Editing Umar (section)

=== Conversion to Islam and service under Muhammad ===
Umar [[converted to Islam]] in 616, one year after the Migration to Abyssinia. The story was recounted in [[Ibn Ishaq]]'s ''Sīrah''. On his way to murder Muhammad, Umar met his best friend Nu'aym ibn Abd Allah, who had secretly converted to Islam but had not told Umar. When Umar informed him that he had set out to kill Muhammad, Nu'aym said, "By God, you have deceived yourself, O Umar? Do you think that Banu Abd al-Manaf would let you run around alive once you had killed their son Muhammad? Why don't you return to your own house and at least set it straight?"<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.al-islam.org/restatement-history-islam-and-muslims-sayyid-ali-ashgar-razwy/umars-conversion-islam |title=Umar's Conversion to Islam |website=al-islam.org |date=10 November 2013 |access-date=4 August 2016}}</ref>

Nu'aym then told him to inquire about his own house, where his sister, [[Fatima bint al-Khattab]], and his brother-in-law had converted to Islam and were taking lessons from [[Khabbab ibn al-Aratt]]. Upon arriving at her house, Umar found Fatima and her husband [[Saeed bin Zaid]] (Umar's cousin) reciting the verses of the [[Quran]] from [[Ta-Ha|Surat Ta-Ha]].<ref>as-Suyuti, ''The History of Khalifahs Who Took The Right Way'', London, 1995, pp. 107–108.</ref> He started quarreling with Saeed and physically attacking him. When his sister came to rescue her husband, he also started arguing with her. Yet still they kept on saying "you may kill us but we will not give up Islam". Sources differ on what happened next: While some say that upon hearing these words, Umar slapped his sister so hard that she fell to the ground, others claim Fatima was merely hit by accident and lost balance when trying to pull Umar off of Saeed.<ref>{{Cite web |date=21 January 2023 |title=New Hope - Prophet Muhammad's Uncle & Umar Convert to Islam |url=https://aboutislam.net/reading-islam/about-muhammad/new-hope-prophet-muhammads-uncle-umar-convert-islam/ |access-date=15 November 2024 |website=aboutislam.net |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Omar Ibn Al Khattab (ra) – The Convert Who Changed The World {{!}} The Firsts |url=https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/omar-ibn-al-khattab-the-convert-who-changed-the-world-the-firsts |access-date=15 November 2024 |publisher=Yaqeen Institute for Islamic Research |language=en}}</ref> In both cases, however, his sister began to [[Bleeding|bleed]] from her mouth. Seeing what he had done, Umar calmed down out of [[Guilt (emotion)|guilt]] and asked Fatima to give him what she was reciting. She replied in the negative and said, "You are unclean, and no unclean person can touch the Scripture". He insisted, but his sister was not prepared to allow him to touch the pages unless he washed his body. Umar at last gave in. He [[Ghusl|washed his body]] and then began to read the verses that were: ''Verily, I am Allah: there is no God but Me; so serve Me (only), and establish regular prayer for My remembrance'' (Quran 20:14). He [[Tears|wept]] and declared, "Surely this is the word of Allah. I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah". On hearing this, Khabbab came out from where he was hiding inside and said: "O, Umar! Glad tidings for you. Yesterday Muhammad prayed to Allah, "O, Allah! Strengthen Islam with either Umar or [[Amr ibn Hishām|Abu Jahl]], whomsoever Thou likest". It seems that his [[prayer]] has been answered in your favour."<ref>{{cite book |last=Al Mubarakpury |first=Safi ur Rahman |title=Ar-Raheeq Al-Makhtum (The Sealed Nectar) |date=2002 |publisher=[[Darussalam Publishers]] |isbn=9960-899-55-1 |pages=130–131 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=r_80rJHIaOMC&pg=PA130}}</ref>

Umar then went to Muhammad with the same [[sword]] he intended to kill him with and accepted Islam in front of him and his companions. Umar was 39 years old when he accepted Islam.<ref name="Tahthib 2002 page 170">Tartib wa Tahthib Kitab [[Al-Bidaya wa l-Nihaya]] by [[ibn Kathir]], published by Dar al-Wathan publications, Riyadh Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, 1422 [[Islamic calendar|Anno hegiræ]] (2002), compiled by Muhammad ibn Shamil as-Sulami, p. 170 {{ISBN|978-9960-28-117-9}}</ref>

According to one account, after his conversion to Islam, Umar openly prayed at the [[Kaaba]] as the Quraysh chiefs, Abu Jahl and [[Abu Sufyan ibn Harb|Abu Sufyan]], reportedly watched in [[anger]].{{sfnp|Armstrong|p=35}} This further helped the Muslims to gain [[confidence]] in practicing Islam openly. At this stage, Umar even challenged anyone who dared to stop the Muslims from [[Prayer|praying]], although no one dared to interfere with Umar when he was openly praying.

Umar's conversion to Islam granted power to the Muslims and to the Islamic faith in Mecca. It was after this event that Muslims offered prayers openly in [[Masjid al-Haram]] for the first time. [[Abdullah ibn Masud]] said,

{{blockquote|Umar's embracing Islam was our victory, his migration to Medina was our success, and his reign a blessing from Allah. We didn't offer prayers in al-Haram Mosque until Umar had accepted Islam. When he accepted Islam, the Quraysh were compelled to let us pray in the Mosque.<ref>''Serat-i-Hazrat Umar-i-Farooq'', Mohammad Allias Aadil, p. 30</ref>}}

==== Migration to Medina ====
In 622, due to the safety offered by Yathrib (later renamed Medīnat an-Nabī, or simply [[Medina]]), Muhammad ordered his followers to migrate to Medina. Most Muslims migrated at night fearing Quraysh resistance, but Umar is reported to have left openly during the day saying:<ref>''Serat-i-Hazrat Umar-i-Farooq'', Mohammad Allias Aadil, p. 119</ref><ref name=":0" />

{{Cquote
| quote = "Any one who wants to make his wife a widow and his children orphans should come and meet me there behind that cliff".
}}

Umar migrated to Medina accompanied by his cousin and brother-in-law Saeed ibn Zaid.<ref name="Tahthib 2002 page 170" />

==== Life in Medina ====
{{Campaignbox Campaigns of Caliph Umar}}

Muslims remained in peace in Medina for approximately a year before the Quraysh raised an army to attack them. In 624, Umar participated in the first battle between Muslims and Quraysh of Mecca i.e., the [[Battle of Badr]]. In 625, he took part in the [[Battle of Uhud]]. In the second phase of the battle, when [[Khalid ibn Walid]]'s cavalry attacked the Muslim rear, turning the tide of battle, rumours of Muhammad's death were spread and many Muslim warriors were routed from the battlefield, Umar among them. However, hearing that Muhammad was still alive, he went to Muhammad at the mountain of Uhud and prepared for the defence of the hill.<ref>''Serat-i-Hazrat Umar-i-Farooq'', Mohammad Allias Aadil, pp. 40–41</ref> Later in the year Umar was a part of a campaign against the Jewish tribe of [[Banu Nadir]]. In 625, Umar's daughter [[Hafsa bint Umar|Hafsah]] was married to Muhammad.<ref>''Serat-i-Hazrat Umar-i-Farooq'', Mohammad Allias Aadil, p. 42, Sahih al Bukhari</ref>

Later in 627, he participated in the [[Battle of the Trench]] and also in the [[Banu Qurayza|Battle of Banu Qurayza]].<ref name="Maghazi">Tabqat ibn al-Saad book of Maghazi, p. 62</ref> In 628, Umar witnessed the [[Treaty of Hudaybiyyah]].<ref name="Maghazi"/> In 628, he fought in the [[Battle of Khaybar]]. In 629, Muhammad sent [[Amr ibn al-As]] to [[Battle of Chains|Zaat-ul-Sallasal]], after which Muhammad sent [[Abu Ubaidah ibn al-Jarrah]] with reinforcements, including Abu Bakr and Umar, whereupon they attacked and defeated the enemy.<ref>Sahih-al-Bhukari book of Maghazi, Ghazwa Zaat-ul-Sallasal</ref>

In 630, when Muslim armies rushed for the [[conquest of Mecca]], he was part of that army. Later in 630, he fought in the [[Battle of Hunayn]] and the [[Siege of Ta'if]]. He was part of the Muslim army that contested the [[Battle of Tabouk]] under Muhammad's command and he was reported to have given half of his wealth for the preparation of this expedition. He also participated in the farewell [[Hajj]] of Muhammad in 632.<ref>''Serat-i-Hazrat Umar-i-Farooq'', Mohammad Allias Aadil, p. 56</ref>

==== Death of Muhammad ====
When Muhammad died on 8 June 632, Umar initially disbelieved that he was dead.<ref name="Suyuti54-61">as-Suyuti, ''The History of Khalifahs Who Took The Right Way'', London, 1995, pp. 54–61.</ref> It is said that Umar promised to strike the head of any man who would say that Muhammad died. Umar said: "He has not died but rather he has gone to his lord just as [[Moses in Islam|Moses]] went, remaining absent from his people for forty nights after which he has returned to them. By Allah, the messenger of Allah will indeed return just as Moses returned (to his people) and he will cut off the hands and legs of those men who claimed he has died."<ref name=":0">{{cite web |url=https://archive.org/stream/TheBiographyOfAbuBakrAsSiddeeq/TheBiographyOfAbuBakrAs-siddeeq#page/n199/mode/2up |title=The Biography of Abu Bakr As-Siddeeq |via=Internet Archive |date=2007}}</ref> [[Abu Bakr]] then publicly spoke to the community in the mosque, saying:

{{blockquote|"Whoever worshiped Muhammad, let them know that Muhammad has died, and whoever worshiped Allah, let them know that Allah is alive and never dies".}}<ref name="http://sunnah.com/bukhari/62/19">{{cite web |url=http://sunnah.com/bukhari/62/19 |title=Hadith – Book of Companions of the Prophet – Sahih al-Bukhari – Sayings and Teachings of Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه و سلم) |website=sunnah.com |date=26 April 2012 |access-date=29 January 2019}}</ref> Abū Bakr then recited these verses from the Qur'an {{Cite Quran|3|144|b=n|style=ref}}:

{{blockquote|"''Muhammad is but a messenger; messengers (the like of whom) have passed away before him. If, then, he dies or is killed, will you turn back on your heel?''"}}<ref name="http://sunnah.com/bukhari/62/19"/> Hearing this, Umar fell on his knees in sorrow and acceptance. Sunni Muslims say that this denial of Muhammad's death was occasioned by his deep love for him.<ref name="Suyuti54-61" />