Al-Matalib al-'Aliyah 4230 — The acceptance of Islam by Umar

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) that a man of the tribe of Banu Zuhrah met Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) before he accepted Islam, while he had a sword hanging from his shoulder. The man asked: "O Umar, where are you heading?" He replied: "I want to kill (Allah forbid) Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him)." The man said: "If you kill Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), how will you save your life from Banu Hashim and Banu Zuhrah?" Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "I think you too have abandoned your religion and left the old religion you were upon." He said: "O Umar, shall I not tell you something even more astonishing than this? Your brother-in-law and your sister have also abandoned their religion and become Sabians (converts)." On hearing this, Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) set off towards them in a state of intense anger, until, when he came near the door, there was a man called Khabbab (may Allah be pleased with him) who was teaching the two of them Surah Taha. When Sayyiduna Khabbab (may Allah be pleased with him) sensed the sound of Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), he hid under a bed in the house. Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) (entering) asked: "What was this murmuring (humming) that I heard with you?" They said: "There was nothing in particular with us; we were merely talking among ourselves." Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "Perhaps you two have turned away from your ancestral religion?" His brother-in-law said: "O Umar, just tell me, what is your view if the truth lies in a religion other than yours (Islam)?" On hearing this, Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) fell upon his brother-in-law and beat him very severely. His sister came forward to save her husband, and Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) struck her on the face, so that it became bloodied. Then his sister said (with great resolve and certainty): "If the truth is somewhere other than in your religion, then listen! I bear witness that there is no god worthy of worship but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) is His servant and His Messenger." Seeing this, Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) (softened somewhat and) said: "Show me that writing which you were reading." Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) knew how to read and write. His sister said: "No, you are impure (because of polytheism). First make a firm pledge in the name of Allah that after reading it you will return it to us; then get up, take a ritual bath (ghusl) and perform ablution (wudu)." Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) did so. Then he read that writing, in which were written the verses from {Ta Ha. We have not sent down the Qur'an to you that you be distressed} [Surah Taha: 1-2] up to the words of Allah Almighty {And establish prayer for My remembrance. Indeed, the Hour is coming; I almost conceal it} [Surah Taha: 14-15]. Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) (deeply moved) said: "Show me where Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) is." When Sayyiduna Khabbab (may Allah be pleased with him) heard this from Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), he came out and said: "O Umar, rejoice! I have strong hope that the supplication the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) made for you on Thursday evening has been accepted. He (peace and blessings be upon him) had implored: «Allahumma a'izz al-dina bi-Umar bin al-Khattab aw bi-Amr bin Hisham» 'O Allah, grant dominance and honour to the religion of Islam through Umar bin al-Khattab or Amr bin Hisham.'" They told him that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) was at that time in a house at the foot of Mount Safa, and revelation was coming down upon him (peace and blessings be upon him). Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) arrived there, and at the door were Sayyiduna Hamzah bin Abd al-Muttalib (may Allah be pleased with him) and other Companions. When Sayyiduna Hamzah (may Allah be pleased with him) saw that the people were frightened by the awe of Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), he said: "Yes, this is Umar. If Allah intends good for him, he will accept Islam; and if the situation turns out otherwise, killing him will be a very easy matter for us." Meanwhile the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) came out, took firm hold of Sayyiduna Umar's (may Allah be pleased with him) clothes and sword-belt, and said: "O Umar, will you not desist until Allah Almighty sends down upon you the same humiliation and exemplary punishment that He sent down upon al-Walid bin al-Mughirah? O Allah, this is Umar bin al-Khattab; O Allah, grant honour and strength to the religion through Umar." Then Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) exclaimed: "I bear witness that you are indeed the Messenger of Allah," and he entered the fold of Islam. Then he said: "O Messenger of Allah, now (go out and) proclaim (Islam)."
Imam Abu Ya'la narrated this hadith, and its other routes are also narrated from Mujahid bin Musa and Abd al-Rahman al-Basri with the same meaning. At the beginning of one narration it is also explicitly stated that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) supplicated on Thursday evening: «Allahumma a'izz al-dina bi-Umar bin al-Khattab aw bi-Amr bin Hisham» "O Allah, grant dominance to the religion through Umar bin al-Khattab or Amr bin Hisham." After this, the incident of Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) setting out with his sword hanging and meeting the man of Banu Zuhrah is mentioned in detail.