Al-Faatiha (The Opening) - سورة الفاتحة

Omar bin Khattab (RA) - The Second Caliph of Islam

Acceptance of Islam

Omar (RA) was twenty seven when the Holy Prophet (PBUH) began his mission. Young Omar (RA) did not care to listen to the message of Islam. As years went by, Islam made slow headway. This made Omar (RA) angry. When one of Omar's (RA) own maid-servants became a Muslim, he beat her severely. Still, she would not give up the new faith.

In the sixth year of the Mission, a number of Muslims left for Abyssinia. This made Omar (RA) boil with rage. "Here is a man," he thought to himself "who has split the people. People lived smoothly enough. He appeared on the scene and has torn son from father and brother from brother. Now his followers have run away to another land. Surely Muhammad is the cause of all trouble. I must slay him and put an end to the trouble."

With this resolve, Omar (RA) drew his sword and set out to kill the Holy Prophet (PBUH). On the way he met Sa'ad bin Abi Waqqs who asked him why he looked so upset. Omar (RA) said to him, "I am after finishing Muhammad." "You had better first set your own house in order. Your sister and brother-in-law both have accepted Islam," said Sa'ad.

Hearing this, Omar flew into a towering rage and turned his steps towards his sister's house. The door of the house was bolted from inside and both husband and wife were receiving lessons in the Quran from Hadhrat Khabbab (RA). Omar knocked at the door and shouted for his sister to open it. Hadhrat Khabbab (RA) hearing the voice of Omar, hid himself in some inner room, forgetting to take the manuscript pages of the Holy Quran with him. When the sister opened the door, Omar hit her on the head, saying: "O, enemy of yourself. You too have renounced your religion."

Her head began to bleed. He then went inside and inquired. "What were you doing? Have you also forsaken the creed of your forefathers and gone over the new religion?" The brother-in-law replied, "But what if the new religion be the better and the true one?" Omar got beside himself with rage and fell on him, pulling his beard, and beating him most savagely. When the sister intervened, he smote her so violently on her face that it bled most profusely. She was, after all, Omar's sister; she burst out: "Omar, we are beaten only because we have become Muslims. Listen! We are determined to die as Muslims. You are free to do whatever you like."

When Omar had cooled down and felt a bit ashamed over his sister's bleeding, his eyes fell on the pages of the Quran left behind by Hadhrat Khabbab (RA). He said, "Alright show me, what are these?" No, said the sister, "You are unclean, and no unclean person can touch the Scripture." He insisted, but the sister was not prepared to allow him to touch the leaves unless he washed his body. Omar at last gave in. He washed his body and then began to read the leaves. It was Surat Taha".

"Verily, I am Allah: there is no god but I: so serve me (only), and establish regular prayer for My remembrance." (Quran 20:14)

The fear of Allah gripped his heart. He wept and declared, "Surely this is the word of Allah. I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah."

On hearing this, Hadhrat Khabbab (RA) came out from inside and said: " O, Omar! Glad tidings for you. Yesterday the Prophet (SAW) prayed to Allah, " O, Allah strengthen Islam with either Omar or Abu Jahl, whomsoever Thou Likest." It seems that his prayer has been answered in your favor."

Omar then went to the Prophet (SAW). He was not going to slay him but to embrace his faith. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) was sitting in the company of some men. He saw Omar (RA) coming and asked, "Omar (RA), what brings you here?" "O Prophet (PBUH) of Allah!" replied Omar (RA), "I have come to embrace Islam." Great was the joy of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and his followers. Loud shouts of "Allah is Great" rent the air of Mecca. Soon everyone knew that Omar (RA) was no longer an enemy of Islam. It was a great day for Islam because one of its bitterest enemies had become its staunch follower.

The coming over of Omar (RA) made a difference for Islam. Up until this time, the Muslims had lived in constant fear of the non-believers. Some of them had not even made their faith known to the people. They could not say their prayers publicly. All this changed when Omar (RA) became a Muslim.

The first thing Omar (RA) did was to call together the chiefs of Mecca. Before this gathering he declared himself a follower of Islam. They started at him in silence. No one had the courage to utter a word of reproach.

Omar (RA) next requested for the Holy Prophet (PBUH) to say prayers in the Kaaba. He himself led a party of Muslims to that place. A second party was led by Hamza. When all had gathered, they said their prayers in congregation. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) led the prayer. This was the first prayer of its kind said in the Kaaba.

About Madina

Hazrat Abu Baker Siddique (R.A.)

Greatness:
About greatness, Abu Bakr said:
Run away from greatness and greatness will follow you.
There is greatness in the fear of God, contentment in faith of God, and honour in humility.

Good actions:
About good actions, Abu Bakr said:
Good actions are a guard against the blows of adversity.
Be good to others, that will protect you against evil.
If you expect the blessings of God, be good to His people.
Every day, nay every moment, try to do some good deed.

Death:
About death, he said:
Have an earnestness for death and you will have life.
Death is the easiest of all things after it, and the hardest of all things before it.

Knowledge:
About knowledge, he said:
The more knowledge you have, the greater will be your fear of Allah.
Without knowledge action is useless and knowledge without action is futile.
Knowledge is the life of the mind.
When a noble man learns knowledge he becomes humble, [whereas] when an ignoble person gains knowledge, he [becomes] conceited.
When knowledge is limited - it leads to folly. [But] when knowledge exceeds a certain limit, it leads to exploitation.

Advice:
In the matter of advice, he said:
When you seek advice, do not withhold any facts from the person whose advice you seek.
When you advise any person you should be guided by the fear of God.
If anybody seeks your advice, offer right and sincere advice.
He who is not impressed by sound advice, lacks faith.

Kindness:
About kindness he said:
If you expect the blessings of God, [then] be kind to His people.
He who aspires to paradise should learn to deal with people with kindness.
He who fears to weep, should learn to be kind to those who weep.

Self-control:
About self-control he said, "If you want to control other people, first control yourself."

Patience and confidence:
With regard to patience and confidence, he said: "Patience is half [the] faith, and confidence is full faith."
Society of evil persons
About the society of evil persons he held, "Solitude is better than the society of evil persons."

Honesty:
About honesty he said, "The greatest truth is honesty, and the greatest falsehood is dishonesty."