During his last illness Abu Bakr(RA) had conferred with his people, particularly the more eminent among them. After this meeting they chose ‘Umar(RA)as his successor. ‘Umar(RA)was born into a respected Quraysh family thirteen years after the birth of Muhammad(Pbuh) Umar(RA)’s family was known for its extensive knowledge of genealogy. When he grew up, ‘Umar(RA) was proficient in this branch of knowledge as well as in swordsmanship, wrestling and the art of speaking. He also learned to read and write while still a child, a very rare thing in Mecca at that time. ‘Umar earned his living as a merchant. His trade took him to many foreign lands and he met all kinds of people. This experience gave him an insight into the affairs and problems of men. ‘Umar’s personality was dynamic, self-assertive, frank and straight forward. He always spoke whatever was in his mind even if it displeased others.

‘Umar(RA)was twenty-seven when the Prophet Muhammad(Pbuh) proclaimed his mission. The ideas Muhammad(Pbuh) was preaching enraged him as much as they did the other notables of Mecca. He was just as bitter against anyone accepting Islaam as others among the Quraish. When his slave-girl accepted Islaam he beat her until he himself was exhausted and told her,
“I have stopped because I am tired, not out of pity for you.” The story of his embracing Islaam is an interesting one. One day, full of anger against the Prophet Muhammad (peace be on him), he drew his sword and set out to kill him. A friend met him on the way. When ‘Umar(RA) told him what he planned to do, his friend informed him that ‘Umar(RA)’s own sister, Fatimah, and her husband had also accepted Islaam. ‘Umar(RA) went straight to his sister’s house where he found her reading from pages of the Qur’ân. He fell upon her and beat her mercilessly. Bruised and bleeding, she told her brother, “Umar you can do what you like, but you cannot turn our hearts away from Islaam.” These words produced a strange effect upon ‘Umar(RA). What was this faith that made even weak women so strong of heart? He asked his sister to show him what she had been reading; he was at once moved to the core by the words of the Qur’ân and immediately grasped their truth. He went straight to the house where the Prophet Muhammad (peace be on him) was staying and vowed allegiance to him.

Umar(RA)made no secret of his acceptance of Islaam. He gathered the Muslims and offered prayers at the Ka’aba. This boldness and devotion of an influential citizen of Mecca raised the morale of the small community of Muslims. Nonetheless ‘Umar(RA) was also subjected to privations, and when permission for emigration to Medina came, he also left Mecca. The soundness of ‘Umar(RA)’s judgment, his devotion to the Prophet Muhammad(Pbuh) , his outspokenness and uprightness won for him a trust and confidence from the Prophet Muhammad(Pbuh) which was second only to that given to Abu Bakr(RA). The Prophet gave him the title ‘Farooq’ which means the ‘Separator of Truth from False hood.’ During the Caliphate {Khilâfah} of Abu Bakr(RA), ‘Umar(RA) was his closest assistant and adviser. When Abu Bakr(RA) died, all the people of Medina swore allegiance to ‘Umar(RA), and on 23 Jamadi-al-Akhir, 13 A.H., he was proclaimed {Khalifa} Caliph.

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Forget safety.Live where you fear to live.Destroy your reputation.Be notorious