1

Khulafa-al-Rashidun -- The Rightly Guided Caliphs

Hazrat Umar ibn al-Khattab(RA) (13-23 AH)

1. Expansion of the Islamic Empire
2. The Iraq campaigns
3. The Battle of Marwa (The Bridge)
4. The Battle of Buwayb
5. The battle of al-Qadissiya
6. The Syrian campaigns
7. The fall of Damascus
8. The Battle of Fihl
9. The Battle of Yarmuk
10. The Conquest of Persia
11. The Battle of Nihawand
12. The Conquest of Egypt
13. Administration of Umar[RA]
14. Umar's (RA) reforms
15. His Martyrdom
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Hazrat Umar Bin Khattab [RA]

Main Activities during the Lifetime of the Prophet(S):
1. Umar [RA] belonged to the Banu Ádi clan of the Quraish.
2. His father Al-Khattab was an influential leader of Makkah.
1. Umar [RA] was tall, well built, a fierce fighter and well
educated. Umar [RA] was a powerful Makkan both physically and
socially.
3. He was elected the spokesperson of Quraish.
4. He remained an enemy of Islam and the Prophet(S) before his
conversion.
5. He treated the early converts of low origin quite mercilessly
6. The Holy Prophet(S) had prayed for the conversion of Umar
bin Khattab or Amr bin Hisham. The prayer was soon granted.
7. Umar [RA] one day decided to kill the Holy Prophet(S) and with
that intention started towards his house with a sword.
8. He was informed that his sister and her husband had embraced
Islam.
9. Umar [RA] changed his course and went to his sister’s house who
was reading the Holy Qur’an loudly.
10. This enraged Umar [RA] so much that he attacked her and her
husband.
11. On Umar’s insistence his sister recited verses from Surah TaHa.
12. The words of the Holy Qur’an softened his heart and tears began to
fall from his eyes and he immediately decided to embrace Islam.
13. He approached the Holy Prophet(S) and embraced Islam at Dar
ul Arqam.
14. The morale of the Muslims boosted so much that now they started
offering prayers openly in the Kaabah.
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15. The Holy Prophet(S) was so pleased on hearing this that he gave
him the title of ‘’Farooq’’ (one who distinguishes between truth
and falsehood).
16. He started preaching Islam openly and boldly.
17. He is counted amongst the 10 blessed companions and is also a
scribe of the Divine revelation.
18. His daughter Hafsa [RA] was married to the Holy Prophet(S).
19. He migrated to Medina after Ammar [RA] and Bilal [RA] had
departed.
20. Umar [RA] also gave the suggestion of summoning the believers
for Daily prayers by Adhaan(call for prayer).
21. He also rendered remarkable services in all the battles including
Badr, Uhad, Trench, Khyber, Tabuk and Hunain.
22. He was also present at the treaty of Hudaybiah and took part in
Bait-e-Rizwan.
23. He participated in the victorious march to Makkah.
24. In the Tabuk expedition he donated half of his wealth and in the
battle of Hunain, he was among those handfuls of Muslims who
stood firmly by the side of the Holy Prophet(S).
25. Umar [RA] was not ready to believe in the death of the Holy
Prophet(S) till Abu Bakr [RA] calm him down by reciting the
verse: MuHammad is but a messenger, there have been messengers
before him. So, if he dies or is killed, would you turn back on your heels?
Whoever turns back on his heels can never harm Allah in the least. Allah
shall soon reward the grateful. (3:144).
26. He started making arrangements for the Holy Prophet(S)’s burial
together with Abu Bakr [RA].
27. In the meantime they heard of Ansar meeting to discuss the issue
of succession.
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28. Both reached the spot and finally, due to Umar’s wisdom and
timely intervention, Abu Bakr [RA] got elected as the first Caliph
of Islam.
29. Umar [RA] himself performed extra ordinary services for Islam
during his Caliphate (634-644 AD).

Expansion of The Islam EmpireDuring 2nd Caliph

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Fall of Persian Empire:

1. the Battle of Namariq
2. the Battle of Bridge
3. the Battle of Buwaib
4. the Battle of Qadsiyah
5. Fall of Madaian
6. the Battle of Jalula
7. the Battle of Nihawand

1. Fighting with the Persian had begun during the rule of the 1st
Caliph.
2. Muslim forces defeated the Persian in Namariq in October 634
AD and crossed the Euphrates.
3. The Persian supreme command then sent a huge force under
Bahman.
4. The two armies fought a fierce battle, the Battle of Bridge.
5. Here the Muslims suffered heavy losses including their
commander Abu Ubaid bin Zaid [RA].
6. The Muslims regrouped under Mutanna, in November 634 AD
defeated the Persian army led by Mehran in the Battle of Buwaib.
7. Commanding an army of 30,000 troops, Saad bin Abi Waqas [RA]
met the Persian 120,000 army led by Rustam at Qadisiya.
8. The Battle of Qadisiya thus began in 635 AD.
9. A fierce battle was fought resulting in Rustam’s death.
10. Now Saad [RA] and his army advanced to the Persian capital Al-
Madain.
11. He laid a siege for several days and the king Yazdigard escaped to
north while the Muslims captured Al-Madain.
12. The king was finally defeated at Jalula.
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13. In the meantime the Persians, Romans and Christian Arab

tribes combined their forces in upper Iraq near Tekrit.
14. Saad [RA] dispatched an army that defeated the joint forces.
15. Saad [RA], on Umar’s advice, founded the new cities Kufa and
Basra near Madain for the Muslim armies and their families.
16. Umar [RA] completed the final capture and overthrow of Persia in
the Battle of Nihawand in 642 AD, marking the end of the
Sassanid Empire.
17. In Syria the Muslim forces were advancing rapidly when Umar
[RA] became the Caliph.
18. Khalid bin Waleed [RA] added Damacus, Jordan and Emmessa
to the Muslim Empire. After the loss of these important cities the
Roman Emperor sent an army of 260,000 men against the
Muslims.
19. This force too was defeated in 635 AD in the Battle of Yarmouk
under the leadership of Abu Ubaidah bin Jarrah [RA].
20. Many other important Syrian towns were also captured leaving
only Jerusalam and its surrounding towns.
21. Jerusalem was also taken in a peaceful manner on the request
of Patriarch.
22. He requested that the ‘king’ of Muslims should himself come and
receive the keys of the city.
23. Umar [RA] himself met Sophronius and signed a peace treaty
under which full religious freedom was given to the citizens of
Jerusalem on the condition of paying Jizya.
24. Finally Egypt was also conquered in 640 AD by Amr bin Al-
Aas [RA] who had to persuade Umar [RA] with great difficulty.
25. Amr bin Al-Aas [RA] argued that Egypt could be used by the
Romans as the naval base to launch operations against the
Muslims.
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26. By April 641 AD Babylon was also captured and the new city of
Fustat was founded in 642 AD on the eastern bank of the Nile.
27. Umar appointed efficient governors in all these conquered
territories.

Battle of Namariq

1. In September 634 A D the Persians prepared two forces to

fight against the Muslims. One was placed under the command
of Narsi and it was stationed at Kaskar. The other army under
the command of Jaban was required to march to Hira.
2. Seeing the Persians to be in an offensive mood, Muthanna
Shaybani[RA] decided to remain on the defensive position.
3. As Jaban approached Hira, Muthanna evacuated Hira and
moved to Khaftan closer to the desert. The strategy was to
attract the Persians as near the desert as possible.
4. Abu Ubaid[RA] set off from Madina in September 634 with a
force of 1000 fighters. In the way he recruited more soldiers
from the tribes, and when he reached Khaftan in October he
had a force of 4,000 fighting men.
5. Jaban crossed the Euphrates and camped at Namaraq near the
site of modern day Kufa. Abu Ubaid[RA] moved with the
Muslim from Khaftan, and came to Namaraq.
6. At Namaraq the two armies were deployed for battle. The
Persians led the attack, but the Muslim ranks held fast. Then the
Muslims led the charge, and the Persians had to fall back.
7. The Muslims redoubled the charge, and the Persians retreated
in confusion. The battle ended in the defeat of the Persians,
who lost heavily. Jaban himself was captured by a Muslim
soldier.
8. Jaban did not reveal his identity and he bargained that if he
was released he would offer 2 Persians in his place. The
Muslim warrior agreed to the bargain, and Jaban was set free.
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9. Later it was found that Jaban was the commander of the Persian
forces and that he had escaped due to a trick.

Battle of the Bridge

1. The Muslims under the command of Abu Ubaid[RA] had won
a few initial successes against the Persians.
2. The Persians now sent another force under Bahman. Bahman
was an expert General, and he undertook to drive away the
Arabs from the soils of Persia.
3. Bahman marched with his army towards Hira and camped at
Quss Natif on the east bank of the Euphrates
4. When Abu Ubaid[RA] came to know of the movements of the
Persian army, he marched the Muslim forces from Hira and
camped with 9,000 men on the west bank of the Euphrates.
5. Euphrates laid between the 2 forces, Bahman sent an emissary
to Abu Ubaid[RA] with the message "Either you cross and
come over to our side; or we will cross and come over to
your side."
6. Abu Ubaid[RA] was advised that he should ask the Persians to
cross. but Abu Ubaid[RA] declared, "We will cross the river”.
7. As soon as the Persian emissary had left, Abu Ubaid[RA]
ordered that the Muslim forces should prepare for crossing the
river.
8. Muthanna tried to persuade Abu Ubaid reconsider his decision
but Abu Ubaid[RA] remained unbending and he removed
Muthanna from the commend of the cavalry.
9. A bridge of boats was thrown across the river, and the Muslim
marched along the bridge on 28th November 634 A D.
10. As the Muslim army crossed over to the other side of the
river they found that the space at their disposal was limited.
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11. After crossing, the Muslims formed themselves into battle

formation and faced the Persian hosts. The Persian army had
with them a large number of war elephants.
12. When the battle began the Muslim cavalry advanced to the
charge. At the sight of the monster elephants the Arab horse
frightened and bolted. That led to confusion and the Muslim
cavalry was disorganized.
13. Seeing this confusion in the Muslim ranks, Bahman
ordered an advance by the Persian forces.
14. At this stage Abu Ubaid[RA] ordered the Muslim cavalry
to dismount and attack on foot Abu Ubaid[RA] himself led the
attack.
15. He exhorted his men to attack the elephants and cut their
girths. In the attempt many Muslims were killed, but some
Muslims succeeded in cutting the girths of some elephants.
16. Abu Ubaid[RA] rushed at the leading elephant, a white
monster elephant, with his javelin. The beast was blinded in one
eye. Then Abu Ubaid got under the elephant and cut its girth
bringing down the howdah and its occupants.
17. Al Hakam rushed to the spot. He shot the animal dead.
18. The battle waged with merciless anger and one after
another all the Muslim commanders were martyred.
19. The Persians increased their attack and the Muslims fell
back. At this stage Abdullah bin Marthad cut off the boat
bridge and to those who sought the bridge he shouted' O people
die for what your Commanders have died."
20. Some people turned back to fight and fell dead at the
battle-field. Others plunged in the river and were drowned.
21. The Muslims were at this stage without a Commander,
and the Persians increased the violence of their assaults.
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22. At this critical moment Muthanna[RA] took command of

the army. He ordered the bridge to be rebuilt and when it was
ready he organized a rear guard action.
23. With a select force he faced the Persians, and asked the
others to cross the river. Muthanna and his reserves remained at
their posts until the entire army had crossed.
24. Muthanna was the last to cross. He had received numerous
wounds and as he reached the Muslim camp he fell exhausted.
25. As the Muslim forces assembled at Marauha on the other
side of the Euphrates, only 3,000 persons assembled out of the
total strength of 9,000.
26. Abdullah bin Zaid[RA] carried the news of the tragedy
of the Battle of the Bridge to Madina.

Battle of Buwaib [ Ramadan 13 AH]

1. The battle of the Buwaib was fought in April 635.

2. After the disaster of the Bridge the Muslim army under
Muthanna was stationed at Ulleis.
3. The caliph prepared an army against the Persians to take the
revenge of battle Bridge.
4. After receving reinforcements, Muthanna moved to ZuQar.
When the Persians came to know of the preparations of the
Muslims they sent forces against the Muslims led by Mihran.
5. The Persian army under Mihran marched to the Euphrates and
camped on the east bank.
6. Muthanna with the Muslim army advanced from ZuQar, and
arriving on the west bank of the Euphrates camped at Nakheila.
At Nakheila a stream Buwaib took off from the Euphrates.
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7. Mihran sent a message whether the Muslims would cross the

Euphrates, or whether they would cross over to their side.
Muthanna said to the Persian emissary "You cross."
8. Next day, the Persians crossed the river, and Mihran arranged
his forces in battlefield.
9. One wing of the Muslim army was led by Adi b. Hatim, and
the other wing was led by Jareer. Masud, held the command
of the infantry.
10. The Persians dashed forward roaring like thunder.
Muthanna shouted to his men not to pay any heed to such noise.
11. With the shouts of Allah-o-Akbar the Muslim army rolled
forward with sudden and powerful attack that Persians were
unable to maintain the lines and Muslims penetrated into the
Persian centre. However Persians pushed the Muslims back.
12. Muthanna assembled his forces again and ordered a fresh
attack. Masud received many wounds, and fell down. That
made the Muslims lose heart.
13. Masud himself while dying cried, "Let not my death
make you lose heart; you must forward to your task."
14. Mihran the Commander-in-Chief of the Persian army
fought heroically. Muthanna asked his men to advance, and
make Mihran their target.
15. A youthful warrior of the Taghlab tribe rushed forward
with great courage and intrepidity, and penetrating the Persian
ranks slew Mihran with his sword.
16. The death of Mihran turned the tide of the battle. The
Persians lost nerve, and fled in disorder.
17. Muthanna at once made a dash for the bridge and captured
it. That prevented the Persians from re-crossing the river. The
Muslims killed almost whole Persians army.
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18. The battle of Buwaib was the reply of the Muslims to the
battle of the Bridge. In the battle of Buwaib the entire Persian
army was annihilated.

The Battle of Qadisiyya

1. The King Yazdjurd III decided to organize a strong force
under Rustam against the Arabs.
2. Umar [RA] gave the call to Jihad in Islamic state. Volunteers
began to pour into Medinah. Umar [RA] organized the camp at
Sirar three miles from Medinah on the route to Iraq.
3. Umar [RA] summoned a council of war at Sirar. Saad bin Abi
Waqas [RA] was given the task. In May 636 AD, Saad [RA]
marched from the Sirar camp with an army of 4,000 men. Saad
[RA] arrived at Zarud and camped.
4. 7,000 warriors were recruited from the tribes. Umar [RA]
sent another force of 4,000 men. The strength of the army at
Zarud now rose to 15,000.
5. Muthanna with 3,000 men was stationed at Sharaf some sixty
miles from Zarud. But he died before Saad [RA] arrived at
Sharaf. Mugheera bin Shu'ba joined Saad [RA] with his
cavalry of 800 horse.

To Qadisiyya
1. In July 636 CE. the Muslim army marched from Sharaf to
Qadisiyya. After establishing the camp, Saad [RA] sent parties
to conduct raids.
2. Saad [RA] sent the required information and intelligence
reports to Umar [RA]. Umar [RA] instructed that, “Remain
where you are until Allah fixes your enemy for you.”
3. After the battle of Yermuk some forces were released from the
Syrian front and sent to Iraq. The strength of Saad's army at
Qadisiyya was 29,000.
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Rustam and Muslim Emissaries

1. Rustam marched and camped on the east bank of the Ateeq.
The Muslim camped on the west bank of the river.
2. Rustam sent a message to send on emissary for talks. Saad [RA]
deputed Rabi bin Amir. Rustam asked about their aim. Rabi
said that their aim was to spread Islam. He said, "If you accept
Islam we are brothers and there is peace between us; if you
refuse we fight you and leave things to God."
3. The 2nd day Saad [RA] deputed Hudhaifa bin Mihsan and 3rd
day Muheera bin Zurara was sent. Rustam said that, "I shall
give your commander a set of clothes, a mule and 1,000 dirhams,
and to every man among you two garments and a bag of dates. And
you shall go away from us for I have no desire to kill you or take you
in captivity." Mugheera rejected the offer and said that they fight
only in the way of Allah.
4. The next day a delegation of 4 Muslims namely Busr b. Abi
Ruhm, Arfaja b. Harsama, Qirfa b.Zahir and Mazur b. Adi
went to see Rustam. He asked, "Will you cross the river to our
side, or shall we cross to your side." The Muslims said, "You
cross to our side."The Muslim Commander-in-Chief
commanded to get ready for war.

The Battle of Qadisiyya: First Day

1. The Persians crossed the Ateeq on the 16th November,
636C.E. The Persian army was deployed with 5 corps and each
corps having a depth of 13 ranks. The centre was commanded
by Rustam himself. Left Centre: Beerzan; Right Centre:
Jalinus; Left Wing: Mihran; and Right Wing: Hormuzan. The
reserve was commanded by Bahman.
2. The Persian army had strength of 60,000 men. There were 33
war elephants in the Persian army each mounted by armed
men.
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Battle of Qadisiyyah, 636: Deployments.

3. Saad bin Abi Waqas [RA] was suffering from sciatica. He

took a seat in the upper storey of the palace and directed the
war operations.
4. In the centre of the Muslim army the infantry was
commanded by Hammal b. Malik. The other Commanders
were: Left Centre: Asim bin Amr; Right Centre: Zuhra b.
Al-Hawiyya; Left Wing: Shurahbeel b. As-Samt; Right
Wing: Abdullah b. Al-Mut'im. The reserve was commanded
by Salman bin Rabee'a.
5. The battle began with personal duels. The first duel was
between Ghalib b. Abdullah and the Persian General
Hormuzan. Hormuzan became prisoner in result. Amr b.
Madi Karib accepted the challenge of 2nd and 3rd soldier and
killed them.
6. After the duels were over, Rustam struck at the Muslims with
his elephants. The Persians attack began with heavy showers of
arrows then he ordered an attack on the Muslim’s right. The
elephants led the attack and advanced.
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7. As the elephants advanced, the Muslim horses broke out of

control and fled from their position thereby leaving the infantry
unsupported.
8. The fighting ended at dusk. The battle was inconclusive. In the
Muslim records the 1st day of the battle came to be known as
"The Day of Disorder."
Battle of Qadisiyya: the Second Day
1. After the fall of Yermuk Abu Ubaida [RA] sent a force of 1,000
men.
2. A Muslim commander, Qaqa bin Amr At-tamimi [RA] rushed
into the battle-field and gave the challenge for a duel. The
challenges were accepted by Bahman and Beerzan and Qaqa
killed both. Saad [RA] ordered a general attack. The Muslim
swept forward, but the Persians stood firm and repulsed every
attack. Ultimately the Muslims pulled back to their original
position.
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3. Fighting was hard and fierce. It continued till night had set in.
Then the two armies pulled back to their camps.
Battle of Qadisiyya: the Third Day
1. On the third day of the battle, Persians attacked by using
elephants the Muslim horses got panicky and that led to
confusion in the ranks of the Muslim cavalry. The Persians
pressed the attack, and the Muslims fell back.
2. Saad [RA] now directed that the elephants should be
overpowered by blinding them and severing their trunks. In an
agony of pain, the elephants turned and bolted away trampling
the Persians under their feet.

3. At this stage, Saad [RA] ordered an assault. In spite of the

Muslim pressure, the Persians held the ground. After some
fierce fighting the Muslims pulled back. When the dusk set,
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both armies were locked in life and death struggle and the battle
was still inconclusive.

Battle of Qadisiyya: The Last Day

1. On the 3rd day of the battle even at night there was no break in
fighting. It was now a war of stamina. The battle waged all the
night long. At sunrise the fighting ceased, but still the result
was inconclusive.
2. Qaqa addressed his men: "If we fight for an hour or so more,
the enemy will be defeated. Other Chiefs spoke in similar
terms to their contingents. The Muslim warriors shouted "If
you attack we are with you."

3. Qaqa hurled his contingent against the Persians with great

violence. At this time a strong dust storm lashed the battle-field
in the faces of the Persians. The canopy of Rustam was blown
away by the storm. Rustam was alone and he ran towards the
river and plunged in the river. Hilal jumped in the river after
him, where drawing his sword he struck several blows at
Rustam and killed him.
4. When Sa'ad [RA] came to know that Rustam had been killed,
he ordered the Muslims to make one more attack and drive
away the Persians. The News of their Commander-in-Chief’s
death demoralized them and their front collapsed and the
Persian warriors fled in panic to the river.
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5. The Muslims followed the Persians and killed a large no of

enemy.
6. Out of 60,000 Persians only 20,000 survived The Muslim
casualties numbered 6,000 out of a total force of 30,000.
7. The booty that the Muslims captured was vast. Each infantry
man received 7,000 dirhams, and each cavalryman 14,000
dirhams as his share.

Capture of Al-Madain
1. After the occupation of Bahrseer, only the Tigris half a mile
wide lay between the Muslims and Ctesiphon. The river was in
flood and there were no means with the Muslims to cross it.

2. Saad [RA] had a dream in which another site was indicated to

him which the Muslims could cross.
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3. The next morning the Muslim horses plunged in the river and
slowly proceeded to the other bank. When the Persians saw that
the Muslims were coming, the Persian horses also plunged in
the river to hold back the Muslims from crossing the river.
4. When the Muslims were hardly half way in the river they faced
the Persians. A river battle started. In the hand to hand fight
that followed the Muslims were able to kill many Persians and
the rest fled away.
5. As the Muslims landed on the eastern bank of the Tigris, a cry
went around the Persian camp, "The Muslims have come:
they are not men, they are devils and jinns. Who can fight
them?"
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6. After the 1st band of 600 volunteers under Asim, other

contingents crossed the river, and this process went on till all
the Muslim had crossed over to the other side of the Tigris.
7. When the Persian came to know that Muslim force had crossed
over to Ctesiphon, they decided to evacuate Ctesiphon.
8. The Muslim forces marched to the city of Ctesiphon. The
march was led by the columns of Asim and Qaqa bin Amr and
the White Palace was occupied by the Muslims.
9. After occupying the city, Sa'ad announced amnesty to all
Persians who were in the city. Without any large scale
fighting the Muslims had conquered Ctesiphon, the capital of
the once mighty Persian Empire.
10. Sa'ad moved into the White Palace and established his
headquarters there.
11. When the booty was distributed among the soldiers the
share of each man got 12,000 dirhams.

Battle of Jalaula
1. After withdrawal from Ctesiphon, the Persian armies gathered
at Jalaula almost 180 KM away from Ctesiphon. Jalaula was
a place of strategically importance from where routes led to
Iraq, Khurasan and Azerbaijan.
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2. The Persian forces at Jalaula were commanded by Mihran. His

deputy was Khurrazad a brother of Rustam. The Persians made
great preparations for a large scale battle against the Muslims.
3. The entire town was converted into a fortress. A deep ditch
was dug round the city. Various fortifications were constructed
behind the ditch.
4. The Persian troops took an oath that they would die fighting
rather than retreat. The town was stocked with provisions, and
the Persians prepared themselves for a long siege.
5. When Saad[RA] came to know of the preparations that the
Persians had made to defied Jalaula he reported the intelligence
to Umar[RA] and asked for his orders.
6. Umar [RA] ordered that steps should be taken to capture
Jalaula. He directed Sa'ad b. Abi Waqqas that Hashim b.
Utbah should be sent on the expedition against Jalaula at the
head of a force of 12000 men.
7. In April 637C.E., Hashim marched with 12,000 men. At
Jalaula found that the Persians were in a strong position with
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fortifications, entrenchments, deep ditch, and a belt of caltrops.

Hashim established his camp and laid a siege to Jalaula.
8. The siege dragged on for 7 months. The Persians continued to
get reinforcements from Hulwan.

9. In November heavily reinforced the Persians decided to

launch an offensive attack and drive away the Muslims. This
suited the Muslims. Hashim pulled back his army so that the
entire Persian army might be brought in the field.
10. The action began with a heavy attack by the Persians all
along the front. The Muslims withstood the ground but as the
Persians intensified their pressure. The fight continued with
considerable violence.
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11. In the afternoon there was a short break in fighting. When

the fighting was resumed, the Muslims launched the attack.
12. Qaqa bin Amr [RA] with his reserve made a flanking
movement and reached the ditch in the rear of the Persian army.
At afternoon a storm began to blow in the faces of the Persians,
13. When the combat was going on violently, Qaqa raised the
cry from behind the Persian forces, "O Muslims I am here. I
have captured the ditch. Come to me."
14. At this call, the Muslim forces attacking the Persians from
the front increased the violence of their attack. As the Persians
moved back they had to face the attack from the rear by the
men of Qaqa.

15. The Persian resistance broke and they dispersed in all

directions. The Muslims pursued them, and the Persians were
slaughtered in large numbers.
16. The Muslims occupied Jalaula. As the Persian army had
withdrawn, the residents surrendered on the usual terms of
Jizya.
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17. The spoils of war collected were valued at 30 million

dirhams. The share of each warrior came to 9,000 dirhams.
18. The State share 1/5th of the booty was sent to Madina
through Ziyad.

March to Nihawand
1. 30,000 Muslims gathered in Tazar under leadership of Noman
bin Muqarrin in December 641C.E.
2. Noman bin Muqarrin sent spies to locate the Persians. The
party hadn’t found Persians between Tazar.
3. The two armies now faced each other at Nihawand.
4. Mardan shah the Persian General sent words to No'man to
depute some emissary to the Persian camp for talks. No'man
chose Mugheera bin Shu'ba for the purpose.
5. Mugheera returned to the Muslim camp. After hearing
Mugheera, Noman asked the Muslim to be ready for the fight.
6. It was on a cold day in the 3rd week of December 641 C.E.
that the battle of Nihawand began. The Persians were 60,000.
7. After the midday prayers, Noman gave the battle cry of 'Allaho-
Akbar', and at the third call the Muslim army dashed forward.
The battle was severe. On both sides there were heavy
casualties. The two armies disengaged at night.
8. The next day the battle was resumed. In spite of powerful
attack, the Persian army remained unshaken. At nightfall the
two armies disengaged once again.
9. Noman now felt that as the Persians stood secure in their
fortifications, a frontal attack against them would not be
productive.
10. The strategy of Noman was that the Persians should come
forward outside of their forts, so that they might be engaged in
 25

the open area. The Persians were aware of their position, and
they did not move beyond their fortifications.
11. For the next two days there was no action. The weather
was intensely cold. The Persians were used to the weather and
moreover they were secure in their fortifications. The Muslims
on the other hand were not used to such inclement weather.
12. In the meantime the Persian army continued to receive
reinforcements almost every day.
13. In the first phase of the battle of Nihawand, the Muslims
failed to produce results as all advantages lay with the
Persians.
14. After the unsuccessful attacks against the Persian front,
No'man called a council of war to decide the future course of
action for the Muslim. After discussion, it was decided that
a. A rumor should be spread that Umar the Caliph was
dead.
b. The Muslim army should start moving back giving the
impression that it was withdrawing because of the
death of the Caliph and resistance of the Persians.
c. When the Persians advance to pursue the Muslims, the
Muslim army should turn round and fight.
d. In the meantime Qaqaa with the cavalry should
outflank the Persian army and try to reach the rear
thus cutting the retreat of the Persians.
15. For a week there was no Muslim attack. Then the
Persians heard reports of the death of the Caliph. The news
spread like wild fire. As Mardan shah heard of the news he
felt convinced that he would be in a position to take revenge
from the Muslims for the previous Persian defeats.
16. The Persian spies carried the news to Mardanshah that the
Muslim had struck their camps and were withdrawing.
Mardanshah gave the call to arms, and dashed forward with
his army in pursuit of the withdrawing Muslims.
 26

17. When Noman came to know of the Persian advance, he

quickly ordered the Muslim into battle formation. Obscured
from the Persian view Qaqaa with his cavalry proceeded to
outflank the Persian army.
18. After the midday prayers, Noman gave the battle cry, and
the Muslim army rushed headlong at the enemy. Under the
anger of the Muslim attack the Persian army reeled back
19. When the battle was at its climax, in an attempt to
advance, the horse of No'man slipped in the blood soaked
soil, and fell along with its rider in a pool of blood.
Immediately Noman was struck by an arrow shot from the
Persian camp. The battle went on without the Muslim
knowing that their Commander had fallen.
20. Slowly and steadily the Muslim army advanced beating
back the Persians. Shortly before sunset, the Persian resistance
began to weaken, and the Muslims struck against them with
greater violence.
21. The cavalry under Qa'qaa struck against the flanks of
the Persian army. Night fell but the Muslims continued the
pursuit. An arrow from the Muslim side struck Mardanshah
and he died.
22. In the meantime the news of the death of No'man was
reported to Hudheifa. He took over the command.
23. The pursuit was carried until the Persians reached a
narrow valley, and here to escape the pursuing Muslims, the
Persians fell down from the cliff in thousands.
24. Out of the 60,000 Persians who had fought at Nihawand,
40,000 were killed. The rest escaped to Hamadan.
25. The Muslims had once again won an historic victory.
26. It was midnight when the Muslim army gathered in their
camp. The Muslim soldiers gathered around the body of
No'man. He still breathed. He moved and opened his eyes. He
asked, "What is the result of the battle".
 27

27. They said, "Rejoice for God has given us victory".

28. No'man said, "Praise be to Allah," and with these words
he breathed his last.

Wars with the Romans/Byzantines

1. the Battle of Yarmuk
2. Fall of Jerusalem
3. The Conquest of Eygpt

Battle of Yermuk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vL33R5F2Pkg

(a) Give an account of the following two battles fought during the
rule of ‘Umar:

I. Battle of Qadisiya II. Battle of Yarmuk

[10]
(b) Was ‘Umar better as a military leader or as an administrator?
[4] [M/J/2013]

(a) Write an account of the Battle of Yarmuk fought during the

caliphate of ‘Umar . [10]
(b) ‘ ‘Umar’s unbending attitude led to his assassination.’ What
can Muslims learn from this? [4] [M/J/2014]

1. When Emessa [Homs] was under siege, Heraclius made

planned to gather strength and drive away the Muslims from the
land of Syria.
2. By May 636 A.D., Romans made an army of 150,000 -260,000
men.
 28

3. The Muslims were operating in four different areas.

I. Amr b. Al Aas[RA] was operating in Palestine;
II. Shurahbil was in Jordan;
III. Yazeed was in Caesara,
IV. Abu Ubaida and Khalid were at Emessa.
4. The plan of the Byzantines was to attack on Emessa from all
directions.
5. The Muslims decided to consolidate their forces at one, so the
Muslims concentrate their forces in southern Syria, and vacated
Emessa, Damascus and concentrated their forces in Yermuk.
 29

6. The Byzantine forces reached the Yermuk in July 636.

7. The Muslim army consisted of 30,000 to 40,000. Abu Ubaida
[RA] decided to remain the nominal Commander-in-Chief and
he handed over his powers of field operations to Khalid bin
Waleed [RA].
8. The Byzantines offered to pay the Muslims money in case they
left Syria. The Muslims rejected the offer. In return the
Muslims offered the Byzantines Islam or Jizya or war.
Battle of Yermuk - The First Two Days
+

1. The battle began in the 3rd week of Aug. 636CE.

2. A few warriors from the Byzantine side challenged the Muslims
for duel and were killed in the combat. Abdur Rahman ibn
Abu Bakr [RA] killed 5 of them, one after the other.
3. Yahan the Commander-in-Chief asked his forces to launch the
assault. The Muslims withstood their ground. At sunset both
forces withdrew the battle field.
4. On the 2nd day, the Muslims were offering Fajr, when the
Byzantines launched the attack. The Muslims got into
position and the two armies clashed. The Byzantines directed
their pressure on the Muslim flanks.
 30

5. The Muslim right wing was led by Amr bin Aas[RA]. They
faced 2 attacks, but the 3rd attack was very severe and they
fell back in some disorder.
6. The Muslim cavalry held up the Byzantine advance for some
time, but they were unable to hold it for long. Repulsed by the
Byzantines the Muslims fell back on their camp. Here they were
ashamed by women with harsh remarks. This made the
Muslim warriors turn back from the camp. The Muslims pushed
back the Byzantines.

7. The Muslim left wing was led by Yazeed. They withstood the
1st attack but fell back under the severity of the 2nd attack. The
Muslim cavalry launched the counter attack but it was repulsed,
and the Muslims fell back to their camp. Here the Muslim
women put the Muslim warriors to shame. They returned to
the battle and launched an attack.
8. Seeing the pressure on the flanks, Khalid [RA] decided to
come to their help. 1st he turned to the right wing and struck at
the flank of the Byzantine army. The Byzantines retreated. The
corps of Amr [RA] regained all the ground they had lost.
 31

9. Khalid [RA] next turned to the left wing, and attacked the
Byzantine corps. Here again the Byzantines withdrew. The
attack on the Muslim side was led by Zarrar [RA]. He killed
Derjan, the Commander of the Byzantine corps.
10. By sunset the Byzantines were pushed back. The Muslims
had faced a critical situation, but they had managed to regain
the lost ground. When the battle ended on the second day the
result was still uncertain.
Battle of Yermuk - Third and Fourth Days
1. On the 3rd day, the Byzantines launched the attack. The initial
attacks were repulsed by the soldiers of Amr [RA] and
Shurahbil[RA]. But when the Byzantines increased their
pressure, the Muslims fell back. The soldiers of Shurahbil
[RA] were similarly pushed back to the camp. The Muslim
women in the camp once again came into action with sharp
tongues and tent poles.
 32

2. Those made the Muslim warriors return to the battle. Khalid

[RA] again came to the rescue of these corps. By dusk the
Byzantines had been pushed back to the original position. On
the third day also the battle remained indecisive.
3. The losses of the Byzantines outnumbered those of the
Muslims. The Byzantine attacks had been beaten back by the
Muslims. Yahan was not satisfied with the performance of the
Byzantines.
4. On the 4th day the Byzantines again started the battle with an
attack on the corps of Amr bin Al Aas [RA] and Shurahbil
[RA]. The Soldiers of Amr [RA] was pushed back, but there
they held up with drawn swords. In the sector of Shurahbil the
Byzantines broke through and pushed the Muslims Muslims to their
camp. Khalid [RA] again came to his assistance with his
reserve. At the same time Abu Ubaida[RA] and Yazeed
launched a frontal attack in their sector to prevent the increase
of further pressure in the sector of Shurahbil. As the Byzantines
advanced
anced in the sector of Shurahbil, by a counter flank
movement. Khalid[RA] attacked the Byzantines from two
sides. The Byzantines broke under the blows of the Muslim
cavalry and fell back to their original position, losing heavily in
the process. The Byzantine
Byzantine archers now let loose a rain of
arrows on the Muslim forces. Over 700 Muslims were hit in
their eyes.
 33

5. 4th day of battle came to be known as "The Day of Lost

Eyes". That was the worst day for the Muslims.
6. Seeing the anxiety in the Muslim ranks the Byzantines
increased their pressure. The corps of Abu Ubaida and Yazeed
were pushed back.
7. Ikramah [RA] and his contingent refused to retreat. They took
the oath of death, and fell upon the Byzantines. Under their
blows the Byzantines pulled back. Of the 400 dedicated men
who took the oath of death almost all including Ikramah
died, but they saved the day for the Muslims. At sunset both the
armies went back to their original lines.
Battle of Yermuk - Fifth and Sixth Days
1. On the 5th day the two armies again lined up, but there was no
fight. The Byzantine offered a peace truce. The Muslims
rejected it.
 34

2. On the 6th day before the battle began' Gregory a General of

the Byzantine army stepped forward and challenged the Muslim
Commander-in-chief duel Abu Ubaida[RA] finished his
chief to a duel.
job.
 35

3. The Muslim rushed forward and the cavalry led by Khalid[RA]

intensified their blows against the Byzantine cavalry, and after
a hard struggle the Byzantine cavalry was driven away from
the field. Khalid [RA] attacked the Byzantines, both from the
front as well as the rear. The Byzantine infantry was now in full
retreat.

4. The Byzantines retreated towards Qadi-ur-Raqqad. Here a

Muslim contingent under Zarrar [RA] laid ambush and killed
flying Byzantines.
5. By the afternoon of the sixth day of the battle only a third of
the Byzantine army remained in the battle-field; the rest had
fled away. The Muslim army now fell on the Byzantines.
6. The Byzantine Commander-in-chief, Yahan with the remnants
of his army fled towards Damascus. The Muslims pursued
them, and overtook them a few miles short of Damascus. In the
fight that followed Yahan was killed.
7. The battle of Yermuk was the greatest battle that the Muslims
had fought so far. That spelled the end of the Byzantine rule in
Syria, and lead in the Muslim rule.

Fall of Jerusalem
1. After the battle of Yermuk, when the main Muslim army under
Abu Ubaida [RA] and Khalid[RA] left for the north of Syria,
 36

finding that the bulk of the Muslim army had left, Artabun the
Byzantine Governor assembled a large force at Ajnadin in
another bid to drive away the Muslims from the soil of Syria.
2. The battle at Ajnadin fought towards the close of 636CE was
very bloody and horrible. Both sides fought bravely but
ultimately the Byzantines were defeated, Artabun, defeated
with heavy loss fled to Jerusalem with his army.
3. The city of Jerusalem sacred to the Jews and the Christians was
strongly fortified. It was protected on every side by deep
valleys and steep slopes.
4. Amr b Al Aas [RA] the Muslim Commander in the southern
sector wrote to Abu Ubaida for reinforcement. By this time,
northern Syria had fallen to the Muslims and Abu Ubaida was
able to spare many contingents which rushed to the aid of the
Muslims fighting in the southern sector.
5. When the citizens of Jerusalem came to know that the besieging
Muslim forces had been considerably strengthened they lost
heart.
6. The Patriarch of Jerusalem sued for peace. He said that it was
written in their holy books that the city would surrender to the
man who was the best among the Muslims. He accordingly
desired that the Caliph Umar should come to Jerusalem
personally to receive the surrender of the city.
7. Abu Ubaida referred the matter to Umar[RA] at Madina.
Umar[RA] called a meeting of his Consultative Council. Ali
said that Jerusalem was as much sacred to the Muslims as the
Jews or the Christians, and that in view of the sanctity of the
place it was desirable that its surrender should be received by
the Caliph personally. Umar[RA] decided to accept the advice
of Ali.
8. Leaving Ali as his deputy at Madina, Umar proceeded to
Jerusalem. Umar [RA] was accompanied by one slave only, and
between these two persons they had only one camel which they
rode turn by turn. As they neared Jabia where the Muslim
 37

Commanders were to meet Umar [RA], it was the turn of the

slave to ride. The slave wanted Umar [RA] to ride the animal,
but Umar [RA] refused. As they came to Jabia the people saw
the strange spectacle of the slave riding the camel and the
Caliph walking on foot.
9. At Jabia the Muslim Commanders met Umar [RA]. Abu
Ubaida explained in detail the situation in Syria. He elaborated
how with the grace of God the Muslims had been able to
overthrow the mighty Byzantine power from Syria.
10. A deputation from Jerusalem waited on Umar [RA] at
Jabia and a treaty was drawn up. According to the treaty
security of life and property were guaranteed to all citizens
of Jerusalem. The safety of churches and other religious
buildings and places was provided for. The citizens were
required to pay Jizya. Any one not agreeable to owe allegiance
to the Muslims was given the option to leave the city.
11. At the gate of Jerusalem, Umar [RA] was greeted by the
Patriarch of Jerusalem. The Patriarch of Jerusalem handed
over the keys of the city of Jerusalem to Umar[RA]. Umar
[RA] stayed in Jerusalem for a few days. He founded a
mosque at an elevated place in the city. This mosque came to
be known as Umar's Mosque.

Conquest of Egypt
1. Muslim Army under the command of Amr b. Al-Aas had left
for Egypt with 4,000 soldiers.
2. The letter was sent through a special messenger Uqba bin
Amr.
3. Amr consulted his companions as to the course of action to be
adopted. The agreed view was that they had the permission to
proceed. To the Caliph, Amr wrote: "We have received your
letter when we have reached Egypt. Therefore in the
fulfillment of destiny we proceed seeking Allah's blessing."
 38

4. In December 639 the Muslim army reached Farma. It was a

fortified town manned by a Byzantine garrison. The Muslims
besieged the town. The siege dragged on for two months. At the
end of February 640 the fort captured by the Muslims.
5. After the fall of Farma the Muslims marched to Bilbeis 40
miles from Memphis. It was a fortified town, and the Muslims
besieged it. The siege lasted for a month, and towards the end
of March 640 the city surrendered to the Muslims.
6. From Bilbeis the Muslims marched to Babylon. Babylon was a
larger and more important city and here resistance on a larger
scale was expected. Amr nevertheless persevered and pushed
on to Babylon and took the control after a treaty with
Maqauqas.

March to Alexanderia
7. Umar received the report of Amr bin Al-Aas about the conquest
of Babylon and the Peace treaty with Maqauqas,
8. Heraclius' reaction to the report of Maqauqas was violent. He
remarked that the Muslim force hardly numbered 12,000
while the Byzantine force in Egypt was five times larger.
Maqauqas was removed from the Viceroy ship of Egypt.
9. Heraclius sent strict orders to the Commander-in-chief of the
Byzantine forces in Egypt that the Muslims should be driven
from the soil of Egypt.
10. Maqauqas told Amr that Heraclius had rejected the treaty
of Babylon. He assured Amr that the Copts will follow the
treaty.
11. Maqauqas asked for three favors from the Muslims:
1. Do not break your treaty with the Copts;
2. If the Byzantines after the rejection ask for peace,
don’t make peace with them, but treat them as
captives.
 39

3. When I am dead allow me to be buried in the Church

of St. John at Alexandria.
a. This position was to the advantage of the Muslims. The
Copts were the real natives of the land of Egypt. The war
was against the Byzantines who were really intruders.
12. The Generals of the emperor mustered at Alexandria the
capital of Egypt, and decided to wage a harsh war against the
Muslims and drive them from Egypt.
13. In February 641, Amr set off to Alexandria. On the 3rd day
the Muslims encountered a Byzantine detachment at Tarnut.
The Byzantines couldn’t hold the ground, and withdrew.
14. The Muslims resumed their march and reached Sulteis
where they encountered a Byzantine detachment.
15. When the Muslim arrived at Kirayun 12 miles from
Alexandria, they were blocked by a Byzantine detachment of
20,000 men. The strategy of the Byzantines was that the
Muslims should be driven away before they actually arrived at
Alexandria.
16. The two forces fought for ten days. On the last day the
Muslims launched a vital assault. The Byzantine resistance
broke down, and they withdrew to Alexandria. The Muslim
resumed the march and reached the outskirts of Alexandria in
March 641 A D.

Battle Of Alexandria
17. The Muslims reached Alexandria in March 641AD.
Alexandria was heavily fortified. The Byzantine forces were
50,000.
18. The Muslims decided to lay siege to the city. The
Byzantines mounted catapults on the walls of the city, and these
engines pounded the Muslims with boulders.
19. A see-saw war followed. When the Muslims tried to go
close to the city they were pounded with missiles. When the
Byzantines venture from the fort, they were beaten back.
 40

20. Heraclius collected reinforcement and intended to march

at the head of this reinforcement personally to Alexandria.
Before he could finalize the arrangements he died.
21. When the Muslims came to know that the emperor had
died they intensified their attacks but there was no break of the
Byzantine resistance.
22. The siege dragged on for 6 months, Umar wrote a letter to
Amr and shown his concern at the excessive delay in the
conquest of Egypt. Umar wrote: "When you get this letter
address the people and urge them to fight, attack in the early
afternoon of a Friday for that is the hour of God's blessing."
23. Amr bin Al-Aas assembled his men, and it was decided
that after the Friday prayer an all-out assault would be launched
on the enemy.
24. After the Friday prayer, the Muslims marched to the
battle-field. Before the sun set the city was carried by the
Muslims. Over 20,000 Byzantines were killed or taken captive.
25. On behalf of the Egyptians, Maqauqas sued for peace, and
peace was allowed. With the fall of Alexandria the Muslims
were the masters of Egypt.

Administration and reforms of Umar ibn

Khattab [RA]
(a) Write a detailed account of the administrative measures put in
place by ‘Umar during his caliphate. [10]

(b) ‘Umar’s caliphate is regarded as the golden period of early Islamic

history’. Discuss. [4] (M/J/11)

Political Administration and Reforms

Military Administration and Reforms
 41

Judicial Administration and Reforms

Social Administration and Reforms
Religious Administration and Reforms

Political
1. Umar [RA] succeeded Abu Bakr [RA] in 634/13AH. Abu Bakr [RA]
himself nominated him as his successor. He continued the mission of
the first Caliph till his martyrdom in 644/23AH.
2. He was a political genius, he not only expanded his empire
but also buildup its political structure on firm and sound
bases.
3. Umar [RA] framed the constitution of the State on the basis of
democracy. His rule was surely the golden period in Muslim
history after the death of the Holy Prophet(S).
4. He established a Majlis-e-Shoora consisting of prominent
companions of the Holy Prophet(S) from both Muhajirin and Ansaar.
The Caliph himself was the central authority with the headship of
religious and non-religious departments.
5. Umar [RA] was very acute in the appointment of his
provincial governors called Wali or amir. Whenever a governor was
appointed by Umar [RA], a man was sent with him that would read
publicly his powers and jurisdictions.
6. The Muslim Empire had grown greatly in size and therefore it was
unavoidable to divide it further into a greater number of provinces.
During the Caliphate of Umar some of the notable Governors were:
i. Arabia was divided into two provinces, Mecca Attab b
Usaid [RA] and Madina[ Capital City of Islamic Empire]
ii. Iraq was divided into two provinces, Basra [Utbah b
Ghazwan[RA] 2nd Abu Musa Ashari [RA] and Kufa Saad b
Abi Waqqas[RA];
iii. In the upper reaches of the Tigris and the Euphrates,
Jazira was a province Ayyad b Ghanam [RA]
 42

iv. Syria was a province [Abu Ubaidah [RA] 2nd Yazid b Abi
Sufyan[RA] 3rd Amir Mu'awiyah [RA]
v. Umar divided Palestine in two provinces Aylya and
Ramlah
vi. Egypt [Amr b. al-Aas [RA]]
vii. Persia was divided into three provinces, Khurasan;
Azarbaijan and Fars.
7. Each province was divided into districts which were administered by
Amils. The Wali was assisted by a number of officers:
1. Katib, or Chief Secretary;
2. Katib-ud-Diwan; Secretary
3. Sahib-ul-Kharaj; Revenue Collector;
4. Police Officer
5. Sahib-ul-Bait-ul-Mal, Treasury Officer
6. Qadi, the Chief Judge.
8. All appointments were made in consultation with the Majlis-e-
Shoora. All the officers were summoned on Hajj to be answerable to
the Caliph.
9. During the reign of Caliph Abu Bakr [RA], the state was
economically weak, while during Umar’s reign because of
increase in revenues and other sources of income, the state
was on its way to economic prosperity.
10. Umar [RA] felt it necessary that the officers be treated in
strict way as to prevent the possible greed of money that may
lead them to corruption.
11. During his reign, at the time of appointment, every officer
was required to make the oath:
A. That he would not ride a Turkic horse.
B. That he would not wear fine clothes.
C. That he would not eat sifted flour.
D. That he would not keep a porter at his door.
E. That he would always keep his door open to the public.

12. Umar [RA] was first to establish a special department for

the investigation of complaints against the officers of the
 43

State. This department acted as Administrative court, where

the legal proceedings were personally led by Umar [RA].
13. The Department was under the charge of Muhammad ibn
Maslamah[RA]. In important cases Muhammad ibn
Maslamah was deputed by Umar to proceed to the spot,
investigate the charge and take action.
14. On discovery of any scandal on the part of any official, an
investigation through a special department of
accountability headed by Muhammad ibn Maslamah
[RA] would be carried out and if the official would prove
guilty he was immediately deposed from his office and
publicly punished.
15. Before appointment, all financial assets and details of the
political officer used to be recorded and were checked each
year. It was due to Umar's strong commitment to eradicate
corruption and bribery. He is reported to have said to one of
his Governor:
I had sent you as a governor, not as a merchant !
Military
1. Umar [RA] organized the army as a State department. This
reform was introduced in 637 CE.
2. A register of all adults who could be called to war was
prepared, and a scale of salaries was fixed. All men registered
were liable to military service. They were divided into two
categories, namely:
a) Those who formed the regular standing army.
b) Those lived in their homes, but were liable to be called whenever
needed.
3. The pay was paid in the beginning of the month
of Muharram. The allowances were paid during the harvesting
 44

season.The armies of the Caliphs were mostly paid in cash

salaries.
4. Promotions in the army were made on the strength of the
length of service or exceptional merit. Officer ship was an
appointment and not a rank. Officers were appointed to
command for the battle or the campaign; and once the operation
was concluded, they could well find themselves in the ranks
again.
5. Leave of absence was given to army men at regular intervals.
The troops stationed at far off places were given leave after four
months.
6. Each army corps was accompanied by an officer of the
treasury, an Accountant, a Qadi, and a number
of interpreters besides a number of Physicians and Surgeons.
7. Expeditions were undertaken according to seasons.
Expeditions in cold countries were undertaken during the
summer and in hot countries in winter.
8. Umar [RA] Umar established military cantonments on
strategic positions throughout the empire to deal with any
emergency efficiently and quickly. The garrison towns
of Kufa, Busra and Fustat were founded by Umar. They were
also provincial capitals of their respective provinces.

Judicial
1. Umar [RA] stressed the independence of the judiciary and
declared it a supreme state organ that could proceed without any
pressure of state.
2. No one was exempt from the law, not even the Caliph
himself. During early years of his rule he also acted as a chief
justice of Madinah but later due to increasing burden of work
he was left with no option but to assign his office to some other
person, he accordingly appointed Abu Dardah [RA]. He didn't
 45

resign completely from the office and Abu Dardah [RA] only
acted as his secondary.
3. Umar [RA] was the founder
of Fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence). More than one thousand
juristic pronouncements of Umar are on record and are followed
by four Sunni schools of law in Islamic jurisprudence.
4. In addition to this he also laid down the principle of Qiyas or
logical deduction
5. Umar [RA] was very keen in appointing qazis to all the
major provincial cities. He entrusted the office of justice only
to those selected persons who could fulfill his criteria for this
office, some of which are as follow:
1. Must be well reputed for his morals, modesty, and interpersonal
relations.
2. Must be intelligent and wise in judicial decisions and enjoy his
own personal view regarding all social issues that could enable
them in the formulation of precedent or case law.
3. He must be highly qualified in fiqh
4. Must be socially a powerful and influential personality so that he
might not come under pressure of any powerful perpetrator.

6. Appointment of judges in districts and small towns were

made by his appointed provincial Wāli (Governors).
7. Umar [RA] appointed judges with very high salaries and for
lifelong tenure. He also made it sure that judges could not be
drawn towards bribery and unbiased verdicts could be reach.
8. He issued some special instructions and code of conducts to
be followed in the courts according to which judges were
instructed to deal with rich and poor alike in the court.
9. In order to maintain law and order, Umar [RA] set up a department
of police and prision.
 46

Social
1. One of Hazrat Umar's most remarkable reform was
establishment of Islamic calendar. Umar held the starting point
of calendar to be the year of Hijra.
2. Umar [RA] prohibited the sale of wine and drinkers were
punished with 80 lashes.
3. Umar [RA] held that a slave woman who bore children to her
master should be set free.
4. It was a practice among Arab poets to mention the name of
some women in their poetry to make it attractive while other
glorify their love affair with some girl mentioning her name in
the poetic verses, it was a heinous practice and woman's
modesty was directly targeted in it, Umar put a ban on this
practice and declared it unlawful and a punishment was ruled
out for the offenders.
5. Umar [RA] established a more exact system of calculation
of the inheritance. Under Umar's rule, for first time in history,
state intervention to control the price of merchandise was
practiced.
6. He established stables for the lost camels and animals.
7. He started salary for Imams, Muadhans, teachers and public
lectures.
8. He also established an effective Postal service.
9. Zakat was charged from Muslims, while from non-
Muslim, jizya was charged from non-Muslims adult males only
and was usually 2 dirhams per head annually.
10. The non-Muslims were exempted from military services.
They were free to follow any religion they want.
11. Trade tax that Umar [RA] charged was far less than the tax
charged by Roman and other empires.
 47

12. Umar [RA] established special chain of state-owned guest

house and clubs for certain trades.
13. He held census in the empire and established an institution
of Diwa'an. The provincial and district headquarter had their
own copies of diwa'an.
14. Name of every newborn baby was entered in Diwa’an;
parents were responsible to register their infants.
15. He established Bayt al-mal or public treasury. It was
a financial institution, responsible for the administration
of allowance, taxes, Jizya and war spoils.
16.Annual allowance was given to all Muslim population of the
empire, men, women children and newborn infants. It was based
on certain principles, for example, the whole Ummah had a share in the
public funds. Secondly, each Muslim had a share according to his/her
relationship with the Prophet(S), priority in accepting Islam and services
to Islam. The highest amount of allowance was set for the mother
of the believers which was 12,000 dirhams. For adults the
lowest allowance was 300 dirhams. The allowance of infants
was 100 dirhams.
17. Umar [RA] also issued orders for the allowance for the poor
and under privileged non-Muslims throughout the empire.
18. The taxes collected in the treasury were used to provide
income for the needy, the poor, elderly, orphans, widows, and
the disabled.
19. He constructed mosques, schools, office buildings, canals,
rest houses and expansion of the Haram and the mosque of the
Prophet(S).
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Religious
1. Umar [RA] was the first to realize the necessity of the proper
compilation of the Hadith and thus founded the science of
Hadith.
2. Authentic Hadiths were compiled mostly related to
religious, moral, social and community related affairs. These
were copied and sent throughout the empire
to Judges, governors, teachers and scholars of all provinces for
guidance.
3. Prophet Muhammad [S] initially prayed the tarawih during
the month of Ramadan, in congregation but later discontinued
this practice out of fear that Muslims would start to believe the
prayers to be mandatory, rather than a sunnah. During his
Caliphate he restored the practice of praying tarawih in
congregation as there was no longer any fear of people taking it
as something mandatory.

Difficulties Faced by Umar bin Khattab [RA]

1. Umar [RA] continued the policies of Abu Bakr [RA], the
difference in their temperaments and circumstances dictated the
manner in which they followed these policies. The period of Abu
Bakr [RA] needed more tolerance as well as quick action but
during the period of Umar [RA], the situation was calmer and
controllable.
2. The first difficulty faced by Umar [RA] was that the people
feared him due to his hard attitude. They were hesitant to bring
their problems to him.
3. But he proved over a period of time that his harshness was for the
wrong doers only, while he was quite soft towards other people.
 49

4. Another difficulty was the administration of the vast Islamic

Empire. The borders of the Islamic welfare state had extended as
far as Afghanistan, Africa and Europe.
5. The communication system during those days was not as efficient
as today.
6. He fought against all obstacles in administrating a large Empire
and ensured the governance of justice and reasonable
accountability.
7. The two superpowers of the time namely, the Persian and
Byzantine Empires were busy plotting conspiracies against the
Islamic state. It was Umar [RA] who defeated both these empires
and established the Islamic state as a superpower.
8. The Muslim army consisted of soldiers belonging to different
areas and cultures but he successfully used them for the
expansion of Islamic state.
9. The army campaign against several countries at a time could
have turned out to be a failure because of the differences among
the soldiers.
10. It was the ideal administration of Umar [RA] which ensured
marvelous discipline among the forces. The atmosphere in the
army was exemplary and it looked as if they were the people of
one tribe.

Death and What it tells us about his Character:

1. Umar [RA] was martyred by Firoz, a Presian slave of Mugheera
[RA] in November 644.
2. Firoz was unhappy with one of Umar’s decision regarding the
amount of daily payment he made to his master.
3. Abu Lulu (Firoz) openly threatened to kill Umar [RA].
4. Umar [RA] neither had a personal bodyguard nor a protocol staff.
 50

5. He was attacked totally unguarded, while he was leading the Fajr

prayer, Firoz stabbed him with a poisoned dagger.
6. He also killed several other worshippers as he tried to escape.
7. When he was finally caught, he slit his own throat. Umar [RA]
survived for some days.
8. During this period, he nominated a panel of six people: Ali [RA],
Usman [RA], Talha [RA], Zubair [RA], Abdur Rehman bin
Auf [RA] and Saad bin Abi Waqas [RA] to hold mutual
consultation and select his successor from among them.
9. His death shows us that he had a careful sense of fairness and that
was the reason for his refusal to give Firoz the relaxation in the
payment he had to make to his master.
10. This noble attitude of his cost him his life. Umar’s fearless
attitude portrays his strong belief in Allah as the Giver and
Taker of life.
11. This incident reflects his simple lifestyle, that the head of the
largest empire in history was easily accessible and roamed around
like an ordinary citizen.
12. He was buried alongside the Prophet(S) and Abu Bakr [RA] in
Masjid Nabvi, Medina.
13. This shows his special status in the first Muslim community.
14. His tough and principled stand and the taxation matter reflect the
integrity (honor, truthfulness) of his character.
 51

His Importance/Significance in Islamic History

1. His conversion gave the morale of the Muslims a significant
boost.
2. He devoted his life and energy to the cause of Islam and openly
supported the Holy Prophet(S) throughout his mission in Makkah
and Medina.
3. He performed valuable services in all the major battles fought
against the enemies of Islam.
4. He placed about half of his wealth at the disposal of the Holy
Prophet(S) on the occasion of the Tabuk expedition.
5. He played a vital role in the election of Abu Bakr [RA].
6. He convinced Abu Bakr [RA] to allow the compilation of the
Quran.
7. His caliphate was the most successful and glorious period in
Islamic history.
8. He consolidated the new Muslim Empire by establishing an
effective system of governance.
9. He expanded the Islamic state by capturing Persia, Syria, Palestine,
Jerusalem and the fertile land of Egypt.
10. He himself led a simple and pious life and conducted patrolling at
night to ensure the peace and comfort of his people.
11. He laid down the foundations of a lasting administrative system by
dividing the Empire into provinces and by placing them under
talented administrators, governors and Qazis (judges).