Life-of-Muhammad

24Life of Muhammad saheard a recitation going on inside. The voice was that ofKhabbab ra who was teaching them the Holy Book.‘Umar ra entered the house swiftly. Khabbab ra , alarmedby the hurried steps, had already hid himself. ‘Umar's rasister, Fatima ra , put away the leaves of the Qur’an.Confronting her and her husband, ‘Umar ra said, "I hearyou have renounced your own faith," and, saying this,he raised his hand to strike her husband, who wasincidentally his own cousin. Fatima ra threw herselfbetween ‘Umar ra and her husband; so ‘Umar's ra handfell on Fatima’s ra face and struck her on the nose, fromwhich blood flowed freely. The blow made Fatima ra allthe braver. She said, "Yes, we are Muslims now andshall remain so; do what you may." ‘Umar ra was a braveman, though rough. His sister's face, dyed red by hisown hand, filled him with remorse. Soon he was achanged man. He asked to be shown those leaves of theQur’an they were reading from. Fatima ra refused lest heshould tear them up and throw them away. ‘Umar rapromised not to do so. But, said Fatima ra , he was notclean. ‘Umar ra offered to have a bath. Clean and cooled,he took the leaves of the Qur’an in his hand. Theycontained a portion of the Chapter Ta Ha. And he cameupon the verses:"Verily I am Allah; there is no God beside Me. Soserve Me, and observe prayer for My remembrance.Surely the Hour is coming, and I am going to manifestit, that every soul may be recompensed for itsendeavour" (20:15, 16).The firm assertion of God's existence, the clearpromise that Islam would soon establish genuineworship in place of the customary one current inMecca—these and a host of other associated ideas musthave moved ‘Umar ra . He could contain himself no longer.Faith welled up in his heart and he said, "Howwonderful, how inspiring!" Khabbab ra came out of hishiding, and said, "God is my witness, only yesterday Iheard the Prophet sa pray for the conversion of ‘Umar ra or‘Amr ibn Hisham. Your change is the result of that