran to thee to be (an occasion) for thy distress, But only as an admonition to those who fear Allah (Qur'an 20:1-3)
He was astounded. It was as if the Qur'an was addressing him directly!
He was astounded. It was as if the Qur'an was addressing him directly!
He continued reading, and verse after verse, the light of the Qur'an penetrated his heart with its undeniable truth. He read verses 1-8 and 14-16 of Surat Taha, and when he was done, his sense of justice could no longer deny the truth of the Message.
Unbeknownst to him, the Prophet ﷺ had also made a dua for this occasion - reported by Ibn Umar RA, the Prophet ﷺ said "O Allah, help Islam with one of the two men that is more beloved to You: Abu Jahl or 'Umar ibn Al-Khattab. And the more beloved of the two to him was Umar."
Umar kissed the document (it is reported that the verses were written on a piece of leaf) and said "It is not proper that the One Who has sent down these Holy Verses should have a partner to be worshipped with Him. Guide me to the place where Muhammad ﷺ is present now .
He then went straight to the house of the Prophet ﷺ. Once he was admitted in the house, the Prophet ﷺ asked him for the reason of his visit.
Umar replied: "O Messenger of Allah, I have come to you in order to believe in Allah& His Messenger and that which he has brought from his Lord." Upon hearing this, the Prophet ﷺ & the Companions shouted with elation "Allahu Akbar" so loudly that it could be heard at the Kaabah!
