The Story of Umair bin Wahab

“Good morning, O the ‘father of the Quraisy’!” said Shafwah bin Umayah to the “Father of the Quraisy,” Umair bin Wahab.

Further Shafwah greeted Umair, “Good morning the son of Wahab. Come here…! I have something to discuss.”

In the city skirt of Hijr, Umair bin Wahab and Shafwah bin Umayah were talking about the War of Badar where the Quraisy Family suffered from heavy defeat. As the result of the War of Badar, a number of the Quraisy people – including Umair’s father – were captured. As they continued the discussion, the came to conclusion that they had to take revenge.

“Indeed…! We must take revenge,” said Shafwah bin Umayah.
“You’re right, Shafwah….!” Umair bin Wahab responded.

Umar bin Wahab then said, “If I do not have a small amount of debt, and a small family members, I will surely kill Muhammad (Salallahu Alaihi Wasalam). I will stop him from continuing the spread of Islam.”

Shafwah caught Umair’s intention to free his father and kill the Prophet Muhammad (Salallahu Alaihi Wasalam) then. Shafwah then remarked, “Ooo Umair! I will pay your debt and I will take care of your family members; but you must kill Muhammad (Salallahu Alaihi Wasalam).”

Shafwah and Umair agreed about this. Both promised to keep the discussion in secret. No one knew their conspiracy to kill the Prophet Muhammad (Salallahu Alaihi Wasalam).

In the coming day, Umair prepared to go to Medina. Never forgot he brought his sword. He also put some toxic to the sword so that he could kill the Prophet Muhammad.
***
The sun was shinning brightly in Medina. The weather was cheerfull, just like the feeling of happiness amongst the people in Medina who got great victory following the War of Badar.

Umair bin Wahab arrived at Medina. He went directly to the house of the Prophet Muhammad (Salallahu Alaihi Wasalam). Holding his sword, he walked to the Prophet Muhammad’s house; ready to swing the sword at the Prophet Muhammad (Salallahu Alaihi Wasalam).

Unfortunately, Umar bin Khattab knew the arrival of Umair bin Wahab. Umar bin Khattab ran to the Prophet Muhammad’s house to report the coming of Umair bin Wahab.

“Ooo Rasulullah…! There is Umair bin Wahab outside there. He is holding his sword. I am sure that he has bad intention,” said Umar bin Khattab.

The Prophet Muhammad (Salallahu Alaihi Wasalam) answered calmly, “Take him to me, Umar…”

Umar bin Khattab did what the Prophet wanted. He brought Umair bin Wahab to the Prophet Muhammad (Salallahu Alaihi Wasalam). When Umar and Umair had come in front of the Prophet, the Prophet said, “Release your hands from him, Umar bin Khattab…”

“Come to me, Umair…” the Prophet ordered Umair to get closer.

Umair walked closer to the Prophet while saying, “An’im Shahaban….(Good morning).”

But, the Prophet answered, “We have a kind of greeting that is much valuable than what you have (Assalamualaikum).”

The Prophet Muhammad (Salallahu Alaihi Wasalam) then asked to Umair bin Wahab, “What is your intention to come here?”

“I came here to release my father. So, I want you to be calm at me,” Umair bin Wahab pretended to the Prophet Muhammad.

“But, why are you holding the sword? It’s not good to bring the sword in that way. Do you want to take revenge on me and all the Muslim people in Medina?” the Prophet Muhammad (Salallahu Alaihi Wasalam) asked further.

Umair bin Wahab kept saying lies to the Prophet. He tried to make the Prophet Muhammad (Salallahu Alaihi Wasalam) believe that he would not kill the Prophet Muhammad (Salallahu Alaihi Wasalam).

However, the Prophet Muhammad (Salallahu Alaihi Wasalam) knew about the real intention of Umair’s coming to Medina. The Prophet knew that Umair was about to kill the Prophet.

“You have talked to Shafwah bin Umayah in the city skirt of Hijr.

You said to Shafwah, ‘If I don’t have a small amount of debt, and a small family members, I will surely kill Muhammad (Salallahu Alaihi Wasalam). I will stop him from continuing the spread of Islam.’”

Umair bin Wahab was sporadically schoked.

It was hard for Umair to believe that the Prophet Muhammad (Salallahu Alaihi Wasalam) knew very well about his conversation with Shafwah bin Umayah in the city skirt of Hijr.

Knowing this, Umair bin Wahab believed that the Prophet Muhammad (Salallahu Alaihi Wasalam) was a special person.

He then recited the Shahadah, “Asyhadu ala ila ha ilallah… Wa asyhadu anna Muhammad Rasulullah…”

Umair bin Wahab declared his conversion to Islam. Since then, Umair bin Wahab was a Muslim.
***
In the city of Mecca, 498 kilometers away from Medina, Shafwah bin Umayah and the people of Quraisy were waiting for a good news from Umair bin Wahab.

Yes, they believed that Umair bin Wahab would successfully kill the Prophet Muhammad (Salallahu Alaihi Wasalam).

“Just wait and see that there will be a good news that will make you all forget about the War of Badar,” said Shafwah bin Umayah.

Waiting for a long time, there was no any news about Umair bin Wahab from Mecca.

Then, a group of sellers passed by the city of Mecca. Shafwah bin Umayah came to them and asked, “Do you have any news about Umair bin Wahab?”

“He has turned to Islam. He is a Muslim now,” answered a seller.

All the Quraisy people were shocked. They could not believe that Umair bin Wahab would convert to Islam. Before he saw the Prophet Muhammad (Salallahu Alaihi Wasalam), he hated Islam very much.

Later, Umair bin Wahab came back to Mecca. There he met Shafwah bin Umayah and invited Shafwah to turn to Islam. Only Allah who gives guidance…..

Translated from the Indonesian version as published on Arrisalah Magazine by Irfan Nugroho