Hazrat Umar (ra) suffers Persecution after revoking his Protection
Explaining the incident of Hazrat Umar’s (ra) acceptance of Islam, Hazrat Zain-ul-Abideen Waliullah Shah Sahib makes reference to Aas bin Waa‘il Sahmi, stating:
“There is mention regarding the persecution of the few people who accepted Islam prior to Hazrat Umar (ra). Hazrat Umar (ra) would also have suffered persecution had Aas bin Waa‘il Sahmi not announced his protection. Aas bin Waa‘il was considered among the esteemed leaders of the Quraish and belonged to the Banu Sahm tribe. His ancestry is as follows: Aas bin Waa‘il bin Hashim bin Saeed bin Sahm. He died as a disbeliever prior to the migration. Hazrat Umar (ra) belonged to the Banu Adi tribe who were allies of the Banu Sahm tribe. Owing to this pledge of friendship and support, Aas bin Waa‘il thought it his moral responsibility to assist Hazrat Umar (ra).”
(Sahih al-Bukhari [translated], Kitab Manaqib al-Ansar, Bab Islam Umar bin al-Khattab (ra), Vol. 7, pp. 346-347)
However, as I mentioned earlier, Hazrat Umar (ra) renounced his protection soon after. Regarding this, Hazrat Umar (ra) himself states:
“I did not wish to see a Muslim persecuted but remain safe from it myself. (Hazrat Umar (ra) states) I thought to myself that this is not right. I should also suffer what the other Muslims are made to suffer. (Hazrat Umar (ra) further says) I waited until they were all gathered near the Ka‘bah. I then went to my uncle, Aas bin Waa‘il and said, ‘Listen to what I have to say’ to which he replied, ‘What is the matter?’ I said, ‘I renounce your protection.’” Hazrat Umar (ra) states, “Aas bin Waa‘il said, ‘O my nephew! Do not do this.’ I replied, ‘This is how it will be,’ to which he replied, ‘As you wish.’” Hazrat Umar (ra) then states, “From this time onwards, either I would be beaten up or I would retaliate and fight, until a time came when Allah the Almighty established the honour of Islam.”
(Ali Ibn al-Athir, Usd al-Ghabah fi Ma‘rifat al-Sahabah, Vol. 4, Umar bin al-Khattab (ra) [Beirut, Lebanon: Dar al-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, 2003], p. 141)
Muhammad bin Ubaid narrates, “I remember that we were never able to offer prayers inside the House of Allah until Hazrat Umar (ra) accepted Islam. When Hazrat Umar (ra) accepted Islam, he fought against the disbelievers to the extent that they eventually left us alone and we began to offer prayers.”
(Ibn Saad, Al-Tabaqat al-Kubra, Vol. 3, Islam Umar bin al-Khattab (ra) [Beirut, Lebanon: Dar Ihya al-Turath al-Arabi, 1996], p. 143)
Hazrat Abdullah bin Mas‘ud (ra) says, “From the time Hazrat Umar (ra) became a Muslim, we were granted honour.”
(Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab Fada‘il Ashab al-Nabi (sa), Bab Hazrat Umar bin al-Khattab (ra), Hadith 3684)
There were difficult times later as well, but they would not consider those difficulties to be as severe as the ones they suffered previously, even though from history we know that even Hazrat Umar (ra) suffered persecution.
Hazrat Abdullah (ra) bin Hisham states:
“We were with the Holy Prophet (sa), who was holding on to Hazrat Umar’s (ra) hand. Hazrat Umar (ra) said to the Holy Prophet (sa), ‘O Messenger (sa) of Allah! You are dearer to me than everything except for my own self.’ The Holy Prophet (sa) said, ‘No, by God in Whose hands is my life, your faith can never be complete unless I become dearer to you than your own self.’” This is a very important aspect. Hazrat Umar (ra) said to the Holy Prophet (sa), ‘By God! You are now dearer to me than myself.’ The Holy Prophet (sa) said, ‘Indeed [that is correct] now Umar.’” Meaning that this was now the true state of faith.
(Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-Iman wa al-Nudhur, Bab kaif Kanat Yamin al-Nabi (sa)…, Hadith 6632)