The Weeping Lion

By Hudhayfah Choudhury - Student Edition 02

Imagine being so strong and fierce that people feared your footsteps, but your heart was soft enough to cry when hearing the words of Allah.

This was the story of Umar ibn al-Khattab (رضي الله عنه‎) who transformed from a fierce opponent to one of Islam’s greatest heroes.

From Enemy to Embracer

One day, before accepting Islam, Umar had enough and set out to confront and kill the Prophet ﷺ.

But something unexpected happened that changed everything.

Have you ever experienced something that suddenly changed your day?

For Umar, it was the Qur’an.

On his way, someone told him to visit his sister first. When he arrived, he heard her reciting verses from the Qur’an.

He was shocked, Touched, Moved.

Could words really be that powerful?

He didn’t waste a moment. He embraced Islam and went straight to the Kaʿbah to announce it in public!

In those days, many Muslims hid their faith. But not Umar. He stood tall.

Did you know? The Prophet made a heartfelt supplication, asking Allah to guide either two Umars [Abu Jahl & Umar ibn Al Khattab]. What a powerful reminder of the impact of sincere supplication, it can change hearts, lives and even the course of history.

Actions Are Judged By Intentions.

Umar narrated one of the most well-known and foundational Hadith in Islam, a narration which many scholars consider to be one-third of knowledge¹. He heard the Prophet say

“Actions are only by intentions, and every person shall have only that which he intended. So whoever’s migration was for Allah and His Messenger, then his migration was for Allah and His Messenger. And whoever’s migration was for worldly gain or to marry a woman, then his migration was for the sake of that for which he migrated.”²

So, what does that mean?

Imagine giving charity not for the sake of Allah but just to be praised by people.

Would that be a sincere intention? What reward would it really bring?

This Hadith reminds us to always check our intention, because it’s not just what we do, but why we do it that matters.

The Dream Behind the Call to Prayer

In Madinah, the Muslims needed a way to call people to prayer. Bells and trumpets were suggested but none felt right.

Then came a dream seen by Umar,

In it, a man carried a bell. But when he was asked to use it to call the Muslims to prayer, the man said no he had something better. He taught him the Adhān (the call to prayer).

What’s amazing? Another companion, Abdullah ibn Zayd, had the exact same dream!

So the next time you hear “Allāhu Akbar, Allāhu Akbar,” remember this beautiful call to prayer began with a dream shared by two companions, it became a lasting symbol of Islam’s presence and unity.

A Weeping Heart

People think strength means never crying but Umar showed us otherwise.

Though he was one of the strongest companions, he would cry when reciting the Qur’an.

One morning during Fajr, he read a verse

“And he (Prophet Ya‘qūb) turned away from them and said, ‘Oh, my sorrow over Yusuf,’ and his eyes became white from grief, for he was [of that] a suppressor.”³

The verse struck his heart so deeply that he broke down in tears and couldn’t continue.

That’s the power of the Qur’an. It touches the heart in ways nothing else can.

The story of Umar ibn al-Khattāb (رضي الله عنه‎) teaches us that anyone can change.

Anyone can become a role model and a source of goodness.

True strength lies not in harshness, but in a heart firmly connected to Allah.

Umar’s tears didn’t weaken him, they revealed the true depth of his strength.

1. Imam al-Shafi‘i’s Statement: Quoted by several later scholars, including Ibn Rajab al-Ḥanbalī in Jāmiʿ al-ʿUlūm wa-l-Ḥikam (Commentary on 40 Hadith)

2. Narrated by Umar ibn al-Khattab - Sahīh al-Bukhārī, Book 1, Hadith 1 & Sahīh Muslim, Book 33, Hadith 1907 -Also found in the Arba’in Nawawiyyah (Hadith 1)

3. Sūrah Yūsuf [12:84]