Omar

While we have done whatever we can with Abu Talib,

we have not tried Muhammad himself.

Should we not talk to him? Should we not debate with him?

So that he would tell us what we hate to hear?

Muhammad has not raised arms against us.

All he does is to advocate his religion verbally.

You are the most eloquent of people.

When people realize that you have debated matters with him

and won the argument, they will abandon him.

What if they learn the reverse?

Then you only have yourselves to blame.

Who will undertake the task?

No, by the Lord of the Kaabah.

I am your youngest. I defer to my elders.

What you said today has shown us that a person's standing

is not measured by age or wealth;

but by wisdom and sound argument.

When Quraysh made you, Umar, its ambassador and spokesman,

it was in recognition of these qualities of yours

Do not force me, Abu Al-Waleed.

By God, I will not accept while we have you,

and Suhail Ibn Amr, the best speaker in Quraysh...

and Abu Abd Shams, our eldest.

Then it is Abu Abd Shams.

They put it on your father's head.

I don't know whether it is good or bad.

People of Makkah, Elders of Quraysh!

People of Makkah! Listen to me

People of Makkah, I declare that I have set Salim free,

and have adopted him as a son.

As from today, he is Salim Ibn Abu Hudhaifah Ibn Utbah Ibn Rabeeah.

He inherits me and I inherit him.

I am so pleased for Salim.

A slave should be happy when another slave is set free.

I don't envy him, if that is what you mean.

Yes, I do. I do envy him...

He hardly set him free before adopting him

and giving him his name, so as to inherit him.

Is it because he is an Arab slave?

What are we in such slavery and blackness?

If there is a Creator,

why has he created white and black?

Do you hate your color, Wahshi? - Don't you hate it?

If I did, I would hate myself. - I hate it for myself.

How could I not hate it when these people disgrace me on account of my color?

Had I been like them, it won't happen.

You are like them now, Wahshi. - Like them?

Aren't you looking at your color with their eyes?

If you are their slave,

they are enslaved by their desires.

They cannot see the truth and are always misguided.

What I am hearing is certainly strange.

I was standing above the masters today,

and I could not see among them anyone

who is lighter or freer in heart and soul than me.

Huh! And you used to accuse me of dreaming.

What did you think of what we heard the Quraysh people say today?

What do you mean?

Why! Doesn't a slave have ears to listen with?

I didn't listen until Abu Hudhaifah brought Salim

and declared him a free man.

You stand there and do not hear!

My master has taught me that when I am in attendance at their meetings,

I should not hear or see anything.

Their business is not mine. I am given orders and I obey.

Yes. I know that they were talking about Muhammad and his religion.

And what do you think? - Think? Of what?

Are you being sarcastic, son of Hamamah?

How can a slave like me have an opinion about what troubles Quraysh?

Opinions lie here... and here.

A man looks for himself first.

A man! Well, when this quality becomes mine.

Why should I care about Muhammad?

You will not know until you have enquired and searched.

I don't need that in order to know my opinion.

So you have an opinion.

My opinion is that I don't care about Muhammad's religion

any more than about Quraysh's religion.

These belong to them and it is of no concern to the likes of me.

Well. Muhammad has not been sent to Quraysh alone,

or indeed to the Arab nation only.

He is a messenger to all mankind:

Arabs and non-Arabs, black and white. And...

How did you learn all this, son of Hamamah?

Had you been listening to the people as I have been,

you would have known what I know.

Did you say to all mankind?

To freemen and slaves?

If I were to believe in Muhammad tomorrow,

would he free me from bondage?

Had you listened well to what Quraysh said,

you would have known that they were very hostile to him, trying to stop him,

when he is of the best lineage among them

and the best in morality.

Do you think they will obey him if he ordered you to be freed?

If that is the truth, then no conditions can be imposed on it.

Truth is sought for its own sake

and is not valued by any immediate price.

On the contrary, we may be harmed for holding on to it, until it triumphs.

Then everyone will be judged in fairness and with justice.

Did you really hear all this as people spoke?

Is it true?

You! Ibn Abi Quhafah!

We used to consider you among our best,

until you were the first to join Muthammam.

You did not stop at joining him yourself,

but you spoilt several others.

Fie on you.

And you little shepherd!

You thought high of yourself as you were given an opportunity.

You will never again find anyone among us to trust you with his sheep.

We will see you starving to death.

A sheep dog is better than you and the likes of you.

You will soon taste our punishment.

We will see if this one or anyone else can protect you.

You have no clan to protect you.

You are disgusting.

Peace! Peace! We have nothing to do with ignorant folk.

You shall have this.

God's messenger says the truth. Most certainly, he is Abu Jahl.

Isn't it amazing how God spares His Prophet their abuse?

They abuse Muthammam,

when he is Muhammad, God's messenger.

I was about to return his abuse, even though it would mean my death.

We have been commanded not to do so.

God's messenger is sent as a guide to give happy news and warnings,

using wisdom and kindly admonition.

They ultimately return to God.

You, Ibn Massoud, have memorized most of the Qur'an.

How do you overlook what God says:

"Do not revile those whom they invoke instead of God,"

"lest they revile God out of spite, and in ignorance."

"Thus have We made the actions of every community seem goodly to them."

"Then to their Lord shall they all return,"

"and He will explain to them all that they have been doing."

God and His messenger tell the truth.

It is as if I hear this verse for the first time now.

Welcome to my uncle.

None of your welcome!

Haven't I told you not to do it?

Haven't I, you son of my sister Hantamah?

What did you tell me not to do?

I told you not to disagree with me in front of others.

Haven't you seen how Utbah Ibn Rabeeah

praises your view and belittles mine?

Or do you want it to be said

that Umar is wiser than his maternal uncle?

Is this what brings you now? Listen, Abu Al-Hakam.

Why don't you call me Abu Jahl,

as Muhammad and his companions call me?

Are we not meeting for consultation?

What does consultation mean other than everyone stating their views,

then one view is accepted?

Otherwise, everyone will stick to their views

and people cannot agree on anything.

The stronger is then the winner.

It is indeed so: the stronger is the winner.

Then people will only talk the language of the sword

and the loser will scheme against the winner.

No, Abu Al-Hakam.

I will not refrain from stating my opinion to please you.

Yet, I am hostile to Muhammad and against his religion, but...

What is this noise? As if you are quarrelling!

Ask this son of yours.

It is as if you have not taught him to respect his elders,

particularly those who are his relations.

The best welcome to you all.

Welcome, come on in; welcome

Welcome; welcome

Sahlah! Here is your father and brother Abu Jandal,

together with my father and brother. Come and meet them.

Why didn't you tell me, your father, before telling the people?

Here is your father-in-law, Abu Yazeed. Why didn't you consult me?

I saw the other day

that you disliked seeing me eating with Salim in one plate.

And you don't care for what I dislike!

I dearly wish that you love what I love and who I love.

What if I don't?

I will do my best to please you.

But when the right and proper course is clear to me,

I make up my mind and do it.

Father!

How are you, uncle? - What about you?

Are you happy with what your husband did regarding Salim?

How can I be unhappy when he is to me like my son?

Besides, I would not have disobeyed my husband, even if I did not like it.

You, father, would have been the first to rebuke me if I did.

Salim! - Sir.

Come closer.

Sit down.

Obey your grandfather, lad.

Salim. You should know

that I was not in favor of what Abu Hudhaifah did for you.

However, since he has done it and called on people to witness it,

you have become one of my family.

What happens to you and what disgraces you

will affect and disgrace us.

We abide by our people's traditions.

Therefore, stick with your father, Abu Hudhaifah,

and be as good to him as he has been to you.