Life of Muhammad — Page 24
sa 24 heard a recitation going on inside. The voice was that of Khabbab ra who was teaching them the Holy Book. ‘ Umar ra entered the house swiftly. Khabbab ra , alarmed by the hurried steps, had already hid himself. ‘ Umar's ra sister, F at ima ra , put away the leaves of the Qur ’ an. Confronting her and her husband, ‘ Umar ra said, "I hear you have renounced your own faith," and, saying this, he raised his hand to strike her husband, who was incidentally his own cousin. F at ima ra threw herself between ‘ Umar ra and her husband; so ‘ Umar's ra hand fell on F at ima ’s ra face and struck her on the nose, from which blood flowed freely. The blow made F at ima ra all the braver. She said, "Yes, we are Muslims now and shall remain so; do what you may. " ‘ Umar ra was a brave man, though rough. His sister's face, dyed red by his own hand, filled him with remorse. Soon he was a changed man. He asked to be shown those leaves of the Qur’an they were reading from. F at ima ra refused lest he should tear them up and throw them away. ‘ Umar ra promised not to do so. But, said F at ima ra , he was not clean. ‘ Umar ra offered to have a bath. Clean and cooled, he took the leaves of the Qur’an in his hand. They contained a portion of the Chapter Ta H a. And he came upon the verses: "Verily I am Allah; there is no God beside Me. So serve Me, and observe prayer for My remembrance. Surely the Hour is coming, and I am going to manifest it, that every soul may be recompensed for its endeavour" (20:15, 16). The firm assertion of God's existence, the clear promise that Islam would soon establish genuine worship in place of the customary one current in Mecca — these and a host of other associated ideas must have moved ‘ Umar ra. He could contain himself no longer. Faith welled up in his heart and he said, "How wonderful, how inspiring!" Khabb a b ra came out of his hiding, and said, "God is my witness, only yesterday I heard the Prophet sa pray for the conversion of ‘ Umar ra or ‘ Amr ibn Hish a m. Your change is the result of that