All this happened abruptly, but now, both husband and wife boldly and openly asserted:
“Yes, we are Muslims; we believed in Allah and His Prophet (r); do whatever you will.”
‘Umar saw the blood flowing from the wound he had inflicted on his sister; his anger gave
in to shame coupled with admiration for his sister's courage. Cooled down, he asked for the
manuscript that he had heard Khabbab reading. He said “Show me the manuscript. I want to
know what Muhammed has brought.” In reality, ‘Umar knew the art of reading and writing.
Fatima, however, replied, “I fear what you might do with it.”
“Umar promised, with solemn assurance, not to destroy it. Fatima, too, thought that he
might change his views after reading the scripture. She said to him politely but firmly, “My
brother, you are unclean because of your polytheism, and only the pure can touch it.” ‘Umar
rose and took a bath. His sister then gave him the pages on which Soorah Ta Ha was written.
He had read only a few lines when he exclaimed in amazement,
“How noble and sublime is this speech!”
Thereupon Khabbab came out of his concealment and said, “O ‘Umar, by God, I hope that
Allah would bless you with His Prophet's (r) call; for I heard him just last night imploring
earnestly; "O Allah, strengthen Islam by Abul Hakam (Abu Jahl) or ‘Umar Ibn al-Khattab.
Now, ‘Umar have some fear of God.”
‘Umar asked Khabbab to lead him to the Prophet (r) so that he might accept Islam. On
being told by Khabbab that the Prophet (r) was in a house at as-Safa with his companions,
‘Umar immediately took his sword and headed for him. When ‘Umar knocked at the door
indicated by Khabbab, one of the companions got up through a chink in the door to be sure
of the person. Seeing ‘Umar with his sword on, he hurried back, appalled, to report, “Proph-
et of Allah! ‘Umar Ibn al-Khattab is here armed with his sword.”
Hamza intervened to say, “Let him in. If he comes with a peaceful intent, then it is alright,
but if not, therewith we will kill him with his own sword.” The Prophet (r) ordered the
companion to open the door for ‘Umar to enter and thus join them.
As ‘Umar entered through the door, the Prophet (r) went forth to meet him in the room.
He seized his cloak and pulling it rather firmly, said to him, “What for have you come, O son
of Khattab? By God, I see that some calamity is to befall you before you have the final sum-
mons.”
But ‘Umar replied submissively, “O Messenger of Allah! I have come to attest my faith in
Allah and His Prophet and what he has brought from God.”
The Prophet (r) raised the cry of Allah-O-Akbar so loudly that all the companions present
in the house came to know that ‘Umar had just accepted Islam (Ibn Hisham, Vol. I, pp. 342-
46).
‘Umar’s conversion was a turning point in the fortunes of Islam as it made Muslims feel all
the more confident and strengthened. Hamza had already accepted Islam beforehand, and