Sayidina Umar converted to Islam
By: Ahmad Syahrin Thoriq
Sayidina Umar bin Khattab radhiyallahu'anhu was one of the people who was the strongest in his opposition to the preaching of the Prophet sallallaahu'alaihi wassalam and also the most sadistic in inflicting torture on the companions who converted to Islam at that time. And this is admitted by himself with his words:
كُنْتُ مِنْ أَشَدِّ النَّاسِ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ
"I used to be one of the most violent people against the Prophet sallallaahu'alaihi wassalam."[1]
Because of his attitude, almost no one would have imagined that this figure would later receive guidance in the faith. Some of the Companions even said:
لا يسلم حَتَّى يسلم حمار الخطاب
"He will not convert to Islam until his father's donkey converts to Islam."[2]
But that's the grace of Allah ta'ala, given to anyone he wants from His servants. Sayidina Umar bin Khattab converted to Islam around the 6th year of his prophetic preaching. And there are several different stories that tell about the cause of his Islam.
However, the difference in history could be the stages in which he began to soften from his hard attitude and then accepted Islam totally. As stated by Shaykh Shafiyyurrahman al Mubarakfuri who said that Islam infiltrated Umar's heart gradually.
But what is clear is that the Prophet sallallaahu'alaihi wassalam once specifically prayed to Allah so that he would be one of the people who was given guidance in faith.
اللهُمّ أعِزّ الإسلام بأحبّ الرّجلين إليك عمر بن الخطّاب أو عَمرو بن هشام
"O Allah, strengthen Islam with one of the two men that You like from the two, Umar bin Khattab or Amru bin Hisham."[3]
And because of his Islam, da'wah has an izzah and the Muslims have become strong where before they were very weak. Abdullah bin Mas'ud radhiyallahu'anhu said:
ما زلنا أعزَّة منذ أسلم عمر
"We became strong since Umar converted to Islam."[4]
He also said:
إن إسلام عمر كان فتحا، وإن هجرته كانت نصرا، وإن إمارته كانت رحمة
“Umar's conversion to Islam was a victory. His hijrah is help and when he becomes a leader is a grace of compassion.”[5]
Here are some narrations or stages about the Islamic story of Sayidina Umar bin Khattab:
One day Umar bin Khattab left his house until he arrived at the Grand Mosque. He saw the Prophet sallallahu'alahi wassalam who was praying near the Kaaba, so he uncovered the cloth covering the Kaaba and then hid inside. Umar then moved slowly closer to the position of the Prophet sallallaahu'alaihi wassalam.
At that time Rasulullah read surah al Haqqah. So Umar was amazed by the beauty of the arrangement and style of language of the Qur'an. However, he tried to brush it off by saying in his heart: "Ah, this is just like the poetry of the Quraysh people."
And the Messenger of Allah came to the reading: "Indeed it (the Koran) is truly a revelation (which was revealed to) the noble Messenger. and it (the Koran) is not the word of a poet. Very few of you have faith in him.” (QS. Al Haqqah: 40-41)
Umar again said in his heart: "Then maybe this is an incantation from a sorcerer."
And at that time the Messenger of Allah continued his reading: "And not the words of a soothsayer either. Very few of you take lessons from him. It (the Koran) is a revelation sent down from the Lord of the worlds." (QS. Al Haqqah: 42-43)
Umar was stunned. And the Messenger of Allah shallallahu'alaihi wassalam continued to recite his prayer until it was finished as said by Sayidina Umar himself. And from that moment on, the seeds of faith began to grow in his heart.[6]
In another narration, when Sayidina Umar thought about the chaos and conflict in Mecca, he concluded that the source of the problem was the Prophet sallallaahu'alaihi wassalam. So he rushed out of his house carrying a gun to kill the Prophet sallallaahu'alaihi wassalam.
On the way, he then met Nu'aim bin Abdullah who asked him: "Where are you going, O Umar?"
Umar replied, "I will finish Muhammad!"
"Is there anything that can guarantee your safety from the revenge of Muhammad's family?" Ask Nu'aim.
Hearing that, Umar seemed not to care. So Nu'aim again said: "O Umar, would you like me to show you facts that will astonish you? That is, your sister and brother-in-law have now left the religion of your forefathers and embraced the religion of Muhammad."
Of course the people were very surprised to hear this. After confirming the truth of the news he had just heard, Umar then turned around in a hurry to the house of his sister, Fatimah bint Khattab radhiyallahu'anha.
At that time, in her house, Fatimah and her husband were learning verses of the Koran from a friend named Khabbab bin al Art radhiyallahu'anhu. And the sound of chanting holy verses was heard by Umar, so he banged on the door loudly.
Khabbab then hid in a room and Fatimah rolled up a sheet with verses written under her clothes. He then rushed to open the door.
As soon as the door opened, Umar immediately rebuked, "What were the whispers that I heard from outside just now?"
Fatimah and her husband replied, "It was just the two of us chatting."
Umar then said, "I suspect you have left our religion..."
Zaid, Umar's brother-in-law replied, "O Umar, what do you think if the truth is in a religion that is not your religion?"
Hearing that Umar was angry, he rushed to his brother-in-law. Umar then slammed him and trampled his body hard. Fatimah, who saw her husband's condition, tried to help him. But Umar then slapped Fatimah in the face until blood flowed.
Seeing his brother in such a condition Umar became compassionate. At that time in a loud voice Fatimah said,
نعم قد أسلمنا وآمنا بالله ورسوله، فاصنع ما بدا لك
“Yes, we have converted to Islam and believe in Allah and His Messenger. So now please do whatever you want!”
Fatimah continued, "O Umar, if the truth is from other than your religion, then testify that there is no deity that has the right to be worshiped except Allah, and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah."
Umar was stunned and overwhelmed with feelings of despair because he saw his brother's condition in such a way. There was a feeling of regret and shame in his heart.
After a while, Umar saw a scroll that had fallen. So he asked that it be handed over to him to read.
But Fatimah refused saying, “You are an unclean person. These verses should not be touched except by holy people. Take a shower first if you want!”
So Umar went to take a bath. After that he took the sheet and began to read it. When he arrived at lafadz basmallah, Umar commented: "Good and holy names." Then he continued reading the first verse of surah Thaha until the 14th verse.
After finishing, Umar said: "How beautiful and noble are his sentences. Show me where Muhammad is now!”
When he heard that, Khabbab, who had been hiding all this time, came out and said: "Receive the good news, O Umar, I really hope that the prayer of the Messenger of Allah will fall on you."
After getting information on the whereabouts of the Prophet, Umar took his sword and rushed to the Prophet sallallaahu'alaihi wassalam.
After getting information on the whereabouts of the Prophet, Umar took his sword and rushed to the Prophet sallallaahu'alaihi wassalam.
After arriving at a house that was the center of the Prophet's da'wah at that time, Umar immediately banged on the door. The companions who were in it peered through the existing hole. To their surprise, those standing behind the door were Umar bin Khattab bearing his weapon. They panicked and worried about the safety of the Prophet.
Sayidina Hamzah bin Abdul Muttalib who saw this asked them, "What's wrong with you guys?"
They replied, "There is Umar!"
Hamza said, “Umar? Open the door. If he comes with good intentions, then we give kindness. But if he means bad, I will kill him with his own sword.”
So then the door was opened and Umar was invited to enter. As soon as Umar was in the presence of the Prophet, he immediately moved to grip Umar's clothes while holding the hilt of his sword, saying: "Don't you want to stop your humiliation, O Umar? Or will Allah humiliate you like what happened to Al Walid bin Mughirah?"
Then Rasulullah shallallahu'alaihi wassalam exclaimed, "O Allah, Umar came to me. O Allah, strengthen Islam with Umar bin Khattab."
Umar then said, "I testify that there is no god but Allah, and I testify that you are His messenger."
Sayidina Umar declared his Islam. It is unimaginable how happy the Companions who were also present witnessed. They also said takbir in a very loud voice. Until his voice could be heard by the polytheists who were around the Kaaba.[7]
Wallahu a'lam.
•┈┈•••○○❁༺αѕт༻❁○○•••┈┈•
[1] Fadhail ash Shahabah (1/285)
[2] Ansab al Ashraf (10/301)
[3] Tabaqat al Kubra (3/224)
[4] HR. Bukhari no. 3481
[5] Sirah Ibn Hisham (1/294)
[6] Date of Umar bin Khattab li Ibn Jauzi p. 6
[7] Sirah Nabawiyah li Ibn Hisham (1/343-346)
Masuk Islamnya Sayidina Umar
Oleh : Ahmad Syahrin Thoriq
Sayidina Umar bin Khattab radhiyallahu’anhu adalah di antara orang yang paling keras penentangannya terhadap dakwah Nabi shalallahu’alaihi wassalam dan juga yang paling sadis menimpakan siksa terhadap para shahabat yang masuk islam kala itu. Dan hal ini diakui sendiri oleh beliau dengan ucapannya :
كُنْتُ مِنْ أَشَدِّ النَّاسِ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ
“Aku dahulunya adalah termasuk dari orang yang paling keras menentang Nabi shalallahu’alaihi wassalam.”[1]
Karena sikapnya yang demikian itu, nyaris tidak ada yang membayangkan, bahwa sosok ini kemudian bisa mendapatkan hidayah keimanan. Sebagian shahabat sampai mengungkapkan :
لا يسلم حَتَّى يسلم حمار الخطاب
“Dia tidak akan masuk Islam sampai keledai bapaknya masuk Islam.”[2]
Namun begitulah karunia Allah ta’ala, diberikan kepada siapapun yang dikehendaki dari hamba-hambaNya. Sayidina Umar bin Khattab masuk Islam sekitar tahun ke-6 dari dakwah kenabian. Dan ada beberapa kisah yang berbeda yang menuturkan tentang sebab keislamannya.
Namun perbedaan riwayat itu bisa jadi adalah tahapan-tahapan beliau yang mulai melunak dari sikap kerasnya hingga kemudian menerima Islam secara total. Sebagaimana yang dinyatakan oleh Syaikh Shafiyyurrahman al Mubarakfuri yang mengatakan bahwa Islam menyusup ke sanubari Umar secara bertahap.
Namun yang jelas Rasulullah shalallahu’alaihi wassalam pernah secara khusus berdoa memohon kepada Allah agar ia menjadi salah satu orang yang diberi hidayah keimanan.
اللهُمّ أعِزّ الإسلام بأحبّ الرّجلين إليك عمر بن الخطّاب أو عَمرو بن هشام
“Ya Allah, kuatkanlah Islam dengan salah satu dari dua laki-laki yang Engkau sukai dari keduanya, Umar bin Khattab atau Amru bin Hisyam.”[3]
Dan dengan sebab keislaman beliau ini, dakwah memiliki izzah dan kaum muslimin menjadi kuat yang tadinya sangat lemah. Berkata Abdullah bin Mas’ud radhiyallahu’anhu :
ما زلنا أعزَّة منذ أسلم عمر
“Kami menjadi kuat sejak keislaman Umar.”[4]
Beliau juga berkata :
إن إسلام عمر كان فتحا، وإن هجرته كانت نصرا، وإن إمارته كانت رحمة
“Keislaman Umar adalah kemenangan. Hijrahnya adalah pertolongan dan saat ia menjadi pemimpin adalah rahmat kasih sayang.”[5]
Berikut beberapa riwayat atau tahapan tentang kisah keislaman sayidina Umar bin Khattab :
Suatu hari Umar bin Khattab keluar dari rumahnya hingga ia tiba di masjidil Haram. Ia melihat ada Nabi shalallahu’alahi wassalam yang sedang mengerjakan shalat di dekat Ka’bah, maka ia menyibak kain penutup Ka’bah dan kemudian bersembunyi di dalamnya. Umar lalu bergerak berlahan mendekat ke arah posisi Nabi shalallahu’alaihi wassalam.
Saat itu Rasulullah membaca surah al Haqqah. Maka Umar merasa takjub dengan indahnya susunan dan gaya bahasa al Qur’an. Namun demikian ia berusaha menepis dengan mengatakan di dalam hatinya : “ Ah, ini kan seperti syair-syairnya orang-orang Quraisy saja.”
Dan Rasulullah sampai pada bacaan : “Sesungguhnya ia (al Quran) benar-benar wahyu (yang diturunkan kepada) Rasul yang mulia. dan ia (al Quran) bukanlah perkataan seorang penyair. Sedikit sekali kamu yang beriman kepadanya.” (QS. Al Haqqah : 40-41)
Umar kembali berkata di dalam hatinya : “Kalau begitu mungkin ini adalah jampi-jampi dari tukang sihir.”
Dan kala itu Rasulullah melanjutkan bacaannya : “Dan bukan pula perkataan tukang tenung. Sedikit sekali kamu yang mengambil pelajaran darinya. Ia (al Quran) adalah wahyu yang diturunkan dari Tuhan seluruh alam.” (QS. Al Haqqah : 42-43)
Umar pun tercenung. Dan Rasulullah shalallahu’alaihi wassalam terus melanjutkan bacaan shalatnya hingga selesai sebagaimana ini yang dituturkan sendiri oleh sayidina Umar. Dan mulai saat itulah, benih-benih keimanan mulai tumbuh di dalam hatinya.[6]
Diriwayat lainnya, ketika sayidina Umar memikirkan tentang carut marut dan konflik di Makkah, ia berkesimpulan sumber masalahnya adalah Nabi shalallahu’alaihi wassalam. Maka beliaupun bergegas keluar rumahnya dengan menyandang senjata untuk membunuh Rasulullah shalallahu’alaihi wassalam.
Di tengah jalan ia kemudian berpapasan dengan Nu’aim bin Abdullah yang bertanya kepadanya : “Hendak kemana engkau wahai Umar ?”
Umar menjawab, “Aku akan menghabisi Muhammad !”
“Apa ada yang bisa menjamin keselamatan dirimu dari pembalasan keluarga Muhammad ?” Tanya Nu’aim.
Mendengar itu, Umar seperti tidak ambil peduli. Maka Nu’aim kembali berkata : “Wahai Umar, maukah engkau aku tunjukkan fakta yang akan mencengangkan dirimu ? Yaitu adikmu dan iparmu kini telah meninggalkan agama nenek moyangmu dan memeluk agama Muhammad.”
Tentu saja Umat sangat kaget mendengar hal tersebut. Setelah memastikan kebenaran berita yang baru saja ia dengar, Umar pun kemudian berbalik arah dengan terburu-buru menuju rumah adiknya, Fatimah binti Khattab radhiyallahu’anha.
Saat itu di dalam rumahnya, Fatimah dan suaminya sedang belajar ayat-ayat al Qur’an dari shahabat yang bernama Khabbab bin al Art radhiyallahu’anhu. Dan suara lantunan ayat suci sempat terdengar oleh Umar, maka ia pun menggedor pintu dengan kerasnya.
Khabbab kemudian bersembunyi di sebuah ruangan dan Fatimah menggulung lembaran yang berisi tulisan ayat di balik pakaiannnya. Ia kemudian bergegas membukakan pintu.
Begitu pintu terbuka, Umar langsung menghardik, “Suara apa bisik-bisik yang aku dengar dari luar barusan ?”
Fatimah dan suaminya menjawab, “ Itu hanya obrolan kami berdua.”
Umar kemudian berkata, “Aku menduga kalian telah keluar dari agama kita...”
Zaid, adik iparnya Umar menjawab, “Wahai Umar, apa pendapatmu jika kebenaran itu ada pada agama yang bukan agamamu ?”
Mendengar itu Umar marah, ia menghambur ke arah adik iparnya tersebut. Umar lalu membantingnya dan menginjak -injak badannya dengan keras. Fatimah yang melihat keadaan suaminya berusaha untuk menolongnya. Tapi Umar kemudian menampar wajah Fatimah hingga mengalirkan darah.
Melihat adiknya dalam kondisi demikian Umar menjadi iba. Kala itu dengan suara keras Fatimah berkata,
نعم قد أسلمنا وآمنا بالله ورسوله، فاصنع ما بدا لك
“Iya kami telah masuk Islam dan beriman kepada Allah dan RasulNya. Maka sekarang silahkan perbuat apapun yang engkau mau !”
Fatimah melanjutkan, “Wahai Umar jika kebenaran itu ada dari selain agamamu, maka bersaksilah bahwa tiada ilah yang berhak disembah kecuali Allah, dan Muhammad adalah utusan Allah.”
Umar tercenung dan dirundung perasaan putus asa karena melihat keadaan adiknya sedemikian rupa. Muncul rasa penyesalan dan perasaan malu dalam hatinya.
Setelah beberapa saat, Umar melihat adanya gulungan yang jatuh. Maka ia meminta agar itu diserahkan kepadanya untuk dibaca.
Namun Fatimah menolak dengan mengatakan, “Engkau adalah orang yang najis. Ayat-ayat ini tidak boleh disentuh kecuali oleh orang-orang yang suci. Mandilah dulu jika engkau mau !”
Maka Umar pun pergi mandi. Setelahnya ia mengambil lembaran itu dan mulai membacanya. Ketika sampai di lafadz basmallah, Umar berkomentar : “Nama-nama yang bagus dan suci.” Kemudian ia melanjutkan membaca ayat pertama dari surah Thaha hingga di ayat ke-14.
Setelah selesai Umar berkata : “Alangkah indah dan mulianya kalimat-kalimatnya. Tunjukkan kepadaku di mana Muhammad sekarang berada !”
Tatkala mendengar itu Khabbab yang sedari tadi bersembunyi keluar dan seraya berkata : “Terimalah khabar gembira wahai Umar, aku benar-benar berharap doa Rasulullah itu jatuh kepada dirimu.”
Setelah mendapatkan informasi keberadaan sang Nabi, Umar pun lalu mengambil pedangnya dan bergegas untuk mendatangi Rasulullah shalallahu’alaihi wassalam.
Setelah mendapatkan informasi keberadaan sang Nabi, Umar pun lalu mengambil pedangnya dan bergegas untuk mendatangi Rasulullah shalallahu’alaihi wassalam.
Setelah tiba di sebuah rumah yang menjadi markaz dakwah Nabi kala itu, Umar langsung menggedor pintu. Para shahabat yang ada di dalamnya mengintip lewat lubang yang ada. Betapa terkejutnya mereka yang berdiri di balik pintu adalah Umar bin Khattab dengan menyandang senjatanya. Mereka panik dan mengkhawatirkan keselamatan sang Nabi.
Sayidina Hamzah bin Abdul Muthalib yang melihat itu bertanya kepada mereka, “Ada apa dengan kalian ini ?”
Mereka menjawab, “Ada Umar !”
Hamzah berkata, “Umar ? Bukakan pintu. Jika ia datang dengan maksud yang baik, maka kita berikan kebaikan. Tapi jika ia bermaksud buruk, aku akan bunuh dia dengan pedangnya sendiri.”
Maka kemudian pintu dibuka dan Umar di persilahkan masuk. Begitu Umar telah berada di hadapan Nabi, beliau langsung bergerak mencengkram baju Umar sambil memegang gagang pedangnya, seraya bersabda : “Apakah engkau tidak hendak berhenti dari kehinaanmu wahai Umar ? Ataukah Allah akan hinakan dirimu seperti yang menimpa Al Walid bin Mughirah ?”
Kemudian Rasulullah shalallahu’alaihi wassalam berseru, “Ya Allah ini Umar datang kepadaku. Ya Allah, kokohkan Islam dengan Umar bin Khattab.”
Umar lalu berkata, “Aku bersaksi bahwa tiada Tuhan selain Allah, dan aku bersaksi bahwa engkau adalah utusanNya.”
Sayidina Umar menyatakan keislamannya. Tak terbayangkan bagaimana gembiranya para shahabat yang turut hadir menyaksikan. Mereka pun bertakbir dengan suara yang keras sekali. Hingga suaranya bisa terdengar oleh kaum musyrikin yang sedang ada di sekitar Ka’bah.[7]
Wallahu a’lam.
•┈┈•••○○❁༺αѕт༻❁○○•••┈┈•
[1] Fadhail ash Shahabah (1/285)
[2] Ansab al Asyraf (10/301)
[3] Thabaqat al Kubra (3/224)
[4] HR. Bukhari no. 3481
[5] Sirah Ibn Hisyam (1/294)
[6] Tarikh Umar bin Khattab li Ibn Jauzi hal. 6
[7] Sirah Nabawiyah li Ibn Hisyam (1/343-346)