Muhammad: Seal of the Prophets — Page 51
MUHAMMAD : SEAL OF THE PROPHETS 51 upon the gentle rise of Safa. Fronting the Ka’aba to the east, it was situated in a frequented position and pilgrims, in the prescribed course, must needed to pass often by it. Thither were conducted any who exhibited an interest in Islam and there the Hol y Prophet expounded to them his way more perfectly. On this account it became known among Muslims as the House of Islam. The Holy Prophet used this house as his centre for nearly three years. Umar was the last one to embrace Islam in this house. His adhere nce to Islam brought great strength to the Muslims, and thereafter they began to propagate their faith openly. Of those who embraced Islam in Arqam’s house, the better - known ones were the following. 1. Musa’b bin Umair, of Banu Abdud Dar. He was a handsome young man well beloved by the other members of his family. He was sent to Medina as the missionary of Islam before Hijra. 2. Zaid bin Khattab, elder brother of Umar. He became a martyr in the battle of Yamamah. Umar was deeply grieved over his death. When he was Khalifa someone recited before him a very moving elegy that he had composed in memory of his own brother. Umar was dee ply affected and observed, ‘If I had possessed the faculty of composing such verses, I too would have composed a similar elegy in memory of my brother. ’ Upon this, the composer of the elegy submitted, ‘Commander of the Faithful, had my brother died the ble ssed death of your brother, I would neither have mourned him nor composed an elegy in his memory. ’ Umar appreciated this observation deeply and said, ‘No one has comforted me so well over my brother’s death than you