إسلام حمزة وعمر
The Islam of Hamza and Umar
Dhul Hijjah, 6 BH (~616 CE)
Makkah
Hamza ibn Abdul Muttalib, the Prophet's ﷺ uncle and a fierce warrior, accepted Islam after witnessing Abu Jahl's verbal abuse of the Prophet ﷺ. Shortly after, Umar ibn al-Khattab, initially one of Islam's staunchest opponents, accepted Islam after hearing his sister Fatimah reciting Surah Ta-Ha. Both conversions dramatically strengthened the Muslim community.
Why this matters
Hamza and Umar were both men of great stature and influence. The Prophet ﷺ had prayed for one of the two 'Umars' — Umar ibn al-Khattab or Amr ibn Hisham (Abu Jahl) — to accept Islam. With these two conversions, the Muslims gained the strength to pray openly at the Ka'bah for the first time, walking in two rows with Hamza leading one and Umar leading the other.
Quran references
طه مَآ أَنزَلْنَا عَلَيْكَ ٱلْقُرْءَانَ لِتَشْقَىٰٓ إِلَّا تَذْكِرَةًۭ لِّمَن يَخْشَىٰ تَنزِيلًۭا مِّمَّنْ خَلَقَ ٱلْأَرْضَ وَٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ ٱلْعُلَى ٱلرَّحْمَٰنُ عَلَى ٱلْعَرْشِ ٱسْتَوَىٰ لَهُۥ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا وَمَا تَحْتَ ٱلثَّرَىٰ وَإِن تَجْهَرْ بِٱلْقَوْلِ فَإِنَّهُۥ يَعْلَمُ ٱلسِّرَّ وَأَخْفَى ٱللَّهُ لَآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ۖ لَهُ ٱلْأَسْمَآءُ ٱلْحُسْنَىٰ
Surah Ta-Ha, 1-8
Ta, Ha. We have not sent down to you the Qur'an that you be distressed But only as a reminder for those who fear [Allah] - A revelation from He who created the earth and highest heavens, The Most Merciful [who is] above the Throne established. To Him belongs what is in the heavens and what is on the earth and what is between them and what is under the soil. And if you speak aloud - then indeed, He knows the secret and what is [even] more hidden. Allah - there is no deity except Him. To Him belong the best names.
Hadith references
Jami' at-Tirmidhi, #3681
Narrated by: Ibn Umar
Grading: Hasan
“The Prophet ﷺ said: 'O Allah, strengthen Islam with the dearer to You of these two men: Umar ibn al-Khattab or Abu Jahl ibn Hisham.' And the dearer of them to Allah was Umar.”