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_001.jpg) When the enemies of Islam heard the name of Omar, their
knees would tremble. When Satan saw Omar walking down the street, he would
turn the other way. Even Omar’s friends would sometimes find his presence
intimidating, and they too feared his anger. However, this man of strength and
power, cried easily, and had a soft and compassionate heart. Omar was humble
without being weak. Omar combined two opposing character traits and that made
him unique amongst the men around Prophet Muhammad. Omar’s path to the truth
began with a vehement hatred of Muhammad and the religion of Islam but that
hatred soon turned into a fierce love. Omar ibn Al Khattab strengthened Islam.
Omar belonged to a middle class family, neither rich nor
poor, of the Adi clan, part of the tribe of Quraish. He had a tough upbringing,
his father was known to be a harsh man who worked his son to exhaustion and
beat him when he considered it necessary. Despite this Omar is believed to
have been literate, which was an uncommon skill in pre Islamic Arabia. Born
approximately 11 years after Prophet Muhammad, Omar was a relatively fair-skinned
boy who grew into a tall, well-built, muscular man known for his fierce
demeanour and wrestling skills.
Omar began his working life as a shepherd for his father
and aunts, and he was paid a very small stipend, often only a handful of dates
for a full days work. He supplemented his income by engaging in wrestling
competitions but as he grew into manhood, he became a successful trader and
respected businessman. Omar was known as a man of strength. His posture and
bearing denoted strength and his voice was loud and commanding. When
Mohammad’s teachings became a problem for the men of Mecca, Omar pronounced his
hatred for Islam openly and took part in the abuse and torture of many of the
weaker converts to Islam.
The Two Omars
Although not known by his given name of Omar, there was
another strong, determined man opposed to Islam. This was the man originally
known as Abu Hakim, (the father of wisdom), but history remembers him as Abu
Jahl, (the father of ignorance), the avowed enemy of Islam. Prophet Muhammad, may
the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, gave him the name Abu Jahl to
denote his total ignorance in not recognising the truth of Islam. Traditional
accounts reveal that Prophet Muhammad on one occasion raised his hands in supplication
and begged God to strengthen Islam by whomever of the two Omar’s he loved most.
To the enemies of Islam and to the companions of Prophet Muhammad Omar ibn al
Khattab embracing Islam was an unthinkable notion.
Omar’s hatred of Islam was so strong that he volunteered
to kill Prophet Muhammad. Without a second’s hesitation, he strode down the
streets of Mecca intent on drawing his sword and ending the life of the Prophet
of God. One of the men of Mecca, who was secretly a Muslim saw the look on
Omar’s face and immediately knew that his beloved Prophet was in danger. Without
fear for himself, he approached Omar and asked him where he was going so
quickly. Omar replied that he was going, “to the man who has disunited our
people, cursed our gods and made fools of us”, and he said, “I am going to kill
him”.
The young Muslim man named Nu’aim felt terror rush into
his heart and tried to engage Omar in a discussion to divert him, but Omar was
intent on his mission and continued to stride along the street. Nu’aim
reluctantly spoke the words that lead Omar to Islam. He said, “why don’t you
take care of your own house first’. Omar stopped short and asked him what he
meant by those words. Omar’s beloved sister and her husband had secretly
embraced Islam and Nu’aim revealed their secret in order to save the life of
Prophet Muhammad.
Omar turned around immediately and walked with
determination towards his sister’s house. As he approached, he could hear the
sound of Quran being recited. Omar knocked on the door. Inside the
inhabitants scrambled to hide their copies of Quran but Omar entered and
demanded to know what the “humming” sound he had heard was. Omar’s sister
replied that it was nothing, just the sound of them talking, but Omar knew the
sound of Quran and asked menacingly, “Have you become Muslim?” Omar’s brother in
law answered in the affirmative, whereupon Omar fell upon him, wrestling him to
the ground. Omar’s sister tried to defend her husband and in the scuffle, Omar
hit her face, drawing blood.
Quran Enters His Heart
Omar’s sister seemed to have the strength her brother
was so famous for, she stood up and faced her angry brother saying, “You enemy
of God! You would hit me just because I believe in God. Whether you like it
or not, I testify that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is His slave
and messenger. Do whatever you will!” Omar saw the blood running down his
sister’s face, her words echoed in his ears, and he stood up. Omar demanded
that the words of Quran he had heard as he approached the house be recited for
him.
“We have not sent down the Quran unto you (O Muhammad) to
cause you distress, but only as a reminder to those who fear (God). A revelation
from Him who has created the earth and high heavens. The Most Beneficent rose
over the (Mighty) Throne (in a manner that suits His Majesty). To Him belongs
all that is in the heavens and all that is on the earth, and all that is
between them, and all that is under the soil. And if you (O Muhammad) speak
aloud, then verily, He knows the secret and that which is yet more hidden. No
one has the right to be worshipped but He! To Him belong the Best Names.” (Quran
20:2-8)
Omar’s eyes filled with hot tears. “Is this what we
were against”, he asked. “The One who has spoken these words needs to be
worshipped.” Omar left his sister’s house and rushed to Muhammad. Those with
Prophet Muhammad were afraid, but they admitted Omar and restrained him until
he was in Muhammad’s presence. Prophet Muhammad grabbed him and said, “Why did
you come here, son of Khattab?”
Omar faced Prophet Muhammad with humility and joy and
said, “O Messenger of God, I have come for no reason except to say I believe in
God and his Messenger.” Prophet Muhammad was overcome with joy and cried out
that God was Great! Within days, Omar lead a procession of Muslims to the
house of God where they prayed openly. It was on this occasion that Prophet
Muhammad gave him the nickname Al Farooq – the criterion. It denotes one
who is able to distinguish truth from falsehood. Islam was strengthened with
Omar, his fierce hatred melted into a love that knew no bounds. His life and
his death were now for the sake of God and his Messenger.
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