Hamza and Umar (ra) Become Muslims! - AI Visualized - O Messenger | Ep. 3
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"Oh Allah, strengthen Islam with the one You love more of these two men: Abu Jahl or Umar ibn al-Khattab." This prayer was made by the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). It was the fifth year of his prophethood. Despite all his tireless efforts, the number of Muslims was still very small, around 140. Spiritually, they were far greater than the entire city of Mecca, yet in numbers, they were still very few. Throughout history, people have always been influenced by others, especially by well-known figures. And now in Mecca, the time had come for some influential people to enter the fold of Islam. This video series is based on hundreds of references from reliable Islamic sources.
All AI visuals were prepared in consultation with qualified Muslim scholars and are in line with Islamic guidelines. Abu Jahl's real name was Amr ibn Hisham, and the qualities that made him stand out were his intelligence and his wealth. He used to be called Abul-Hakam, meaning the "Father of Wisdom." But his utter blindness to the greatest truth of the universe and his constant, brutal torture of the Muslims turned him, in the sight of Allah, into Abu Jahl... the "Father of Ignorance." What set Umar ibn al-Khattab apart were his wisdom, reasoning, courage, and sense of justice. From the earliest days of Islam, he was among the harshest and most merciless people towards the Muslims.
He never showed any tolerance and would even torture some of them to make them abandon Islam. In those days, his heart was so hard that he would beat one of the female companions, Lubaynah, simply because she had embraced Islam. When he grew tired of beating and stopped for a moment, he would say to her, "Don't think that I'm showing you mercy. I'm only pausing because I'm exhausted. Once I regain my strength, I'll continue, and I will not stop until you abandon your faith." Both Abu Jahl and Umar ibn al-Khattab were similar in their hostility towards Islam. Yet, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) was so full of hope that he didn't give up even on these men.
And he was so merciful that he even prayed for their guidance. Despite everything they had done, he still made this dua (supplication): "Oh Allah, strengthen Islam with the one You love more of these two men: Abu Jahl or Umar ibn al-Khattab." After all the hardships the Muslims suffered in Mecca, one day Rasulullah (Messenger of Allah) gathered his companions and said, "Now go and spread out across the Earth. Allah will bring you together again." But where could they go? "Oh Messenger of Allah ﷺ, where should we go?" Rasulullah (Messenger of Allah) pointed with his hand and said, "There." He was pointing to the land that would be reached by sea.
"Under the rule of the King of Abyssinia, no one suffers oppression. It's a land of justice. It is hoped that Allah will grant you relief there." So the first migration in Islam would take place to this land: Abyssinia, modern-day Ethiopia. In the month of Rajab, 15 companions would set out from the port of Shu'aybah towards this land of hope. Just imagine yourself in that situation. Wouldn't it be very difficult to take such a journey? You don't know what is waiting for you in the place you're going. And on top of that, you have to leave behind your loved ones, your home, your homeland, and what you could carry with you would be very limited. It feels overwhelming, doesn't it?
But the companions were such people that nothing could ever be more precious to them than the religion of Allah. The eternal life of the Hereafter was above everything. And perhaps some people who were thirsty for the truth in that land would also be guided to the light. A few months after the first group, another one set out. This time under the leadership of Ja'far ibn Abi Talib. It was a group of 101 people, including 18 women. Those who stayed behind weren't staying to live any easier life. In fact, their situation was even more difficult. All of them were going through a time full of sacrifice. And what about the Messenger of Allah? Was he among the ones who left? No.
He was always where danger and tension were at their highest, right at the front line. No matter what happened to him, he would make the necessary sacrifices while still taking precautions. Despite the constant risk of assassination, he never backed down from his mission. Later on, he would also be among the last to migrate to Medina. And in the days of Medina, whenever trouble or chaos broke out, he would immediately mount a horse and be the first to arrive at the scene. On the day of Badr, he was the closest to the enemy. And on the day of Uhud, at the most difficult moment, he was the one who brought the companions back together around him.
It is said courage comes from faith; he was the best example of that. And what about the Quraysh? How did they react to the migration to Abyssinia? They didn't really care about the first group. "I heard a few of your nephew's followers are moving to Abyssinia." "Don't call him my nephew. And if they want to leave, let them go. Weren't we trying to get rid of them anyway?" And stayed silent. But when they saw that more and more people were going to Abyssinia, they began to panic. "What if the Abyssinians also start to become Muslims? What if the companions try to spread Islam there too? What if they gain a strength that would become unstoppable?" They realized these late.
And when they finally did, they were struck with deep fear. Immediately, they gathered in Dar al-Nadwa (The House of Assembly). They needed to decide on their countermove. Dar al-Nadwa was the complete opposite of Dar al-Arqam (The House of Arqam). While one was spreading light, the other was spreading darkness. It was at this very place that they plotted their schemes against Islam. That day, once again, the leaders of Quraysh came together. Whatever it took, the Muslims had to be brought back. This could either be done by portraying the Muslims to the Abyssinians as a rebellious group or by presenting Islam to their rulers in a negative way.
In today's terms, they had to resort to manipulation and even slander. Only in this way could they hope to stop them. They didn't want the companions who had already been forced to leave their homeland to find any peace even there. Finally, the decision came from Dar al-Nadwa (The House of Assembly). The genius of the Arabs, Amr ibn al-Aas, was appointed to go to Abyssinia. By using his unmatched skill of persuasion, he would request the Muslims from their King, Najashi. Amr already knew Najashi very well. He was familiar with Abyssinia, knew exactly who to approach, and how to speak to them. He selected precious gifts that would please the King and set out with a friend.
Initially, they planned to gain the support of the court officials by offering gifts and engaging in pleasant conversations. What they feared most was the King calling the companions and hearing the story directly from them. They thought: "If the high officials support Amr, then the King wouldn't feel the need for that, and everything would be handled easily." One by one, Amr found the people he was looking for and carried out his plan. At last, he secured the support that he had been seeking, and now it was time to appear before the King. After showing respect and greeting Najashi, Amr began to speak.
"Oh King, we have come to warn you about these people who once lived among us and disrupted our affairs. They now seek to corrupt your religion, your land, and your people. These are some of our ignorant youths. They have abandoned our religion but have not entered yours either. Instead, they have come up with a completely new religion unknown to both you and us." The King's religion was Christianity, and knowing this, Amr continued: "They do not regard Jesus, the son of Mary, as God. When they come into your noble presence, they do not bow before you. Hand them over to us, and we will deal with them as they deserve." The bribed officials began to support Amr.
However, the King was a man of wisdom and did not take their words at face value. He called the Muslims to his presence. He wanted to hear their side of the story as well. What would happen now? On one side stood Amr ibn al-Aas with his sharp mind and eloquence, and on the other, Ja'far ibn Abi Talib with his courage and truthfulness. Two very skilled speakers were about to face each other, and one of the most intense debates in the history of the Seerah was about to begin. Before answering the claims, Ja'far made one request: of the two messengers of Quraysh, only one should speak. Amr agreed and stepped forward.
Then Ja'far asked three questions: "Are we slaves to be captured and returned to our masters?" "Did we unjustly spill someone's blood so that we must be handed back to the victim's family?" "Have we taken any wealth unlawfully from the people, wealth that we need to pay back?" In every case, the answer was no. So they were asked what this religion was, and Ja'far continued. "Oh King, we were a people living in ignorance. We used to worship idols and eat dead meat. We committed all kinds of evil. We used to cut off family ties and ignore the rights of our relatives. We neglected our neighbors and showed no care for their rights. The strong among us would oppress the weak.
While we were in that state, Allah sent to us a Prophet from among ourselves. A man whose noble lineage, honesty, trustworthiness, modesty, and purity we all knew. He called us to believe in the oneness of Allah, to worship only Him, and to abandon the idols made of stone, wood, gold, and silver that we and our forefathers had worshipped instead of Allah. He taught us to speak the truth, to return what is entrusted to us, to honor our family ties, to treat our neighbors kindly, and to avoid sins and shedding blood. He forbade us from indecency, lying, taking the wealth of orphans, and slandering chaste women. So we believed in him and accepted his message.
We followed what he brought from Allah and conveyed to us. Because of this, our people became our enemies and oppressed us. They tortured us in many ways to make us abandon our religion, to stop us from worshipping Allah and to force us to worship idols. For all these reasons, we left our homeland and came to seek refuge with you. We chose you over others, and we hope that in your land, we will not face oppression or injustice." Ja'far's words gave a powerful summary of the entire story up to that point in the Seerah (biography). What could have taken hours to explain, he summarized in just a few minutes. As Najashi listened to these words, he was filled with admiration.
His heart was deeply moved, and he became curious about this new faith. Because he was a Christian, he knew that the Gospel contained many signs about the coming of the final prophet. And the Prophet that Ja'far spoke about matched those signs perfectly. Najashi asked, "Do you have with you anything from the revelation your prophet has brought from Allah and conveyed to you?" "Yes, I do." "Then recite it to me." Allah, the One who knows all times, past and future, had decreed that Surah Maryam (Chapter of Mary) would be revealed just before the migration to Abyssinia. Since the King was a Christian, this Surah (Chapter) was a great blessing.
Ja'far recognized this gift and recited the first 35 verses of Surah Maryam. The King and the priests listened with full attention, eager to hear Allah's words that were addressing them. The verses told about Prophet Zakariya (Zechariah) and Yahya (John). They talked about how Mary carried Jesus (peace be upon him), how he was born without a father, how he spoke as a baby, and how Allah sent him as a prophet. With every word, their emotions kept rising. Tears were pouring from the King's eyes, soaking his beard. The priests were also crying with him. Those were the exact words their souls had been longing for. How did they live all those years without them?
The messengers of Quraysh were left completely silent, just watching this scene. The King's view of the Muslims had changed. His respect and admiration for them had grown immensely. "This, without a doubt, comes from the same source as what was given to Jesus." Then he turned to Amr and his friend and said, "Leave now, both of you. Go. I swear I will never hand them over to you, and no one will ever touch them." Amr ibn al-Aas had taken a crushing defeat. All his efforts had ended in disappointment. When he left the King's presence, he was boiling with anger. He didn't want to just give up and accept defeat. He thought, "This can't be the end.
There must be another way." Now he was even more determined. He made a new plan. The next day, he would make a completely different move, and he was sure the reaction wouldn't be the same as today. "By Allah! Tomorrow I will go to the King, and with what I will say about them, I will have them wiped out completely." Meanwhile, in Mecca, remarkable events were about to unfold. Quraysh would be shaken to its core after seeing some of its leading figures embrace Islam, and the idol worshippers would suffer blow after blow. And Allah would answer the great prayer of His Messenger. During the migration of the Muslims to Abyssinia, Umar came across one of the female companions, Layla.
"So, you're leaving?" The answer he received gave him much to think about. "Yes. We are going to another land of Allah. You have tortured and oppressed us. We will stay there until Allah grants us a way out." Umar went silent. It was as if he was questioning himself for everything he had done to the Muslims. "May Allah be with you on your way." Later, when Layla spoke about this incident, she would say, "I saw in him a softness and compassion I had never seen before. As if our leaving had made him sad." A little later, when her husband Amir returned, she told him what had happened. "Do you really hope that Umar will become Muslim?" "Yes, I hope so." Amir gave a sarcastic answer.
"Know this very well. That man will never become a Muslim. Not until you see Khattab's donkey become a Muslim." Umar's harshness up to that point had given people this impression of him. But even so, he had taken a step before Abu Jahl. And for Allah, turning and changing that heart was never difficult. As He said in a Hadith Qudsi (Sacred Hadith): "If My servant walks towards Me, I rush towards him." That step would never go to waste. There was something common in both of their stories. At different times, in the middle of the night, they would secretly come close to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and listen to the Quran.
Abu Jahl didn't want people to say, "Look, he's listening to the Quran." But deep inside, he was curious. He wanted to hear it. One night, without telling anyone, he secretly approached the Prophet's house (peace be upon him). He hid in a corner and started listening to Rasulullah (Messenger of Allah) reciting the Quran in prayer. He was deeply absorbed, lost in thought. He was so moved that by the time he finally left, the sun was rising. He had been listening for hours. On his way back, he ran into Abu Sufyan and Akhnas ibn Shariq, two of the Quraysh leaders. It turned out that all three of them, without knowing about each other, had come there for the very same reason.
"Let's not come here again to listen. If anyone sees us, it will surely plant doubts in their hearts." Abu Jahl was deeply shaken by what he heard. The Prophet (peace be upon him) had never been someone who was involved in poetry or literature in his entire life. He didn't even know how to read or write. So how could such powerful and beautiful words come from a man like him? Even the way he normally spoke was nowhere near this level. It just didn't make sense. Abu Jahl began to doubt. He couldn't hold himself back and wanted to go again. That night passed just like the night before. He sat for hours listening to the Prophet (peace be upon him) recite the Quran.
At the break of dawn, he came out of his hiding place, and on his way back home, he ran into the same two men again. They also had come there for the very same reason. Just as they did the last time, they warned each other and went their separate ways. But Abu Jahl's curiosity only grew stronger. The next night, once again, he couldn't resist and did the same thing. And once more, when it was all over, he ran into the same two men. They were going through the exact same struggle as Abu Jahl. That's why they were doing the same thing. And in the future, both of them would eventually become Muslims.
Fearing that if anyone saw them, people's hearts might be drawn to Islam, they swore to each other and never did that again. During those three nights, he witnessed the great messages and deep meanings that Allah had revealed. But above all, he saw with his own eyes that the man he called a liar was spending the whole night in prayer, worshipping until morning. If, Ma'zallah (God forbid), his cause was a lie, why would he do this? What benefit was there for him? Still, he didn't let go of his tribal pride, his hatred, and his envy. The only thing he cared about was making sure people kept worshipping idols without doubt.
And in doing so, he threw away the chance to believe that was put right into his hands. So what about Umar's experience? Unlike Abu Jahl, he had no such intention. One night, near the Kaaba, he came across the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) as he was praying. He quietly came closer and said to himself, "By Allah! No matter what happens, tonight I will stay and listen to what Muhammad is reciting." Rasulullah was reciting Surah Al-Haqqah (The Reality). As Umar listened, he was captivated by the smooth flow of the words and by the depth of their meanings. But he wasn't going to believe that easily.
While listening to the Quran, he said to himself, "Maybe this man really is a poet, just as the Quraysh say." And right at that very moment, the Prophet (peace be upon him) reached verse 41. I seek refuge in Allah... Wa maa huwa biqawli shaa’ir; qaleelan maa tu’minoon. "And it is not the word of a poet; how little you believe." Umar froze. He thought to himself, "He knows what I was just thinking. Maybe he's a soothsayer." But then the very next verse came. Wa laa biqawli kaahin; qaleelan maa tazakkaroon "Nor the word of a soothsayer; how little you reflect." Umar was completely shocked, trying to make sense of what was happening. And the Surah (Chapter) continued.
Tanzeelum mir rabbil ‘aalameen. "It is a revelation from the Lord of the worlds." And so he listened until the Surah came to an end. This event shook him to his core. And that is how the seed of faith was planted in his heart. But what would make that seed grow? The news that would send shockwaves through all of Mecca: the conversion of a great name, the uncle of the Messenger of Allah, Hamza. But before we get to that, let's return to Abyssinia and pick up where we left off. Ja'far ibn Abi Talib, Amr ibn al-Aas, and Najashi Ashama. On the second day, another conversation was about to take place between these three. This time, Amr's plan was different.
Knowing that the King was a Christian, and knowing what Islam said about Christianity, he decided to approach him from that angle. He entered the court and confidently said, "Oh King, they say harsh words about Jesus, the son of Mary. If you wish, call them and ask what they think about him." But after what happened yesterday, the King was even more careful not to be manipulated. He would not allow any attempt to deceive him. So Ja'far and the other companions were called in once again. But what was the thing that gave Amr the confidence to come before the King again and raise this issue? Did the Muslims really believe something that would anger the King?
Did they, Ma'zallah (God forbid), consider Jesus a misguided man? Absolutely not. He was a prophet who had been given a book by Allah. In fact, out of more than a hundred thousand prophets, he was among the five greatest, the Ulu'l-Azm (Arch) Prophets. Or did the Muslims slander his mother, Maryam (Mary), like the Jews of that time? Did they claim that Jesus was, Ma'zallah (God forbid), born as a result of adultery? Never. Maryam was pure and chaste, a servant specially chosen by Allah. And Jesus was born as a miracle, without a father. So where was the difference? Islam made it absolutely clear: La ilaha illallah (There is no god other than Allah). Just imagine yourself there.
It still wouldn't be easy to stand before a King and tell him that the one he regarded as divine, meaning Jesus, was not God. The outcome of such words would be uncertain and could even be dangerous. So what did the companions decide among themselves before stepping into his court? "By Allah! We will say only what Allah has said about him and what our Prophet ﷺ has told us. Whatever the consequence may be." Finally, Ja'far spoke and explained to the King what Islam teaches about Jesus and Maryam, exactly as it was revealed. So how did the King react? Amr was waiting in hope. This time, it looked like things might work.
The King picked up a stick from the ground and said: "I swear, Jesus the son of Mary is exactly as you have said. There isn't even the slightest difference. Not even as much as this stick." Once again, Amr's world collapsed. "Keep your voices down. He's watching us." Some of the court officials began to murmur in protest. They didn't like what they heard. But the King turned to them and said, "By Allah, even if you grumble, this is the truth." Then he returned to the companions and said, "Go. You are completely safe in my land.
Even if I were given a mountain of gold, I would never harm a single one of you." Amr was already worried about how he could return to Mecca after such a failure, and now he also had to face the King's anger. Najashi ordered: "Return the gifts they brought to these two men. I have no need of them. I swear, when God granted me my throne, He took no bribe from me, so why should I ever take a bribe in this matter?" Even though most of his people never accepted Islam, Najashi himself lived as a sincere Muslim, and that's how he passed away. Years later, while sitting among his companions, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) suddenly said, "Your brother Najashi has died.
So stand up and pray for him." Then, from hundreds of miles away, he led the funeral prayer for Najashi. And when the news of his death reached Medina a week later, they would learn that he had died on the very same day they performed the Janazah prayer. You might think, "But that was a very different land, with a very different culture. Wouldn't it be really difficult for someone in a country so far away to adapt to Islam?" No. Because all humans were created with the same nature (fitrah).
And the religion sent by the Creator never came with a command like "Change your culture, your nation, or your identity." Since Islam was sent for all of humanity, the King faced no struggle living this religion. What was his name before? Ashama. And after becoming Muslim? Still Ashama. His clothing was the same, his identity was the same, and he didn't abandon his traditions, of course, while keeping in mind what was Halal (permissible) and what was Haram (forbidden). In fact, Najashi became an example for those who weren't born in Muslim lands.
For people who think "Becoming Muslim is too hard for me, my life will completely change," he proved hundreds of years ago that this was not the case at all. Every single word of Najashi's speech brought greater and greater relief to the companions. For a King to affirm the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was extraordinary news. But for Quraysh, it was a disaster. It would have been better if they had never sent anyone at all. What they didn't know was that behind their plots, Allah also had a plan. And this was only the beginning. Very soon, they would be struck by two major blows. Hamza was almost the same age as the Messenger of Allah.
A brave man of great stature, strong, respected, and feared by the people of Mecca. He loved hunting, and because of it, he would sometimes be outside the city. That day too, he was returning from a hunt with his bow in hand. As he came down from Safa Hill towards the Kaaba, he saw a woman running towards him. "Oh Abu Umara! If only you had seen the insult your nephew Muhammad just received from Abul-Hakam ibn Hisham (Abu Jahl). He came to him while he was sitting here, abused him, reviled him, and spoke very harsh words that he disliked. Then he left, and Muhammad did not say a single word to him." At that time, Hamza wasn't Muslim yet, but he had always been very close to his nephew.
What he heard lit a fire of rage inside him. He set off in fury. In his mind, there was only one thought: find Abu Jahl and make him pay for what he has done. Only that could calm his anger. When he reached near the Kaaba, he found what he was looking for. "Hamza. Why is he so furious?" He didn't hesitate for a moment and rushed forward. Then, without saying a word, he struck Abu Jahl on the head with his bow, delivering a fierce blow. It was so powerful that it split his head open, covered him in blood, and knocked him to the ground. "So you're the one who insulted him? They know that I am on his religion too! I say what he says.
If you have the courage, then do to me what you did for him." All of Mecca was stunned. Hamza had become Muslim too? Abu Jahl desperately tried to defend himself. "But he called us foolish! He insulted our idols and turned away from the path of our ancestors!" Hamza could not tolerate even a single word from him. He shouted, "Who is more foolish than you?" And right there, he took Shahada (Testimony of Faith). "I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad ﷺ is His servant and His messenger." The family of Abu Jahl, the Banu Makhzum, gathered, ready to attack Hamza. But Abu Jahl stopped them. He regretted what he had done. "Leave Abu Umara!
I have insulted his nephew too many times." Everything happened so quickly that even Hamza wasn't fully aware of what he had just done. He went back home confused and restless. For Shaytan (Satan), Hamza's becoming Muslim was a huge threat. So he began whispering into his mind: "You were a man of honor among the Quraysh, and now you followed this one who turned away from the religion of your forefathers? You abandoned their way? Even dying would be better than what you have just done." All those whispers kept him awake until morning. He couldn't figure out what the right path was. Had he done the right thing or the wrong thing? He couldn't decide.
He felt helpless, with thoughts piling up one after another. It was exhausting. Finally, a solution came to his mind. This was the best thing he could do at that moment. With complete sincerity and fully aware of his helplessness, he raised his hands and prayed: "Oh Allah, if this path I have taken is truly right, then let my heart affirm it. Guide me in this matter." He surrendered, wholeheartedly accepting that only God always knows what is truly right. He asked the One who holds the keys to everything to guide him to the straight path. That night passed in deep reflection. He had never struggled this much with his inner self before.
The next day, he went to Rasulullah ﷺ and told him everything he had gone through. The answers he received, the words he heard from the Prophet (peace be upon him) were exactly what his soul had been looking for. Nothing else could have satisfied his heart in that way. From then on, he would no longer be the Hamza who lived an ordinary life; he would be Asadullah, the Lion of Allah. Just imagine the reaction of the Quraysh. On one side, their loss in Abyssinia, and on the other, Hamza's conversion to Islam. They were taking blow after blow. The balance was beginning to shift. So once again, they gathered in Dar al-Nadwa (The House of Assembly).
"You cannot deny the evidence before us." Tortures, pressures, and restrictions continued. Yet, despite all this oppression, nothing was changing. In every family and from every level of society, there were people joining the Muslims. And their numbers were constantly growing. The Quraysh was desperate to find a way to stop the spread of Islam. There was an idea they had been considering for a long time, but because they were afraid, they were hesitant to put it into action. "We're out of options. We have no choice but to do this." "What do you mean?" "He means...
we have to kill him." This could have serious consequences because the family of the Prophet (peace be upon him), the Hashim clan, would start a blood feud. Whether they were Muslims or not, they were deeply bound to their tribal customs. And once blood was shed, it would not easily end. The assassination was not impossible, but it would require great courage. At that very moment, the two men for whom the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) had prayed came to the forefront. Some people were provoking the crowd with promises, and one of them was Abu Jahl. But it was in vain. No one had the courage to step forward. No one, except for one man.
He stood up and shouted, "I will do it." Suddenly, the whole gathering fell silent, and all eyes turned to him. The voice belonged to a tall, broad-shouldered, and fearless man: Umar ibn al-Khattab. Although he had begun to be moved by the Quran and his heart was starting to soften, whenever he stayed among the idol worshippers, it would harden again. He thought this matter had gone on too long. The council began to encourage him. "Yes, only you can do this." But none of them had any idea what would happen just a few hours later. He quickly took up his sword. He had heard that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was in a house near Safa Hill. So he set out in that direction.
He was walking in a way that instilled fear in anyone who saw him. His furious march was stopped by his relative, Nu'aym ibn Abdullah. He was also a Muslim. "Oh Umar, where are you going?" "I am going to kill Muhammad, the one who abandoned his religion and caused division among the Quraysh!" At that moment, his rage needed either time to cool down or to be turned in another direction. And Nu'aym chose the second option. "Oh Umar, I swear you have fooled yourself. Do you think that the sons of Abd Manaf will let you live after you kill him?
You'd better look at your own family first." "Who do you mean?" "Your brother-in-law and cousin, Said bin Zayd, and his wife, your sister Fatima, have become Muslims. They follow the religion of Muhammad. Go and deal with them first." Umar didn't want to believe it. So he kept on walking. But a seed of doubt had already been planted in his heart. Halfway down the road, he turned back and with his anger burning even more, he headed towards his sister's house. Khabbab ibn Aratt was reciting Surah Taha inside. But suddenly there was a loud knock on the door. It was Umar. Khabbab immediately hid in fear, while Fatima tried to quickly hide the pages of the Quran she was holding.
"What were you reciting? We were only talking among ourselves." But Umar's anger did not calm down. He walked straight up to his brother-in-law, Said bin Zayd, and began to beat him. He yelled, "So what I have heard is true! You have joined the religion of Muhammad ﷺ, haven't you?" At that moment, Fatima stepped in, trying to calm him down. But Umar struck her with a heavy blow. That was the breaking point. Fatima refused to hide it any longer. She said, "Do whatever you want, Oh Umar! My husband and I are Muslims now. We believe in Allah and His Messenger!" And bravely said the Shahada (Testimony of Faith). Ashhadu an la ilaha illallah, wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan Rasulullah. Umar froze.
He saw his own family ready to endure every hardship for their faith. Seeing the blood flowing from his sister's face awakened his compassion. He began to question himself. What had he become? Was he really beating his sister just because she said "My Lord is Allah"? He sat down, lost in thought. "Bring me what you were reading. Let me see what it is that came to Muhammad." His sister Fatima was afraid that Umar might insult the Quran. But at the same time, his state seemed very different. Could it be that his heart was beginning to warm to Islam? She wished for it so deeply, with a longing that can only truly be understood by someone whose own brother has not yet become Muslim.
And then he began to read the verses. I seek refuge in Allah. Taa-Haa. Maaa anzalnaa ‘alaikal Qur-aana litashqaaa. Illaa tazkiratal limany yakhshaa. "Taha. We have not revealed the Quran to you, Oh Prophet, to cause you distress, but only as a reminder for those who fear Allah." After reading the first verses of Surah Taha, Umar fell into deep thought. The anger and hatred he had carried in his heart for years melted away and turned into awe and admiration. "How beautiful, how noble, how majestic is this speech. There can be no speech more beautiful and sweeter than this." The seeds of faith that had been planted in his heart had finally begun to blossom.
Now he had only one desire: to stand before the Prophet (peace be upon him) and declare his faith. Hearing his words, Khabbab came out of the place where he had been hiding and said, "Good news, Oh Umar! I hope that the prayer of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ may be fulfilled in you. Just last night he prayed: 'Oh Allah, strengthen Islam with either Abu Jahl or Umar ibn al-Khattab.'" On one side was Abu Jahl, the one who had called for the execution. And on the other was Umar, the one who had set out to fulfill that mission. And yet, on the road he had taken to kill the Prophet ﷺ, he would now become one of those who were revived by faith.
So the dua that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ had made only a night before was answered the very next morning. And how could it not be? Through him and the message he brought, the universe found its meaning. For over 1400 years, millions of Muslims have received the key to eternal paradise through his guidance. He is the one who showed his followers how to win both this world and the everlasting life after death. In this mosque called the Earth, he led millions of believers from every corner of it, and with a voice that echoed beyond time, he worshipped his Lord and fulfilled all the duties that were given to him.
Could such a servant, so precious in the sight of Allah, pray for the Muslims to be strengthened and Allah would leave it unanswered? Umar turned his heart completely towards guidance. And that is how Allah answered the prayer of His beloved Messenger ﷺ. Umar ibn al-Khattab, who had been known until that moment as the enemy of Islam, stone-hearted, the one who persecuted the Muslims, was now turning into Umar (may Allah be pleased with him). After learning where the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) was, he set out eagerly for Dar al-Arqam (The House of Arqam). When the companions saw Umar standing at the door with his sword, they were shocked.
But Hamza's calmness took control of the situation. He said, "Let him in. If he has come with good intentions, we will welcome him with goodness. But if he has come with evil, then we will deal with him using his own sword." The door was opened, and Umar walked in, step by step. The anger that had filled his face when he left Dar al-Nadwa (The House of Assembly) was gone, and now it was replaced with hope. Rasulullah (peace be upon him) met him in the courtyard. He pulled him close and said, "Oh son of Khattab, what have you come for?
By Allah, I don't think you will stop until Allah sends a calamity upon you." "I have come to believe in Allah, His Messenger, and what he has brought from Allah. Ashhadu an la ilaha illallah, wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan Rasulullah." The companions were overwhelmed with joy. It was one of the most unforgettable days of their entire lives. The cries of "Allahu Akbar! Allahu Akbar!" echoed through the streets of Mecca. With Hamza and now Umar embracing Islam, there was no longer any need to remain hidden in Dar al-Arqam. Umar would now use the courage Allah had granted him for the cause of Islam. And there, in that very moment, he made his first proposal.
"Oh Messenger of Allah, aren't we upon the true religion whether we live or die?" And the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "Yes, by the One in Whose hand is my soul, whether you live or die, you are upon the true religion." "So why are we still hiding? By Allah, the One who sent you with the true religion, that I will bravely, fearlessly, without hesitation, go to every gathering of idolaters and declare Islam to them." That day, 40 Muslims walked out of Dar al-Arqam (The House of Arqam). Rasulullah ﷺ was at the front, with Umar on his right and Hamza on his left. Shouting "Allahu Akbar! Allahu Akbar!" they began to march.
It was one of the most remarkable moments in the history of Islam and the very first march of the Muslims. That day, the Quraysh were given a powerful warning. They could do nothing but watch in shock and silence. Those 40 believers were showing the centuries to come how strong Muslims can be when they stand united. But the excitement in Umar's heart had not yet settled. He wanted everyone to know his faith. So he went to find Jamil ibn Ma'mar. Because once this man heard something, he would spread it across all of Mecca in no time. "Oh Jamil, I have become Muslim." Immediately, Jamil jumped to his feet and began spreading the news everywhere. "Umar has left the religion!
Umar has left the religion!" Yet, Umar did not stop there. He went straight to the house of Abu Jahl. And unaware of anything, Abu Jahl welcomed him warmly. "Oh Amr! I became Muslim." "No. No. It can-- it cannot be." He could never have imagined that Umar, the one who had set out to kill the Prophet ﷺ, would instead embrace Islam. "May Allah curse you and the news you bring!" After all this, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) gave Umar the title "Al-Farooq", the one who distinguishes the truth from falsehood. How amazing is that? Look at Umar an hour before Islam and look at him an hour later.
The same Umar, who had been among the enemies of Islam, who had been committing the greatest sin, associating partners with Allah, was now becoming Umar, a companion of the Prophet ﷺ who would later become the second Caliph of Islam, known for his justice. No matter what someone's past may be, if they turn sincerely to their Lord, Allah can change their hearts in ways beyond imagination. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) had such a light in his soul that anyone who saw him and believed in him, anyone who sat in his company, would be transformed from coal into diamond.
Those who once buried their own daughters alive without feeling any guilt were turning into people who wouldn't even hurt a fly. Sometimes, a person from another tribe would come and spend only an hour or a single day in his company, and then return to his people as a teacher, like Abu Dharr or Tufayl ibn Amr. All the bad qualities in their souls would disappear, and they would be filled with the highest moral values. The number of those who were transformed from coal into diamonds like Umar would keep increasing. And the call to Islam would now be made with even greater strength. All these developments triggered more meetings at Dar al-Nadwa, where hateful plans were being made.
Driven by their thirst for revenge, they were preparing to strike a crushing blow against the Muslims. The city was about to witness the hardest days in its history because they would show the very peak of their cruelty. In the next episode, you will witness the years of boycott. See you there.
All AI visuals were prepared in consultation with qualified Muslim scholars and are in line with Islamic guidelines. Abu Jahl's real name was Amr ibn Hisham, and the qualities that made him stand out were his intelligence and his wealth. He used to be called Abul-Hakam, meaning the "Father of Wisdom." But his utter blindness to the greatest truth of the universe and his constant, brutal torture of the Muslims turned him, in the sight of Allah, into Abu Jahl... the "Father of Ignorance." What set Umar ibn al-Khattab apart were his wisdom, reasoning, courage, and sense of justice. From the earliest days of Islam, he was among the harshest and most merciless people towards the Muslims.
He never showed any tolerance and would even torture some of them to make them abandon Islam. In those days, his heart was so hard that he would beat one of the female companions, Lubaynah, simply because she had embraced Islam. When he grew tired of beating and stopped for a moment, he would say to her, "Don't think that I'm showing you mercy. I'm only pausing because I'm exhausted. Once I regain my strength, I'll continue, and I will not stop until you abandon your faith." Both Abu Jahl and Umar ibn al-Khattab were similar in their hostility towards Islam. Yet, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) was so full of hope that he didn't give up even on these men.
And he was so merciful that he even prayed for their guidance. Despite everything they had done, he still made this dua (supplication): "Oh Allah, strengthen Islam with the one You love more of these two men: Abu Jahl or Umar ibn al-Khattab." After all the hardships the Muslims suffered in Mecca, one day Rasulullah (Messenger of Allah) gathered his companions and said, "Now go and spread out across the Earth. Allah will bring you together again." But where could they go? "Oh Messenger of Allah ﷺ, where should we go?" Rasulullah (Messenger of Allah) pointed with his hand and said, "There." He was pointing to the land that would be reached by sea.
"Under the rule of the King of Abyssinia, no one suffers oppression. It's a land of justice. It is hoped that Allah will grant you relief there." So the first migration in Islam would take place to this land: Abyssinia, modern-day Ethiopia. In the month of Rajab, 15 companions would set out from the port of Shu'aybah towards this land of hope. Just imagine yourself in that situation. Wouldn't it be very difficult to take such a journey? You don't know what is waiting for you in the place you're going. And on top of that, you have to leave behind your loved ones, your home, your homeland, and what you could carry with you would be very limited. It feels overwhelming, doesn't it?
But the companions were such people that nothing could ever be more precious to them than the religion of Allah. The eternal life of the Hereafter was above everything. And perhaps some people who were thirsty for the truth in that land would also be guided to the light. A few months after the first group, another one set out. This time under the leadership of Ja'far ibn Abi Talib. It was a group of 101 people, including 18 women. Those who stayed behind weren't staying to live any easier life. In fact, their situation was even more difficult. All of them were going through a time full of sacrifice. And what about the Messenger of Allah? Was he among the ones who left? No.
He was always where danger and tension were at their highest, right at the front line. No matter what happened to him, he would make the necessary sacrifices while still taking precautions. Despite the constant risk of assassination, he never backed down from his mission. Later on, he would also be among the last to migrate to Medina. And in the days of Medina, whenever trouble or chaos broke out, he would immediately mount a horse and be the first to arrive at the scene. On the day of Badr, he was the closest to the enemy. And on the day of Uhud, at the most difficult moment, he was the one who brought the companions back together around him.
It is said courage comes from faith; he was the best example of that. And what about the Quraysh? How did they react to the migration to Abyssinia? They didn't really care about the first group. "I heard a few of your nephew's followers are moving to Abyssinia." "Don't call him my nephew. And if they want to leave, let them go. Weren't we trying to get rid of them anyway?" And stayed silent. But when they saw that more and more people were going to Abyssinia, they began to panic. "What if the Abyssinians also start to become Muslims? What if the companions try to spread Islam there too? What if they gain a strength that would become unstoppable?" They realized these late.
And when they finally did, they were struck with deep fear. Immediately, they gathered in Dar al-Nadwa (The House of Assembly). They needed to decide on their countermove. Dar al-Nadwa was the complete opposite of Dar al-Arqam (The House of Arqam). While one was spreading light, the other was spreading darkness. It was at this very place that they plotted their schemes against Islam. That day, once again, the leaders of Quraysh came together. Whatever it took, the Muslims had to be brought back. This could either be done by portraying the Muslims to the Abyssinians as a rebellious group or by presenting Islam to their rulers in a negative way.
In today's terms, they had to resort to manipulation and even slander. Only in this way could they hope to stop them. They didn't want the companions who had already been forced to leave their homeland to find any peace even there. Finally, the decision came from Dar al-Nadwa (The House of Assembly). The genius of the Arabs, Amr ibn al-Aas, was appointed to go to Abyssinia. By using his unmatched skill of persuasion, he would request the Muslims from their King, Najashi. Amr already knew Najashi very well. He was familiar with Abyssinia, knew exactly who to approach, and how to speak to them. He selected precious gifts that would please the King and set out with a friend.
Initially, they planned to gain the support of the court officials by offering gifts and engaging in pleasant conversations. What they feared most was the King calling the companions and hearing the story directly from them. They thought: "If the high officials support Amr, then the King wouldn't feel the need for that, and everything would be handled easily." One by one, Amr found the people he was looking for and carried out his plan. At last, he secured the support that he had been seeking, and now it was time to appear before the King. After showing respect and greeting Najashi, Amr began to speak.
"Oh King, we have come to warn you about these people who once lived among us and disrupted our affairs. They now seek to corrupt your religion, your land, and your people. These are some of our ignorant youths. They have abandoned our religion but have not entered yours either. Instead, they have come up with a completely new religion unknown to both you and us." The King's religion was Christianity, and knowing this, Amr continued: "They do not regard Jesus, the son of Mary, as God. When they come into your noble presence, they do not bow before you. Hand them over to us, and we will deal with them as they deserve." The bribed officials began to support Amr.
However, the King was a man of wisdom and did not take their words at face value. He called the Muslims to his presence. He wanted to hear their side of the story as well. What would happen now? On one side stood Amr ibn al-Aas with his sharp mind and eloquence, and on the other, Ja'far ibn Abi Talib with his courage and truthfulness. Two very skilled speakers were about to face each other, and one of the most intense debates in the history of the Seerah was about to begin. Before answering the claims, Ja'far made one request: of the two messengers of Quraysh, only one should speak. Amr agreed and stepped forward.
Then Ja'far asked three questions: "Are we slaves to be captured and returned to our masters?" "Did we unjustly spill someone's blood so that we must be handed back to the victim's family?" "Have we taken any wealth unlawfully from the people, wealth that we need to pay back?" In every case, the answer was no. So they were asked what this religion was, and Ja'far continued. "Oh King, we were a people living in ignorance. We used to worship idols and eat dead meat. We committed all kinds of evil. We used to cut off family ties and ignore the rights of our relatives. We neglected our neighbors and showed no care for their rights. The strong among us would oppress the weak.
While we were in that state, Allah sent to us a Prophet from among ourselves. A man whose noble lineage, honesty, trustworthiness, modesty, and purity we all knew. He called us to believe in the oneness of Allah, to worship only Him, and to abandon the idols made of stone, wood, gold, and silver that we and our forefathers had worshipped instead of Allah. He taught us to speak the truth, to return what is entrusted to us, to honor our family ties, to treat our neighbors kindly, and to avoid sins and shedding blood. He forbade us from indecency, lying, taking the wealth of orphans, and slandering chaste women. So we believed in him and accepted his message.
We followed what he brought from Allah and conveyed to us. Because of this, our people became our enemies and oppressed us. They tortured us in many ways to make us abandon our religion, to stop us from worshipping Allah and to force us to worship idols. For all these reasons, we left our homeland and came to seek refuge with you. We chose you over others, and we hope that in your land, we will not face oppression or injustice." Ja'far's words gave a powerful summary of the entire story up to that point in the Seerah (biography). What could have taken hours to explain, he summarized in just a few minutes. As Najashi listened to these words, he was filled with admiration.
His heart was deeply moved, and he became curious about this new faith. Because he was a Christian, he knew that the Gospel contained many signs about the coming of the final prophet. And the Prophet that Ja'far spoke about matched those signs perfectly. Najashi asked, "Do you have with you anything from the revelation your prophet has brought from Allah and conveyed to you?" "Yes, I do." "Then recite it to me." Allah, the One who knows all times, past and future, had decreed that Surah Maryam (Chapter of Mary) would be revealed just before the migration to Abyssinia. Since the King was a Christian, this Surah (Chapter) was a great blessing.
Ja'far recognized this gift and recited the first 35 verses of Surah Maryam. The King and the priests listened with full attention, eager to hear Allah's words that were addressing them. The verses told about Prophet Zakariya (Zechariah) and Yahya (John). They talked about how Mary carried Jesus (peace be upon him), how he was born without a father, how he spoke as a baby, and how Allah sent him as a prophet. With every word, their emotions kept rising. Tears were pouring from the King's eyes, soaking his beard. The priests were also crying with him. Those were the exact words their souls had been longing for. How did they live all those years without them?
The messengers of Quraysh were left completely silent, just watching this scene. The King's view of the Muslims had changed. His respect and admiration for them had grown immensely. "This, without a doubt, comes from the same source as what was given to Jesus." Then he turned to Amr and his friend and said, "Leave now, both of you. Go. I swear I will never hand them over to you, and no one will ever touch them." Amr ibn al-Aas had taken a crushing defeat. All his efforts had ended in disappointment. When he left the King's presence, he was boiling with anger. He didn't want to just give up and accept defeat. He thought, "This can't be the end.
There must be another way." Now he was even more determined. He made a new plan. The next day, he would make a completely different move, and he was sure the reaction wouldn't be the same as today. "By Allah! Tomorrow I will go to the King, and with what I will say about them, I will have them wiped out completely." Meanwhile, in Mecca, remarkable events were about to unfold. Quraysh would be shaken to its core after seeing some of its leading figures embrace Islam, and the idol worshippers would suffer blow after blow. And Allah would answer the great prayer of His Messenger. During the migration of the Muslims to Abyssinia, Umar came across one of the female companions, Layla.
"So, you're leaving?" The answer he received gave him much to think about. "Yes. We are going to another land of Allah. You have tortured and oppressed us. We will stay there until Allah grants us a way out." Umar went silent. It was as if he was questioning himself for everything he had done to the Muslims. "May Allah be with you on your way." Later, when Layla spoke about this incident, she would say, "I saw in him a softness and compassion I had never seen before. As if our leaving had made him sad." A little later, when her husband Amir returned, she told him what had happened. "Do you really hope that Umar will become Muslim?" "Yes, I hope so." Amir gave a sarcastic answer.
"Know this very well. That man will never become a Muslim. Not until you see Khattab's donkey become a Muslim." Umar's harshness up to that point had given people this impression of him. But even so, he had taken a step before Abu Jahl. And for Allah, turning and changing that heart was never difficult. As He said in a Hadith Qudsi (Sacred Hadith): "If My servant walks towards Me, I rush towards him." That step would never go to waste. There was something common in both of their stories. At different times, in the middle of the night, they would secretly come close to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and listen to the Quran.
Abu Jahl didn't want people to say, "Look, he's listening to the Quran." But deep inside, he was curious. He wanted to hear it. One night, without telling anyone, he secretly approached the Prophet's house (peace be upon him). He hid in a corner and started listening to Rasulullah (Messenger of Allah) reciting the Quran in prayer. He was deeply absorbed, lost in thought. He was so moved that by the time he finally left, the sun was rising. He had been listening for hours. On his way back, he ran into Abu Sufyan and Akhnas ibn Shariq, two of the Quraysh leaders. It turned out that all three of them, without knowing about each other, had come there for the very same reason.
"Let's not come here again to listen. If anyone sees us, it will surely plant doubts in their hearts." Abu Jahl was deeply shaken by what he heard. The Prophet (peace be upon him) had never been someone who was involved in poetry or literature in his entire life. He didn't even know how to read or write. So how could such powerful and beautiful words come from a man like him? Even the way he normally spoke was nowhere near this level. It just didn't make sense. Abu Jahl began to doubt. He couldn't hold himself back and wanted to go again. That night passed just like the night before. He sat for hours listening to the Prophet (peace be upon him) recite the Quran.
At the break of dawn, he came out of his hiding place, and on his way back home, he ran into the same two men again. They also had come there for the very same reason. Just as they did the last time, they warned each other and went their separate ways. But Abu Jahl's curiosity only grew stronger. The next night, once again, he couldn't resist and did the same thing. And once more, when it was all over, he ran into the same two men. They were going through the exact same struggle as Abu Jahl. That's why they were doing the same thing. And in the future, both of them would eventually become Muslims.
Fearing that if anyone saw them, people's hearts might be drawn to Islam, they swore to each other and never did that again. During those three nights, he witnessed the great messages and deep meanings that Allah had revealed. But above all, he saw with his own eyes that the man he called a liar was spending the whole night in prayer, worshipping until morning. If, Ma'zallah (God forbid), his cause was a lie, why would he do this? What benefit was there for him? Still, he didn't let go of his tribal pride, his hatred, and his envy. The only thing he cared about was making sure people kept worshipping idols without doubt.
And in doing so, he threw away the chance to believe that was put right into his hands. So what about Umar's experience? Unlike Abu Jahl, he had no such intention. One night, near the Kaaba, he came across the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) as he was praying. He quietly came closer and said to himself, "By Allah! No matter what happens, tonight I will stay and listen to what Muhammad is reciting." Rasulullah was reciting Surah Al-Haqqah (The Reality). As Umar listened, he was captivated by the smooth flow of the words and by the depth of their meanings. But he wasn't going to believe that easily.
While listening to the Quran, he said to himself, "Maybe this man really is a poet, just as the Quraysh say." And right at that very moment, the Prophet (peace be upon him) reached verse 41. I seek refuge in Allah... Wa maa huwa biqawli shaa’ir; qaleelan maa tu’minoon. "And it is not the word of a poet; how little you believe." Umar froze. He thought to himself, "He knows what I was just thinking. Maybe he's a soothsayer." But then the very next verse came. Wa laa biqawli kaahin; qaleelan maa tazakkaroon "Nor the word of a soothsayer; how little you reflect." Umar was completely shocked, trying to make sense of what was happening. And the Surah (Chapter) continued.
Tanzeelum mir rabbil ‘aalameen. "It is a revelation from the Lord of the worlds." And so he listened until the Surah came to an end. This event shook him to his core. And that is how the seed of faith was planted in his heart. But what would make that seed grow? The news that would send shockwaves through all of Mecca: the conversion of a great name, the uncle of the Messenger of Allah, Hamza. But before we get to that, let's return to Abyssinia and pick up where we left off. Ja'far ibn Abi Talib, Amr ibn al-Aas, and Najashi Ashama. On the second day, another conversation was about to take place between these three. This time, Amr's plan was different.
Knowing that the King was a Christian, and knowing what Islam said about Christianity, he decided to approach him from that angle. He entered the court and confidently said, "Oh King, they say harsh words about Jesus, the son of Mary. If you wish, call them and ask what they think about him." But after what happened yesterday, the King was even more careful not to be manipulated. He would not allow any attempt to deceive him. So Ja'far and the other companions were called in once again. But what was the thing that gave Amr the confidence to come before the King again and raise this issue? Did the Muslims really believe something that would anger the King?
Did they, Ma'zallah (God forbid), consider Jesus a misguided man? Absolutely not. He was a prophet who had been given a book by Allah. In fact, out of more than a hundred thousand prophets, he was among the five greatest, the Ulu'l-Azm (Arch) Prophets. Or did the Muslims slander his mother, Maryam (Mary), like the Jews of that time? Did they claim that Jesus was, Ma'zallah (God forbid), born as a result of adultery? Never. Maryam was pure and chaste, a servant specially chosen by Allah. And Jesus was born as a miracle, without a father. So where was the difference? Islam made it absolutely clear: La ilaha illallah (There is no god other than Allah). Just imagine yourself there.
It still wouldn't be easy to stand before a King and tell him that the one he regarded as divine, meaning Jesus, was not God. The outcome of such words would be uncertain and could even be dangerous. So what did the companions decide among themselves before stepping into his court? "By Allah! We will say only what Allah has said about him and what our Prophet ﷺ has told us. Whatever the consequence may be." Finally, Ja'far spoke and explained to the King what Islam teaches about Jesus and Maryam, exactly as it was revealed. So how did the King react? Amr was waiting in hope. This time, it looked like things might work.
The King picked up a stick from the ground and said: "I swear, Jesus the son of Mary is exactly as you have said. There isn't even the slightest difference. Not even as much as this stick." Once again, Amr's world collapsed. "Keep your voices down. He's watching us." Some of the court officials began to murmur in protest. They didn't like what they heard. But the King turned to them and said, "By Allah, even if you grumble, this is the truth." Then he returned to the companions and said, "Go. You are completely safe in my land.
Even if I were given a mountain of gold, I would never harm a single one of you." Amr was already worried about how he could return to Mecca after such a failure, and now he also had to face the King's anger. Najashi ordered: "Return the gifts they brought to these two men. I have no need of them. I swear, when God granted me my throne, He took no bribe from me, so why should I ever take a bribe in this matter?" Even though most of his people never accepted Islam, Najashi himself lived as a sincere Muslim, and that's how he passed away. Years later, while sitting among his companions, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) suddenly said, "Your brother Najashi has died.
So stand up and pray for him." Then, from hundreds of miles away, he led the funeral prayer for Najashi. And when the news of his death reached Medina a week later, they would learn that he had died on the very same day they performed the Janazah prayer. You might think, "But that was a very different land, with a very different culture. Wouldn't it be really difficult for someone in a country so far away to adapt to Islam?" No. Because all humans were created with the same nature (fitrah).
And the religion sent by the Creator never came with a command like "Change your culture, your nation, or your identity." Since Islam was sent for all of humanity, the King faced no struggle living this religion. What was his name before? Ashama. And after becoming Muslim? Still Ashama. His clothing was the same, his identity was the same, and he didn't abandon his traditions, of course, while keeping in mind what was Halal (permissible) and what was Haram (forbidden). In fact, Najashi became an example for those who weren't born in Muslim lands.
For people who think "Becoming Muslim is too hard for me, my life will completely change," he proved hundreds of years ago that this was not the case at all. Every single word of Najashi's speech brought greater and greater relief to the companions. For a King to affirm the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was extraordinary news. But for Quraysh, it was a disaster. It would have been better if they had never sent anyone at all. What they didn't know was that behind their plots, Allah also had a plan. And this was only the beginning. Very soon, they would be struck by two major blows. Hamza was almost the same age as the Messenger of Allah.
A brave man of great stature, strong, respected, and feared by the people of Mecca. He loved hunting, and because of it, he would sometimes be outside the city. That day too, he was returning from a hunt with his bow in hand. As he came down from Safa Hill towards the Kaaba, he saw a woman running towards him. "Oh Abu Umara! If only you had seen the insult your nephew Muhammad just received from Abul-Hakam ibn Hisham (Abu Jahl). He came to him while he was sitting here, abused him, reviled him, and spoke very harsh words that he disliked. Then he left, and Muhammad did not say a single word to him." At that time, Hamza wasn't Muslim yet, but he had always been very close to his nephew.
What he heard lit a fire of rage inside him. He set off in fury. In his mind, there was only one thought: find Abu Jahl and make him pay for what he has done. Only that could calm his anger. When he reached near the Kaaba, he found what he was looking for. "Hamza. Why is he so furious?" He didn't hesitate for a moment and rushed forward. Then, without saying a word, he struck Abu Jahl on the head with his bow, delivering a fierce blow. It was so powerful that it split his head open, covered him in blood, and knocked him to the ground. "So you're the one who insulted him? They know that I am on his religion too! I say what he says.
If you have the courage, then do to me what you did for him." All of Mecca was stunned. Hamza had become Muslim too? Abu Jahl desperately tried to defend himself. "But he called us foolish! He insulted our idols and turned away from the path of our ancestors!" Hamza could not tolerate even a single word from him. He shouted, "Who is more foolish than you?" And right there, he took Shahada (Testimony of Faith). "I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad ﷺ is His servant and His messenger." The family of Abu Jahl, the Banu Makhzum, gathered, ready to attack Hamza. But Abu Jahl stopped them. He regretted what he had done. "Leave Abu Umara!
I have insulted his nephew too many times." Everything happened so quickly that even Hamza wasn't fully aware of what he had just done. He went back home confused and restless. For Shaytan (Satan), Hamza's becoming Muslim was a huge threat. So he began whispering into his mind: "You were a man of honor among the Quraysh, and now you followed this one who turned away from the religion of your forefathers? You abandoned their way? Even dying would be better than what you have just done." All those whispers kept him awake until morning. He couldn't figure out what the right path was. Had he done the right thing or the wrong thing? He couldn't decide.
He felt helpless, with thoughts piling up one after another. It was exhausting. Finally, a solution came to his mind. This was the best thing he could do at that moment. With complete sincerity and fully aware of his helplessness, he raised his hands and prayed: "Oh Allah, if this path I have taken is truly right, then let my heart affirm it. Guide me in this matter." He surrendered, wholeheartedly accepting that only God always knows what is truly right. He asked the One who holds the keys to everything to guide him to the straight path. That night passed in deep reflection. He had never struggled this much with his inner self before.
The next day, he went to Rasulullah ﷺ and told him everything he had gone through. The answers he received, the words he heard from the Prophet (peace be upon him) were exactly what his soul had been looking for. Nothing else could have satisfied his heart in that way. From then on, he would no longer be the Hamza who lived an ordinary life; he would be Asadullah, the Lion of Allah. Just imagine the reaction of the Quraysh. On one side, their loss in Abyssinia, and on the other, Hamza's conversion to Islam. They were taking blow after blow. The balance was beginning to shift. So once again, they gathered in Dar al-Nadwa (The House of Assembly).
"You cannot deny the evidence before us." Tortures, pressures, and restrictions continued. Yet, despite all this oppression, nothing was changing. In every family and from every level of society, there were people joining the Muslims. And their numbers were constantly growing. The Quraysh was desperate to find a way to stop the spread of Islam. There was an idea they had been considering for a long time, but because they were afraid, they were hesitant to put it into action. "We're out of options. We have no choice but to do this." "What do you mean?" "He means...
we have to kill him." This could have serious consequences because the family of the Prophet (peace be upon him), the Hashim clan, would start a blood feud. Whether they were Muslims or not, they were deeply bound to their tribal customs. And once blood was shed, it would not easily end. The assassination was not impossible, but it would require great courage. At that very moment, the two men for whom the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) had prayed came to the forefront. Some people were provoking the crowd with promises, and one of them was Abu Jahl. But it was in vain. No one had the courage to step forward. No one, except for one man.
He stood up and shouted, "I will do it." Suddenly, the whole gathering fell silent, and all eyes turned to him. The voice belonged to a tall, broad-shouldered, and fearless man: Umar ibn al-Khattab. Although he had begun to be moved by the Quran and his heart was starting to soften, whenever he stayed among the idol worshippers, it would harden again. He thought this matter had gone on too long. The council began to encourage him. "Yes, only you can do this." But none of them had any idea what would happen just a few hours later. He quickly took up his sword. He had heard that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was in a house near Safa Hill. So he set out in that direction.
He was walking in a way that instilled fear in anyone who saw him. His furious march was stopped by his relative, Nu'aym ibn Abdullah. He was also a Muslim. "Oh Umar, where are you going?" "I am going to kill Muhammad, the one who abandoned his religion and caused division among the Quraysh!" At that moment, his rage needed either time to cool down or to be turned in another direction. And Nu'aym chose the second option. "Oh Umar, I swear you have fooled yourself. Do you think that the sons of Abd Manaf will let you live after you kill him?
You'd better look at your own family first." "Who do you mean?" "Your brother-in-law and cousin, Said bin Zayd, and his wife, your sister Fatima, have become Muslims. They follow the religion of Muhammad. Go and deal with them first." Umar didn't want to believe it. So he kept on walking. But a seed of doubt had already been planted in his heart. Halfway down the road, he turned back and with his anger burning even more, he headed towards his sister's house. Khabbab ibn Aratt was reciting Surah Taha inside. But suddenly there was a loud knock on the door. It was Umar. Khabbab immediately hid in fear, while Fatima tried to quickly hide the pages of the Quran she was holding.
"What were you reciting? We were only talking among ourselves." But Umar's anger did not calm down. He walked straight up to his brother-in-law, Said bin Zayd, and began to beat him. He yelled, "So what I have heard is true! You have joined the religion of Muhammad ﷺ, haven't you?" At that moment, Fatima stepped in, trying to calm him down. But Umar struck her with a heavy blow. That was the breaking point. Fatima refused to hide it any longer. She said, "Do whatever you want, Oh Umar! My husband and I are Muslims now. We believe in Allah and His Messenger!" And bravely said the Shahada (Testimony of Faith). Ashhadu an la ilaha illallah, wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan Rasulullah. Umar froze.
He saw his own family ready to endure every hardship for their faith. Seeing the blood flowing from his sister's face awakened his compassion. He began to question himself. What had he become? Was he really beating his sister just because she said "My Lord is Allah"? He sat down, lost in thought. "Bring me what you were reading. Let me see what it is that came to Muhammad." His sister Fatima was afraid that Umar might insult the Quran. But at the same time, his state seemed very different. Could it be that his heart was beginning to warm to Islam? She wished for it so deeply, with a longing that can only truly be understood by someone whose own brother has not yet become Muslim.
And then he began to read the verses. I seek refuge in Allah. Taa-Haa. Maaa anzalnaa ‘alaikal Qur-aana litashqaaa. Illaa tazkiratal limany yakhshaa. "Taha. We have not revealed the Quran to you, Oh Prophet, to cause you distress, but only as a reminder for those who fear Allah." After reading the first verses of Surah Taha, Umar fell into deep thought. The anger and hatred he had carried in his heart for years melted away and turned into awe and admiration. "How beautiful, how noble, how majestic is this speech. There can be no speech more beautiful and sweeter than this." The seeds of faith that had been planted in his heart had finally begun to blossom.
Now he had only one desire: to stand before the Prophet (peace be upon him) and declare his faith. Hearing his words, Khabbab came out of the place where he had been hiding and said, "Good news, Oh Umar! I hope that the prayer of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ may be fulfilled in you. Just last night he prayed: 'Oh Allah, strengthen Islam with either Abu Jahl or Umar ibn al-Khattab.'" On one side was Abu Jahl, the one who had called for the execution. And on the other was Umar, the one who had set out to fulfill that mission. And yet, on the road he had taken to kill the Prophet ﷺ, he would now become one of those who were revived by faith.
So the dua that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ had made only a night before was answered the very next morning. And how could it not be? Through him and the message he brought, the universe found its meaning. For over 1400 years, millions of Muslims have received the key to eternal paradise through his guidance. He is the one who showed his followers how to win both this world and the everlasting life after death. In this mosque called the Earth, he led millions of believers from every corner of it, and with a voice that echoed beyond time, he worshipped his Lord and fulfilled all the duties that were given to him.
Could such a servant, so precious in the sight of Allah, pray for the Muslims to be strengthened and Allah would leave it unanswered? Umar turned his heart completely towards guidance. And that is how Allah answered the prayer of His beloved Messenger ﷺ. Umar ibn al-Khattab, who had been known until that moment as the enemy of Islam, stone-hearted, the one who persecuted the Muslims, was now turning into Umar (may Allah be pleased with him). After learning where the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) was, he set out eagerly for Dar al-Arqam (The House of Arqam). When the companions saw Umar standing at the door with his sword, they were shocked.
But Hamza's calmness took control of the situation. He said, "Let him in. If he has come with good intentions, we will welcome him with goodness. But if he has come with evil, then we will deal with him using his own sword." The door was opened, and Umar walked in, step by step. The anger that had filled his face when he left Dar al-Nadwa (The House of Assembly) was gone, and now it was replaced with hope. Rasulullah (peace be upon him) met him in the courtyard. He pulled him close and said, "Oh son of Khattab, what have you come for?
By Allah, I don't think you will stop until Allah sends a calamity upon you." "I have come to believe in Allah, His Messenger, and what he has brought from Allah. Ashhadu an la ilaha illallah, wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan Rasulullah." The companions were overwhelmed with joy. It was one of the most unforgettable days of their entire lives. The cries of "Allahu Akbar! Allahu Akbar!" echoed through the streets of Mecca. With Hamza and now Umar embracing Islam, there was no longer any need to remain hidden in Dar al-Arqam. Umar would now use the courage Allah had granted him for the cause of Islam. And there, in that very moment, he made his first proposal.
"Oh Messenger of Allah, aren't we upon the true religion whether we live or die?" And the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "Yes, by the One in Whose hand is my soul, whether you live or die, you are upon the true religion." "So why are we still hiding? By Allah, the One who sent you with the true religion, that I will bravely, fearlessly, without hesitation, go to every gathering of idolaters and declare Islam to them." That day, 40 Muslims walked out of Dar al-Arqam (The House of Arqam). Rasulullah ﷺ was at the front, with Umar on his right and Hamza on his left. Shouting "Allahu Akbar! Allahu Akbar!" they began to march.
It was one of the most remarkable moments in the history of Islam and the very first march of the Muslims. That day, the Quraysh were given a powerful warning. They could do nothing but watch in shock and silence. Those 40 believers were showing the centuries to come how strong Muslims can be when they stand united. But the excitement in Umar's heart had not yet settled. He wanted everyone to know his faith. So he went to find Jamil ibn Ma'mar. Because once this man heard something, he would spread it across all of Mecca in no time. "Oh Jamil, I have become Muslim." Immediately, Jamil jumped to his feet and began spreading the news everywhere. "Umar has left the religion!
Umar has left the religion!" Yet, Umar did not stop there. He went straight to the house of Abu Jahl. And unaware of anything, Abu Jahl welcomed him warmly. "Oh Amr! I became Muslim." "No. No. It can-- it cannot be." He could never have imagined that Umar, the one who had set out to kill the Prophet ﷺ, would instead embrace Islam. "May Allah curse you and the news you bring!" After all this, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) gave Umar the title "Al-Farooq", the one who distinguishes the truth from falsehood. How amazing is that? Look at Umar an hour before Islam and look at him an hour later.
The same Umar, who had been among the enemies of Islam, who had been committing the greatest sin, associating partners with Allah, was now becoming Umar, a companion of the Prophet ﷺ who would later become the second Caliph of Islam, known for his justice. No matter what someone's past may be, if they turn sincerely to their Lord, Allah can change their hearts in ways beyond imagination. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) had such a light in his soul that anyone who saw him and believed in him, anyone who sat in his company, would be transformed from coal into diamond.
Those who once buried their own daughters alive without feeling any guilt were turning into people who wouldn't even hurt a fly. Sometimes, a person from another tribe would come and spend only an hour or a single day in his company, and then return to his people as a teacher, like Abu Dharr or Tufayl ibn Amr. All the bad qualities in their souls would disappear, and they would be filled with the highest moral values. The number of those who were transformed from coal into diamonds like Umar would keep increasing. And the call to Islam would now be made with even greater strength. All these developments triggered more meetings at Dar al-Nadwa, where hateful plans were being made.
Driven by their thirst for revenge, they were preparing to strike a crushing blow against the Muslims. The city was about to witness the hardest days in its history because they would show the very peak of their cruelty. In the next episode, you will witness the years of boycott. See you there.