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There are moments in life that shake us to our core—moments when the truth becomes undeniable, and our hearts are turned toward Allah in ways we never imagined.

At just twenty-five years old, Umar ibn al-Khattab (RA) was a headstrong young man, far from the faith.

He didn’t care for religion and was even known for driving others away from it.

Like many of his peers, he was addicted to drinking and spent his nights in gatherings where alcohol flowed freely.

One night, Umar (RA) went out looking for his usual drinking companions, but to his surprise, he couldn’t find any of them.

With no one to drink with and nothing to drink, he felt lost and restless.

In an attempt to pass the time, he decided to go to the Kaaba and make tawaf (circumambulate it).

Religion was never his first choice, but it seemed like a way to keep himself occupied.

It was late at night, and the sacred sanctuary was nearly empty.

As Umar (RA) approached the Kaaba, he noticed someone standing alone in prayer.

It was none other than the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.

In the stillness of the night, the Prophet ﷺ prayed with such tranquility that it captured Umar’s attention.

Curiosity got the better of him, and he thought, “Let me listen to what this man is reciting.”

Up until that point, Umar (RA) had never truly listened to the Qur’an.

To avoid being seen, he snuck around to the opposite side of the Kaaba.

Hiding under the cloth that draped over it, he slowly made his way around until he was directly in front of the Prophet ﷺ, with nothing but the cloth of the Kaaba between them.

He stood there, hidden, listening to the Prophet ﷺ recite.

As he listened, Umar (RA) thought, “I have never heard anything so beautiful. This must be poetry, just like the Quraysh say.”

At that very moment, the Prophet ﷺ recited:

“Indeed, this ˹Quran˺ is the recitation of a noble Messenger. It is not the prose of a poet as you claim, yet you hardly have any faith.” (Qur’an 69:40-41)

Umar (RA) was stunned. It was as if the Prophet ﷺ had read his mind.

Shaken by the directness of the verses, Umar’s skepticism deepened. “He must be a soothsayer or a fortune teller,” he thought.

But then, the Prophet ﷺ continued:

“Nor is it the mumbling of a fortune-teller, yet you are hardly mindful.” (Qur’an 69:42)

Umar’s heart pounded. How could this man know what he was thinking? How could these verses respond so precisely to his inner doubts?

Fear gripped him, and he left quickly, overwhelmed by what had just happened.

The experience was so intense that it even left him physically ill for days.

Umar (RA) was torn.

The truth had entered his heart, but he fought against it.

Accepting Islam would mean undoing everything he was known for.

He was the strong man of Quraysh, who upheld their traditions and defended their way of life.

How could he now join the very people he had spent his life opposing?

This inner battle raged on within Umar (RA).

On one hand, he couldn’t deny the power of the Qur’an or the truth of the Prophet’s ﷺ message.

On the other hand, he feared what embracing Islam would mean for his life.

Though it would take more time for him to embrace Islam fully, the seed had been planted.

This moment began Umar’s (RA) transformation from one of Islam’s fiercest enemies to one of its greatest champions.

No matter how far someone may seem from the truth, Allah can guide them when the time is right.

For Umar (RA), it was the beauty of the Qur’an, the serenity of the Prophet ﷺ, and the undeniable truth of the Divine words that broke through his defenses and opened his heart.

May Allah grant us the ability to listen to His words with open hearts, reflect on their meanings, and allow them to transform our lives, just as they transformed the life of Umar ibn al-Khattab (RA).