375 – ‘Abdullāh narrated to us: Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Ayyūb narrated to us: Ibrāhīm ibn Sa‘d narrated to us, from Muhammad ibn Ishāq, from ‘Abd al-Rahmān ibn al-Hārith, from one of ‘Umar’s family—or one of his household—who said: ‘Umar said:

“When I embraced Islam that night, I considered which of the people of Mecca was most hostile to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, so that I could go and tell him that I had embraced Islam. I said to myself, ‘Abū Jahl ibn Hishām.’” He was one of the maternal uncles of ‘Umar’s mother, Hantama bint Hishām ibn al-Mughīra.

‘Umar continued: “When morning came, I went and knocked on his door. He came out to me and said, ‘Welcome, my sister’s son! What brings you here?’

“I replied, ‘I have come to tell you that I believe in Allah and His Messenger Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, and affirm the truth of what he has brought.’

“He slammed the door in my face and said, ‘May Allah disgrace you and disgrace what you have brought!’”

They claimed that, upon embracing Islam, ‘Umar ibn al-Khattāb composed the following verses about his conversion, recalling how it began and what had happened between him and his sister Fātima bint al-Khattāb:

[Basīt metre]

Praise be to Allah, Lord of bounty, whose favours
Have come upon us, never to fade.

At first we denied, but a Prophet possessing knowledge
Spoke words of truth to us.

I wronged the daughter of al-Khattāb; then my Lord guided me
That evening when they said, “‘Umar has forsaken his religion!”

I have regretted my former errors
And wronging her while the surahs were recited in her presence.

When she earnestly called upon her Lord, Possessor of the Throne,
With tears streaming swiftly from her eyes,

I knew with certainty that the One she called upon was her Creator,
And a torrent of tears almost overcame me.

So I said: I bear witness that Allah is our Creator,
And that Ahmad is renowned among us today—

A true Prophet who brought the truth from one trustworthy,
Who fulfilled his trust, with no weakness in his frame.

From Hāshim’s lofty heights and foremost ranks,
Where its forelocks, ears and eyes rise high;

Where the fearful and the needy find refuge,
And where he towers when Mudar boasts of its glories.

He recites verses sent down from Allah,
At which the stars and trees ever bow in prostration.

Through him Allah guided a people out of their error,
For whom Saqar had been prepared when they fell into despair.