Sayyiduna Umar Farooq radi allahu anhu - The Second Caliph of Islam
ELECTION
Before he passed away, Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (radi Allahu anhu)
consulted the senior Sahaba and elected Sayyiduna Umar (radi
Allahu anhu) as the second Caliph of the Muslims.
EARLY LIFE
He was the son of Khattab and is famous in Islamic history
as "Al Farooq" or "One who Distinguishes between Right and
Wrong." His acceptance of Islam is also very famous.
AS CALIPH
Sayyiduna Umar (radi Allahu anhu) was a very brave and
straight-forward person. He was tough and uncompromising in
Islamic principles. He was a great and talented ruler.
During his Khilaafat, vast areas of the Roman and Persian
empires and the whole of Egypt were brought under Islamic
rule. He was also a gifted orator. He was very concerned for
the welfare of the Muslims. He left a honourable legacy for
Muslims after him. The Holy Quran was given to him by
Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (radi Allahu anhu) for safe-keeping.
APPOINTS NEW COMMANDER
Sayyiduna Umar (radi Allahu anu) was a strong
disciplinarian. He noticed the tremendous popularity of
Sayyiduna Khalid bin Walid (radi Allahu anhu). He felt that
people will lose trust in Almighty Allah and put all their
trust in Sayyiduna Khalid bin Walid (radi Allahu anhu). He
feared that the people may think too highly of him, thereby
possibly increasing the self-esteem of Sayyiduna Khalid bin
Walid (radi Allahu anhu) which would also breed arrogance,
so he removed Sayyiduna Khalid (radi Allahu anhu) and
appointed Sayyiduna Abu Ubaidah bin Jarrah (radi Allahu
anhu) as the Commander in Chief of the Muslim army.
Sayyiduna Khalid bin Walid (radi Allahu anhu) happily
accepted the orders of Sayyiduna Umar (radi Allahu anhu) and
then served as an ordinary soldier. This is an example of
the Islamic teachings of obedience to leadership!
DEFEAT OF THE PERSIANS
Sayyiduna Khalid bin Walid (radi Allahu anhu) had left
Sayyiduna Muthanna (radi Allahu anhu) in command of the
Muslim forces on the Iraqi front when he rushed to Yarmuk.
Sayyiduna Muthanna (radi Allahu anhu) was finding it
difficult to counter the enemy and went personally to
Madinatul Munawwarah to ask Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (radi Allahu
anhu) for re-inforcements. Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (radi Allahu
anhu) had by that time passed away.
Sayyiduna Muthanna (radi Allahu anhu's) absence from the
Iraqi front made things worse there. The Iranians regrouped
under the command of Rustam and recaptured the lands taken
by the Muslims. Rustam sent 2 columns of his army, one to
Hirah and the other to Kaskar.
Sayyiduna Umar (radi Allahu anhu) sent Sayyiduna Abu Ubaidah
(radi Allahu anhu), as Commander, to deal with the
situation. Both the Persian columns were defeated. Rustam
sent an even larger army and defeated the Muslims.
Sayyiduna Umar (radi Allahu anhu) raised another army and
defeated the Persians. But the Persian court sent yet
another larger army, and forced Sayyiduna Muthanna (radi
Allahu anhu) to withdraw. The report of the new situation
was sent to Sayyiduna Umar (radi Allahu anhu) and
reinforcements under the command of Sayyiduna Saad bin Abi
Waqqas (radi Allahu anhu) were sent.
The Persian and Muslim army met at Qadisiyah. After a long
battle on several fronts, the outnumbered Muslim army
defeated the 120 000 Persian soldiers and recaptured Hirah
and their areas in the year 14 A.H. (636 C.E).
DEFEAT OF THE ROMANS
Muslims laid siege to Damascus during Sayyiduna Abu Bakr
(radi Allahu anhu's) rule as Caliph. It continued, after he
passed away, and lasted 70 days during the rule of Sayyiduna
Umar (radi Allahu anhu). After the long siege, Sayyiduna
Khalid bin Walid (radi Allahu anhu) took the Romans by
surprise and entered the city. The Governor surrendered and
a peace treaty was signed.
CONQUEST OF JERUSALEM
Meanwhile, Sayyiduna Amr ibn As (radi Allahu anhu) was
laying siege to Jerusalem. Sayyiduna Khalid, Sayyiduna Abu
Ubaidah and other Sahaba (radi Allahu anhumul ajma'in) also
joined him. The Christians had little hope and decided to
give in. They also suggested that the keys of Jerusalem be
given to Sayyiduna Umar (radi Allahu anhu) himself
personally. Sayyiduna Umar (radi Allahu anhu) went to
Jerusalem. An agreement was signed that guaranteed the
safety of the city and the safety of the Christians.
ASSASSINATION
A Persian non-Muslim, named Firoz and nicknamed "Abu Lulu,"
complained to Sayyiduna Umar (radi Allahu anhu) about his
master, Sayyiduna Mughirah bin Shuba (radi Allahu anhu), who
imposed tax on him. Sayyiduna Umar (radi Allahu anhu) told
Firoz that the tax was reasonable. This made Firoz angry.
The next day, during the Fajr Salaah, he stabbed Sayyiduna
Umar (radi Allahu anhu) 6 times in the back, severely
wounding the Caliph. Sayyiduna Umar (radi Allahu anhu)
passed away 3 days later in 23 A.H. He was 63 years old. He
ruled the Islamic State for 10 years, 6 months and 4 days.
REFORMS
In a short space of 10 years, Sayyiduna Umar (radi Allahu
anhu) had been well-known for his outstanding achievements
and reforms in Islam. Some of these reforms were:-
1. He established the "Baitul Maal" (People's treasury for
the state and public).
2. Judicial courts of Justice were set in the country.
Judges and Magistrates handled all cases.
3. Establishment of an army headquarters for the defence of
the country.
4. Construction of roads and canals.
5. Schools were established. Salaries for Imams, Mu'azzins
and Ustaads were organized.
6. Masjids were improved and built in Makkatul Mukarramah
and Madinatul Munawwarah. This included facilities for the
Haajis.
7. Police Stations and prisons were built.
8. Establishment of the first Islamic Lunar calendar
beginning from the Hijrah.
9. Proper weights and measures introduced.
10. Population census established.
11. Built orphanages and welfare homes.
12. Established proper punishment system and banned slavery.
PERSONAL LIFE
Simplicity and devotion were the main characters of
Sayyiduna Umar (radi Allahu anhu). He used to wear clothes
that had many patches and yet received Governors, convoys
and diplomats. He took just enough allowance from the State
to have a simple meal and wear simple clothes. At times he
was very poor. He used to visit the old people and sick and
even do their house work. He used to visit the houses of the
soldiers and inquire about their families. He stayed awake
at night in Salaah and often kept Fast. He always supported
and upheld the cause of Islam, with his wisdom, energy,
dynamism, bravery and little wealth.