An arrow of light - Part 2 of 2
October 22, 2015
In short, Umar was on his way, with naked sword, making for the Prophet’s home. Meanwhile [the angel] Jibriil revealed to Muhammad, “Lo, Messenger of Allaah, Umar is coming to be converted to Islam. Take him to your bosom.” Just as Umar entered the door, he saw clearly an arrow of light fly from Muhammad, and pierce his heart. Umar uttered a loud cry and fell down insensible. Love and ecstasy filled him, and he wanted to dissolve himself into Muhammad out of extreme affection, and he became nothing. He said, “Prophet of Allaah, offer me your faith and speak your blessed word, so I may hear.” Having become a Muslim, he said, “Now, to correct my actions of coming against you with a bared sword, and to cleanse that act, henceforth I will give quarter to no one I hear speaking wrongly of you. With this sword I will strike their heads from their bodies.”
...
Now look at what Umar planned, and what Allaah brought about from those plans. Know that all affairs turn out as Allaah wishes.
(adapted from Fihi Ma Fihi,
translated by A.J. Arberry, p. 293 - 294)
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In the previous post Umar walked in upon his sister reciting the Qur’aan. Having vowed to kill any of his kin that became Muslim, Umar sets off to behead Muhammad (p.b.u.h.) first before killing his sister. Since she became a follower of Muhammad, the customs of that time deemed it just to deal with the leader first. As he stormed through the streets with a naked sword, many assumed this would be the end for the blooming religion we call Islam: Umar had the strength to defeat whole armies and if Muhammad was killed it would have likely meant an end to the growing Muslim community.
So Umar clearly planned to kill Muhammad, but look what Allaah brought about from those plans. The hand of the Beloved was upon these events, as evidenced by the fact that the angel Jibriil revealed to Muhammad, “Lo, Messenger of Allaah, Umar is coming...” The word ‘revealed’ should not be taken lightly: for in a similar manner, Jibriil would come to Muhammad with the words of the Qur’aan and reveal these to him. When divine revelation occurs this indicates that the Beloved is unfolding Its Will, Its Intention. And despite what plans we have and how it may seem that we have some influence over what is happening, when this Will unfolds all affairs turn out as Allaah wishes.
There is a verse in the Qur’aan that states:
And when those who disbelieve devised plans against you that they might keep you in bondage, or slay you, or drive you away. They plot and plan, and Allaah plots and plans too; and Allaah is the best of plotters and planners.
(Surah 8, Verse 30)
Thus, Umar’s plan to bring an end to Islam by beheading Muhammad is overtaken by the Beloved’s plan. Jibriil states this plan when it says: “Umar is coming to be converted to Islam. Take him to your bosom.” We can imagine the scene as Umar enters Muhammad’s home: a look of murderous rage upon his face, gripping an unsheathed sword. With his opposition to Muhammad publicly known, there is no doubt Umar has come to kill Muhammad. Yet his intention is instantly overcome as he saw clearly an arrow of light fly from Muhammad, and pierce his heart. This light is the love in the master’s heart claiming its disciple -- in this case, the Prophet’s love drawing one of his closest Companions, one who became a stalwart pillar of the Muslim community.
Sufis celebrate this piercing of the heart, how it renders the mind and its efforts feeble. Herein is a blueprint for Sufis who also look to have the heart overcome their minds, that the light of the master may dissolve the ego to nothingness. In traditional Sufi orders, the lineage of masters has its seed in the Prophet, passed on from heart-to-heart transmission throughout the ages. And light is inseparable: thus, the light of the master is of the light of the Prophet. And the light of the Prophet is but a ray of the Light (An-Nuur) of the Beloved.
When this light penetrated Umar, this powerful man with all his strength and force uttered a loud cry and fell down insensible. To see such a man fall to the ground without any action on the part of Muhammad is