Impact on Character - From Wickedness to Righteousness – III

25/12/2011| IslamWeb

Even when the Muslims flooded into Makkah on the day of the Conquest of Makkah, 'Umair, may Allah be pleased with him, did not forget his old companion and relative, Safwaan ibn Umayyah. He, may Allah be pleased with him, was hoping that Safwaan would accept Islam, as there was no doubt now, after the great day of the Conquest of Makkah, in the truthfulness of the Prophet,  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ).

Safwaan had traveled to the seaport of Jeddah on his way to Yemen by sea. 'Umair, may Allah be pleased with him, felt saddened and sorrowful at his departure. He hurried to the Prophet,  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ), and said, "O Prophet of Allah, Safwaan ibn Umayyah is the chief of his people. He set off escaping from you to throw himself into the sea. Give him safety. Peace be upon you." The Prophet,  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ), said: "He is safe." `Umair, may Allah be pleased with him, said, "O Prophet of Allah, give me a token for his safety." The Prophet,  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ), gave him the turban which he,  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ), had worn the day he entered Makkah and conquered it.

'Umair, may Allah be pleased with him, set out, following in the trail of Safwaan. He caught up with him just as Safwaan's ship was about to sail. 'Umair, may Allah be pleased with him, said, "O Safwaan, I sacrifice my mother and father for you. Avert perishing yourself. This is the token of safety of the Prophet of Allah  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) I came to you with." Safwaan replied, "Woe to you! Go away, do not speak to me." 'Umair, may Allah be pleased with him, again said to him, "O Safwaan! I sacrifice my mother and father for you. The Prophet of Allah is the best, the most righteous, and the most clement of all people. His glory is yours and his honor is yours." Safwaan said, "I am afraid." `Umair, may Allah be pleased with him, said, "He is more clement and more generous than that."

After convincing Safwaan that he would come to no harm, 'Umair, may Allah be pleased with him, returned with him to Makkah, where the Prophet,  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ), was. Safwaan said to the Prophet,  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ), "He claims that you have given me safety." The Prophet,  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ), returned: "He speaks the truth." Safwaan said to the Prophet,  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ), "Give me the option for four months." The Prophet,  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ), granted him this. After a while, Safwaan embraced Islam, and 'Umair, may Allah be pleased with him, rejoiced that his cousin had accepted Islam as his religion; this acceptance had saved him from the Hellfire and severe torment in the Hereafter. Indeed, Allah The Almighty guides whoever He wishes, and misguides whoever He wishes; and the story of how 'Umair, may Allah be pleased with him, accepted Islam has lessons for those who contemplate.
'Umair ibn Wahb, may Allah be pleased with him, had been planning to do away with the Prophet of Allah,  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ), but his plans were foiled, and he was led to believe wholeheartedly in the veracity of the Prophet,  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ). From being one of the most malignant adversaries of the Prophet,  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ), he became one of his most loyal and faithful Companions, may Allah be pleased with him. Even after the death of the Prophet,  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ), 'Umair ibn Wahb, may Allah be pleased with him, continued on his blessed journey towards Allah The Almighty. He, may Allah be pleased with him, followed in the footsteps of his beloved Prophet,  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ), and in the light of the guidance that he,  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ), brought with him for all of humanity, for all times.

Impact on Character - From Wickedness to Righteousness – I

Impact on Character - From Wickedness to Righteousness – II

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