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paarsurrey
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We continue learning about Muhammad’s peaceful life in Mecca:
We continue learning about Muhammad’s peaceful life in Mecca:
- About this time, another very important event took place.
'Umar, who later became the Second Khalifa of Islam, was still
one of the fiercest and the most feared enemies of Islam.
He felt that no effective step had yet been taken against the new
Movement and decided to put an end to the Prophet’s life.
He took his sword and set out. A friend was puzzled to see
him going and asked where he was going and with what intent.
“To kill Muhammad,” said 'Umar.
“But would you be safe from his tribe after this ? And do
you really know how things are going ? Do you know that
your sister and her husband have joined Islam ?” - It came like a bolt from the blue and greatly upset 'Umar.
He decided to go and have done with his sister and her husband
first. As he reached their house he heard a recitation going on
inside. The voice was that of Khabbab who was teaching
them the Holy Book. 'Umar entered the house swiftly. - Alarmed by the hurried steps, Khabbab had already hid him- self in some corner and Umar’s sister whose name was Fatima, she put away the leaves of the Quran and hid them.
Confronting her and her husband, 'Umar said, “I hear you
have renounced your own faith,” and, saying this, he raised his
hand to strike her husband, who was incidentally his own
cousin.Fatima threw herself between 'Umar and her husband
so 'Umar’s hand fell on her face and struck her on the
nose, from which blood flowed freely. The blow made her
all the braver. - She said, “Yes, we are Muslims now
and shall remain so ; do what you may.” 'Umar was a brave
man, though rough. His sister’s face, dyed red by his own
hand, filled him with remorse. Soon he was a changed man.
He asked to be shown those leaves of the Quran they were
reading from.Fatima refused lest he should tear them up and
throw them away. 'Umar promised not to do so. But, she said
he was not clean. 'Umar offered to have a bath.
Clean and cooled, he took the leaves of the Quran in his hand. - They contained a portion of the Chapter Ta Ha, And he came
upon the verses :
“Verily I am Allah ; there is no God beside Me. So serve
Me, and observe prayer for My remembrance. Surely the
Hour is coming, and I am going to manifest it, that every soul
may be recompensed for its endeavour” (20 : 15, 16). - The firm assertion of God’s existence, the clear promise that
Islam would soon establish genuine worship in place of the
customary one current in Mecca-these and a host of other
associated ideas must have moved 'Umar. He could contain
himself no longer. Faith welled up in his heart and he said,
“How wonderful, how inspiring !” Khabbab came out of his
hiding, and said, “God is my witness, only yesterday I heard the
Prophet pray for the conversion of 'Umar or 'Amr ibn Hisham.
Your change is the result of that prayer.” - 'Umar’s mind was made up. H e asked where the Prophet was and made straight
for him at Arqam, his bare sword still in his hand. As he
knocked at the door, the Prophet’s Companions could see
'Umar through the crevices. They feared lest he should have
some evil design. But the Prophet said, “Let him come in.”
'Umar entered, sword in hand. “What brings you ?” inquired
the Prophet. “Prophet of God,”. said 'Umar, “I am here to
become a Muslim.” Allahu Akbar, God is great, cried the Prophet.
.Allahu Akbar, God is great, cried the Companions. - The hills around Mecca
echoed the cries. News of the conversion spread like wild
fire and henceforward 'Umar, the much-feared persecutor of
Islam, himself began to be persecuted along with other Muslims.
But 'Umar had changed. He delighted now in suffering as he
had delighted before in inflicting suffering. He went about
Mecca, a much harassed person." Unquote
