The Messenger of Allah (saw – may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “God has placed truth upon Umar’s tongue and heart.”
‘Umar’s (may Allah be pleased with him) Life
During his last illness, Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) had conferred with his people, particularly the more eminent among them. After this meeting, they chose ‘Umar as his successor. ‘Umar was born into a respected Quraysh family thirteen years after the birth of Muhammad (may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). Umar’s family was known for its extensive knowledge of genealogy. When he grew up, ‘Umar was proficient in this branch of knowledge as well as in swordsmanship, wrestling, and the art of speaking. He also learned to read and write while still a child, a very rare thing in Mecca at that time. ‘Umar earned his living as a merchant. His trade took him to many foreign lands and he met all kinds of people. This experience gave him an insight into the affairs and
problems of men. ‘Umar’s personality was dynamic, self-assertive, frank, and straightforward. He always spoke whatever was on his mind even if it displeased others.
‘Umar was twenty-seven when the Prophet Muhammad proclaimed his mission. The ideas Muhammad was preaching enraged him as much as they did the other notables of Mecca. He was just as bitter against anyone accepting Islaam as others among the Quraish. When his slave-girl accepted Islaam he beat her until he himself was exhausted and told her, “I have stopped because I am tired, not out of pity for you.” The story of his embracing Islaam is an interesting one. One day, full of anger against the Prophet Muhammad (peace be on him), he drew his sword and set out to kill him. A friend met him on the way. When ‘Umar told him what he planned to do, his friend informed him that ‘Umar’s own sister, Fatimah, and her husband had also accepted Islaam. ‘Umar went straight to his sister’s house where he found her reading from pages of the Qur’an. He fell upon her and beat her mercilessly. Bruised and bleeding, she told her brother, “Umar you can do what you like, but you cannot turn our hearts away from Islaam.” These words produced a strange effect on ‘Umar. What was this faith that made even weak women so strong of heart? He asked his sister to show him what she had been reading; he was at once moved to the core by the words of the Qur’an and immediately grasped their truth. He went straight to the house where the Prophet Muhammad (peace be on him) was staying and vowed allegiance to him.