Few historical Islamic personalities move the hearts of Muslims today like 'Umar Al-Khattab, the intimate Companion of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and the second Caliph of Islam. While the story of his conversion is well-known to many Muslims who have read about it even as children, it nevertheless remains a valuable reminder of the power of the Islamic call to change the hearts of even its most bitter opponents. The following account is the first installment of My Journey to Islam's historical personalities section:
`Umar bin al-Khattab's Journey to Islam `Umar bin al-Khattab (may Allah be well pleased with him), of whom all the Muslims are justly proud, was most adamant in opposing the Prophet (peace be upon him) and very prominent in persecuting the Muslims before he embraced Islam. One day, the Quraysh in a meeting called for somebody to volunteer himself for the assassination of the Prophet (peace be upon him). `Umar offered himself for this job, at which everybody exclaimed, “Surely, you can do it, ‘Umar!” With sword hanging from his neck, he set out straight away on his sinister errand. On his way, he met Sa’ad bin Abi Waqqas of the Zuhrah clan. Sa’ad inquired, “Whither! `Umar?”
`Umar replied, “I am after finishing Muhammad.”
Sa’ad said, “But do not you see that the tribes of Hashim, Zuhrah and Abde Munaf are likely to kill you in retaliation?”
“`Umar! 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.”
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