Umar’s Islam (Part 1)

The following story is one of the most famous and well-loved narrations in the history of this Ummah. I personally find it both moving and exhilarating at how the likes of Umar Ibn Al Khattab (RadiAllahu Anhu) who was such a staunch enemy of Islam, turned from being an enemy to being one of it’s greatest figures and brightest stars. It demonstrates clearly that Hidayah (guidance) is only from Allah ‘azza wa jal. And we surely ask Allah ‘azza wa jal to guide us to His path.

The story of Umar’s Islam continues. Despite the numerous events that took place that began to soften his heart towards Islam, he was still very much an enemy to Islam and the Messenger of Allah (SalAllahu Alayhi Wasallam).

One day, while the Mushrikeen of Makkah were in discussion on how to deal with the ‘problem’ of Muhammed (SalAllahu Alayhi Wasallam), they asked each other who would volunteer to kill him. Umar said he would do it and they all agreed. This demonstrates how bold and decisive Umar was, even in his days of misguidance.

It was a hot day in Makkah. Umar took out his sword, and stalked down the streets of Makkah, resolved on his deadly mission: to kill, the Messenger of Allah (SalAllahu Alayhi Wasallam). There were few Muslims left in Makkah other than those close to the Prophet himself. Most had been ordered to migrate (make Hijrah) to Abyssinia. Umar was heading for the house of al-Arkham where it was known that the Prophet and his companions held their gatherings.

One of the companions of the Prophet (who was a Muslim in secret due to the persecution in Makkah) saw the stalking Umar striding with purpose down the street with a look of evil in his eyes. So he stopped Umar and asked him where he was going. Umar replied:

“To this man… who has disunited our people, and who has made fools out of us, and who has cursed our gods. I am going to kill him.”

So the companion replied:
“It seems that you are too confident of yourself. Do you think that the tribe of the Prophet are going to let you walk on the face of this earth after you have killed their man?”

Umar was upset so they started an arguement. Judging by the protective tone of voice of this man, Umar judged that he must be a Muslim so he told him the he would start by killing him first! The whole point of this companion’s attempt to divert Umar from his deadly mission was to save the life of the Prophet. So when he saw that there was no convincing Umar, the companion replied:

“Well perhaps you should start by sorting your household out first.”

Umar demanded what he meant by this, and the companion told him, that Umar’s own sister and her husband had become Muslim. It must be undstood that this companion only resorted to this when he saw that nothing else would stop Umar. The sister of Umar (Fatima) was Muslim in secret and so was her husband (Saeed Ibn Zayd). By telling Umar of their Islam he knew he was jepordising their lives by exposing their secret. But for the sake of saving the Prophet (SalAllahu Alayhi Wasallam), anything and everything is to be sacrificed for him.

Umar, at this point, changed his course and headed straight for the house of his sister, Fatima (RadiAllahu Anha).

Ramadhan Kareem

Asalaamu Alaykum WaRahmatullahi WaBarakatuhu,

The editors of this site wish to convey the welcome of the blessed month of Ramadhan upon the Muslim Ummah. To all the brothers and sisters who visit this site, may Allah ‘azza wa jal shower His Mercy, Blessings and Forgiveness upon you and your families. Further updates to the articles will follow shortly InshaAllah.

The Eeman of Abu Bakr

On the authority of Umar:

“If the Eemaan of Abu Bakr was weighed against the Eemaan of the people of the earth, the Eemaan of Abu Bakr would outweigh the others.”

Narrated by al-Bayhaqi in ‘al-Jamia’ lashu’ab al-Eemaan’ (1:18) and its narrators are trustworthy.

Umar’s Farahssa

The definition of the Arabic word ‘Farahssa’ is intuition. It is the ability to be able to read and judge a person’s personality/intensions, just by looking at their face. It is certainly a gift from Allah The Almighty and it was a gift He had bestowed upon Umar Ibn Al Khataab (radiAllahu Andu). In fact farahssa was seen as an art that could also be taught to people and it is narrated that Imam Muhammed Idris As-Shafiee travelled to Yemen in order to learn it.

Umar’s son Abdullah Ibn Umar (radiAllahu Andu) related that one day, he and his father were walking the streets of Makkah (before Umar’s acceptance of Islam). A handsome man walked in front of them. So Abdullah Ibn Umar (radiAllahu Andu) relates:

“My father looked at the man’s face and said “If my intuition is correct, this man was the the foretuneteller of his people.”"

By just looking at his face Umar Ibn Al Khataab (radiAllahu Andu) was able to read who and what this man was. They called him over and told him this. The man was amazed and exclaimed he was indeed the fortueteller of his people and that he had never witnessed any intuition like this before!

Abdullah Ibn Umar (radiAllahu Andu) relates that rarely was his father’s intuition wrong. He would always hit the target with this gift from Allah The Almighty. Umar then asked the man:

“Tell me the strangest thing that your Jinn (see glossary) has told you.”

The man replied, “My Jinn came to me and spoke to me about the coming of a Prophet.”

These along with a number of other incidents were part of the preparation of the great event of Umar Ibn Al Khataab (radiAllahu Andu) acceptance of Islam.

Breaking the ice at the Battle of Yarmouk

The Battle of Yarmouk took place over six days in August 636 when the Islamic State (the Caliphate) was under the rule of the Prophet Muhammad’s (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) closest companion Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him).  The  battle comprised a series of engagements between the Islamic Caliphate and the Byzantine Empire near the Yarmouk River, along what is today the border between Syria and Jordan, south-east of the See of Galilee. It is regarded as one of the most decisive battles in human history, and marked the first great wave of Islamic conquests after the death of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him).

Here is how the battle began.

At dawn the Muslim corps lined up for fajr salah (dawn prayer) under their respective commanders. As soon as the prayers were over, every man ruished to his assigned place.  By sunrise both armies stood a little less than a mile apart awaiting the battle to commence.

Then, a Byzantine general by the name of George (known as Jarjah in Arabic) emerged from the Byzantine army and rode towards the Muslims. Halting a short distance from the Muslims he raised his voice and asked for Khalid bin Waleed.  Khalid, one of the commanders of the Muslim army, rode out with the anticipation of beginning this epic battle with a duel with George.

However, this duel was unusual. As Khalid drew near, the Roman made no move to draw his sword and begin fighting.  Instead, he proceeded to ask Khalid a few questions.

General George said to General Khalid in Arabic:

“O Khalid, tell me the truth and do not decieve me, for the free do not lie and the noble do not decieve. Is it true that Allah send a sword from heaven to your Prophet? . . . And that he gave it to you? . . . And that never have you drawn it but your enemies have been defeated?”

“No!” replied Khalid.

“Then why are you known as the sword of Allah?”

At this point, Khalid explained to George how he recieved the title of Sword of Allah from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him).  He recieved this title after triumphing by the Will of Allah at the Battle of Mut’ah.

At this, George asked Khalid:

“Tell me, to what do you call me?”

Khalid replied, “To bear witness that there is none to be worshipped but Allah, and Muhammad is His slave and Messenger, and to believe in what he has brought from Allah.”

“If I do not agree?”, asked George.

“Then the Jizya (a tax), and you shall be under our protection.”

“If I still do not agree?”

“Then the sword!“, exclaimed Khalid.

George considered the words of Khalid for a few moments, then asked:

“What is the position of one who enters your faith today?”

“In our faith there is only one position.  All are equal,” replied Khalid.

“Then I accept your faith!”, George concluded. [Conversation narrated in Tabari, Vol 2, p595]

Glory be to Allah, how amazing!  This epic battle began with the conversion of one of the Byzantine commanders to Islam! We learn here of the straight forward truth that Khalid bin Waleed spoke.  He explained in clear terms, using just a few words with vast meanings the fundamentals of the Islam. It is never too late to become Muslim, as long as one is alive – even if he was just about to fight Islam!

What’s even more astonishing is the fate that Allah, may He be exalted and glorified, had in store for George.  A few hours later that very day, George would fight heroically for the faith he had just embraced and die a martyr.

Allah says in the Qur’an:

“Think not of those, who are slain in the way of Allah, as dead. Nay, they are living. With their Lord they have provision.” [Surah Ale Imran: 169]

A fitting end for a seeker of truth.