Muslims pray openly after Hazrat Umar (ra) Accepts Islam
Hazrat Abdullah (ra) bin Mas‘ud relates that they did not openly worship Allah until Hazrat Umar (ra) accepted Islam.
(Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani, Al-Isabah fi Tamyiz al-Sahabah, Vol. 4, Dhikr Umar bin al-Khattab (ra) [Beirut, Lebanon: Dar al-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, 2005], p. 484)
Abdur Rahman bin Harith relates that Hazrat Umar (ra) stated:
“The night in which I accepted Islam, I thought, ‘Who is the most severe in his enmity towards the Holy Prophet (sa) from among the Meccans, so that I may go to him and inform him that I have accepted Islam?’”
Hazrat Umar (ra) states further, “I thought it was none other than Abu Jahl. Thus, in the morning, I went to him and knocked on his door.” Hazrat Umar (ra) states, “Abu Jahl came to me and said, ‘O my nephew! Welcome. What brings you here?’” Hazrat Umar (ra) states, “I replied, ‘I have come to let you know that I have professed my belief in Allah and His Messenger (sa) and testify to that which he has brought.’”
Hazrat Umar (ra) states, “Upon this, he closed the door on me and said, ‘May Allah cause you and what you have believed in to be ruined.’”
(Ibn Hisham, Sirat Ibn Hisham, Islam Dhikr Umar bin al-Khattab (ra) [Beirut, Lebanon: Dar Ibn Hazm, 2009], p. 162)
These were the words of Abu Jahl.
Hazrat Ibn Umar (ra) relates:
“When my father (i.e. Hazrat Umar (ra)) accepted Islam, he asked the people who among the Quraish had the habit of spreading news. They informed him that it was Jameel bin Ma‘mar Jumhi.” Hazrat Ibn Umar (ra) states, “Hazrat Umar (ra) went to him early in the morning and I also followed behind him in order to see what he did. Even though I was quite young; however, I could understand everything.” This is Ibn Umar (ra) saying this.
“When Hazrat Umar (ra) reached him, he said, ‘O Jameel! Are you aware that I have accepted Islam and have entered the religion of Muhammad (sa)?’”
Hazrat Ibn Umar (ra) states, “By God, Hazrat Umar (ra) did not have to repeat this statement of his that he [i.e. Jameel] left with his cloak dragging across the floor and Hazrat Umar (ra) also followed after him.”
Hazrat Ibn Umar (ra) states:
“I followed after my father and saw that he, i.e. Jameel, stood at the door of the Ka‘bah and loudly exclaimed, ‘O people of the Quraish!’” This was an announcement he made whilst standing at the door of the Ka‘bah.
“‘O People of the Quraish!’ At the time, people were sat in groups near the Ka‘bah and all turned their attention towards him. He then continued, ‘Let it be known that Umar bin Al-Khattab has become a sabi.’”
The narrator of this tradition states that Hazrat Umar (ra) said from behind him, “He is lying for I have accepted Islam and I am not a sabi. And I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad (sa) is His servant and Messenger.” Upon this, the Quraish leapt towards Hazrat Umar (ra). They both began fighting with one another until the sun had completely risen. The narrator states that when Hazrat Umar (ra) became tired and exhausted, he sat down. The people stood around him. Hazrat Umar (ra) said to them, “You can do whatever you wish to do. But I swear by Allah that if we reach 300 in number, then either we will leave Mecca for you or you will leave it for us.” In other words, they would then be able to freely do whatever they wanted.
The narrator further states that the Quraish were still in their current state when an elderly man came forward, who was wearing an embroidered upper garment made from a Yemeni cloth. He came close to them and enquired what the matter was. They told him that Hazrat Umar (ra) had become a sabi. To this, he said, “So what if he has? If a person has chosen something for himself, then what concern is that of yours? Do you think that the Banu Adi bin Kaab will hand their people over to you? Leave this person alone.” The narrator states that by God, they all immediately left him.
Hazrat Ibn Umar (ra) – Hazrat Umar’s (ra) son – states, “Long after my father had migrated to Medina, I asked him, ‘O father! On the day you accepted Islam, who was the person in Mecca who admonished the people who were fighting against you and he sent them away?’ Hazrat Umar (ra) stated, ‘My dear son! It was Aas bin Waa‘il Sahmi.’”
(Ibn Hisham, Sirat Ibn Hisham, Dhikr Islam Umar bin al-Khattab (ra) [Beirut, Lebanon: Dar Ibn Hazm, 2009], pp. 161-162)
There is a narration mentioned in Bukhari in which Hazrat Ibn Umar (ra) relates:
“One day, Hazrat Umar (ra) was sat at home in a state of fear. In that instance, Abu Amr Aas bin Waa‘il Sahmi came and was wearing an embroidered cloak and an upper garment made of silk with designs on its hems. He belonged to the Banu Sahm tribe with whom we had an allegiance during the era of Jahiliyyah [era of ignorance prior to the advent of Islam]. Aas bin Waa‘il said to Hazrat Umar (ra), ‘What is this condition of yours?’ Hazrat Umar (ra) replied, ‘Your people think that since I have become a Muslim, they will now kill me.’
“Aas bin Waa‘il stated, ‘No one will be able to get to you.’ Hazrat Umar (ra) states that he felt assured after he said this. Aas bin Waa‘il then left and met the people. The valley of Mecca at the time was full of people; Aas bin Waa‘il asked them where they were heading to. They replied, they were going to the son of Khattab who had forsaken his religion. Upon this, Aas bin Waa‘il stated that they were not to go to him and subsequently the people returned.”
(Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab Manaqib al-Ansar, Bab Islam Umar bin al-Khattab (ra), Hadith 3864)
This mention of Hazrat Umar (ra) being fearful does not seem to be correct; this would be against the disposition of Hazrat Umar (ra). Perhaps seeing Hazrat Umar (ra) worried, the narrator thought that he was fearful, as it was mentioned in an earlier narration that Hazrat Umar (ra) renounced his protection, and this will be mentioned again later on as well.