Siyar Aʿlām al-Nubalāʾ - Shams al‑Din al‑Dhahabi - (سيرة 1/320)

Siyar Aʿlām al-NubalāʾShams al‑Din al‑Dhahabi

the Prophet ﷺ and said, “This is ʿUmayr.” He replied, “Bring him to me.” So ʿUmar went out, seized the strap of ʿUmayr’s sword that hung round his neck, and throttled him with it. Then he said to some of the Anṣār who were with him, “Go in to the Messenger of Allah, sit by him, and keep watch over this vile man.” ʿUmar then ushered ʿUmayr in.

The Prophet ﷺ said, “Release him, ʿUmar. Come closer, ʿUmayr.” He stepped forward, greeted, “A pleasant morning to you.” The Prophet asked, “What has brought you here?” He replied, “I have come concerning the prisoner you are holding.” The Prophet said, “Then why is that sword around your neck?” He answered, “May Allah disfigure these swords—of what use have they ever been?” The Prophet insisted, “Tell me the truth: for what purpose have you come?” He said, “Nothing but what I have mentioned.” The Prophet said, “No. You and Ṣafwān were sitting together in the Ḥijr,” and he recounted to him exactly what they had said. ʿUmayr exclaimed, “I testify that there is no god but Allah and that you are the Messenger of Allah. O Messenger of Allah, we used to deny the reports you brought us from heaven, yet this affair was witnessed by none but Ṣafwān and me. By Allah, I know that none could have informed you of it except Allah. All praise is due to Allah who has guided me to Islam.”

The Prophet ﷺ then said, “Teach your brother his religion, have him learn the Quran, and release his captive.” They did so.

ʿUmayr next said, “O Messenger of Allah, I strove my utmost to extinguish the light of Allah and was fierce in harming those who followed His religion. I would like you to permit me to return to Mecca so that I may invite them to Allah and His Messenger. Perhaps Allah will guide them; if not, I shall harass them over their faith.” The Prophet gave him permission, and he set off for Mecca.

In Mecca, Ṣafwān had been assuring Quraysh, “Rejoice—any moment now a blow will be struck that will make you forget the blow of Badr.” He kept questioning every traveler about ʿUmayr until a rider arrived and told him that ʿUmayr had embraced Islam. Ṣafwān swore never to speak to him again or do him any good.

Meanwhile ʿUmayr remained in Mecca, calling people to Islam and harassing the idolaters, and many entered Islam at his hands.

النبي ﷺ فقال: هذا عمير. قال: أدخله عليّ. فأقبل عمر حتى أخذ بحمالة سيفه في عنقه، فلببه به، وقال لرجال ممن كانوا معه من الأنصار: ادخلوا على رسول الله فاجلسوا عنده واحذروا عليه هذا الخبيث. ثم دخل به, فقال ﵇: "أرسله يا عمر، ادن يا عمير". فدنا، ثم قال: أنعموا صباحا، قال: "فما جاء بك"؟. قال: جئت لهذا الأسير الذي في أيديكم. قال: "فما بال السيف في عنقك"؟. قال: قبحها الله من سيوف، وهل أغنت شيئا؟ قال: "اصدقني ما الذي جئت له". قال: ما جئت إلا لذلك. قال: "بلى، قعدت أنت وصفوان في الحجر". وقص له ما قالا. فقال: أشهد أن لا إله إلا الله وأنك رسوله، قد كنا يا رسول الله نكذبك بما تأتينا به من خبر السماء، وهذا أمر لم يحضره إلا أنا وصفوان فوالله لأعلم ما أتاك به إلا الله، فالحمد لله الذي هداني للإسلام. فقال: النبي ﷺ: "فقهوا أخاكم في دينه، وأقرئوه القرآن وأطلقوا له أسيره". ففعلوا. ثم قال: يا رسول الله إني كنت جاهدا على إطفاء نور الله، شديد الأذى لمن كان على دين الله، وأنا أحب أن تأذن لي فأقدم مكة فأدعوهم إلى الله ورسوله، لعل الله أن يهديهم، وإلا آذيتهم في دينهم. فأذن له ولحق بمكة. وكان صفوان يعد قريشا يقول: أبشروا بوقعة تأتيكم الآن تنسيكم وقعة بدر. وكان صفوان يسأل عنه الركبان، حتى قدم راكبا فأخبره عن إسلامه، فحلف لا يكلمه أبدا ولا ينفعه بشيء أبدا. ثم أقام يدعو إلى الإسلام، ويؤذي المشركين، فأسلم على يديه ناس كثير.