IMAM ABU AL-FIDA' ISMA'IL IBN KATHIR 2 1"Nu'aym b. 'Abd Allah al-N&ham, a member of the Bann 'Adi tribe, had also
converted but concealed this fact from his people.
"Khabbab b. al-Aratt was attending the home of Fa~a, daughter of
al-Khatpb, to read the Qur'an to her. One day 'Umar went out, his sword at his
waist, looking for the Messenger of God (SAAS) who, along with a group of his
followers, he had been told, were in a house at al-Safk The group with hi,
including men and women, totalled some 40 persons. Among these, along with
the Messenger of God (SAAS), were his uncle Hamza, Aba Bakr b. Abn Quhafa,
al-Siaiq, "the Trusting", and 'Ali b. Abn Talib, God be pleased with them,
along with other Muslim men who had stayed behind in Mecca and not departed
for Abyssinia.
"Nu'aym b. 'Abd Allah met him and enquired, 'Where are you heading,
Wmar? '
"He replied, 'I'm looking for Muhammad, that Sabiau who has disunited
Quraysh, ridiculed their dreams, criticized their religion and slandered their
gods. I'm going to kill him!'
"Nu'aym told him, 'By God, you've lost your mind, Wmar! Do you think that
'Abd Manaf would allow you to walk on the face of the earth once you killed
Muhammad? Why don't you go home and sort out your household!'
"'What about my household?'
"'Your brother-in-law and nephew Sacid b. Zayd and your sister F~yima.
They have accepted Islam and become followers of Muhammad (SAAS) in his
religion. Look to them!'
"Wmar then returned to his sister Fatima where Khabbab b. al-Aratt was; he
had with him a manuscript of snrat Tzha that he was reading to her.
"When they heard Wmar's approach, Khabbab hid inside a bedroom, or
somewhere else in the house, and Fatima took the manuscript and hid it under
her thigh. But Wmar had heard Khabbab reciting it as he approached the door.
"As he came in, he demanded, 'What was that murmuring sound I heard?'
"'I heard nothing,' they both replied.
'"Well I did,' he insisted. 'And I've been told you are following Muhammad
in his religion.'
He then struck out at his brother-in-law Sacid b. Zayd, and when his sister
Fatima rose to defend her husband he hit her and wounded her.
"When he did this, his sister and brother-in-law admitted, 'Yes, we have
accepted Islam and do believe in God and in His Messenger. Do whatever you
want!'
"When 'Umar saw the blood on his sister he was sorry for what he had done
and repentant and he told her, 'Give me that document you were just reading so
that I can see what it is Muhammad brings.' Wmar was literate.
"When he said that, she replied, 'We don't trust you with it.'
"'Don't be afraid,' he told her, and swore by his gods to return it to her when
he had read it.