The correct answer is Hazrat Umar (RA).
Before the conversion of Hazrat Umar (RA), Islam was practiced largely in secret. The early Muslims gathered in the house of Arqam (Dar-e-Arqam) to avoid the relentless persecution of the Quraysh. However, in the...
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The correct answer is Hazrat Umar (RA).
Before the conversion of Hazrat Umar (RA), Islam was practiced largely in secret. The early Muslims gathered in the house of Arqam (Dar-e-Arqam) to avoid the relentless persecution of the Quraysh. However, in the sixth year of Prophethood, the conversion of Umar ibn al-Khattab changed the landscape of the Islamic movement. Known for his imposing physical strength and uncompromising character, Hazrat Umar (RA) was the first person to declare his conversion to Islam emphatically and publicly, without any fear of the consequences.
The story of Hazrat Umar's (RA) conversion is one of the most dramatic in Seerah literature. Initially a fierce opponent of the Prophet (S.A.W.W), he set out with his sword to end the message of Islam once and for all. However, upon hearing the recitation of the Holy Quran (specifically the opening verses of Surah Ta-Ha) at his sister Fatimah's house, his heart was transformed. He immediately went to the Prophet (S.A.W.W) and took the Shahadah.
While other converts were advised to keep their faith hidden to avoid torture, Hazrat Umar (RA) did the opposite. He asked the Prophet (S.A.W.W), "Are we not on the truth?" When the Prophet (S.A.W.W) replied in the affirmative, Umar (RA) insisted that they should no longer hide.
The public declaration of Hazrat Umar (RA) gave the early Muslims a newfound sense of security. It was the first time they felt empowered to walk to the Kaaba in two rows—one led by Hazrat Hamza (RA) and the other by Hazrat Umar (RA)—to offer prayers openly. Because of this courage, the Prophet (S.A.W.W) gave him the title of Al-Farooq, meaning "the one who distinguishes between truth and falsehood.
Historians note that the conversion of Hazrat Umar (RA) was a strategic victory for Islam. Before him, the Quraysh viewed Islam as a fringe group they could suppress through bullying. After Umar (RA) joined, it became clear that Islam had penetrated the core of the Makkah aristocracy. This public stance paved the way for the eventual Hijrah and the establishment of an Islamic state where faith could be practiced without fear. His legacy remains a symbol of the principle that truth, when backed by conviction, does not need to hide in the shadows. His actions taught the Ummah that there is a time for patience and a time for the bold, public assertion of one’s identity.
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