'Umar ibn al-Khattâb (may Allah be pleased with him) was a man of Quraysh, from the clan of 'Adî.
His mother, Hantama, came from the clan of Makhzûm. People also called him Abû Hafs.
Those who saw him describe a tall man, who stood above the crowd as if he were riding.
In his youth he herded his father's camels in the valleys of Dajnân, on the road out of Makkah.
As caliph he passed there again: “Here I herded al-Khattâb's camels. He was harsh and rough.”
“One day I loaded them with firewood, another day I beat down leaves for them.”
“And today I have no one above me.” Then he recited a line of poetry: only Allah remains.
He grew up in the ways of his people. He said later: “In the Jâhiliyya, we counted women for nothing.”
“…until Allah revealed about them what He revealed, and gave them their share.”
When the Prophet ﷺ began calling to Islam, 'Umar stood with his tribe, against the believers.
Sa'îd ibn Zayd later said: before 'Umar was Muslim, he tied me and his own sister up because of Islam.
Sa'îd was the husband of that sister. The harshness of 'Umar reached even his own family.
Yet one day a Muslim woman, Umm 'Abdillâh, was packing to leave for Abyssinia. 'Umar stopped by her.
She said: “Yes, we are leaving. You have hurt us and crushed us.” He answered: “May Allah be with you.”
She saw in him a softness she had never seen. Her husband did not believe he could ever become Muslim.
'Umar himself told of a day before Islam. He was near the idols when a man slaughtered a calf.
A voice cried out, louder than any he had heard: “A man of clear speech says: there is no god but Allah.”
The people leapt up. He said: I will not move until I know what is behind this. Soon they heard: a prophet has come.
And the Prophet ﷺ? He made a dua about two of the fiercest men of Makkah.
“O Allah, honour Islam through the dearer of these two men to You: Abû Jahl or 'Umar ibn al-Khattâb.”
Ibn 'Umar, who reported it, added: the dearer of the two to Allah was 'Umar.
In Makkah, one man frightened the first Muslims.
Years later, he ruled them with justice. What changed?
The Prophet ﷺ did not give up on 'Umar. Do not give up on anyone either.
Tonight, in your dua, name one person you thought would never change.