Khabbab ibn al-Aratt

It shows us where you can start and where you can end up, is the story of Umar ibn al-Khattab radiallahu anhu.

And a lot of times when we're exposed to the companions, when, uh, when we're exposed to their stories, we hear the end of their life, right? We hear about Amirul Momineen Umar radiallahu anhu, the leader of the believers.

We hear about Umar al-Farooq radiallahu anhu, the one who distinguished between falsehood and, and truth.

But where was he before that? What was he struggling with? He was struggling with kufr.

So what changed Umar? Look at what Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala placed along his path.

A moment of softness, then some Quran, then a sincere friend in Nu'aym, then some more Quran, the dua of Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, a believing sister, a Khabbab and a halaqah of the Quran within the home, the community of Dar al-Arqam, and finally the company of Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam.

And Ibn Umar radiallahu anhu, his son, Umar radiallahu anhu's son, narrates later that beforehand, the day before, Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam had made a dua in front of the companions.

And he had asked, اللهم أعز الإسلام بأحب هذه الرجلين إليك بأبي جهل أو بعمر بن الخطاب O Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, strengthen Islam through whichever of these two men is more beloved to you, Abu Jahl or Umar.

So they say, you believed in it, we disbelieve in it because you believed in it.

As they told Prophet Muhammad ﷺ when he was sitting with Ammar and Khabbab and the likes, They say, if you want us to sit with you, remove them.

If you want us to sit with you and talk to you, remove them.

And Allah forbid them to do that.