Ihyaaud Deen An Effort to Revive Deen in Totality
Hadhrat Umar (Radhiallahu Anhu) said, “Show me these pages, so I may see what it contains.” His sister replied: “No, you are impure and no impure person can touch the Qur’an.” He insisted, but his sister was not prepared to allow him to touch the pages until he cleansed himself. Eventually Hadhrat Umar (Radhiallahu Anhu) gave in. He proceeded to perform ghusal and then began to read from the pages. The pages contained the beginning verses of Surah Taaha. He commenced reciting from the beginning of the Surah, and he was moved when he reached the verse:
إِنَّنى أَنَا اللَّـهُ لا إِلـٰهَ إِلّا أَنا فَاعبُدنى وَأَقِمِ الصَّلوٰةَ لِذِكرى ﴿١٤﴾
"Lo! Indeed I am Allah. There is none worthy of worship save Me. So serve me and establish Salaat for My remembrance."
Hadhrat Umar (Radhiallahu Anhu) then said: “Take me to Hadhrat Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam).”
On hearing this, Hadhrat Khabbab (Radhiallahu Anhu) came out from the inner room and said: “O Umar, glad tidings to you! I heard Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) supplicating to Allah Ta’ala last night (on Thursday night), ‘O Allah, strengthen Islam with either Umar ibnul Khattaab or Amr bin Hishaam (Abu Jahl)’. O Umar, it seems that the duaa of Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) has been answered in your favour.”
Hadhrat Umar (Radhiallahu Anhu) then proceeded to Darul Arqam, where Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) and the Muslims were congregated at that time (to learn Deen). When Hadhrat Umar (Radhiallahu Anhu) approached the door, Hadhrat Hamza (Radhiallahu Anhu), Hadhrat Talha (Radhiallahu Anhu) and other Muslims saw him approaching. Hadhrat Hamza (Radhiallahu Anhu), upon seeing the Muslims being overcome with fear and apprehension upon seeing Hadhrat Umar (Radhiallahu Anhu), he allayed their fears saying, “Here is Umar approaching. If Allah Ta’ala intends good for him, then he will accept Islam and follow the teachings of Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam). However, if Allah Ta’ala does not wish good for him, then we will deal with him with the sword.”
In the meantime, Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) was inside the house of Arqam and wahy began descending upon him. No sooner that Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) learnt about the coming of Hadhrat Umar (Radhiallahu Anhu), Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) stood up and advanced towards him. Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) took hold of him by his collar and held the handle of his sword saying, “O Umar! When will you desist from the life of kufr (disbelief)?! O Allah! Here is Umar bin Khattaab. O Allah! Strengthen the Deen with Umar bin Khattaab.”
Hadhrat Umar (Radhiallahu Anhu) then recited the shahaadat and accepted Islam on the hands of Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam).
Hadhrat Umar (Radhiallahu Anhu) embraced Islam on the morning of Jumuah (Friday). The Islam of Hadhrat Umar (Radhiallahu Anhu) was a terrible blow to the morale of the disbelievers. After the Islam of Hadhrat Umar (Radhiallahu Anhu), the Muslims started performing their Salaah openly in the Haram. Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mas'ood (Radhiallahu Anhu) says: “The Islam of Umar was a great triumph, his emigration to Madinah Tayyibah a tremendous reinforcement, and his accession to the Khilaafat a great blessing for the Muslims.[1]
[1] فضائل الأعمال، صفة الصفوة ، أسد الغابة
