Qur’an 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 Qur’an he had heard as he approached the house be recited for him.

“We have not sent down the Qur’an 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.” (Qur’an, Surah Ta-Ha, 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 (may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him) presence.  Prophet Muhammad grabbed him and said, “Why did you come here, son of Khattab?”

Omar faced Prophet Muhammad (may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him) 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 (may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him) 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.[1] 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.

Omar ibn Al Khattab was a strong and assertive man, his heart filled with burning hatred for Islam.  The supplications of Prophet Muhammad (may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him) and the sublime beauty of Qur’an changed his mind, his heart, and his life.  When Omar accepted Islam he became a man devoted to the Ummah of Muhammad, as a Muslim, he was pleased when the Ummah was pleased and displeased when the Ummah was displeased.

Ummah is an Arabic word, roughly translated to mean nation, but as with many Arabic words, it does not translate well into English.  The root of the Arabic word Ummah is amma, which means to go or to go see.  The word imama means to lead the way, for example, the one who leads the prayer is the Imam.  Also derived from this root is the word umm meaning mother, source or origin.

In English speaking and Western countries, the word nation usually defines the nation state, whose members live between a set of predefined borders often set by religious, racial or ethnic differences. This is not the definition of Ummah. Ummah means the community of believers bound together with a purpose - to worship God.  Together they are strong, divided they are weak.  Each member is united with all of the others in a spiritual way that can even have physical manifestations.  When one part of the Ummah is in pain, the whole Ummah hurts.[2]

“And verily this Ummah of yours is One Ummah and I am your Lord and Cherisher: therefore fear Me (and no other).” (Qur’an, Surah Al-Mu’minun, 23:52)

Muslims should stand up for what is morally correct and inhumanity has no part in the religion of Islam. Omar ibn Al Khattab recognised this unique quality at once and declared himself a man of the Ummah.

When Omar ibn al Khattab accepted Islam he wanted to be part of his community and wanted to proclaim his membership of this unique nation.  Omar wanted to join the Ummah in their happiness and in their pain. At the time of his conversion, the weaker members of the Ummah suffered systematic abuse and oppression, often by Omar himself, but his heart now felt their pain and he wanted to experience it. Omar did not want his Islam to go unnoticed; he immediately informed the enemies of Islam that he was Muslim. 

At first, the men of Mecca who had not embraced Islam were shocked and did not react to Omar’s conversion, but as word spread, they came together at the House of God and attacked Omar. Eventually Omar, the strong, muscular wrestler sat in the midst of his attackers and they beat him. Omar recovered from his beating and because of him, Islam became strong.  Omar’s heart was filled with love for his brothers and sisters in Islam. Prophet Muhammad said, “If there was to be a Prophet after me it would have been Omar ibn al Khattab.”

 (With slight Changes)