THE IDEAL MUSLIMAH

'Umar was a headstrong young man of great determination. He saw Islaam as a threat to the Quraysh and became most violent and unrestrained in his attacks on Muslims. He finally decided that the only way to put an end to the trouble was to eliminate the man who was its cause. Goaded on by blind fury he took up his sword and headed for the Prophet's house. On his way he came face to face with a secret believer in the Prophet who seeing' Umar's grim expression asked him where he was going. "I am going to kill Muhammad..."

There was no mistaking his bitterness and murderous resolve. The believer sought to dissuade him from his intent but 'Umar was deaf to any arguments. He then thought of diverting 'Umar in order to at least warn the Prophet of his intentions.

"O Umar," he said, "Why not first go back to the people of your own house and set them to rights?"

"What people of my house?" asked Umar.

"Your sister Fatimah and your brother-in-law Sa'id. They have both forsaken your religion and are followers of Muhammad in his religion..."

'Umar turned and made straight for his sister's house. There he called out to her angrily as he approached. Khabbab ibn al-Aratt who often came to recite the Qur'aan to Sa'id and Faatimah was with them then. When they heard 'Umar's voice, Khabbab hid in a corner of the house and Fatimah concealed the manuscript. But 'Umar had heard the sound of their reading and when he came in, he said to them, "What is this haynamah (gibbering) I heard?"

They tried to assure him that it was only normal conversation that he had heard but he insisted: "Hear it I did," he said, "and it is possible that you have both become renegades."

"Have you not considered whether the Truth is not to be found in your religion?" said Sa'id to 'Umar.

He was trying to reason with him. Instead, 'Umar set upon his brother-in-law hitting and kicking him as hard as he could and when Fatimah went to the defence of her husband, 'Umar struck her a blow on her face which drew blood.

"O Umar," said Fatimah, and she was angry. "What if the Truth is not in your religion! I bear witness that there is no god but Allah and I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of God."

Fatimah's wound was bleeding, and when 'Umar saw the blood he was sorry for what he had done. A change came over him and he said to his sister:

"Give me that script which you have that I may read it." Like them 'Umar could read, but when he asked for the script, Fatimah said to him:

"You are impure and only the pure may touch it. Go and wash yourself or make ablutions."

Thereupon Umar went and washed himself, and she gave him the page on which was written the opening verses of Surah Ta-Ha. He began to read it and when he reached the verse, 'Verily, I alone am God, there no deity but me. So, worship Me alone, and be constant in Prayer so as to remember Me.'

He then said: "Show me where Muhammad is."

'Umar then made his way to the house of al-Arqam and declared his acceptance of Islaam and the Prophet and all his companions rejoiced.

Said and his wife Fatimah were thus the immediate cause which led to the conversion of the strong and determined 'Umar and this added substantially to the power and prestige of the emerging faith.