328 THE LIFE OF THE PROPHET MUHAMMADtheir enemy, Wmar saw Wmayr b. Wahb having just dismounted at the door to
the mosque, wearing his sword. 'Umar commented, LThere's that dog Wmayr b.
Wahb, that enemy of God; he's come here only to do some mischief. It is he who
sowed discord among us and estimated our numbers for the enemy at Badr!'
"Wmar then went in to the Messenger of God (SAAS) and told him, '0
Prophet of God, that enemy of God Wmayr b. Wahb is here wearing his sword.'
He told him to let him enter, so Wmar went and seized the sheath of Wmayr's
sword and wrapped it tightly around his neck, telling the Muslim Companions
there to go and sit with the Messenger of God (SAAS), and to guard him against
that evil fellow who could not be trusted.
"He then took him in to the Messenger of God (SAAS), and when the latter
saw him with Wmar holding his sword sheath around his neck, he said, 'Release
him, Wmar; come near, Wmayr.' Wmayr went over to him and said, 'May your
morning be good!' This was the mode by which people greeted one another
before Islam. The Messenger of God (SAAS) responded, 'God has honoured us
with a greeting better than that, Wmayr. That is sal~m, peace, the greeting used
by the people of paradise.'
"'Well,' Wmayr replied, 'it's a greeting you've not been using for long.'
"'So what brings you, Wmar?' the Messenger of God (SAAS) asked.
"'I have come about that captive you have; treat him well,' Wmayr replied.
"'Why are you wearing a sword around your neck?'
"'God curse the swords! Have they done us any good?'
"'Seriously, why did you come?'
"'That's the only reason,' Wmayr insisted.
"'On the contrary, you sat in the hljr with Safwan b. Umayya; you discussed
the fate of the dead in the pit, then you said, "Were it not for a debt I can't pay
and children whose survival after me concerns me, I would ride off to
Muhammad to kill him." And so Safwan b. Umayya took responsibility for your
debt and your family if you would kill me. But God prevented you from doing
that.'
"Wmayr declared, 'I testify that you are the Messenger of God! We used to
call you a liar when you brought us news from heaven and the revelations that
came to you, but only Safwan and I were present on that occasion, and I well
know that only God could have told you of it. Praise be to God who led me to
Islam and to where I am now!' He then gave testimony to the truth of Islam.
"The Messenger of God (SAAS) ordered, 'Give your brother instruction in
the religion! Teach him the Qur'an and release his prisoner to him!' They did so.
"Wmayr then said, '0 Messenger of God, I vigorously tried to extinguish the
light of Islam and was very harsh towards those who followed God's religion. I
would like you to give me permission to go to Mecca where I will call others to
God, to His Messenger and to Islam. Perhaps God will guide them. Otherwise I
will persecute them in their religion just as I used to maltreat your Companions
in theirs.'