It is really very hard for the Muslims of to-day to imagine, and much less to endure or even to attempt to endure, the hardships that were borne by the Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) and his illustrious companions in the path of Allah. Books of history are full of stories of their sufferings. It is a pity that we are so indifferent to those events and our knowledge is so poor in this regard. I open this chapter with a story about the Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) himself to get the blessings of Allah, which are sure to attend his auspicious mention.
Hadhrat 'Umar (Radhiyallaho anho) coming into Islam
Hadhrat 'Umar (Radhiyallaho anho) coming into Islam
Hadhrat 'Umar (Radhiyallaho anho}, of whom all the Muslims
are justly proud. and the disbelievers still dread, was most adamant in
opposing the Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe
wasallam) and very prominent in persecuting the Muslims before he embraced
Islam. One day. the Qureysh in a meeting called for somebody to volunteer
himself for the assassination of the Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasal lam).
'Umar (Radhiyallaho anho) offered himself for this job, at which everybody
exclaimed:
"Surely, you can do it, 'Umar!"
With sword hanging from his neck, he set out straight away
on his sinister errand. On his way he met Sa'ad bin Abi Waqqas of the Zuhrah
clan. Sa'ad inquired:
"Whither! 'Umar?"
'Umar: "I am after finishing Muhamrnad."
Sa'ad: "But do not you see that Banu Hashim, Banu
Zuhrah and Banu Abde Munaf are likely to kill you in retaliation?"
'Umar (upset at the warning):
"It seems.that you also have renounced the religion of
your forefathers. Let me settle with you first."
So saying, Umar drew out his sword. Sa'ad announcing his
Islam, also took out his sword. They were about to start a duel when Sa'ad
said:
"You had better first set your own house in order. Your
sister and brother-in-law both have accepted Islam."
Hearing this, Umar flew into a towering rage and turned his
steps towards his sister's house. The door of the house was bolted from inside and both husband and wife were
receiving lessons in the Qur'an from Hadhrat Khabbab (Radhiyallaho anho). 'Umar knocked at the door and
shouted for his sister to open it. Hadhrat Khabbab (Radhiyallaho anho) hearing the voice of 'Umar, hid
himself in some inner room, forgetting to take the manuscript pages of the Holy Qur'an with him. When the
sister opened the door, 'Umar hit her on the head, saying:
"0, enemy of yourself. You too have renounced your
religion. "
Her head began to bleed. He then went inside and inquired,
"What were you doing? And who was the
stranger 1 heard from outside?" His brother-in-law
replied, "We were talking to each other." 'Umar said to him, "Have you also forsaken the creed of your
forefathers and gone over to the new religion?" The brother- in-law replied, "But what if the new religion be the
better and the true one'?" 'Umar got Stories of the Sahaabah beside himself with rage and fell on him, pulling his beard
and beating him most savagely. When the sister intervened, he smote her so
violently on her face that it bled most profusely. She was, after all, 'Umar's
sister; she burst out:
"'Umar! we are beaten only because we have become
Muslims. Listen! we are determined to die as Muslims. You are free to do
whatever you like."
When 'Umar had cooled down and felt a bit ashamed over his
sister's bleeding, his eyes fell on the pages of the Qur'an left behind by
Hadhrat Khabbab (Radhiyallaho anho). He
said, "Alright show me, what are these?" "No," said the
sister. "you are unclean and no unclean person can touch the Scripture." He insisted, but the sister was not prepared to allow him to touch
the leaves unless he washed his body. 'Umar at last gave in. He washed his
body and then began to read the leaves. It was Surah "Taha". He
started from the beginning of the Surah, and he! was a changed man altogether
when he came to the verse:
"verily ! I, indeed I am Allah. There is none worthy of
worship but I. So serve me and establish Salaat for My remembrance."
He said: "Alright, take me to Muhammad (Sallallaho
alaihe wasallam)."
On hearing this, Hadhrat Khabbab (Radhiyallaho anho) came
out from inside-and said:
"0 'Umar! Glad tidings for you. Yesterday (on Thursday
night} the Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) prayed to Allah, '0, Allah
strengthen Islam with either 'Umar or Abu lahl, with whomsoever you wish '. It
seems that his prayer has been answered in your favour."
'Umar then went to the Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam)
and embraced Islam on Friday morning. 'Umar's Islam was a terrible blow to the
morale of the unbelievers, but still the Muslims were few in number and the
whole country was against them. The disbelievers intensified, their efforts for
the complete annihilation of Muslims and the extinction of Islam. With 'Umar
(Radhiyallaho anho) on their side, the Muslims now started saying their Salaat
in the Haram. Abdullah bin Mas'ood (Radhiyallaho anho) says:
'Umar's Islam was a big triumph, his emigration to Madinah a
tremendous reinforcement, and his accession to the Caliphate a great blessing
for the Muslims."
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