The bravery of Hazrat Umar (ra) after accepting Islam and the benefit to Muslims

The Promised Messiah (as) states with regard to Hazrat Umar (ra) accepting Islam:

“Observe just how beneficial Hazrat Umar (ra) proved to be. There was a time when he had not accepted Islam and remained in this state for four years. Allah the Almighty knows best the secret behind this. Abu Jahl was searching for someone who would kill the Holy Prophet (sa).

“At the time, Hazrat Umar (ra) was well-known for his bravery and courage and he possessed great might. They discussed amongst themselves and he took up the task of killing the Holy Prophet (sa). Hazrat Umar (ra) and Abu Jahl signed a contract in which it was stated that if Hazrat Umar (ra) killed the Holy Prophet (sa), he would be rewarded with such and such amount.

“It is the power of Allah the Almighty that the same Umar (ra) who once went forth to slay the Holy Prophet (sa) later accepted Islam and was himself martyred. What an extraordinary era that was!

“Hence, the contract was signed that he would be the one to kill him. After signing this, he would go about in search of the Holy Prophet (sa) and spend the nights doing the same”, i.e. Hazrat Umar (ra) would spend his time searching for the Holy Prophet (sa) and go about the night as well hoping for an opportunity to kill him in secret.

“He would enquire of the people as to when the Holy Prophet (sa) would be alone. They would say that after half the night had passed, he would go to the Ka‘bah to offer his prayers. Hazrat Umar (ra) was delighted to hear this, so he went and hid in the Ka‘bah. After a short while, he could hear the sound of:

لَا اِلٰهَ‭ ‬اِلَّا اللّٰهُ‬‬

“‘There is no god except Allah’ emanating from the wilderness; it was the voice of the Holy Prophet (sa). Having heard his voice and understanding that he was making his way there, Hazrat Umar (ra) sat even more diligently and decided that he would strike him with his sword when he lay in prostration, severing his head from his shoulders. As soon as the Holy Prophet (sa) arrived, he began performing his prayers. Hazrat Umar (ra) relates what happened thereafter.”

The Promised Messiah (as) states:

“Hazrat Umar (ra) himself relates what subsequently took place: ‘The Holy Prophet (sa) wept so much as he supplicated during his prostration that I was shaken to the core, to the point where the Holy Prophet (sa) even said:

سَجَدَ‭ ‬لَكَ‭ ‬رُوْحِيْ‭ ‬وَجَنَانِيْ‬‬‬‬‬‬

“O my Lord, my soul and my heart prostrate before You.”’

“Hazrat Umar (ra) states, ‘Having heard these prayers, my heart was torn apart. In the end my sword fell from my hand in awe of the truth. I realised from witnessing the Holy Prophet (sa) in such a state that he was truthful and would indeed be successful, yet the soul that incites to evil is indeed wicked and would incite over and over again.

“‘When the Holy Prophet (sa) had completed his prayers and left, I pursued him. The Holy Prophet (sa) heard my footsteps. The night was dark. The Holy Prophet (sa) asked, “Who is it?” I replied, “Umar.” He then said, “Umar, neither do you leave us in the night nor in the day.” In that moment, I sensed the scent of the Holy Prophet’s (sa) soul and I felt as though he was about to curse me. I said, “Do not curse me.”’

“Hazrat Umar (ra) states, ‘That time and that moment was for my acceptance of Islam, and God Almighty enabled me to become a Muslim.’”

(Malfuzat, Vol. 2, pp. 180-181)

This is an extract of the Promised Messiah (as) and there is another quote of the Promised Messiah (as) which also sheds further light on this. It mentions more or less the same details but with a slightly different conclusion.

The Promised Messiah (as) states:

“Prior to accepting Islam, Hazrat Umar (ra) would often meet with Abu Jahl. In fact, it is mentioned that once, Abu Jahl conspired to kill the Holy Prophet (sa) and for this, he even fixed a reward. Hazrat Umar (ra) was chosen to carry out this task and so he sharpened his sword and remained in search of the opportunity to carry this out. Hazrat Umar (ra) came to learn that the Holy Prophet (sa) would go to the Ka‘bah in the middle of the night every day to offer his prayers. Subsequently, Hazrat Umar (ra) went to the Ka‘bah and hid. He then began to hear the words:

لَا‭ ‬اِلٰهَ‭ ‬اِلَّا‭ ‬اللّٰهُ‬‬‬‬‬‬

“‘There is none worthy of worship except Allah’ coming from the direction of the wilderness and the sound started coming closer and closer until the Holy Prophet (sa) entered inside the Ka‘bah and began to offer his prayers.

“Hazrat Umar (ra) stated, ‘The Holy Prophet (sa) supplicated so profusely that I no longer had the courage to strike my sword. When the Holy Prophet (sa) concluded his prayer, he left and I walked behind him. When the Holy Prophet (sa) heard my footsteps, he enquired as to who it was. I replied, “It is Umar!” Upon this, the Holy Prophet (sa) stated, “O Umar! You do not leave me alone in the day nor in the night.”’ Hazrat Umar (ra) stated, ‘I felt as if the Holy Prophet (sa) was going to pray against me and so I stated, “As of today, I shall no longer cause you any hardship.”’

“Since the Arabs had great regard for their vows, therefore the Holy Prophet (sa) took his word, but the reality was that the time for Hazrat Umar’s (ra) [good fortune] had been decreed.” This is slightly different from the previous quote.

“At that moment, the Holy Prophet (sa) felt that God would not allow him to go to ruin and eventually Hazrat Umar (ra) became a Muslim and immediately severed his ties of friendship and relations with Abu Jahl and the other opponents and a new bond of brotherhood was established in its stead with Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) and the other companions; not once did he ever think about those previous relations.”

(Malfuzat, Vol. 3, p. 340)

Then, mentioning Hazrat Umar’s (ra) acceptance of Islam in a similar manner – perhaps with a difference of just a few words – the Promised Messiah (as) states:

“You will have heard of the incident when Hazrat Umar (ra) went forth to kill the Holy Prophet (sa). Abu Jahl had circulated a form of announcement amongst the people that whoever killed the Holy Prophet (sa) would be granted great reward and honour. Prior to him embracing Islam, Hazrat Umar (ra) settled an agreement with Abu Jahl to kill the Holy Prophet (sa). Following this, he remained in search for the perfect opportunity. Upon enquiring, he was informed that the Holy Prophet (sa) would go the Ka‘bah in the middle of the night in order to offer his prayers. Deeming this to be the perfect opportunity, Hazrat Umar (ra) went in the evening and hid in the Ka‘bah. In the middle of the night, the words:

لَا‭ ‬اِلٰهَ‭ ‬اِلَّا‭ ‬اللّٰهُ‬‬‬‬‬‬

“‘There is none worthy of worship except Allah…’ began to emerge from the wilderness. Hazrat Umar (ra) decided that as soon as the Holy Prophet (sa) would go into prostration, he would kill him. The Holy Prophet (sa) began to offer his prayers with such anguish and fervency and offered praise to Allah the Almighty in his prostrations in such a manner that Hazrat Umar’s (ra) heart was moved. He lost all his courage and the hand with which he sought to carry out the act of killing became completely lax” – the softening of his heart has been described in this particular manner in this quote.

“Upon completing his prayer, when the Holy Prophet (sa) left to go home, Hazrat Umar (ra) followed him. The Holy Prophet (sa) heard footsteps and enquired who it was. Upon learning who it was, the Holy Prophet (sa) stated, ‘O Umar! Will you not leave me?’ Fearing lest the Holy Prophet (sa) would pray against him, Hazrat Umar (ra) stated, ‘I have abandoned the plan to kill you; please do not pray against me!’ Hazrat Umar (ra) would often say that this was the very first night in which the love for Islam entered his heart.”

(Malfuzat, Vol. 7, p. 61)

I have read out three different quotes; they are from January 1901, August 1902 and June 1904 or perhaps 1907. In all three quotes, the Promised Messiah (as) has mentioned Hazrat Umar (ra) going to the Ka‘bah in order to attack [the Holy Prophet (sa)]. It is possible that perhaps, after this incident, having been overcome by “nafs-e-amarah” [the state that incites to evil], he may have left during the day as well and that is when the incident involving his sister took place, which is generally quoted [in reference to his acceptance of Islam].

However, in any case, in all three instances, the Promised Messiah (as) stated this particular incident. Since the Promised Messiah (as) also mentioned the subject of nafs-e-amarah here, therefore it is possible that he was overcome by his emotions once again and left [to his sister’s house].

In any case, in both incidents, whether it be the one involving his sister and brother-in-law or going in the night to kill [the Holy Prophet (sa)], Hazrat Umar (ra) decided to do this due to the incitement of Abu Jahl and him fixing a reward.

The Promised Messiah (as) states:

“Abu Jahl has been described as Pharaoh, but in my view, he was far worse than Pharaoh because after all, Pharaoh had proclaimed:

اٰمَنۡتُ اَنَّهٗ لَاۤ اِلٰهَ اِلَّا الَّذِيۡۤ اٰمَنَتۡ بِهٖ بَنُوۡۤا اِسۡرَآءِيۡلَ

[‘… I believe that there is no god but He in Whom the children of Israel believe…’ (Ch.10: V.91)]

“However, he [i.e. Abu Jahl] did not accept at all. All of the disorder in Mecca was owing to him. He was extremely arrogant, selfish and pretentious. His real name was Amr. Both Umars belonged to Mecca and it was the divine decree that one of them was drawn towards [the truth] whilst the other remained unfortunate. Whilst his soul is burning in the hellfire, Hazrat Umar (ra), on the other hand, did not show stubbornness and eventually became a king.”

(Malfuzat, Vol. 4, p. 247)