Umayr ibn Wahb (RA)
Background and Hatred For Islam:
Umayr ibn Wahb, who was part of the Quraysh, plotted to go to Madinah to assassinate the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
Umayr and his son were part of the Battle of Badr, he was one of soldiers who ran away 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 Muhammad ﷺ.
On one occasion, he sat with Safwan ibn Umayyah and they were talking about how life was not worth living anymore after the deaths of the leaders of the Quraysh at Badr.
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 ibn Umayyah then proposed to Umayr: I will clear your debts and take care of your children for the rest of my life as if they are mine.
Plot To Assassinate The Prophet:
Umayr and Safwan then plotted to assassinate the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. They sharpened Umayr’s sword and covered it with poison.
Arrival in Madinah and Confrontation with Umar ibn Al-Khattab:
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 ibn al-Khattab then informed the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ that Umayr ibn Wahb was present and the Prophet instructed Umar to let him enter.
Umar took Umayr’s sling, that was carrying the sword, and tied him up with it before he went to see the Prophet.
Umar ibn al-Khattab then instructed some of the Ansar to go and sit around the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ because he did not trust Umayr ibn Wahb.
Discovery and Acceptance of Islam:
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ told Umar ibn al-Khattab to release Umayr from being tied up.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ asked Umayr: why are you here? Umayr ibn Wahb replied: 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 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.
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 SWT. You really are the Messenger of Allah.
Umayr ibn Wahb Accepts Islam:
Umayr ibn Wahb, one of the worst enemies of Islam, now took the Shadahah and became a Muslim.
Spreading Dawah:
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ then said to the people: Teach your brother your religion and teach him the Quran, and release his prisoner (his son Wahb).
After accepting Islam, Umayr ibn Wahb asked the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ for permission to go to Makkah to spread dawah, and the Prophet granted him this request.
Return to Makkah:
Umayr ibn Wahb then went back to Makkah 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 so he asked him if he actually went through with the assassination.
Umayr replied: No, I didn’t kill him, I bear witness that there is no Allah 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 accepted Islam but Safwan ibn Umayyah remained in disbelief.
Safwan ibn Umayyah Accepts Islam:
During the conquest of Makkah, Safwan attempted to run away from the Muslim army.
However, Umayr ibn Wahb obtained a promise of safety from the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ for him and eventually, Safwan ibn Umayyah became a Muslim.