Sayyidina 'Umar ibn al-Khattab (al-Faruq)

Ibn 'Abbas (ra) said: I asked 'Umar (ra): 'For what reason were you called Al-Faruq?' He said, 'Hamzah accepted Islam three days before me. I went to the mosque, and Abu Jahl hurried up to abuse the Prophet (saw) and Hamzah was told about it. He took his bow and came to the mosque, up to the circle of Quraysh in which Abu Jahl was. He leant upon his bow facing Abu Jahl and looked at him, and Abu Jahl recognised the mischief in his face, and said, "What is wrong with you, Abu 'Umarah?" He raised his bow and with it struck one of the veins in his neck, cutting it so that blood flowed. Quraysh rectified that from fear of mischief and trouble.'

He said, 'The Messenger of Allah (saw) was concealed in the house of Al-Arqam al-Makhzumi so Hamzah went off and accepted Islam. I went out three days after him and there was so-and-so son of so-and-so al-Makhzumi, and I said to him, "Do you yearn to get out of the deen of your ancestors and follow the deen of Muhammad?" He said, "If I did, then one who has much greater right upon you has also done it." I said, "Who is he?" He said, "Your sister and your brother in-law."

I went off, found the door locked and heard the murmur of lowered voices. Then the door was opened for me. I entered and said, "What is this I hear with you?" They said, "You didn't hear anything," and the conversation continued between us until I took hold of my brother in-law's head and hit him, making him bleed. My sister stood up to me and took hold of my head and said, "That has happened despite you."

I was ashamed when I saw the blood, so I sat down and said, "Show me this writing." My sister said, "No-one touches it except for the purified. If you are truthful then get up and bathe yourself." I got up and bathed myself, then I returned and sat down.

They brought me a page in which was, "In the name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate." I said, "Wholesome and pure names!" "Ta-Ha. We have not revealed the Qur'an to you for you to grieve, ..." up to His words, "... His are the most beautiful names." (surah Ta-Ha:1-8).

It became a great matter in my heart and I said, "From this Quraysh have fled!" I accepted Islam and said, "Where is the Messenger of Allah (saw)?" She said, "He is in the house of al-Arqam." I went to the house and knocked on the door. The people gathered and Hamzah said to them, "What is wrong with you." They said, "'Umar." He said, "And if it is 'Umar? Open the door for him. If he has accepted, then we will accept that from him, and if he turns his back, we will kill him."

The Messenger of Allah (saw) heard that and came out. I pronounced the shahadah and the people of the house said, "Allahu Akbar!" in such a way that the people of Makkah heard it.

I then said, "Messenger of Allah, are we not upon the truth?" He said, "Of course." I said, "Why do we conceal it?" We then went out in two ranks, in one of which I was and in the other Hamzah, until we entered the mosque, and Quraysh looked at me and at Hamzah. There came upon them gloom and depression the like of which had never before come upon them. The Messenger of Allah (saw) named me on that day "al-Faruq" because Islam had been shown openly and a separation made between the truth and falsehood.'

Ibn 'Abbas (ra) said: The first man to be open about Islam was 'Umar ibn al-Khattab.

Ibn Mas'ud (ra) said: The Islam of 'Umar was an opening, his hijrah (emigration) was a help and his caliphate was a mercy. I saw us unable to pray towards the House until 'Umar accepted Islam. When 'Umar accepted Islam, he fought them until they left us alone and we prayed.

Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas said: The Prophet (saw) said, 'Ibn al-Khattab, by Him in Whose hand is my self, the shaytan never met you travelling on a road but that he would travel on a road other than your road.'

Abu Hurairah said: The Prophet (saw) said, 'There were in the nations before you people who were inspired, and if there is one in my ummah, it is 'Umar.'

Ibn 'Umar related that the Prophet (saw) said, 'Allah has put the truth upon 'Umar's tongue and (in) his heart.'

Ibn 'Umar said: No affair ever happened among people and they spoke about it and 'Umar spoke about it but that the Qur'an was revealed confirming what 'Umar said.

Ubayy ibn Ka'b said: The Prophet (saw) said, 'Jibril said to me, "Let Islam weep over the death of 'Umar."'

Abu Sa'id al-Khudri said: The Prophet (saw) said, 'Whoever is angry with 'Umar is angry with me. Whoever loves 'Umar loves me. Allah glorifies in the people on the evening of 'Arafah generally, and He glorifies in 'Umar particularly. Allah has not sent a prophet except that he put among his ummah an inspired man and if there is one such man in my ummah, then it is 'Umar.' They said, 'Prophet of Allah, how inspired?' He said, 'The angels speak by his tongue.'

... The History of the Khalifahs, Jalal ad-Din as-Suyuti