Episode 44: Umayr ibn Wahb Accepts Islam
Background of Umayr ibn Wahb:
Umayr ibn Wahb, a member of the Quraysh, had a plan to go to Madinah to assassinate the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
Umayr and his son were part of the Battle of Badr and he was one of the members who fled, but his son Wahb ibn Umayr was captured as a prisoner.
Umayr was very depressed and had a lot of hatred towards Islam and the Prophet.
On one occasion, he sat with Safwan ibn Umayyah and they were talking about how life was not worth living anymore without the leaders of the Quraysh.
Planning the Assasination of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ:
Umayr said to Safwan: if it was not for my debts and looking after my children and my family, I will go to Madinah to kill the Prophet.
Safwan replied: I will clear your debts and take care of your children for the rest of my life as if they are mine.
Umayr and Safwan plotted to assassinate the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and they sharpened Umayr’s sword and laced it with poison.
Encounter in Madinah:
When Umayr entered Madinah, Umar ibn al-Khattab saw him and became very angry. He said: This dog is the enemy of Allah and the Prophet, Wallahi he is only here because he has some evil plan.
Umar then informed the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ that Umayr ibn Wahb was here and the Prophet told Umar to let him come in.
Umar ibn al-Khattab took the sling of Umayr, that was carrying the sword, and tied him up with it before he went to see the Prophet.
Umar then instructed some of the Ansar to sit around the Prophet because he did not trust Umayr.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ instructed Umar ibn al-Khattab to release Umayr ibn Wahb from being tied up.
Umayr ibn Wahb Meets the Prophet:
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ asked Umayr: why are you here? Umayr lied and told the Prophet: My son is one of your prisoners so I have come here to discuss an agreement so you can release my son.
The Prophet asked him again: why are you here? Umayr replied: Wallahi, this is the reason.
The Prophet Receives Knowledge:
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ then said: No, this is not why you are here, what about the conversation that you had with Safwan where you agreed to come and kill me?
Conversion and Release:
Umayr ibn Wahb was left speechless and he told the Prophet: Wallahi, nobody knew about this plan apart from me and Safwan. The only way you could know about this conversation between Safwan and myself is if you received revelation from Allah. You really are the Messenger of Allah!
Umayr ibn Wahb, one of the worst enemies of Islam, then took the Shadahah and became a Muslim.
The Prophet ﷺ told his companions: Teach your brother your religion and teach him the Quran and release his prisoner (his son Wahb).
Umayr asked the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ for permission to go to Makkah and spread dawah to the people of Makkah and the Prophet agreed.
Safwan ibn Umayyah’s Reaction:
Umayr ibn Wahb went back to Madinah and said: I come with glad tidings. I have come with something that will take away all the depression and sadness from what happened at Badr.
When Safwan ibn Umayyah heard this, he thought Umayr had successfully assassinated the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and asked Umayr if he actually went through with the assassination.
Umayr replied: No, I didn’t kill him, I bear witness that there is no God but Allah and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. And if the people accept this as the truth, all their depression and worries will all go away.
Safwan was very upset and told Umayr: Wallahi, I will never speak to you again.
Umayr ibn Wahb continued to spread dawah to the Quraysh and a large number of them became Muslims.
Zaynab bint Muhammad’s Migration to Madinah:
The Prophet’s daughter, Zaynab bint Muhammad migrated to Madinah, and this was from the promise of her husband Abu-l ‘A’as when the Prophet freed him as a prisoner at Badr.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ praised Abu-l ‘A’as for keeping his word.
Journey and Preparation to Madinah:
Abu-l ‘A’as told his brother, Kinanah ibn al-Rabi to take Zaynab to Madinah and the Prophet sent Zayd ibn Al-Haritha and one member from the Ansar to meet them halfway.
Obstacles of the Quraysh:
When the Quraysh found out about this, they tried to stop them. One member hit the camel that Zaynab bint Muhammad was on and when this happened, Zaynab fell to the ground and injured herself.
Kinanah told the Quraysh: Anybody who tries to stop us, I have arrows and I will use them to kill you.
Strategic Delay:
Abu Sufyan, the leader of the Quraysh told Kinanah: if you leave with Zaynab in front of everyone, it will be a humiliation to us. It will show that we are worthless and weak. Don’t do it openly. Wait a few days and leave quietly and secretly.
Kinanah ibn al-Rabi agreed to Abu Sufyan’s suggestion.
Successful Migration:
A few days later, Kinanah and Zaynab left Makkah again towards Madinah and they met Zayd ibn Al-Haritha and the members of the Ansar halfway.
Zaynab continued her journey with Zayd ibn Al-Haritha and the Ansari members to Madinah and she returned to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
Conversion to Islam:
Abu-l ‘A’as ibn al-Rabi returned to Makkah from a successful expedition and he asked: O people of Quraysh! Is there any money left with me belonging to any one of you?
The Quraysh replied: No, and may Allah bless you with goodness. We have indeed found you noble and trustworthy.
Abu-l A’as then announced: Since I have now handed over to you what is rightfully yours, I now declare that there is no God but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. By Allah, the only thing that prevented me from declaring my acceptance of Islam while I was with Muhammad in Madinah was my fear that you would think that I did so only to hold your wealth. now that I have discharged my trust in this matter, I now declare that I am a Muslim.
Abu-l ‘A’as ibn al-Rabi then left for Madinah and the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ returned Zaynab to him.