Caliph Umar's glorious role in early critical years

By Prof Ziauddin Ahmad

Hazrat Umar, the second Caliph, was an ideal and exemplary Muslim Ruler who discharged his duties
remarkably setting a model and mould for an Islamic state. His policies and precepts were based
on the principles and teachings of the Quran and Sunnah.

All the pious Caliphs had a Consultative Assembly, called the Majlis-i-Shura, composed of some
able and learned companions, who were consulted in all important affairs of the administration.
During the reign of Hazrat Umar there were two such consultative bodies. One was a general
assembly which was convened by making a general announcement and where only affairs of national
importance were discussed.

For the conduct of daily business, there was a separate committee on a smaller scale. Even
matters in respect of appointment and dismissal of public servants were brought before this
working committee. In addition to the deputies from the capital, even the representatives from
the outlying parts of the empire were invited to these deliberations.

Non-Muslims were also allowed to participate. For example, in connection with the management of
Mesopotamia, the native Parsi chiefs were consulted. This principle was even extended down to the
general public who were consulted in certain matters. Every citizen of the State of Islam enjoyed
the right to give his opinion and was perfectly free to do so.

No one was above law. Even the Caliphs were questioned by the common man. There was a Public
treasury (Bait-al-Mal) in which the revenue of the State derived from different sources, was
deposited. Abdullah-bin-Arqam was appointed the Chief Officer of this department. He was directed
to increase the production, and the welfare of the peasantry and people at large. Revenues were
realised according to planned assessment, therefore agriculture flourished immensely.

The revenue from land was Kharaj, i.e. one-fifth of the produce of land; (2) Ushr, one-tenth of
the produce of land; (3) Zakat, two and half per cent of the wealth; (4) Jizya, (military tax
paid by non-Muslims), but the poor, the sick and the crippled, women, children, the aged and
priests and monks were exempted; (5) Ghanimah or Khums one-fifth of the war booty; (6) Ushoor
i.e. import duty of 10 per cent on the traders and businessmen.

From the Public Treasury expenditure was made for the welfare of the people as well as for the
poor and needy. The weak and disabled were granted allowances, and in this there was no
distinction of Muslim or Non-Muslim.

The system of old-age pension now prevailing in many countries of the West, was first introduced
by Hazrat Umar. For wayfarers, large rest houses were made in all big centres. Children without
guardians were brought up at the expense of the State. During the famine days, the Caliph worked
day and night to render succour to the starving people. To ascertain the weal and woe of his
people, he used to go out in the night and visit various places.

During the 30 years that the Republic lasted, the policy derived its character chiefly from
Hazrat Umar. To regulate the receipt and expenditure of the revenue, the Caliph established the
department of finance under the name of the Diwan. The expenses were on civil administration, the
army, the navy and the common people. In the Diwan a register containing the names of Arab and
non-Arab allowance-holders was maintained and no favour was shown to any one.

From public revenues the canals for irrigation purposes were built. During Hazrat Umar's reign a
canal was made which joined the Nile to the Red Sea. This canal facilitated transport of grains
from Egypt to Hejaz. Other famous canals were canal of Abu Musa, Canal of Maaqal and canal of
Sa'ad, which solved the irrigation problems.

For smooth running of the State the Empire was divided into fourteen provinces, each governed by
a Wali. The provinces were Makkah, Madinah, Syria, Basra, Kufa, Egypt, Algiers, Palestine,
Khorasan, Azarbaijan, Faras, Yemen, Najd and Bahrain.

The provinces were sub-divided into districts and each district had its Amils i.e. Revenue
Collector and Qazi (Judge). They worked under the jurisdiction of the provincial Governor. The
duties of the Governor and the officers were clearly defined so that they should not misuse their
powers. Before appointment the Governor and officers had to submit an account of their wealth and
properties, and at the time of retirement their accounts were verified and if it was found that
any excess had come to them, those additional riches were confiscated.

The Qazis were directed to decide cases according to the Quran and Sunnah, Ijma (consensus of
opinion) qiyas and Ijtehad. But this privilege was given to most learned and honest Fuqaha
(jurists).

For helping the citizens and giving them free legal advice, a department of Ifta was established
by Hazrat Umar which has no parallel in the history of modern world. The most eminent persons
were appointed for advice and help, namely, Hazrat Ali, Hazrat Usman, Ma'az ibn Jabal, Abdur
Rehman bin Auf, Ubayya bin Ka'ab, Zaib bin Thabit, Abu Huraira and others.

Caliph Omar fully organised the army by 15 A.H. which was composed of infantry, cavalry, and
archers. The army was broadly divided into standing and reserve. The regular one, ready for
defence of the State and borders; the reserves were called during the time of war. Intelligence
and communication were also developed.

Hazrat Umar laid great stress on knowledge and learning and made education compulsory both for
boys and girls. A number of schools were built in cities and towns for public instruction. Such
distinguished companions as Abu Ayyub, Abu Durda and Ubaida were deputed to Syria for the purpose
of organising Islamic education in that country. They spent sometime in Hims, Damascus and
Palestine and popularised Quranic teaching in those places.

Prof. Philip K. Hitti in the History of the Arabs writes; Umar, who was of towering height,
strong physique, continued, at least for some time after becoming Caliph, to support himself by
trade and lived throughout his life in a style as unostentatious as that of a Bedouin Sheikh. In
fact Umar whose name according to Muslim tradition is the greatest in early Islam has been
idolized by Muslim writers for his piety, justice and patriarchal simplicity and treated as the
personification of all the virtues a Caliph ought to possess. His irreproachable character became
an exemplar for all conscientious successors to follow.

The glorious period of 10 years, six months and four days of Hazrat Umar's Caliphate came to an
end with his martyrdom at the hands of an assassin, Abu Lu'lu (Feroz) an Iranian slave on first
Muharram, 24 A.H. (Saturday, Nov. 6, 644 AD).

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