Saying · At Dar al-Arqam
Who have you brought? How can you bring Umar al-Khattab? Have you lost your mind?!
Said when Khabbab brought Umar ibn al-Khattab, until then one of Islam's fiercest opponents, into the secret gathering at Dar al-Arqam.
~Middle of the 3rd / beginning of the 4th year of the dawah (c. 613 CE)
When the Muslims numbered around 20 or 30, the Prophet ﷺ saw that they needed a place to meet. It had to be secret. Many Muslims had not told their families and friends about their faith, and some converted slaves had not told their masters.
He chose the house of al-Arqam ibn Abi al-Arqam, which stood behind Mount Safa in the center of Makkah. Al-Arqam was one of the first ten people to accept Islam. He was also a nobleman of Banu Makhzum, the clan of Abu Jahal, which was a rival of the Prophet ﷺ's own clan. The sources do not say why his house was chosen, but likely no one would suspect a Makhzumi of sheltering the Muslims. Its location near the Ka'bah also meant that people coming and going would not draw attention.
The house, known as Dar al-Arqam, became the main meeting place of the early Muslims.
Ammar ibn Yasir and Suhayb al-Rumi accepted Islam at Dar al-Arqam. It was also here that Khabbab ibn al-Aratt brought Umar ibn al-Khattab. Umar had set out to kill the Prophet ﷺ, but he changed his mind and came to accept Islam.
Other events recorded around the same time. Their order within the year is not established; use the storyline above for the sequence.
Who have you brought? How can you bring Umar al-Khattab? Have you lost your mind?!
Said when Khabbab brought Umar ibn al-Khattab, until then one of Islam's fiercest opponents, into the secret gathering at Dar al-Arqam.