Hazrat Umar Farooq (RA) was born in 584 in Macca city of Saudi Arab. His father's name was Khattab ibn Nufayl. He was one of the most powerful and influential persons in the Quraish tribe and strictly follower of his ancestors' religion. He knew martial arts, war tactics, and moreover, he was a trader and a merchant as well. Hazrat Umar was initially an opponent of Islam and was a strong believer of his ancestors' religion.
Historians have narrated one of the famous story fo Hazrat Umar Farooq (RA) that, once he thought to end up the Islam and departed from his home in the intention to assassinate Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Before that he first went to see his sister and her husband. Because Hazrat Umar Farooq (RA) heard nUmarous rumours of his sister and her husband of being accepted the Islam. In times, the Quraish tribe was divided into the groups, and Hazrat Umar Farooq (RA) wanted harmony and unity in the Quraish.
But when he came to know that his own sister has converted into Islam, so he went there to confirm the depth of the rumours. When he enters in his sister's home, she was reciting the Holy verses from Qur'an and asked her to narrate what she was reading from the Holy Qura'an. When she recited a few verses from the Holy Book of ALLAH, they inspired the brave man of the Quraish tribe and become the reason for him to accept Islam.
Before that, Quriesh spread rumours that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is either a poet or a magician. Hazrat Umar Farooq (RA) went to see himself to the Prophet, and he found the fact that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is neither a poet nor a magician. He found Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) a real messenger of ALLAH Almighty. But, Hazrat Umar Farooq (RA) never wanted to leave his ancestors traditions and religion. He never wanted to split the Quraish tribe into two parts on the bases of religious matters.