Umar As Adviser

During the Caliphate of the Abu Bakr, Umar was the principal Adviser of the Caliph.

A story is on record showing the great esteem and regard that Abu Bakr had for Umar and his opinion.

It is related that once Ayanayah bin Hassan and Aqrah bin Habas two tribal chiefs waited on Abu Bakr, and requested that an estate be awarded to them. They suggested that close to their settlement there was a rock waste land which produced nothing, and that that wasteland might be gifted to them so that by their efforts they might make it productive.

Abu Bakr consulted the people around him. They suggested that it was a good proposition for thereby the wasteland would become productive. Abu Bakr accordingly agreed to award the land in question to them. A document was drawn up. Umar was not present and Abu Bakr advised the grantees to get it witnessed by Umar.

The grantees thought that such witnessing by Umar was merely formal and that there would be no difficulty in obtaining his signature, on the document. The grantees went to Umar and requested him to affix his signatures to the document as it had been approved by Abu Bakr.

After reading the document, Umar returned it to the grantees saying that he could not be a party to the deed.

The grantees in a fit of anger went to Abu Bakr and reported what Umar had said.

Abu Bakr remained quiet. Thereupon the grantees turning to the Caliph said "Are you the Caliph, or is Umar the Caliph?"

Abu Bakr said "You may very well take Umar to be the Caliph".

Then Umar came to the Caliph. Abu Bakr enquired what was the reason for his refusal to sign the document.

Umar asked "Is the land which you have gifted your property or is it a trust with you on behalf of the Muslim community".

Abu Bakr said "It is not my personal property; as such it should be a trust on behalf of the Muslim community".

Umar said "If that is the position, how can you extinguish the trust by gifting it to A or B. They may take it on lease subject to terms, but it must remain the State property. "

Turning to the applicants, Abu Bakr said "Umar has spoken the truth. I cannot deviate from the law."

Turning to Umar, Abu Bakr said "I had already requested you to take over the office of the Caliph, but you thrust the burden on my shoulders. I may not be with you for long and ultimately this responsibility will have to be shouldered by you."

Abu Bakr And Umar

Between the Holy Prophet and Abu Bakr, the latter was "The Second of the Two". A similar equation obtained between Abu Bakr and Umar. When Abu Bakr became the Caliph, Umar was decidedly the 'Second of the Two'. The attachment and friendship between the two was of an exceptional character. Each preferred the other to himself. After the death of the Holy Prophet, Abu Bakr wanted Umar to be the Caliph, and Umar took steps to have Abu Bakr elected as the Caliph. The Holy Prophet often came to the mosque flanked by Abu Bakr on one side, and Umar on the other.

Umar and Abu Bakr vied with each other in doing good. In this connection some stories have come down to us which highlight the equation between Abu Bakr and Umar.

In 633 AD. the Holy Prophet decided to lead an expedition, to Tabuk on the Syrian border. In order to finance the expedition, the Holy Prophet invited contributions and donations from his followers. Umar had then considerable money with him. He thought that that was the occasion when he might excel Abu Bakr in the doing of good. Umar went home and brought his donation. The Holy Prophet enquired of Umar as to what he had left behind for himself and his family. Umar stated that he had donated one half of his wealth in the name of Allah and had left one half for himself and his family. Then Abu Bakr came with his donation and the Holy Prophet put him the same question as to how much he had left for himself and his family.

Abu Bakr said that he had donated all that he had in the name of Allah, and that he had left Allah and His Prophet for himself and his family. This episode has formed the theme of one of the poems of Iqbal. The poem provides;

"For the moth the lamp and for the nightingale the flower;

For Sidiq, God and His Prophet alone suffice."

On that account Umar realized that it was difficult to excel Abu Bakr in the doing of good.

Abu Yala records from Ibn Masud that he said "I was in the mosque praying when there entered the Apostle of God and with him were Abu Bakr and Umar. He found me praying and said 'Ask and it shall be granted unto thee'. Then he said 'Whosoever wishes to read the Quran in a fresh and joyous manner let him read it with the reading of Ibn Masud' . Then I returned to my house and Abu Bakr came to me and gave me the good tidings regarding what the Holy Prophet had said. Then came Haarat Umar and he found Abu Bakr going forth having already been before him, and he said 'Verily Abu Bakr is the foremost in good'."

Even when Umar was not the Caliph, it was his practice to move about in Madina and help persons in distress.

In one of the suburbs of Madina there lived a blind old women who had no one to help her. Umar used to go in disguise to the house of the old woman, but was always surprised to find that some one else had anticipated him, and supplied the wants of the old lady.

Umar felt much distressed that in this noble task of helping a lady in distress his efforts were always frustrated by some other person. Umar felt curious as to who that person could be who beat him in the field of social service.

One day, Umar went to the house of the old woman earlier than usual and hid himself to watch as to who was the person who attended to the wants of the old woman.

Umar did not have to wait long for soon a man arrived who attended to the needs of the old woman, and this man was none other than the Caliph Abu Bakr.

Umar felt relieved that if in the matter of social service he had been beaten by any one, such person was the Caliph Abu Bakr who was decidedly superior to him.

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Umar's Allowance

Before becoming the Caliph Umar lived by trade. After assuming the Caliph he could no longer carry on charge as his business. He accordingly agreed to accept a daily allowance from the Baitul Mal. Different amounts of daily allowance were suggested by different people. Umar sought the advice of Ali as to the amount of the allowance he should accept. Ali suggested that he should take as much amount as might moderately suffice for an average Arab, neither too much, nor too little. Umar accepted this suggestion and a modest amount of allowance was settled for him. The exact amount of the allowance thus settled is, however, not reported in any history.

Later on some companions including Ali, Usman, Zubair, and Talhah thought of increasing the allowance of Umar as it was not sufficient to meet the minimum requirements of Umar. These companions could not have the courage to broach this subject to Umar direct. They accordingly approached Hafsa the daughter of Umar, and asked her to ascertain Umar's reaction to the proposal.

When Hafsa talked about the matter to Umar, he became angry and wanted to know who were the persons who had made that suggestion. Hafsa said that before she could tell who were the persons concerned she wanted his reaction to the proposal.

Thereupon Umar wanted Hafsa to tell what was the Holy Prophet's best dress in her house. She said that it was a pair of clothes of red color which the Holy Prophet wore on Fridays or when receiving envoys.

Umar then asked what was the best of food that the Holy Prophet took. She said that the Holy Prophet's food was simple barley bread. Umar next asked as to what was the best bedding that the Holy Prophet ever used. She said that it was a piece of thick cloth. In summer it was spread in four layers and in winter in two, half he spread underneath, and with the other half he covered himself.

Thereupon Umar said:

"Hafsa, go and tell the people who have deputed you that the Holy Prophet has set a standard by his personal example. I must follow him. My case and that of the Holy Prophet and Abu Bakr is like the case of three men traveling on the same road. The first man started with a provision and reached the goal. The second followed the first and joined him. Now the third is on his way. If he follows their way he will also join them, otherwise he can never reach them."

When Hafsah told of Umar's reaction to the proposal to the companions who had deputed her they said: "May God bless Umar. He excels all of us in the matter of virtue."

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Friends Who Could Straighten Him

True to the title 'Al-Farooq', Umar was an embodiment of truth. He did not hesitate to speak the truth, in the best interests of the Muslim State. Such truth was sometimes bitter, and the people held him in awe.

Some people understood him, and appreciated his sterling qualities of courage, conviction, and truthfulness. Some people misjudged him and felt that he was unduly hard and harsh with the people.

Umar knew that he was more feared than loved. Under a stern exterior, Umar had a heart full of the milk of human kindness. Whenever Umar came across a person who was in distress or was in any way oppressed, Umar was all sympathy for him, and he did all he could to alleviate his distress.

Umar did often reflect and ponder over the responsibilities that had come to vest in him and the way he discharged them. He did not feel very happy with the equation between himself and the people. He regretted that the people did not understand him properly.

Hudhaifa a prominent companion has left on record that one day he went to see Umar and found that he was feeling much perturbed. Seeing the disturbed state of the mind of Umar, Hudhaifa enquired as to what was the matter.

Umar said:

"I was feeling unhappy that the people have awe of me. They generally avoid me, and hesitate to bring my shortcomings to my notice. I was just thinking as to what, would happen if I were to fall in erroneous ways, and because of the awe that the people have of me, no one comes forward to restrain me."

Thereupon Hudhaifa said:

"Your awe is because of the truth at your command. If you deviate from the path of truth, the people will not be afraid to call you to account. Verily if I see that you are in the wrong, I will fix you up, and straighten you."

At this Umar felt very happy. He said:

"Thank God, there are friends who will straighten me when I err. If I have such friends around me, I need have no fear of falling into error."

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The Man Who Came To Murder Became A Convent

By 638 A.D., the whole of Syria was under the occupation of the Muslims. Heraclius the Byzantine emperor had left Syria and withdrawn his forces. His parting words were:

"Farewell Syria, never again will I come to this beautiful land. What a fine country I am leaving for the enemy."

Some of the Christian Arabs felt grieved at the discomfiture of the Christians at the hands of the Muslims. In a spirit of fanaticism they vowed vengeance against the Muslims. Having failed to defeat the Muslims on the battlefield they decided to resort to underhand means and murder some high ranking Muslims. A Ghassanid Arab Wasiq by name undertook to murder Umar the Caliph of Islam.

Wasiq waited on Heraclius at Constantinople, and volunteered to rid the Byzantine emperor of his enemies. The scheme appealed to Heraclius. He paid Wasiq a huge sum and promised to pay much more when he succeeded in his mission. Thus patronized, Wasiq decided to proceed to Madina.

Arab as he was, Wasiq found no difficulty in coming over to Madina in cognito. He posed himself as a Muslim coming from the interior of the desert to pay a visit to Madina. Wasiq carried a poisoned dagger carefully hidden in the folds of his cloak. Having reached Madina, he was on the look out for a suitable opportunity when he could come face to face with the Caliph of Islam, and kill him with his dagger in an unguarded moment.

He had thought that the ruler of the Muslim state would be surrounded by heavy body-guards at all times and it would be difficult to reach him. He was surprised to learn in Madina that there were no body-guards around the Caliph of Islam. Wasiq felt happy that unguarded as the Caliph was, he could easily get an opportunity to fulfill his mission.

Wasiq waited for a suitable opportunity. One day at noon Wasiq found Umar sleeping under a tree, all alone and without any guard. There was no body near at hand. Wasiq thought that this was a golden opportunity for him and he could dispatch the Caliph of Islam without any difficulty.

Cautiously with measured steps and hushed breath Wasiq stepped upto Umar and took his sword. He was about to plunge his sword in the body of Umar when his eyes fell on the face of Umar. The sight of the unadorned majesty of the pious Caliph sent a shudder through the body of Wasiq, and the sword dropped from his trembling hands. With the noise of the dropping of the sword, Umar opened his eyes. He was quick to take hold of the fallen sword and then rising up faced his would be assassin.

Wasiq fell at the feet of the Caliph, implored his forgiveness and embraced Islam.

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Criticism Against Umar

One day in a Friday address Umar said that he had tried to serve Islam and the Muslims to the best of his capacity. He added that being a human being he was apt to make mistakes. He requested the faithful to point out his mistakes if any, so that he may correct himself.

After the prayers Umman bin Sawad stepped upto Umar and said that he wanted to apprise him of his mistakes. Umar invited him to come along to his house where they could talk over the matter at leisure.

Umman bin Sawad said that he had no intention of criticizing the Caliph; as a well wisher he merely wanted to bring some points to his notice. Umar said that such observations and counsels were most welcome to him.

Umman bin Sawad said that he had four objections and these were:

(1) That Umar had prohibited Umra in the month of Hajj;

(2) That Umar had declared Mut'ah unlawful.

(3) That Umar had emancipated slave girls who bore their masters children.

(4) That Umar was harsh and stern.

Umar enquired whether these were all the objections against him or whether there were any other objections as well. Umman said that these were the only points of criticism against him.

About the first charge Umar said:

"I have not prohibited Umra. My only instructions are that in the month of Hajj priority should be given to Hajj over the Umra. Some of the persons were prone to think that when they had performed the Umra that was enough and that thereafter Hajj need not be performed. Such a course was derogatory to Hajj and in order to preserve the integrity and sanctity of Hajj. I have merely instructed that in the month of Hajj, the pilgrims should concentrate on the Hajj. In the other months it is open to them to perform Umra."

About the Mutah, Umar said:

"Mutah was an ancient practice with the Arabs. The Holy Prophet did not like the practice though he tolerated it on some occasions due to special circumstances. Even then on at least two occasions he prohibited the practice. God has spoken of the sanctity of the marriage ties, and if the marriage is held sacred on one side and Mutah is allowed on the other that would be inconsistent. If Mutah is allowed that would be a sort of sanctioned prostitution. That is repugnant to Islam. If any person marries the idea is to establish a home. If a person marries for a few specified days that is foreign to the establishment of a home. Mutah is thus repugnant to Islam. If any person wants to dissolve the marriage after a few days it is open to him to give the divorce in the usual way. I have prohibited Mutah in the interests of the sanctity and integrity of Muslim homes. That is a social reform. There is no express injunction allowing Mutah and by disallowing it I have not contravened any provisions of Islamic law."

As regards the emancipation of slave girls, Umar explained:

"We have already laid down that no Arab can be a slave. If the slave girls were not emancipated there would have been the anomaly that while the children were free their mother was not free. Moreover for every marriage there is a dower. In the case of slave girls the dower is that when they become mothers they would be emancipated. This is a humanitarian reform strictly in accordance with the Spirit of Islam."

As regards the fourth charge Umar said:

"I am harsh and stern only for the wrong doer, the tyrant and the oppressor. For the weak and the meek I am never harsh or stern."

After hearing these explanations Umman bin Sawad said: "Verily Umar you have spoken the truth. You have done well in whatever you have done. You have acted in the interests of Islam. May God bless you. No blame rests on you."

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SAYYIDUNA 'UMAR FAROOQ RADĪ ALLĀHU ANHU



He was the Imam of Imams, the candle of the two worlds, the Commander of the Faithful, the great Farooq.



Allāh عَزَّوَجَل spoke through his tongue: therefore it is that Faruq comes from Furqān.



When his heart saw Allāh in its sanctuary, it was united with the very essence of justice.



And when his heart and justice came together, both worlds were inundated by his justice.



When he closed the door of tyranny for ever, with his justice he opened a hundred doors to the Persians.



By him the cause of the Arabs was strengthened and the Persians converted to the Faith.



He that does not believe in this cause and effect is a foe of both the Persians and the Arabs.



Because of his firmness iron turned into wax: he undid the lock of Byzantium.



Two shirts would have been so harmful to his body that he had but one.



When he embraced the Faith he had one shirt, and when he took it off it was his winding-sheet.



So often did he patch it that it came to weigh seventeen maunds. And yet for his seventeen patches he rent to pieces eighteen thousand worlds.



And having conquered eighteen thousand worlds, why did he dress in rags weighing seventeen maunds?



Since his entire property was one shirt, all his joy was in his belief.



Because of his valor and might Nakir and Munkir did not dare to approach his grave



When the noble Faruq was the muhtasib, no evildoer would prowl about. As muhtasib he explained what was lawful and was famed for forbidding what was wrong.



The Prophet called him his eye. How great an honor!



He also called him the lamp of Paradise. How high a title!



He is the lamp that lights the East and the West but whose oil comes from neither the East nor the West.



Since he is the eye and the lamp of God's Court, how wilt thou journey thither without eye or lamp?



If thou have neither eye nor lamp, thou canst not tell a garden from a furnace.



Thou must always have thy eyes and a lamp too in front of thee.



For if thou travel without eyes or lamp thou wilt not know the road from the pit not the pit from the road.



If thou set out with either, thou wilt in the end in thy blindness fall into a pit.



When Our Master صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم called Sayyiduna Umar radī Allāhu anhu his eye, his tongue acquired the speech of the Lord of the World.



If thou be not blind, take heed; give ear to such an eye and such a tongue.



He that has not this light in his brain would find no lamp even in Paradise.



The radiant sun in the lamp of the heavens; the great Faruq is the lamp of Paradise.



When the trumpet is blown on Judgment Day, the heavenly lamp will be extinguished.

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farooq-e-azam(ra) : a slave of Muhammad(PBUH)

Once when Hazrat Abdullah Bin Umar (ra) and Hazrat Hussain (ra) were small kids, they were playing. And as it usually happens, when kids play they end up fighting, the same happened here. Hazrat Abdullah Bin Umar (ra) and Hazrat Imam Hussain (ra), began fighting, so Hazrat Abdullah hit Hazrat Hussain. Because he hit Hussain, Hussain got really angry, and as he was a kid, he retailiated back. But Abdullah kept getting the better of him, so in frustation Hazrat Hussain said to Hazrat Abdullah:

"How dare you hit me, when you know that your father (Hazrat Umar) is the slave/ ghulam of my grandad (saw)"

When Abdullah heard this, he began crying and went to his dad Hazrat Umar (ra). Hazrat Umar cheered him up and asked him why was he crying. So Abdullah told him that Hussain had said that "your father is my grandads slave." Upon hearing this Hazrat Umar jumped up!! and he said to Abdullah, "did he really say that?" Abdullah told him "yes".

So Hazrat Umar, said to his son, go to Hussain, and tell him to write what he said on paper, so Abdullah, did that and he bought the paper back to Hazrat Umar .

Then Hazrat Umar (ra) said to his son, "When i die, bury this paper with me, so the angels know that I am RasoolAllah (saw) 's slave, and they might forgive me for me being his slave"

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The Sterling Advice of Hazrat Umar (RA)

Hadhrat Sa’eed bin Musayyib (radiallaahu anhu) reports that there were guidelines that Hadhrat Umar (radiallaahu anhu) formulated for the people, every one which are replete with wisdom. He radiallaahu anhu) said:


* Always assume the best about your brother unless you learn something about him
that you absolutely cannot reconcile.
* Never assume the worst about any statement that a Muslim makes as long as you
are able to make a favorable interpretation.
* The person who exposes himself to slander must never rebuke anyone who holds a
bad opinion of him.
* Ensure that you keep true friends to stay under their wings because they are a
source of beauty during times of prosperity and a means of protection during times
of hardship.
* Always speak the truth even if it may lead to your death.
* Never delve into matters that don’t concern you.
* Do not ask about matters that have not occurred because that which has already
occurred is enough to preoccupy you from that which has not.
* Never seek your needs from one who doesn’t want to seek your success.
* Never treat false oaths lightly because Allah Ta’aala will then destroy you.
* Never keep company of the sinners to from their sinful ways.
* Keep away from your enemy.
* Beware even of your friends, except for the trustworthy one and none can be
trustworthy unless he fears Allah Ta’aala .
* Be humble when in the graveyard.
* Submit to Allah Ta’aala's obedience.
* Seek Allah Ta’aal's protection at the time of disobeying his commands.
* Always consult with those who fear Allah Ta’aala. They are bound to be of great
benefit to you as opposed to those who do not fear him.
(Hayaatus-Sahaaba)

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Umar (Radiallahu anhu) requests burial next to the Holy Prophet (salla' llaahu'alaihi wa sallam)


During his Caliphate, Hazrath Umar (Radiallahu anhu) requested to Hazrath Aisha (Radiallahu anha), whether, in the event of his death, she would consent to his being buried beside the Glory of the Universe, her husband Hazrath Muhammad (Salla'llahu'alaihi wa sallam). The Mother of the Believers replied, "I consent to you being buried there."

The room in which our Master was buried had been Hazrath Aisha's apartment. It was in that very room that he had passed away. They had buried our Master where he lay, in accordance with the noble Tradition: "Prophets are buried where they meet with God (wisaal)."

When Aisha's beloved father, the First Caliph, Abu Bakr (Radiallahu anhu), also went to meet God, she had him buried beside the Messenger of Allah (Salla'llahu'alaihi wa sallam). Now the Umar (Radiallahu anhu) wished to be buried there also and had received permission. He nevertheless turned to those with him and said: "Seek Aisha (Radiallahu anha) 's consent to my being buried after my death in the Resting Place of the Messenger."

" 0 Commander of the Believers!" they exclaimed, "You have already received permission!" "Indeed I have:' said he, "but maybe the Mother of the Believers could not bring herself to refuse me to my face. Ask her permission again after my death. If she agrees, take me before the Purified Resting Place and set my bier down in front of the blissful room, saying: "0 Messenger of Allah! We have brought Umar to you." If you receive a sign, you are to bury me in the Prophetic Resting Place, at the feet of the Messenger and to the right. In the absence of a sign, however, you are to bury me in the Garden of the Grove, the cemetery of Madinah the Illuminated."

The day came when Umar left this world, martyred by a Zoroastrian slave. In accordance with his bequest, they again asked permission of Hazrath Aisha (Radiallahu anha).

When she repeated her consent to his burial in the Prophet's room, they took his bier to the Prophets Resting-Place. Imam Ali (Radiallahu anhu) turned to the blessed tomb and cried: "0 Messenger of Allah! We have brought Umar to you." The voice of the Glory of the Universe was heard, saying from within the tomb: "Bring Umar to me".

The room of Hazrath Aisha (Radiallahu anha) is therefore the burial place of our Beloved Holy Prophet (salla' llaahu'alaihi wa sallam), the First Caliph, Hazrath Abu Bakr (Radiallahu anhu) and the Second Caliph, Hazrath Umar (Radiallahu anhu) . The ground where the blessed body of Rasul (Salla'llahu'alaihi wa sallam) touches is one of the Holiest Places in the universe.

Hazrath Aisha (Radiallahu anha) lies buried in the graveyard of Madinah the Illuminated called Jannat ul-Baqi or The Garden of the Grove. Hazrath Hassan (Radiallahu anhu), the grandson of Rasul (Salla'llahu'alaihi wa sallam) is also buried here ensuring that a part of the Holy Prophet (salla' llaahu'alaihi wa sallam) is also in Jannat ul-Baqi. Hazrath Hussain (Radiallahu anhu) lies buried in Karbala in Iraq. Hazrath Uthman (Radiallahu anhu), the Third Caliph is also buried in Jannat ul-Baqi.

Hazrath Ali (Radiallahu anhu), the Fourth Caliph, lies buried in Najaf in Iraq, whilst his wife, Hazrath Fatimah (Radiallahu anha), the blessed daughter of Rasul (Salla'llahu'alaihi wa sallam) lies buried in Jannat ul-Baqi. Although one account says that she also lies buried in the Blessed Room of her father, the Holy Prophet (salla' llaahu'alaihi wa sallam).

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