Hamzah bin Abdul Muttalib (RA) Embraces Islam
One day, Abu Jahl passed by Prophet Muhammed ﷺ near Mount Safa. He began hurling insults at him and, according to reports, even struck the Prophet ﷺ on the head with a stone, causing him to bleed. Ever patient, Prophet Muhammed ﷺ did not respond to the abuse.
A slave woman belonging to Abdullah bin Jad’an witnessed the entire scene. Feeling satisfied with his cruelty, Abu Jahl went to the Ka‘bah and sat proudly among the Quraysh.
Soon after, Hamzah bin Abdul Muttalib (RA) returned from a hunting trip, carrying his bow. When the slave woman told him what had happened to his nephew, Hamzah’s anger flared. He strode to Abu Jahl and said,
“You arrogant man! Do you dare insult my nephew when I follow his religion myself?”
Then Hamzah (RA) struck Abu Jahl on the head with his bow, leaving a deep wound. Members of Banu Makhzum (Abu Jahl’s tribe) and Banu Hashim (Hamzah’s tribe) rose against each other, ready to fight, but Abu Jahl stopped his people, saying:
“Leave Abu Ammarah [Hamzah]. I indeed insulted his nephew unjustly.”
Hamzah’s conversion at first stemmed from his strong sense of family honor. For six years, Prophet Muhammed ﷺ had called people to the message of Allah while Hamzah had not paid much attention. But soon, the truth of Islam settled deeply in his heart. His love for the faith grew beyond his attachment to family, and his belief became unshakable.
In time, Hamzah (RA) would be known by the noble title “Asadullah” — the Lion of Allah.
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Umar bin Al-Khattab (RA) Accepts Islam
Only three days after Hamzah’s conversion, Umar bin Al-Khattab (RA) also accepted Islam.
Umar (RA) was tall, strong, and feared for his fiery temper. He was known for his love of poetry and wine and for his staunch opposition to Islam. The story of his acceptance is one of the most remarkable moments in Islamic history.
Umar (RA) had once overheard Prophet Muhammed ﷺ reciting verses from the Qur’an near the Ka‘bah. The beauty of the words touched him, but his heart remained hardened. His hatred grew until one day, in blind rage, he took up his sword and set out to kill the Prophet ﷺ.
On his way, he met Nu’aym bin Abdullah (RA), who asked, “Where are you going, Umar?”
“I am going to kill Muhammed,” Umar (RA) replied coldly.
Nu’aym said, “How will you protect yourself from Banu Hashim and Banu Zuhrah if you do that? But before you do anything, know this — your own sister and her husband have accepted his faith!”
Furious, Umar (RA) turned back and stormed toward his sister’s house. Inside, Khabbab bin Aratt (RA) was teaching her and her husband verses from Surah Ta-Ha. Hearing Umar’s voice, Khabbab (RA) hid, and Fatimah (RA) quickly concealed the pages of the Qur’an.
“What was that noise I heard?” Umar demanded, sword in hand.
“Nothing,” they replied. “We were just talking.”
“Have you both abandoned our religion?” Umar shouted.
Her husband calmly said, “What if the truth lies outside your religion, Umar?”
Enraged, Umar (RA) struck him violently. When his sister tried to stop him, he struck her too, and blood ran down her face.
But instead of backing down, Fatimah (RA) stood firm and declared:
“Yes, Umar! We have believed. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and that Muhammed is the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.”
Hearing his sister’s words and seeing her bleeding face, Umar’s anger turned to shame. “Show me what you were reading,” he said.
“You are impure,” she replied. “Only the pure may touch it. Go and wash first.”
After bathing, Umar (RA) took the pages and began to read Surah Ta-Ha:
“In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.”
“These are beautiful names,” he said softly. Then he continued reading:
“Verily, I am Allah; there is no god but I. So worship Me, and establish prayer for My remembrance.” (Qur’an 20:14)
Overwhelmed by the majesty of the words, Umar (RA) exclaimed, “Where can I find Muhammed ﷺ?”
Hearing this, Khabbab bin Aratt (RA) emerged from hiding and said joyfully,
“O Umar! Glad tidings to you. I heard the Prophet ﷺ pray just last night:
‘O Allah, strengthen Islam through either Umar bin Al-Khattab or Abu Jahl bin Hisham.’”
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Umar (RA) Meets the Prophet ﷺ
When Umar (RA) learned that Prophet Muhammed ﷺ was at Dar Al-Arqam, he went straight there, sword still in hand.
The Companions inside saw him coming and grew alarmed. “It’s Umar with his sword!” one said.
Hamzah (RA) replied bravely, “Let him come! If he comes with peace, we welcome him. If not — we will strike him down with his own sword.”
Prophet Muhammed ﷺ, who had just received revelation, came out to meet him. Grabbing him firmly by his cloak and sword belt, the Prophet ﷺ said,
“O Umar! When will you stop and submit before Allah sends down a punishment upon you, as He did upon Al-Waleed bin Al-Mugheerah? O Allah, this is Umar bin Al-Khattab — bring honor and strength to Islam through him!”
Overcome, Umar (RA) replied,
“I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and you, Muhammed ﷺ, are the Messenger of Allah.”
The Companions cried out “Allahu Akbar!” so loudly that their voices echoed around the Ka‘bah.
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The Quraysh React
Umar (RA) was known for his courage and strength. Now that he was Muslim, he refused to hide his faith. He went straight to Abu Jahl’s house and knocked on his door.
When Abu Jahl opened, Umar (RA) said, “I have accepted the religion of Allah and His Messenger, Muhammed ﷺ.”
Abu Jahl glared at him and said, “May Allah destroy you and what you have brought!”
Umar (RA) then went to Jameel bin Mu’ammar (RA), who was known for spreading news quickly. When Umar told him of his conversion, Jameel shouted to the people, “The son of Al-Khattab has abandoned his religion!”
Umar (RA) corrected him: “You lie! I have become Muslim!”
A crowd gathered and began to beat him, but he fought them off until he returned home. Soon, the Quraysh planned to kill him, gathering in large numbers outside his house.
At that moment, Aas bin Wa’il Sahmi (RA), a respected man from a clan allied with Umar’s, arrived and said to the crowd, “Where are you going?”
They said, “Umar has left our religion.”
He replied sternly, “None of these paths leads to Umar’s house.”
Understanding the implied warning, the mob dispersed.
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Umar’s (RA) Conversion Strengthens Islam
Until then, Muslims had prayed in secret for fear of persecution. But Umar (RA) felt it was time to worship openly.
He said to Prophet Muhammed ﷺ,
“O Messenger of Allah! Are we not upon the truth, in life and in death? Then why should we hide our faith? By Allah, we will no longer conceal it.”
The Prophet ﷺ agreed, and for the first time, Muslims marched together in two proud rows toward the Ka‘bah — one led by Hamzah (RA) and the other by Umar (RA) — with the Prophet ﷺ at the front.
The Quraysh could only watch in silence as the believers prayed openly.
From that day, Umar (RA) was given the title “Al-Farooq” — the one who distinguishes truth from falsehood.
Abdullah bin Mas‘ud (RA) later said:
“When Umar accepted Islam, we gained strength and honor. Before him, we could not pray at the Ka‘bah, but after his conversion, we prayed there openly.”