THE THIRD CASE: THE AWARENESS AND CAUTIOUSNESS OF KHABBAAB, SA'EED, AND FAATIMAH, RAADI ALLAAHU 'ANHOM
When Umar advanced to the house of his cousin, Sa'eed, Sa'eed, Khabbaab bin al-Arat, and Faatimah - his wife - were inside the house. When they heard Umar's voice, Khabaab hid in a chamber of theirs, and Faatimah bint al-Khattaab took the scroll [of Qur'aan] and put it under her thigh. And when Umar approached the house, he heard Khabbaab reciting to both of them. So when he entered he said, "What was that murmuring?" That said, "Nothing besides a conversation we were having."
And here, we can point out the following:
- FIRSTLY: the speed and soundness of the reaction in the face of emergencies
[Note] the quick reaction and lack of confusion in important matters and crises that warded off situations of emergency that the people of the Da'wah were subjected to. So long as the reaction is sound and is quick, it allows for the prevention of danger, and the effect will be positive and favorable most of the time.
And as a result, the reaction of Sa'eed, Khabbaab, and Faatimah was quick and sound, as Khabbaab hid in the chamber, and Faatimah hid the scroll, and Sa'eed stood up to face Umar and open the door for him. And this was when they knew the one entering upon them was Umar, who was known for his harsh opposition to the Da'wah and its callers.
- SECONDLY: hiding all traces from the enemy
Hiding all traces from the enemy is a crucial matter, because the trace is like the thread and the proof that directs the enemy to what they are coveting. And because of this, it is important to hide and eliminate anything that can be connected to the Da'wah or those who can be designated with relations to it. And this is what Faatimah did when she placed the scroll under her thigh- and this is a matter that cannot be doubted. And so, she hid a crucial document from the eyes of Umar bin al-Khattaab. And despite the fact that Umar came to know of it afterwards, the lesson is in her proper conduct in hiding the evidence.
- THIRDLY: Khabbaab's hiding
Khabbaab's hiding was not done out of cowardess or fear. Rather, it was a security precaution necessitated by the time and the place and the situation. For if Umar found Khabbaab with Sa'eed and Faatimah, then this would lead to the discovery of a significant fact with a profound effect on the procession of the Da'wah at this stage. Khabbaab was reciting the Qur'aan to Sa'eed and Faatimah, and this was a line of action put in place to teach the Muslims in these difficult circumstances. And if Umar found this out, he would have informed Quraish, and perhaps the result of this would be close surveillance and a prohibition of these kinds of gatherings, which would lead to the Da'wah losing an important and efficient means in teaching those who responded to it. But so this wouldn't happen, Khabbaab hid.
- FOURTHLY: lowering the voice during meetings
Khabbaab was reciting Qur'aan to Sa'eed and Faatimah with a lowered voice, to the degree that one at the door could not identify it, and Umar described it as murmuring- talk that can't be understood- and this was a necessary act of precaution.
- FIFTHLY: intimation and double entendres
When Umar asked about the incomprehensible sounds, the answer was a statement that carried an apparent meaning opposite to what the speaker intended. And this is a type of double entendre, as they did not deny there was a sound, rather, they acknowledged that it was a conversation between them. And this was a result of the security-consciousness of Sa'eed and Faatimah, as it is normal for the conversation between two people to be in a lowered voice that can't be distinguished by the one close by them and could therefore be described as murmuring. And they did not deny it, for if they did, Umar would know they were lying and hiding the truth from him, because of the fact that he heard a sound. But they acknowledged it without being open about what was between them, and this a type of intimation that is required in this type of situation.
- SIXTHLY: taking advantage of the moment to win over the enemy
And this is apparent when Umar asked Faatimah to give him the scroll. She took advantage of the favorable opportunity and told him to take a bath, and he did. Then he read and his heart was humbled. And here, Khabbaab emerged when he heard Umar's praise of the Qur'aan and he took advantage of that moment and said, "Rejoice, o Umar. By Allaah, I hope that Allah intended you with the supplication of His Prophet, for I heard him yesterday saying, 'O Allaah! Assist Islaam with Umar bin al-Khattaab or Abu al-Hakam bin Hishaam.' By Allaah, by Allaah, o Umar." And from this, the scope of the vigilence enjoyed by Sa'eed and Faatimah and their ability to seize the opportunity to win over the enemy become clear, and the result of this was that Umar converted.
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