Hazrat Umar Farooq (RA) was born in 584 in Macca city of Saudi Arabia. His father’s name was Khattab ibn Nufayl. He was one of the most powerful and influential persons in the Quraish tribe and strictly a follower of his ancestors’ religion. He knew martial arts and war tactics, and moreover, he was a trader and a merchant as well. Hazrat Umar was initially an opponent of Islam and was a strong believer in his ancestors’ religion.
Historians have narrated one of the famous stories of Hazrat Umar Farooq (RA) that, once he thought to end up Islam and departed from his home with the intention to assassinate Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Before that he first went to see his sister and her husband. Because Hazrat Umar Farooq (RA) heard numerous rumours of his sister and her husband being accepted the Islam. At times, the Quraish tribe was divided into groups, and Hazrat Umar Farooq (RA) wanted harmony and unity in the Quraish.
But when he came to know that his own sister has converted to Islam, so he went there to confirm the depth of the rumours. When he enters his sister’s home, she was reciting the Holy verses from Qur’an and asked her to narrate what she was reading from the Holy Qura’an. When she recited a few verses from the Holy Book of ALLAH, they inspired the brave man of the Quraish tribe and become the reason for him to accept Islam.
Before that, Quraish spread rumours that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is either a poet or a magician. Hazrat Umar Farooq (RA) went to see himself to the Prophet, and he found the fact that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is neither a poet nor a magician. He found Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) a real messenger of ALLAH Almighty. But, Hazrat Umar Farooq (RA) never wanted to leave his ancestors’ traditions and religion. He never wanted to split the Quraish tribe into two parts on the bases of religious matters.
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In 6th year of revealed prophethood, Hazrat Umar Farooq (RA) accepted Islam in the hands of Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH). After that Muslims openly started preaching the message of Islam. Muhammad’s followers spread widely in each corner of the world. They sacrificed their previous beliefs, wealth, homes, families, and even lives for the sake of Islam.
Hazrat Umar Farooq (RA) fought various wars for Islam. According to Islamic Education, In the war of Tabook, he presented half of his personal assets as his contribution to serving the Muslim Ummah in times of need.
Muslims were openly offering prayer in masjid ul Haram.
Abdullah bin Masoud quoted that Umar’s embracing Islam was a great victory of Islam, his migration to Medina was our success, and his reign was a blessing from Allah. We didn’t offer prayers in Al-Haram Mosque until Umar had accepted Islam. When he accepted Islam, the Quraysh were compelled to let us pray in the Mosque.
