"My nafs appeared pleased to me, I, therefore, desired to disgrace it."
"leave fine garments for females."[3] When he passed by a dump, he would say:
"This is your world for whose greed and desire you are perishing."
From the house of his sister, Umar proceeded to the house of Arqam at the foot of the Safa hill, where the Holy Prophet was lodged.
Umar knocked at the door of the house of Arqam.
"Who comes", enquired the guard.
"Umar bin al-Khattab". said Umar.
As the guard peeped through the door he saw that Umar had buckled his sword. The guard therefore hesitated to open the door.
Hamza said to the guard, "Open the door; if he comes in peace he will be welcome. If he is bent on mischief, we are enough to overpower him".
Umar was admitted. Hamza caught him by the hem of his cloak and said, "Umar, what brings you here?" The Muslims with drawn swords surrounded Umar, so that he could be overpowered if he showed any signs of violence.
Hearing the noise, the Holy Prophet came out of his cell. Addressing Hamza the Holy Prophet said, "Leave him Let him come forward".
As Umar stepped forward the Holy Prophet said Umar, how long will you stray from the path of Islam. Has the time not come for you to see the truth?"
Umar said, "Verily the time has come for me to see the truth. I have come to profess my faith in Islam".
The Holy Prophet stretched his hand. Umar held the hand with reverence and said, "I declare that there is no god but Allah, and that Muhammad is the Messenger of God".
In joy the Muslims shouted "Allah-o-Akbar". The Holy Prophet embraced Umar. The other Muslims embraced Umar one by one. Umar was the fortieth person to become a Muslim.
That day even Gabriel congratulated the Holy Prophet on the conversion of Umar. Gabriel said: "O Prophet of God, the dwellers in Heaven rejoice at the conversion of Umar and offer you their congratulations". Intoxicated with the joy of having become a Muslim, Umar proceeded to various parts of Mecca to announce that he had become a Muslim. He first went to the house of his maternal uncle Abu Jahl. He knocked at the door of the house of Abu Jahl.
"Who comes", asked Abu Jahl.
"It's Umar", said Umar. Abu Jahl opened the door and said,
"Welcome nephew". Umar said,
"Uncle do you know, I have become a Muslim." Abu Jahl said,
"Do not talk like that. I know that a man of your views can never become a Muslim". Umar said,
"No, uncle it is a fact that I have become a Muslim." Abu Jahl thereupon said,
"If what you say is true then be damned". Saying this Abu Jahl shut the door in the face of Umar.
Thereafter Umar went to see some other Quraish chiefs. He told them of his conversion to Islam. Like Abu Jahl they damned him and shut the doors of their houses against him.
Then Umar proceeded to the Ka'bah. There he saw Jamil bin Ma'mar al-Jamahi who enjoyed reputation for spreading reports in Mecca. Umar told him that he had accepted Islam. Jamil rose from his feet, and cried at the top of his voice:
"O ye Quraish, know that Umar bin al Khattab has been converted to Islam, and apostatised from the faith of his forefathers. "
On hearing this some Quraish youth gathered at the Ka'bah. Umar said,
"What Jamil said is not correct. I have not apostatised: I have seen the truth and accepted Islam". Thereupon the Quraish youth rushed at Umar with a view to beating him. A Shaikh dressed in Yemeni robes Al-Aas bin Wail passed that way, and enquired what was the matter. The Quraish said that Umar had apostatised, and they wanted to punish him for straying from the faith of his forefathers. The Shaikh said,
"A man should be free to choose whatever religion he iikes. Why beat him for that?" Abu Jahl also happened to come that way. Seeing the Quraish, he said,
"I offer protection to my nephew". Umar said,
"Uncle, I do not need your protection. For me the protection of God and the Holy Prophet is enough".
Then Umar went to the Holy Prophet and told him that he had publicly announced his conversion. Heretofore those who were converted to Islam kept their conversion to Islam secret for fear of the oppression of the Quraish. They also prayed in secret. Umar submitted to the Holy Prophet:
"O Messenger of God are we not in the truth?". The Holy Prophet said,
"Why not, we are verily in the truth".
"Then why should we not pray in the public? Has not the time come for us to declare our faith publicly?" said Umar. Umar tried to prevail on the Holy Prophet that the truth of Islam should become manifest. The Holy Prophet agreed with Umar.
The following day all the Muslims emerged from the house of Arqam and proceeded to the Holy Ka'bah, in two lines, one led by Umar, and the other by Hamza. At the Ka'bah the Muslims prayed openly. The Quraish watched the Muslims pray and said, "Verily by the conversion of Umar to Islam, the Muslims have taken the revenge from the Quraish".
After the Muslims had prayed in the Ka'bah, the Holy Prophet conferred on Umar the title of "Al-Faruq," for on that day through the efforts of Umar, the truth of Islam had become manifest.
Ta HaOne hot sultry day in the year A.D. 616, Umar buckled his sword and set out to kill the Holy Prophet (peace be on him). In the way, Umar met Nuaim bin Abduilah. He was a friend of Umar. He had been converted to Islam, but Umar did not know of that. Noticing the dark frowns on his face, Nuaim asked Umar what he was up to. Umar said that he was going to slay Muhammad (peace be on him), and thus vindicate the gods of Ka'bah. Nuaim said! "Beware if you harm Muhammad (peace be on him) you will not be safe from the fury of Banu Hashim. Desist from such a course in your own interest". Umar ejaculated angrily: "It appears you have also become a Muslim." Nuaim said, "Umar, do not bother about me, but take care of your sister and brother-in-law who have been converted to Islam, and who may be reading the Quran at this very moment." That made Umar pause. Instead of going to the Holy Prophet, he went to the house of his sister. His sister was Fatima and her husband was Saeed bin Zaid. Umar loved his sister. He had never thought that his brother-in-law or his sister would have the audacity to accept Islam. This was news to him. He could not believe it, but he thought it advisable to verify the facts. As Umar stepped into the house of his sister, he found that both Fatima and her husband were reading the Quran from a leaf. Seeing Umar, his sister hid the leaf. Fatima rose to welcome her brother with a smile. But there was a dark frown on the face of Umar. "What were you reading", he thundered. "Nothing", replied Fatima. Umar caught his brother-in-law by the throat and said, "So you have apostasised from the faith of your forefathers". Saeed retorted, "Rather we have abandoned falsehood for truth." Thereupon Umar was about to strike Saeed when Fatima intervened saying, "Hands off from my husband. If ypu have anything to say, say it to me, but do not touch my husband." Umar asked, "Is it a fact that you have become Muslims." She replied, "Yes. we have become Muslims. You may kill us if you like, but we will not waver in our faith". Umar stayed his hands and desired that the leaf from which they had been reading should be shown to him. Fatima said that he could not touch the sacred leaf until he had washed his hands. Umar washed his hands, and the sacred leaf was handed over to him. It was the Sura Ta Ha. It read: "Ta Ha As Umar read the verses over and over again, he felt as if these verses were addressed to him in person, and the mysterious Ta Ha referred to Umar-the Man. Umar shuddered with the fear of God, and he felt as if his conscience was upbraiding him, "Umar, how long would you stay away from the path of truth. Has not the time come for you to follow the truth?" And then Umar resolved that he would lose no time in following the truth. Turning to his sister and brother-in-law he said, "I came to you as an enemy of Islam; I go from you as a friend of Islam. I had buckled this sword to slay the Prophet of Islam; I now go to him to offer him allegiance." Fatima and Saeed cried "Allah o-Akbar". The episode has been dramatised by Allama Iqbal in his poem "Secrets of the Self". He has exhorted the Muslim women to be like the sister of Umar. He says: "O Muslim women;
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"You are observing my deteriorating condition. It has therefore, become necessary to appoint someone to take care of your affairs after me. If you wish, you may by mutual consultation nominate a man or if you wish, I shall select a man."
"By Allah! Umar is the best man for you and you are the worst for him."
"This directive is being written by Abu Bakr, The Khalifah of Rasulullah Salallalahu alayhi wasalam at the juncture of his departure from the earth and the commencement of his sojourn to the akhirah. I appoint afte rme for you Umar bin Khattab as the Khalifah. If he remains the pious and just, then this is exactly what I am convinced f him (in regard to him.) If he changes, then I have to say that I lack the knowledge of the unknown. In my opinion I have done the best for you by his appointment. The burden of a sin is on the one commiting it." (He then cited the following ayah.)
"And soon witll the trangressors know the direction towards which they are turning.
he greatest understanding is Taqwa and the greatest ignorance is transgression and immorality. The greatest truth is observance of Trust and the greatest falsehood is misappropiation of trust."
"If you accept my advice then of the unseen things love death the most because it will come to you most assuredly"
"When a person becomes proud on account of some wordly adornment, Allah becomes displeased with him (and remains displeased) as long as he does not completely disassociate from tht adornment"
"The pangs of death have arrived in truth. This is it from which you flee" QURAN
"A man will be released after a thousand years in Jahannam (Hell). How wonderful if I could be that person"
Hadhrat Uthman Radhiallahu anho used to say:
"Worship is to safeguard the commands of Allah, to fulfill the promise made with anyone, to be contented with whateve is obtained and to be patient when things are unobtaineable."
"Worldly concern produces spiritual darkness. Concern of the akhirah produces spiritual lightness."
"The sign of piety is that one considers all others to be saved and oneself to be doomed."
"The greatest destruction is old-age accompanied by indifference to akhirah."
"The gave will be a comfort for the one for whom this world is a prison."
"If your hearts are purified, you will never tire of reciting the Quran and listening to its recitations."
"When Allah intends to do good do a bandah. (Allah's devotee). He prevents hm from engrossment in his family. (This does not mean he neglects thier rights)
"The requisite for Tawadhu (humility) is to beliver everyone else is nobler than oneself."
"When a person complained of hardness of his heart. Hadhrat Hasan said: "Attend gatherings of zikr."
"I have met such Awliya whose dislike for even halal things exceed your dislike for Haraam things"
"Tama (worldly desires) blemishes the alim."
"I swear by Allah! Allah disgraces a person who loves money."
"The world is a vehicle for you. If you drive it, it will deliver you to your destination. If it drives you, you will be destroyed."
"Abstain from being an enemy of Allah's obedient servant. Allah will never assign him to your control. If he is a sinner refrian from being his enemy because he will see the consequences of his misdeeds"
" A man who claims to love Allah but does not dislike sins, is false in his claim of love."
He who acqires the Ma'rifat (knowlede of Allah) without love will be destroyed. He who acquires khauf (fear of Allah) without love, will find himslf off from Allah with terror and despondency."
"Imaan becomes perfect only when one fulfils all commands abstains from all prohibitions, is contented with the decree of taqdeerand fears the possiblity of devine rejection."
"To abstain from doing an act to show others is riya and doing an act to show others is shirk."
"If you live in a place where you see no people nor does anyone see you, then you are most fortunate."
"Of greater surprise than seeing someone laugh in jannat is to see someone laughing on earth."
"Never hope to find three persons and Alim who practices according to the degree of his knowledge, a person who has ikhlas (sincerity) according to the degree of the virtuous deed, a brother who is without fault. You will never find these three."
"Two acts corrupt the heart; sleeping much and eating much."
People asked: "WHen will friendship with Allah Ta'ala be perfect?"
Fudhail Replied: "When Allahs bestowng and witholding of bounties are equal in ones estimate."
"ALlah Ta'ala afflicts worldly worries on the slave he loves and he grants worldly comforts to the one He dislikes."
"Lanat (curse) descends on a man who professes friendhsip for a brother while his heart hits him.Such a peron may become blind and deaf."
"Once while he was sitting in a masjid, a man came and sat close to fudhail Ibn Iyadh. When Hadhrat fudhail asked his reason for sitting by him, the man replied to derive spiritual love from your heart. Fudhail Ibn Iyadh said "this is terror not love. Either you leave or I shall leave."
"Once in arafat crying and sobbing Hadhrat fudhail looked towards the sky as the sun was about to set. Holding his beard he exclaimed even if you (himslef) are forgiven, you will be a great embarassment to me."
"People! always be grateful for the bounties of Allah. Seldom has Allah Ta'ala reinstated the favours which he had snatched from people."
"Even if the entire world is bestowed to me with the assurance that no reckoning will be taken, then too I shall abhor it just as you abhor a dead animal."
"Entry in to the world is simple. Emergence from it is difficult."
" A man who desires that people listen atentively to his discourses is not a Zahid ( one who has renounced the world.)"
"When someone slanders you, know that he is more beneficial to you than a friend because he transfers his virtuous deeds to you, (by slandering you)."
Once when Hadrhrat Sufiyan Uyainah Rahmatullah ahlayhi visited Hadhrat Fudhail, He Fudhail said: " At one time you, the ulema were the lanterns of guidance for te cities. But now you are the darkness for the cities. You at one time were for people stars of guidance like the stars in the heaven by means of which people acquire their direction. Now , you have become for the world a source of confusion. You the Ulema have no shame for Allah. You visit the wealthy and accept their gifts without investigating whether halal or haram (surce.) Then you stand in the mehrab narrating the hadith."
While hadhrat fudhail was admonishing Hadhrat Sufiyan with lowered head was reciting IStighfar (Astagfirullah: seeking forgiveness from ALlah)."
Hadhra Fdhail said: "Hadhrat Luqman alayhis salam who was a Habshi (Abysinnian) slave, was the Qaadhi of Bani Israel. He acquired this rank by abstaining from futile speeches and acts, and by the truth of his tongue."
"If the ulema adot Zuhd (renouncing the world) the necks of grave oppressors will bend n submission in front of them. But, ALas! They spend thier knowledge n the affluent people of the world in exchange for worldly gain. They Uleam have therefore fallen in the estimate of people."
"one who indulges in association with people will most certainly be trapped in riya (show of deeds)."
I lament the Alim with whom the world plays. If the heart of the people of the uran and Hadith (ulema) become disenchanted with the world, people will not be able to maniplate them."
" My heart is agitated greatly when I hear than an alim or an abid went for Hajj with the money of a trader."
" If the intention for the acquisition of knowledge of Allah is correct, then there is no superior act than the acquisition of knowledge. But generally the intention of pursuing knowledge is not amal (righteous deeds.)
"Worship is to safeguard the commands of Allah, to fulfill the promise made with anyone, to be contented with whateve is obtained and to be patient when things are unobtaineable."
"Worldly concern produces spiritual darkness. Concern of the akhirah produces spiritual lightness."
"The sign of piety is that one considers all others to be saved and oneself to be doomed."
"The greatest destruction is old-age accompanied by indifference to akhirah."
"The gave will be a comfort for the one for whom this world is a prison."
"If your hearts are purified, you will never tire of reciting the Quran and listening to its recitations." recitations."
"Worship is to safeguard the commands of Allah, to fulfill the promise made with anyone, to be contented with whateve is obtained and to be patient when things are unobtaineable."
"Worldly concern produces spiritual darkness. Concern of the akhirah produces spiritual lightness."
"The sign of piety is that one considers all others to be saved and oneself to be doomed."
"The greatest destruction is old-age accompanied by indifference to akhirah."
"The gave will be a comfort for the one for whom this world is a prison."
"If your hearts are purified, you will never tire of reciting the Quran and listening to its recitations."
I had twisted your ear. I want you to exact some compensation."
Twist it strongly. The compensation exacted here on earth is best. After such compensation, there is no apprehension in the akhirah. (hereafter.)"
"He was proud of himself. I desored him to understand that his nafs is contemptible."
"His insults angered me. If I had punished him, my nafs too would have had its share therein. I do not approve of punishing any muslim for the sake of the desires of my nafs."
"I wish I was a goat which could be slaughtered and eaten."
Sometimes he would hold in his a blade of grass and sigh "I wish I was this grass."
Sometimes he said," I wish my mother had not given birth to me."
He would say to people:
"better then your life in the Akhirat (hereafter) be suffering is tha your worldly life suffers."
"People! I was hard until there was among you there was kind and beneficient men such as Rasulullah Salallahu alayhi wasalam and Abubakr Radhiallahu anho. The combination of my hardness and thier softness has brought about moderation. But, now I shall not be harsh on you. My hardness will be for only the oppressors, O people! If I oppose the sunnat of the Prophet of Allah and the way of ABu Bakr what will you do?"
