GOLDEN STORIES OF Umar Ibn Al-Khatab-R PDF

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Golden Stories Of
‘Umar Ibn Al – Khattab

(May Allah be Pleased with him)
Written By: Abdul Malik Mujahid
Published By: Darussalam Publishers & Distributers
Copyright: Darussalam Publishers
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Contents
PREFACE ............................................................................................................................................. 13
Status of ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)’s Grandfather ........................................................ 15
Stern & Harsh Father ............................................................................................................................ 15
Physical Attributes ................................................................................................................................ 16
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)’s Teenage Years ................................................................... 17
The Date of His Entry into the Fold of Islam ........................................................................................ 17
The Famous Personalities Among ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)’s Ancestors ................... 18
Family Life ............................................................................................................................................ 19
Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)’s marriage to Umm Kulthum Bint ‘Ali Bin Abi Taalib ........ 20
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)’s Strong Personality ............................................................. 21
O my brother, do not forget us in your supplications ‘ ......................................................................... 22
First Inclination to Islam ....................................................................................................................... 23
Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) Breaks into His Sister’s House, and His Sister, Faatimah ((May
Allah be please with her), Stands up to Him......................................................................................... 24
Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) Goes to Prophet Muhammad (Peace and Blessings of Allah be
upon him) and Announces His Entry into the Fold of Islam ................................................................ 26
Everyone Should Know about the Islam of Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) ........................... 27
Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)’s Relentless Fight with Quraysh ........................................... 28
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) is Eager for Muslims to Openly Proclaim their Faith .......... 30
The Statements of Imam an-Nawawi regarding ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)................... 30
The Effect ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)’s Islam had on the Condition of Muslims in Makkah
.............................................................................................................................................................. 31
Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)’s Migration ............................................................................ 33
Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)’s Intelligence & Wisdom ...................................................... 34
Umar’s (May Allah be pleased with him) Vigilance ............................................................................ 35
Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)’s Suggestion about Suhail bin ‘Amr ..................................... 38
The Dream of Allah’s Messenger (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) .................................. 38
Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)’s Valor and Bravery .............................................................. 40
Expedition of Banu Al-Mustaliq ........................................................................................................... 42
Conquest of Makkah ............................................................................................................................. 43
Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) in the Court of Zayd bin Thaabit ........................................... 46
Preferring the Hereafter to the World in the Battle of Hunain .............................................................. 47
Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)’s Generosity .......................................................................... 47
Business Travels ................................................................................................................................... 48
The Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) gives a gift to Umar (May Allah be pleased
with him) ............................................................................................................................................... 49
pleased with him) .................................................................................................................................. 50
Most Trusted Advisor ........................................................................................................................... 51
Displaying Mental Dexterity ................................................................................................................. 53
‘More beloved than my own self ‘ ........................................................................................................ 55
Glad Tidings of a Castle in Paradise ..................................................................................................... 56
The Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) Prays for ‘Umar (May Allah be
pleased with him) .................................................................................................................................. 56
Gathering the Qur‘an in a Single Book ................................................................................................. 57
Interest in the History of his People ...................................................................................................... 59
The Devil’s Fear of ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) .............................................................. 60
Three Most Perspicacious and Judicious of People .............................................................................. 60
Good Omen ........................................................................................................................................... 62
Encouraging the Weak .......................................................................................................................... 63
“Check the state of your house” ............................................................................................................ 64
Keen Insight of ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) ..................................................................... 64
Mu‘aadh’s Return from Yemen ............................................................................................................ 66
Death of the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) ...................................................... 67
The Courtyard of Banu Saa ‘idah.......................................................................................................... 68
Abu Bakr Appoints ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) As His Successor ................................. 71
Ali’s Endorsement of the Judgment of Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) .................................. 74
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)’s Place on the Pulpit............................................................. 75
A Moving Speech.................................................................................................................................. 76
Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)’s Inaugural Speech ................................................................ 78
The Islamic State during the Reign of ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) ................................. 79
Traveling Towards Ash-Sham during the Plague Epidemic ................................................................. 80
Innocent Until Proven Guilty ................................................................................................................ 80
Difference between a King & Khaleefah .............................................................................................. 82
Year of the Drought .............................................................................................................................. 83
Principle of Equity ................................................................................................................................ 83
Protecting the Dignity of the Poor ........................................................................................................ 84
Showing Respect for other People’s Rights .......................................................................................... 85
There is No Compulsion in Religion .................................................................................................... 86
Conquest of Tastar ................................................................................................................................ 87
Allah The Almighty Honored You With Islam ..................................................................................... 88
Protection of the Minorities Rights ....................................................................................................... 89
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) Prays at the Al-Aqsa Mosque Jerusalem.............................. 90
Great System of Government ................................................................................................................ 91
Accountability of Government .............................................................................................................. 92
Expelling the Jews from Khaibar .......................................................................................................... 93
Shuraih’s Judgment ............................................................................................................................... 93
Policy of Keeping Eminent Companions in Madeenah ........................................................................ 95
Salary of the Caliph............................................................................................................................... 96
‘Umar’s (May Allah be pleased with him) Patched Garments ............................................................. 96
Numbering of the Muslim Calendar ..................................................................................................... 97
“Hit Me As I Hit You” .......................................................................................................................... 99
“You do not know him” ...................................................................................................................... 100
Swearing an Oath in Court .................................................................................................................. 101
Fair Dealings ....................................................................................................................................... 102
Sanctity of the Ka ‘bah........................................................................................................................ 103
The Reforms of ‘Umar ........................................................................................................................ 103
Assessing the Performance of the Governors ..................................................................................... 104
Leading by Example ........................................................................................................................... 105
"I would Kill All of Them" ................................................................................................................. 105
The Title, “The Leader of the Believers” ............................................................................................ 106
Refusing to Take One’s Right ............................................................................................................. 108
A Difficult Example to Follow ........................................................................................................... 109
“I own no other outfit” ........................................................................................................................ 110
Strong Sense of Wara ‘ ....................................................................................................................... 111
“We will listen and obey” ................................................................................................................... 111
A Stipend for Al-Khansaa ‘................................................................................................................. 112
Abstinence “A Salient Feature of Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)’s Character” ................... 113
No Extra Privilege ............................................................................................................................... 113
Humbleness of ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) ................................................................... 114
Golden Sayings of ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) .............................................................. 115
Islam A Strong and Dominating Religion ........................................................................................... 116
Relying on Evidence, not Personal Opinion ....................................................................................... 118
Dismissal of Al-Muthanna and Khalid ............................................................................................... 119
“Allah raises some people in status because of this Book” ................................................................. 120
The Most Beloved of People to ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him).......................................... 121
Every Muslim had a Right to the Treasury ......................................................................................... 122
The Opinion of ‘Umar is Accepted by Allah ...................................................................................... 123
Stipends and Salaries for the Governors ............................................................................................. 123
In Service of the Camels of Charity .................................................................................................... 124
Respect for Abu Bakr (May Allah be pleased with him) .................................................................... 125
Riding on a Donkey ............................................................................................................................ 125
Capability and Trustworthiness........................................................................................................... 127
“The people look at you as a bird looks at meat”................................................................................ 128
The Camel of the son of ‘Umar ........................................................................................................... 129
Hafsah (May Allah be please with her), the Mother of the Believers, Makes a Suggestion ............... 130
Knowing How to do Things ................................................................................................................ 131
His father was more Beloved to the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him)
............................................................................................................................................................ 132
Expelling the Feeling of Arrogance .................................................................................................... 133
Umm Saleet ((May Allah be please with her) is More Deserving of It .............................................. 134
Fear of Allah ....................................................................................................................................... 134
Acceptance of Others ‘ Advice ........................................................................................................... 135
‘Umar’s Dealings with the Prophet’s Wives ....................................................................................... 136
Honoring ‘Ali bin Abi Taalib (May Allah be pleased with him) and His Children ............................ 137
Testing Agents before Appointing Them ............................................................................................ 137
‘Umar’s Relations with Al- ‘Abbaas and ‘Abdullah bin ‘Abbaas ...................................................... 138
(Qur’an: 110:1, 2) ........................................................................................................................... 138
Honoring Abdullah bin ‘Abbaas (May Allah be pleased with him) with his Company ..................... 139
“Welcome to a Close Relation!” ......................................................................................................... 140
Warning a Person over how he spoke to a Woman on the Roadside .................................................. 141
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) did not Appoint any of his Relatives as Governors ........... 142
The World was Unable to Seduce Him ............................................................................................... 143
‘Umar Avoided Borrowing from the Public Treasury ........................................................................ 144
The Mail of the Muslim Fighters ........................................................................................................ 145
Taking Care of the Houses of the Islamic Fighters ............................................................................. 146
‘Umar refuses his Wife’s Offer ........................................................................................................... 147
A Loan for Hind (May Allah be please with her) Bint ‘Utbah ........................................................... 148
The Difference between Abu Bakr and ‘Umar ................................................................................... 148
Here is a Woman Whose Complaint Allah Heard from Above the Seven Heavens ........................... 150
Treating Agents and Governors if they Fell Sick ................................................................................ 150
Umar’s Piety ....................................................................................................................................... 151
“O ‘Umar, remain fearful of Allah!” ................................................................................................... 151
Establishing Regular Prayer ................................................................................................................ 152
Striving Hard to Ensure that People Received their Salaries .............................................................. 152
“You Want Me to Meet Allah as a Deceitful King!” .......................................................................... 154
O Leader of the Believers, “My Right Hand is Busy, “ ...................................................................... 155
Displays of Trustworthiness by Muslims ............................................................................................ 155
“Is Uwais bin ‘Aamir Among You?” .................................................................................................. 157
‘Umar’s Prohibition of Letting Captives of War Stay in Madeenah ................................................... 159
Ruling against the Slave’s Owner ....................................................................................................... 160
‘Umar’s Apology to ‘Adee bin Haatim (May Allah be pleased with him) ......................................... 160
‘Abdullah bin Huthaafah (May Allah be pleased with him) and the Roman Emperor ....................... 161
Dismissal of an agent who mocked at one of the people .................................................................... 163
Treaty of Jerusalem ............................................................................................................................. 164
Preference to Those who Accepted Islam First ................................................................................... 166
Appointment of Abu ‘Ubaid Ath-Thaqafi as the Commander of the Iraq Campaign ......................... 167
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) Kisses ‘Ali’s Head ............................................................. 169
The Marriage of a Woman from the Quraysh with a Slave ................................................................ 169
A Woman is Right and ‘Umar is Wrong ............................................................................................. 171
Respect for the Injured Muslim Fighters............................................................................................. 171
‘Umar’s (May Allah be pleased with him) Wish ................................................................................ 172
“O Allah, increase my fear in their hearts” ......................................................................................... 172
When Muslims Bear Witness to the Righteousness of a Muslim Who Has Died............................... 173
‘I will follow my two companions, the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) and Abu
Bakr ‘ .................................................................................................................................................. 173
‘Umar Inspired Awe and Sometimes Even Fear ................................................................................. 175
Sense of Awe in the Hearts of the People ........................................................................................... 175
Salaries of the People .......................................................................................................................... 176
The Butcher Shop of Az-Zubair bin Al-‘Awwaam (May Allah be pleased with him) ....................... 176
‘Uyainah bin Hisn and Maalik bin Abu Zufar .................................................................................... 177
‘Umar’s Advice to Abu ‘Ubaid ........................................................................................................... 178
A Special Discount on War Booty ...................................................................................................... 179
The House of Abu Sufyan in Makkah ................................................................................................. 180
How ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) Strove to Fulfill the Needs of the People .................. 181
“Do Not Cause Our Religion to Die” .................................................................................................. 183
Taking the Opinion of the Bride and Groom ...................................................................................... 183
Umar’s Concern for the Wellbeing of his People ............................................................................... 184
Checking on Governors....................................................................................................................... 184
The Persian Reaction........................................................................................................................... 186
“Stop Walking This Way!” ................................................................................................................. 186
Affection towards Children ................................................................................................................. 188
Teaching Children and preparing them for Fighting in the cause of Allah (SWT) ............................. 189
“Whosoever sees any crookedness in me let him straighten [it] out” ................................................. 190
‘Umar’s Advice to Someone Who Became an Alcoholic ................................................................... 191
“Verily, you are a Stone that can neither harm nor benefit [anyone or anything]” ............................. 193
Sense of justice and fair play .............................................................................................................. 194
Take it, O Mu’aiqeeb, and Place it in the Muslim Treasury ............................................................... 195
Salient Features of the financial system .............................................................................................. 195
Cutting Down the Ar-Ridhwaan Tree ................................................................................................. 197
Allah Alone Grants Victory ................................................................................................................ 197
The One Who Truly Trusts in Allah is the One Who Couples His Trust in Allah with Hard Work .. 198
Umar’s Knowledge ............................................................................................................................. 199
Turning the Traces of the Prophets ..................................................................................................... 200
Qualities of a Judge ............................................................................................................................. 202
Number One Priority ........................................................................................................................... 203
“I only complain of my grief and sorrow to Allah” ............................................................................ 203
“We are Followers, not Innovators”.................................................................................................... 204
Importance of the Friday Prayer ......................................................................................................... 205
The Abomination of Raised Voices in the Masjid .............................................................................. 206
Adhering Closely to the Teaching of the Quran and Sunnah .............................................................. 206
Enjoin As-Salat on your Family .......................................................................................................... 207
Salaries of Judges ................................................................................................................................ 208
‘Umar was the First to Mint Coins ...................................................................................................... 208
The Complaints of the People of Homs against Sa‘eed bin ‘Aamir ................................................... 209
A Gift from the Empress of Rome ...................................................................................................... 210
Compensation of Night Prayer ............................................................................................................ 211
Taraweeh Prayer.................................................................................................................................. 212
Freedom of Discussion........................................................................................................................ 213
“O Allah, make all of my deeds righteous” ........................................................................................ 213
Sense of Accountability ...................................................................................................................... 214
The Sweat from a Horse...................................................................................................................... 214
First Mudarbah of Islamic Government .............................................................................................. 215
Importance of Hajj .............................................................................................................................. 217
Companions ‘Praise for the Soldiers ................................................................................................... 217
False Humility and Humbleness ......................................................................................................... 219
“May this not make you happy!” ........................................................................................................ 220
Policing the Marketplace..................................................................................................................... 220
Personally Patrolling the Marketplace ................................................................................................ 221
Keeping a Close Eye on the Market .................................................................................................... 222
Limits of Intervention in the Market ................................................................................................... 223
‘Umar’s Views on Gainful Employment ............................................................................................ 224
Umar’s Sense of Responsibility .......................................................................................................... 225
Forcing Businessmen to Learn The Islamic Laws of Buying and Selling .......................................... 226
Balanced Approach to Governing his People ..................................................................................... 227
Appointment of Supervisors ............................................................................................................... 227
Complete Trust in Allah (SWT) .......................................................................................................... 228
Business is one-third of Leadership .................................................................................................... 229
When ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) Became Afraid that His People Would Abandon
Business Altogether ............................................................................................................................ 230
Honoring the Experts .......................................................................................................................... 231
Umm Hakim bint Al-Harith in the Battle of Merj As-Sufr ................................................................. 231
Supplication for Rain .......................................................................................................................... 232
‘Umar Wanted to be a Mu’aththin ...................................................................................................... 233
Seeking Help from Allah, and the Rain Prayer ................................................................................... 234
‘Umar’s Keenness and Intelligence..................................................................................................... 235
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) Prohibits the Early Weaning of Infants .............................. 236
Encouraging People to Perform Hajj .................................................................................................. 238
Umar’s Activities during the Drought................................................................................................. 239
Sending Starving Individuals to Other Muslim Households ............................................................... 240
“Will You Carry the Burden of My Sins for Me on the Day of Resurrection?” ................................. 243
Year of the Ashes ................................................................................................................................ 245
“O Leader of the Believers, Give Your Companion Glad Tidings of a Baby Boy!” .......................... 246
Four Most Capable Judges of this Nation ........................................................................................... 247
“Did You not Know that They Have a Right Over You?” .................................................................. 248
Gentle Without being Weak ................................................................................................................ 249
Leading by Example ........................................................................................................................... 250
Welfare State ....................................................................................................................................... 250
Regarding How ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) was Cautious when it Came to Accepting
Hadeeth Narrations ............................................................................................................................. 251
Strict Standards upon Himself and his Family .................................................................................... 251
‘Abdur-Rahmaan bin ‘Awf Advises ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) .................................. 253
Daar Ad-Daqeeq, the House of Supplies ............................................................................................ 253
Establishing Cities that Served as Military Bases and Centers from which Muslims Disseminated the
Message of Islam ................................................................................................................................ 255
“Two men fought”............................................................................................................................... 257
“Plunge, O one who dives deep in to the meanings of the Qur’an” .................................................... 257
A Lad who has the Mind of Middle-Aged Man .................................................................................. 259
Great Deal of Respect for Al- ‘Abbaas ............................................................................................... 260
Fear of Being Held Accountable ......................................................................................................... 261
Circle of Learning in Ash-Sham ......................................................................................................... 262
An Enclosure Filled with Knowledge ................................................................................................. 263
Implicit trust in ‘Umar’s Legal Rulings .............................................................................................. 264
The School of Ash-Sham (Syria and Surrounding Regions) .............................................................. 264
Beautiful and Melodious Voice .......................................................................................................... 265
He Who does not Know Evil is more Likely to Fall into it ................................................................ 266
Some of ‘Umar’s Sayings about Seeking Knowledge ........................................................................ 267
Writing and Calligraphy...................................................................................................................... 267
Every Hour of the Day is Suitable for Gaining Knowledge................................................................ 269
Worth of a Meaningful Poem .............................................................................................................. 270
Changes to the Haram in Makkah ....................................................................................................... 271
Planning and Building Masjids ........................................................................................................... 271
Expansion of the Prophet’s Masjid ..................................................................................................... 273
“I am Afraid that I Will be questioned about You” ............................................................................ 274
Stores of Provisions and Water for Travelers between Makkah and Madeenah ................................. 275
Digging a Channel for the People of Basrah ....................................................................................... 276
The Grave of Daanyaal ....................................................................................................................... 277
Gatherings of Knowledge ................................................................................................................... 277
Waterway between the Nile and the Red Sea ..................................................................................... 278
Books of Scholars & Priests ................................................................................................................ 278
Roads and Public Transportation ........................................................................................................ 279
A True Man of Character .................................................................................................................... 280
‘Umar's concern for the Plight of the Muslims ................................................................................... 282
“By the time I am gone, they will not need anyone after me” ............................................................ 283
Look neither at the Prayer not at the Fasting of a Person ................................................................... 284
Taking Care of Patients ....................................................................................................................... 285
Seeking Aid From the Inhabitants of Distant Provinces ..................................................................... 286
The Servant of the People: The Leader of the Believers ..................................................................... 286
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) Consulted ‘Ali (May Allah be pleased with him) before Making
Final Decisions.................................................................................................................................... 287
‘Umar’s Supplications for the Muslims .............................................................................................. 289
His Desire for Martyrdom ................................................................................................................... 291
Love with Hasan & Husain (May Allah be please with them) ........................................................... 292
‘Verily the Knots will be Loosened ‘ .................................................................................................. 294
The Muslim Nation was built on Justice ............................................................................................. 295
“I fear this food will Turn into fire in ‘Umar’s stomach” ................................................................... 295
“The most beloved people are those who point out my faults”........................................................... 296
‘Umar wept upon receiving the Wealth of Persia ............................................................................... 297
Governor Like a Caring Mother .......................................................................................................... 297
Respecting Governors after their Dismissal ........................................................................................ 298
‘Umar appoints Ka ‘b as a Judge ........................................................................................................ 299
‘Beware of Bribery ‘ ........................................................................................................................... 299
‘This is your world ‘............................................................................................................................ 300
‘Umar receives Kisrah’s Clothes & Crown......................................................................................... 300
Muslims Compete for Calling Athaan ................................................................................................ 301
‘Here I am! Here I am! ‘ ..................................................................................................................... 302
“They threatened to burn me…....” ..................................................................................................... 303
Feeding Farmers with the Food of Kings ............................................................................................ 303
Modern Application of Past Military Concepts .................................................................................. 304
“Did you Honor my Soldiers and Cool their Hearts Likewise?” ........................................................ 305
‘They are Like Cattle… ‘ .................................................................................................................... 305
Muslim Chivalry and Magnanimity in Returning the Daughter of Muqawqis ................................... 306
Conversation between ‘Umar and Huthaifah (May Allah be please with her) about tribulations, and the
Door about to be Broken ..................................................................................................................... 306
Poor People Going to Wealthy People ................................................................................................ 307
Al-Farooq asks Sa‘d to send a Delegation to Debate the Persian King .............................................. 308
Rustam gets Scared by the Call to Prayer ........................................................................................... 310
The Middle Path .................................................................................................................................. 311
“Be one whom the righteous trust and the evildoers fear.” ................................................................. 312
“Your father was better than my father” ............................................................................................. 312
Life is a Journey .................................................................................................................................. 313
Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) is Given Glad Tidings of Paradise ....................................... 314
The Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) Loved ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with
him) More than Almost Anyone Else ................................................................................................. 314
The Belly that Causes a Person to enter Hell ...................................................................................... 316
‘Umar’s Forbearance........................................................................................................................... 317
Abu Moosa Al-Ash ‘aree’s Dreams .................................................................................................... 317
Interpreting ‘Awf bin Malik’s dream .................................................................................................. 319
'Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) Rightly Judges what should be LegislatedRegarding Asking
People Permission to Enter Their Homes ........................................................................................... 320
“You have spoken the truth” ............................................................................................................... 320
Respecting the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) .............................. 321
A True Dream ..................................................................................................................................... 322
Paving the Floor of the Masjid ............................................................................................................ 323
“Whatever you want to remove, do so; whatever you wish to keep, do so” ....................................... 324
Praying before taking a decision ......................................................................................................... 325
Umar’s Stance towards the Spoils from Jaloolah................................................................................ 326
“Include Me in Your Invocation” ....................................................................................................... 326
Deviant Sects Used to Lead People Astray ......................................................................................... 328
Last Friday Sermon delivered by ‘Umar at Madeenah ....................................................................... 328
The people of Iraq and Syria ............................................................................................................... 329
The Murder of Umar ibn al-Khattab ................................................................................................... 330
Final Moments .................................................................................................................................... 331
What companions said about him (May Allah be pleased with him) ................................................. 332
Great Humbleness of ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) and Great Sacrifice by ‘Aa’ishah (May
Allah be please with her) .................................................................................................................... 334
Commanding good &Forbidding Evil while being on the deathbed................................................... 334
Praise of Companions and Early Scholars for ‘Umar ......................................................................... 335
PREFACE
The Messenger of God, Muhammad (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) considered ‘Umar
(May Allah be pleased with him) Ibn Khattab a genius. Indeed, he was one. God had chosen him for
an enormous task with a great deal of tact and bravery; he brought an end to the supremacy and clout
of Byzantine and Sassanid empires.
I was fortunate that my parents instilled into my heart the love of the Sahabah of Muhammad (Peace
and Blessings of Allah be upon him) early in my childhood. During the years of my education, Shiblii
Nu‘maani’s Al-Farooq influenced me more than any other book. Added to this were scholarly talks
and lectures on the life and character of ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him). As I grew up, I began
reading essays and books about ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him), among others. Subsequently,
I had the honor to write and speak about him on various occasions.
Over the years, I have come across numerous books presenting accounts of ‘Umar (May Allah be
pleased with him)’s life and achievements. I often felt that much had to be done in this respect. Time
and again, I felt the urge to compile authentic accounts of ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)’s
life in a way that would appeal to the youth of our times.
Along the way, Darussalam published ‘Ali Muhammad as-sallabi’s two-volume work, in which the
author has painstakingly narrated the series of events in the life of ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with
him) Ibn Khattab. I read the book cover to cover, and identified a number of incidents in the life of
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) that I thought were most pertinent for our youths.
Subsequently, I adapted these accounts to my linguistic taste, and occasionally modified their content
as well.
I went on to read Al-Farooq one more time and identified a number of incidents that I would later
include in my compilation. And so I undertook a reading of various books, and identified numerous
accounts from At-Tabari’s ar-Riyad an-Nadirah, Safi Ar-Rahman Mubarakpuri’s ArRaheeq-ul-
Makhtum, ‘A‘ id al-Qarni’s al-Misk waal ‘ AnbarfI Khutab al Minbar, and ‘Ali atTantawi’s Akhbar
Umar‘ (May Allah be pleased with him). I spotted some accounts in the Mawsu‘at al Qasas al-
Waqi‘iyah as well. From these different sources comes the present assortment of invaluable accounts
of ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)’s life. My compilation of this work was greatly facilitated
by my habit of highlighting interesting portions of a book.
The intended audience for this book is Muslim youth. I have tried my best to avoid repetition of
accounts in the book. However, some of the incidents in ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)’s life
have been powerfully narrated by various authors, and each deserves to be read – such accounts may
occur more than once. Finally, I have deliberately left the accounts in this book without a sequence, so
that each account is read by itself with ease. This is intended to be a unique approach in presentation
and reading of Islamic books.
While I compiled the present book, I was in qualms about the design of the book – I wanted the book
designed innovatively for the contemporary reader. Darussalam’s senior designer, Shahzad Ahmad
solved my problem. It was his proposal that the book be designed like a magazine, with each of the
short stories appearing in a different format.
For years, we have desired quality and innovation in publication, so that young readers find Islamic
books attractive. The extent to which we have succeeded on this occasion would be best judged by our
readers. We would be happy to receive feedback from our valued readers on
abdulghaffar@darussalamksa.com.
As always, my colleagues at Darussalam Lahore and Riyadh have offered me utmost cooperation in
publication of this work. I am especially thankful to Prof. Muhammad Zulfiqar, Qari Muhammad Iqbal
‘Abdulaziz, and Shahzad Ahmad for their invaluable assistance on this occasion. May Allah bless them
all with the best of rewards. Amen.
Abdul Malik Mujahid
February 2012
Status of ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)’s Grandfather
It was a custom among the Arabs [before Islam] that whenever two chieftains would argue as to whom
among them was better in status, they would appoint an arbitrator to decide the matter. This debate
would sometimes continue for months and required the participants to possess high oratorical skills
and eloquence. These qualities were widely found in the tribe of 'Adi, which was the tribe that ‘Umar
(May Allah be pleased with him) belonged to. Nufail bin Abdul-‘Uzza, the grandfather of ‘Umar (May
Allah be pleased with him), maintained this practice in a skilled manner. It was due to this highly
prized quality of his that he would be appointed as arbitrator by the people. Once, Abdul-Muttalib, the
grandfather of Prophet Muhammad (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him), and Harb bin
Umayyah argued with each other and placed Abdul ‘Uzza as the arbitrator, who judged in favor of
Abdul-Muttalib.
[Subulul Huda war- Rishad 1/264]
Stern & Harsh Father

Al-Khattaab’s disciplinarian parenting methods left emotional scars on the psyche of ‘Umar (May
Allah be pleased with him), which affected him for a very long time. That ‘Umar (May Allah be
pleased with him) had sad memories of his childhood was confirmed by the frequency with which he
reminisced about his early years. Abdur-Rahmaan bin Haatib said, “Once, when I was with ‘Umar
(May Allah be pleased with him) bin Al-Khattaab beside Dajnaan (a mountain that is situated only 25
kilometers outside of Makkah), he said, 'I would herd camels for Al-Khattaab at this very place. He
was a stern and harsh man. At times, I would herd camels, and at other times, I would gather wood.”
Sa‘eed bin Al-Musayyib gave an account of another occasion on which ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased
with him) reminisced about his youth: “Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) performed Hajj, and
when he was beside Dajnaan, he said, ‘None has the right to be worshiped but Allah, the Most-High,
the All-Mighty, the Giver of what He wills to whomever He wills. I used to herd Al-Khattaab’s camels
in this valley…He was a harsh man, reproaching me [even] when I worked [hard], and hitting me when
I was negligent [regarding the tasks he had assigned me]. ‘”
Ibn 'Asaakir: 52/268
Physical Attributes
Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) was born thirteen years after the Year of the Elephant, the year
during which Abrahah tried to destroy the Ka‘bahand was himself destroyed as a result; since that was
the year during which the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) was born, ‘Umar (May
Allah be pleased with him) was thirteen years younger than him.
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)’s skin was very white, verging, in fact, on being albinotic,
and there was redness to parts of his skin. His facial features – particularly his cheeks, nose, and eyes
– were well-proportioned, making him look handsome. His feet and hands were rough. His baldness
was sharply contrasted by his massive physique; he was exceptionally tall too; so much did he tower
above others that when he stood, it seemed as if he were seated on a riding animal. He was, to be sure,
strong and fierce.
He would dye his hair with Henna and the hair on the sides of his moustache was long. It is related that
he would hold on to that hair and twirl it when he would become angry or when he would become sad.
When he walked, he would quicken his pace; when he spoke, his voice was strong, such that those
around him could clearly hear what he was saying.
Tahdeeb Al-Asmaa: 2/14
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)’s Teenage Years
Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) was very fond of wrestling, being an expert wrestler. In the
famous market of 'Ukaadh, which took place every year, he would compete with famous Arab
wrestlers. ‘Ukaadh's a place located near 'Arafat.
Famous people from among the various fields would converge on the market of 'Ukaadh to display
their skills and expertise in their field. Among them were Nabighah Zabiyani, Hassan bin Thabit, Qus
bin Sa ‘ida Iyadi, and Khansa bint ‘Amr, who were famous poets recognized by all Arabs. Allamah
Balaadhuri related in his book, Kitabul Ashraf, “‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) used to
wrestle in the market of ‘Ukaadh, and he was an expert in horse riding. He was able to ride the horse
while merely jumping on it without the use of any stirrups. All historians agree that ‘Umar (May Allah
be pleased with him) was appointed as an ambassador by the Quraysh. This position required the
appointed individual to possess high intellect, eloquence, and convincing speech.”
[Al-Farooq, pg. 47]
The Date of His Entry into the Fold of Islam

The Date of His Entry into the Fold of Islam, and the Number of People Who Were Muslims at
the Time
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) embraced Islam in the month of Dhul-Hijjah, during the sixth
year of the Messenger of Allah’s prophethood. At the time, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)
was 27 years old. He became a Muslim just three days after Hamzah had done the same. ‘Umar (May
Allah be pleased with him) said, “I remember the time when only 39 men embraced Islam along with
the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him). I made them an even forty.”
At-Tantaawiyyat: 22
The Famous Personalities Among ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased
with him)’s Ancestors
Whenever the Quraysh would decide to go to war or choose a leader for the army, they would do so in
the house of the maternal great grandfather of ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him), Mugheerah.
Khalid bin Waleed, the famous Muslim commander, was the grandson of Mugheerah. The maternal
grandfather of ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him), Hashim, was also a very famous and prominent
person.
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)’s family background in Makkah was strong: His forefathers
were men of high-standing among the Quraysh. ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)’s father was
Al-Khattaab bin Nufail, and ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)’s grandfather was Nufail bin
‘Abdul-‘Uzza, a man who was sought by other members of the Quraysh in order to settle and judge
their disputes. ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)’s mother was Hantamah bint (“bint”here means
“daughter of”) Haashim bin Al-Mugheerah. It has been said that she was Abu Jahl’s sister, but most
historians believe that she was the paternal cousin, and not the sister, of Abu Jahl bin Hishaam.
Auliyaat Al-Farooq As-Siyasiyyah: 22
Family Life
During the pre-Islamic days of ignorance, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) married Zainab bint
Madh’oon, the sister of 'Uthmaan bin Madh’oon. Together they had three children: 'Abdullah, 'Abdur-
Rahmaan the eldest (I say eldest because three of his children were named 'Abdur-Rahmaan), and
Hafsah.
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) also married Maleekah bint Jarwal, who bore for him his son
‘Ubaidullah; ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) then later divorced her, after which she married
Abul-Jahm bin Hudhaifah. ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) also married Quraibah bint Abu
Umayyah Al-Makhzoomee, but then later divorced her as well. Quraibah then went on to marry
‘Abdur-Rahmaan bin Abu Bakr.
Later, when 'Ikrimah bin Abu Jahl was killed in Ash-Sham (Ash-Sham refers to Syria and surrounding
regions), ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) married the wife ‘Ikrimah left behind: Umm Hakeem
bint Al-Haarith bin Hishaam. Together they had Faatimah. Regarding Umm Hakeem, historians
disagree about whether or not ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) divorced her before he died.
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) also married Jameelah bint ‘Aasim bin Thaabit bin Abu Al-
Aqlah, a woman from the Aws Tribe. Another one of ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)’s wives
was ‘Aatikah bint Zayd bin ‘Amr bin Nufail; prior to their marriage, ‘Aatikah had been married to
‘Abdullah bin Abu Bakr. When ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) was killed, Az-Zubair bin Al-
‘Awwaam married her. It is said that ‘Aatikah was the mother of ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with
him)’s son ‘Iyaadh. And Allah knows best.
Al-Bidaayah Wan-Nihaayah”7/144
Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)’s marriage to Umm
Kulthum Bint ‘Ali Bin Abi Taalib
Ali Bin Abi Taalib married his daughter by Fatimah, the daughter of Allah’s Messenger (Peace and
Blessings of Allah be upon him) to Al-Faaruq. He married her to him when he sought her hand in
marriage Allah be pleased with him, indicating his trust in him, attesting to his nobility and merit and
acknowledging his goodness and beauty of conduct. It demonstrated the fact that they had a strong and
pure relationship and firm connection that incinerates the hearts of the envious among the enemies of
this glorious Ummah. Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) harbored such love for the Ahl Al-Bait
as he did not harbor for any other person due to their closeness to Allah’s Messenger (Peace and
Blessings of Allah be upon him). When Allah’s Messenger (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon
him) instructed him to honor the Ahl Al-Bait and to protect their rights, this spurred Umar (May Allah
be pleased with him) to seek Umm Kulthum, ‘Ali and Fatimah’s daughter in marriage, may the
pleasure of Allah be upon them all.
He wooed him concerning this until ‘Ali said: “I have done as you desire.”Then Umar (May Allah be
pleased with him) turned to the Muhajireen happily, saying: “Congratulate me.”
It is also mentioned that the reason why he married her was due to the Statement of Allah’s Messenger
(Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) that: “Every cause and kinship shall be severed on the
Day of Resurrection except the one for my cause and my kinship.”(And he said): “I wish that there is
between me and Allah’s Messenger (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) a cause.”
This marriage has been affirmed by historians of genealogy and all the scholars of Hadith and Fiqh
among the Shi ‘ah, as well as their “infallible Imam”, as they claim. Shaykh Ihsan Ilahi has quoted
these narrations specifying that in his book, ash-Shi ‘ah wa As-Sunnah.
Umm Kulthum Bint ‘Ali gave birth to a daughter by Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) she named
Ruqayyah and a son named Zaid. The companions of Zaid related that there was a brawl among some
people from Banu Adiyy Bin Ka ‘b one night and Zaid Bin Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)
went out to make peace between them. However, he inadvertently received a blow which struck his
head and he died instantly. His mother was extremely grieved at his death. She became so consumed
with sorrow that she died at that very moment. Umm Kulthum and her son, Zaid, were buried at the
same time. Abdullah Bin Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) Bin Al-Khattab led their funeral
prayer. He was asked to lead by Al-Hasan Bin ‘Ali Bin Abi Taalib and he prayed behind him.
Ash-Shi ‘ah wa Ahl Al-Bait, p. 105. Usd Al-Ghabah 7/45, Nisaa Ahl Al-Bait by
Mansur Abul Hakim, p. 185, 186.
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)’s Strong Personality
1. When the Quraysh came to Badr, they were not joined by the tribe of ‘Adi, which was the tribe
that ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) belonged to. It can be deduced from this incident that the
reason behind this was because of ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)’s strong personality.
2. The first martyr among the Muslims during the battle of Badr was Mahja‘, the servant of ‘Umar
(May Allah be pleased with him).
O my brother, do not forget us in your supplications ‘
One day, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) asked the Prophet for permission to perform ‘Umrah
(the lesser pilgrimage to Makkah). The Prophet replied:
“O my brother, [during your pilgrimage] do not forget us in your supplications (prayers).”
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said, “I would not love to give away what the Prophet said in
return for all that the sun shines down upon – [I feel this way] because he said [to me], ‘O my brother.
‘“
Abu Dawud: 1498
First Inclination to Islam
Umm ‘Abdullah bint Hantamah said, “When we (i.e., I and a group of women) were about to leave
with the intention of migrating to Abyssinia, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) came towards
us, until he stood right above me. Prior to that time, we would be at the receiving end of his harsh and
ruthless treatment.
As he stood over me, he said, ‘Does this mean you are leaving, O Umm ‘Abdullah? ‘I said, ‘Yes. By
Allah, because you have harmed and subjugated us, we are going out in the lands of Allah until Allah
will make a way for us. ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said, ‘May Allah accompany you [in
your journey]. ‘ I saw a gentle side of him that I had never seen before. When ‘Aamir bin Rabee ‘ah
then came – and he had been gone taking care of some personal business –
I informed him about what had happened. ‘He then said, ‘It is as if you are hoping that ‘Umar (May
Allah be pleased with him) will embrace Islam? ‘She replied, ‘Yes. ‘‘Aamir then said, ‘Not until the
donkey of Al-Khattaab embraces Islam will ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) do the same! ‘“
The primary cause of his entry into Islam was the following supplication that the Messenger of Allah
(Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) had made: “O Allah, honor and strengthen Islam with the
more beloved of these two men to You: Abu Jahl bin Hishaam or ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with
him) bin Al-Khattaab.”The more beloved of the two men to Allah was, of course, ‘Umar (May Allah
be pleased with him) bin Al-Khattaab.
Allah I then created the necessary circumstances for ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) to
embrace Islam. In a narration that is related in Saheeh Al-Bukhaari, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with
him) recalled an incident that he attributed to his decision to embrace Islam.
Ibn Hisham: 1/216, At-Tirmidhe: 3682
Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) Breaks into His Sister’s
House, and His Sister, Faatimah ((May Allah be please with her),
Stands up to Him
Upon hearing that his sister and her husband had embraced Islam, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with
him) was overcome by a fit of uncontrollable rage. Thus Nu‘aim, the Companion who had divulged
the news when he spotted ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him), sword in hand, setting out with the
intention of harming the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him), achieved the desired
effect of diverting ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)’s attention away from the Prophet (Peace
and Blessings of Allah be upon him).
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) headed straight towards his sister’s house and banged on the
door. ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)’s sister, Faatimah ((May Allah be please with her); her
husband, Sa‘eed; and their Qur’an teacher, Khabbaab– these three were inside, busy reading the
Qur’an. As soon as they heard ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)’s angry voice they stopped
what they were doing. Khabbaab found a place to hide, and by the time ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased
with him) entered, Faatimah ((May Allah be please with her) did not have enough time to hide the
scroll from which they were reading the Qur’an – and so she hurriedly tried to hide it under her leg.
Faatimah ((May Allah be please with her) was prepared for the worst, for she immediately saw and
understood the meaning of the evil expression on ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)’s face. “I
heard you speaking in low, secretive voices, what were you saying?”‘Umar (May Allah be pleased
with him) demanded. They were reciting Chapter Ta-Ha of the Noble Qur’an.
“We were just having a conversation between ourselves, “Faatimah ((May Allah be please with her)
said.
“Perhaps the two of you have abandoned your religion, “said ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him).
Sa‘eed said, “O ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him), suppose that the truth lies in something other
than your religion.”
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) suddenly lunged at Sa‘eed and pulled at his beard. The two
of them struggled for a brief period, but ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) was clearly the
stronger of the two, pinning his opponent on the ground and then sitting on his chest. Faatimah ((May
Allah be please with her) then came and tried to push ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) off of
her husband, but then ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) struck her on her face, which resulted
in blood streaming down the side of her face. In an angry tone, Faatimah ((May Allah be please with
her) exclaimed, “O enemy of Allah! Do you strike me simply because I believe in the Oneness of
Allah?” He dryly replied, “Yes.”
Faatimah ((May Allah be please with her) said, “Then do whatever you planned to do. I bear witness
that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. We
have embraced Islam in spite of you!”
When ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) heard these words, he began to regret what he had done.
He got off Sa‘eed and sat down beside him on the ground. And he then said, “Give me the scroll that
is with you, so that I can read it.”Faatimah ((May Allah be please with her) said, “I will not do that.”
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said, “Woe upon you! What you said struck a chord in my
heart, so give it to me and let me see it. I give you the sincerest and strongest of pledges that I will not
betray you [by tearing it apart, for instance] and that I will give it back to you so that you can then
safeguard it in any place of your choosing.”
“You are impure, “Faatimah ((May Allah be please with her) replied, thus alluding to the saying of
Allah:
Which (that book with Allah) no one can touch but the purified (the Angels) [56:79]
“Then stand up and take a bath, or at least perform ablution, “Faatimah ((May Allah be please with
her) said.
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) left, took a bath, and then returned to his sister, who then gave
him the scroll. It contained Chapter Ta-Ha, in addition to other chapters of the Qur’an. The first words
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) read were: “In the name of Allah, the MostBeneficent, the
Most-Merciful.”Upon reading the words: “The Most-Beneficent, the MostMerciful, “‘mar (May Allah
be pleased with him) felt frightened and dropped the scroll from his hand. When he then regained his
composure, he picked up the scroll again and read the following verses of Chapter Ta-Ha:
{Ta-Ha. [These letters are one of the miracles of the Qur’an, and none but Allah (Alone) knows their
meanings.] We have not sent down the Qur’an unto you (O Muhammad (Peace and
Blessings of Allah be upon him)) to cause you distress, But only as a Reminder to those who fear
(Allah). A revelation from Him (Allah) Who has created the earth and high heavens. The Most
Beneficent (Allah) rose over (Istawa) the (Mighty) throne (in a manner that suits His Majesty). To
Him belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is on the earth, and all that is between them, and
all that is under the soil. And if you (O Muhammad (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him)
speak (the invocation) aloud, then verily, He knows the secret and that which is yet more hidden.
Allah! La ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He) ! To Him belong the Best
Names.} (Qur’an: 20: 1-8)
He felt the magnificence and greatness of what he was reading, for upon finishing the said verses, he
commented, “Is it from this that the Quraysh have been running away?”He then continued to read on,
until he reached the saying of Allah:
{Verily! I am Allah! La ilaha illa Ana. (none has the right to be worshiped but I), so worship Me, and
perform As-Salat (Iqamat-as-Salat) for My Remembrance. Verily, the Hour is coming – and My Will
is to keep it hidden – that every person may be rewarded for that which he strives.
Therefore, let not the one who believes not therein (i.e., in the Day of Resurrection, Reckoning,
Paradise and Hell, etc.), but follows his own lusts, divert you therefrom, lest you perish.}
(Qur’an: 20: 14-16)
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) then said, “As for the One Who says this, it is not fitting that
any other [false idol, person, angel, or anyone or anything for that matter] should be worshipped
alongside him. Take me to Muhammad (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him).”
Fadaail As-Sahaabah, by Imam Ahmad: 1/344
Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) Goes to Prophet

Muhammad (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) and
Announces His Entry into the Fold of Islam
Upon hearing ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) utter those last words, Khabbaab came out of
his hiding place and exclaimed, “Rejoice, O ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)! For indeed I
hope that the supplication of the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) made on Monday
is being answered with you. He (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) had said: ‘O Allah, honor
Islam with the more beloved of these two men to you: Abu Jahl bin Hishaam or ‘Umar (May Allah be
pleased with him) bin Al-Khattaab.
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said, “Tell me where the Messenger of Allah (Peace and
Blessings of Allah be upon him) is.”Knowing that ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) was sincere,
the three of them replied, “He is just south of [Mount] As-Safaa.”‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with
him) took his sword and made his way towards the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah
be upon him). He knocked on the door of Al-Arqam’s home, and upon hearing his voice, the Prophet’s
Companions became frightened, and not a single one of them dared to open the door for him. They
knew how strong he was, and they knew the harshness with which he dealt with the Messenger of
Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him). When Hamzah saw how afraid the others were, he
said to them, “What is the matter with you all?”They said, “‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)
bin Al-Khattaab [is outside].”
Hamzah said, “‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) bin Al-Khattaab? Then open the door for him.
If Allah wants good to befall him, he will embrace Islam. If Allah wants something else for him, it will
be easy for all of us together to [overpower ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) and] kill him.”
They opened the door, and for obvious security reasons, Hamzah and another man held him by the two
sides of his body. They then admitted him into the presence of the Messenger of Allah (Peace and
Blessings of Allah be upon him), who, upon seeing how they held on tightly to ‘Umar (May Allah be
pleased with him), said, “Release him.”The Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon
him) got up, drew nearer to ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him), pulled roughly at his clothing,
and said, “What brings you here, O son of Al-Khattaab? By Allah, I do not think you will stop [your
evil behavior towards us] until Allah sends down upon you a calamity.”
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) replied, “O Messenger of Allah, I have come to you as a man
who believes in Allah, in His Messenger (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him), and what His
Messenger (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) came with from Him.”The Messenger of Allah
(Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) exclaimed, “Allah is the Greatest!”and everyone inside
Al-Arqam’s home then knew that ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) had indeed embraced Islam.
When the Prophet’s Companions left that day, with each person going his separate way, they felt
stronger and more confident – for in a span of just a few days, two of Quraysh’s strongest and most
intimidating men had embraced Islam, Hamzah and ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him).They
knew that the two of them would do everything in their power to defend the Messenger of Allah (Peace
and Blessings of Allah be upon him).
Fadaail As-Sahaabah: 1/344
Everyone Should Know about the Islam of Umar (May Allah be

pleased with him)
When ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) embraced Islam, the Quraysh for a while did not know
about his Islam. ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) wanted everyone to know about the fact that
he had embraced Islam], and said, ‘Among the people of Makkah, who is the biggest gossip-monger?
‘ Someone replied, ‘That would be Jameel bin Ma‘mar Al-Jumahee. ‘‘Umar (May Allah be pleased
with him) went out in search of Jameel, and I followed ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him),
desiring to see what he would do. At the time, I was a young boy, but I was old enough to understand
everything I saw and heard. ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) went to him and said, ‘O Jameel,
I have indeed embraced Islam. ‘ By Allah, Jameel did not bother to reply to ‘Umar (May Allah be
pleased with him) with even a single word; instead, he immediately stood up and dragged his robe [as
he walked hastily towards the people of the Quraysh]; meanwhile, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with
him) followed him, and I followed my father. Finally, when Jameel stood at the door of the Masjid, he
yelled as loudly as he could,
“O people of the Quraysh! –And they were all present, for they were seated in their customary
gatherings around the Ka‘bah– ‘Lo! Indeed, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) bin
AlKhattaab has changed his religion!”
Meanwhile, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him), standing behind Jameel, called out, ‘He has lied;
rather, the truth is that I have embraced Islam and bear witness that none has the right to be worshipped
but Allah and that Muhammad is His Slave and Messenger. ‘They attacked him, and ‘Umar (May
Allah be pleased with him) attacked ‘Utbah bin Rabee ‘ah, kneeling on him and striking him with a
series of blows. ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) then inserted his fingers into ‘Utbah’s eyes,
and as a result, ‘Utbah began to scream. [Seeing what was happening to ‘Utbah,] the people moved
back, away from ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him). ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)
then stood up, and whenever anyone came near him, he attacked the highest-ranking Qurashee man
from the people who came near him; this continued until the people held back and refrained from
attacking him. ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) proceeded to go from one Qurashee gathering
to another, openly proclaiming to the people of the Quraysh his Faith [in Islam].”
Riyadh An-Nadhirah, P: 319
Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)’s Relentless Fight with

Quraysh
Umar continued to fight the Quraysh until the sun was about to set above their heads. By that time,
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) was so tired that he simply sat down, no longer being able to
fight. Meanwhile, the people of the Quraysh stood around him, ready to swoop down upon him and
perhaps even kill him.
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said, “Do [with me] whatever you want!”At that moment, a
man wearing a silk robe approached and said to the people of the Quraysh, “What is the matter with
you?”They replied, “The son of Al-Khattaab has changed his religion.”He said, “And so what? He is
simply a man who has chosen a religion for himself. Do you all think that the children of ‘Adi (i.e.,
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)’s clan) will surrender to you their fellow clansman (i.e., ‘Umar
(May Allah be pleased with him))?” The man’s message was clearly understood by the Quraysh, for
in the words of ‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him), “They moved away from him,
as if they were garments being removed from his body (i.e., so closely did they surround him).” Years
later, in Madeenah, ‘Abdullah asked ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him), “O father, who was the
man who turned the people away from you that day?” ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) replied,
“That, my son, was Al-‘Aas bin Waa ‘il As-Sahmee.”
Refer to Fadaail As-Sahaabah, by Imaam Ahmad (1/346).
The chain of the narration is Hasan (good, acceptable).
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) is Eager for Muslims to
Openly Proclaim their Faith
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him), prior to his acceptance of Islam, was sincere and loyal to his
religion, he was now even more sincere and more loyal to his newly adopted religion, Islam. He strove
to promote the cause of Islam with all of his energy and strength, and he longed for the day when
Muslims would achieve strength and authority, so that they could freely practice their Religion. At the
same time, however, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) understood that Muslims had to progress
slowly; and if they were not to rule the earth immediately, then at least they should be able to openly
proclaim their Faith – a step that had not yet been taken by Muslims.
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) went to the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah
be upon him) and said, “O Messenger of Allah, are we not upon the truth, regardless of whether we
die or remain alive?”The Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) replied,
“Yes, indeed. By the One Who has my soul in His Hand, you are all indeed upon the truth, regardless
of whether you die or remain alive.”
“Then why should we hide?”‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) asked. “By the One Who has
sent you with the truth, you will indeed go out [and openly proclaim your message].”It seems that the
Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) himself felt – given the Islam of two strong men,
Hamzah and ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) – that it was time to go out and openly announce
the message of Islam. And so, feeling that Muslims could now defend their Faith, the Prophet (Peace
and Blessings of Allah be upon him) granted the Muslims permission to openly proclaim their beliefs.
Shortly thereafter, Muslims went out into the streets in two rows; one of them was accompanied by
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him), and the other by Hamzah. As they marched in a peaceful and
organized manner, the stamping of their feet caused dust to fly up from the ground. When they finally
entered the Masjid, and when the leaders of the Quraysh saw ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)
and Hamzah, it was as if the Quraysh had been afflicted with a calamity that was worse than any
calamity they had befallen them in the past. That was the day that the Messenger of Allah (Peace and
Blessings of Allah be upon him) gave ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) the title, “Al-Faarooq.”
Refer to Hilyatul-Auliyaa (1/40) and to Sifatus-Safwah (1/103, 104)
The Statements of Imam an-Nawawi regarding ‘Umar (May

Allah be pleased with him)
Imam an-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy upon him) relates that ‘Umar is included among those who
accepted Islam in its early stages. He is also included among the ten who were given the good news of
having attained Paradise while they were still alive. He was the appointed Caliph after Abu Bakr. He
was the father-in-law of the Prophet, as the latter was married to Hafsah, the daughter of ‘Umar, and
who was one of the Mothers of the Believers.
The Effect ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)’s Islam had
on the Condition of Muslims in Makkah
Abdullah bin Mas‘ood said, “From the day ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) embraced Islam
onwards, we gained strength. I remember the time when we were not able to perform Tawaaf
(circumambulate around the Ka‘bah as an act of worship) around the House (the Ka‘bah) or to [openly]
perform Prayer. That was before ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) embraced Islam. After ‘Umar
(May Allah be pleased with him) embraced Islam, he continued to fight them until they left us alone;
thus we were able to [openly] pray and perform Tawaaf [around the Ka‘bah].”
‘Abdullah bin Mas‘ood also said, “The Islam of ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) was a victory
[for Muslim], his migration [to Madeenah] was a triumph, and his caliphate was a mercy [for Muslims].
I remember the time when we were not able to pray or perform Tawaaf around the House (i.e., the
Ka‘bah). That was before ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) embraced Islam. After he embraced
Islam, we fought against them until they left us alone; and thus we began to be able to pray [openly].”
Muhammad bin ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) Al-Makhzoomee related from his father that,
one day, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) bin Al-Khattaab called out to the people, informing
them that it was time to gather for Congregational Prayer. When the people gathered together, ‘Umar
(May Allah be pleased with him) climbed the pulpit, praised Allah, glorified Him, and sent prayers on
the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him). ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) then
proceeded to say, “O people, I remember the time when I would herd [sheep or camels] for my maternal
aunts, who are members of the Banu Makhzoom clan. [Each day] they would provide me with a
handful of dates or raisins [which were meant to sustain me throughout the day]; and I would spend
my day [working, being sustained on that nourishment alone], and what a hard day that would be!”
When ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) descended from the pulpit, ‘Abdur-Rahmaan bin ‘Awf
said to him, “O Leader of the Believers, the only thing you managed to do [in your speech] was to
insult yourself [by shedding light on your humble background].”‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with
him) replied, “Woe upon you, O Ibn ‘Awf! When I was alone, my soul said to me, ‘You are the Leader
of the Believers, so who is better than you? ‘So I wanted to inform my soul of its true reality and of its
proper place.”
Suhaib bin Sinaan said, ‘After ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) bin Al-Khattaab embraced
Islam, Islam was practiced openly, and people were openly invited to it. We began to sit around the
Ka‘bah in circles; we also began to perform Tawaaf around the House (i.e., the Ka‘bah); and we
demanded justice from those who were harsh with us…”
At-Tabaqaat Al-Kubra: 3/269, Sifatus-Safwah: 1/274
Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)’s Migration
When ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) was about to migrate to Madeenah, he refused to be
secretive about his planned departure; in fact, he openly announced his plans to leave Makkah and
even challenged the leaders of the Quraysh to try and stop him. Ibn ‘Abbaas reported that ‘Ali bin Abi
Taalib once said to him, “As far as I know, every single Muhaajir (a person who migrated from Makkah
to Madeenah) departed [from Makkah] in secret, except for ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)
bin Al-Khattaab. As for ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him), he girded himself with his sword,
prepared his bow, placed in his hand a number of arrows, and shortened his ‘Anazah (a stick that is
half the length of a spear, that is longer than a normal-sized stick, and that is stronger than a spear).
Having made those preparations, he headed in the direction of the Ka‘bah. Meanwhile, the leaders of
the Quraysh were gathered in the courtyard of the Ka‘bah.”
‘Ali went on to say that ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) then performed Tawaaf; afterwards
he went to the Station [of Abraham] and performed Prayer. He then visited the gatherings of the
Quraysh, going to them one at a time, and saying to the members of each gathering, “May your faces
turn ugly! If any one of you wants his mother to be bereaved of her child, or wants to turn his children
into orphans, or desires to make his wife a widow, then let him meet me behind this valley.”‘Ali later
recounted that not a single person from the Quraysh followed him in order to accept his challenge.”
Of the Muslims who performed Hijrah (migration to Madeenah), ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with
him) was among the middle group of people to arrive in Madeenah. Mus‘ab, Ibn Umm Maktoom,
Bilaal and some other Companions reached Madeenah before ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)
did; and ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) arrived in Madeenah before the Messenger of Allah
(Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) and Abu Bakr completed their migration and made their
entry into the city.
At-Tawtheeq Fee Seeratil-Farooq: 30
Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)’s Intelligence & Wisdom
Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) described in his own words some of the difficulties associated
with helping other Muslims migrate to Madeenah: “When we decided to migrate to Madeenah, I made
an appointment with ‘Iyaash bin Abu Rabee ‘ahand Hishaam bin Al- ‘Aas bin Waa ‘il As-Sahmee. We
agreed to meet at At-Tanaadub (a well-known place that was filled with trees), in the area of Adaa ‘ah,
which was inhabited by the children of Ghaffaar (Adaa ‘ah was situated approximately 10 miles
outside of Makkah). Adaa ‘ah was situated just above Sarif (a valley that, when compared to the other
valleys of Makkah, was of medium length).
We said among ourselves, ‘If any one of us does not reach that spot in the morning, the rest of us
should just assume that he was held back (captured, found out and imprisoned, etc.), and should
continue on their way [to Madeenah without him]. ‘ The morning of our appointment, both I and
‘Iyaash bin Abu Rabee ‘ah met at At-Tanaadub; Hishaam, on the other hand, was held back; was
tempted away from his religion (through coercion, threats, intimidation tactics, etc.); and, in the end,
succumbed.
When we reached Madeenah, we stayed as guests at Quba, among the children of ‘Amr bin ‘Awf.
[Even though we had arrived safely in Madeenah, the leaders of the Quraysh still did not give up.] Abu
Jahl bin Hishaam and Al-Haarith bin Hishaam went out in pursuit of ‘Iyaash bin Abu Rabee ‘ah, who
was related to them in two ways: he was their paternal cousin and their halfbrother, by way of their
common mother. They continued their pursuit until they reached Madeenah, and at the time, the
Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) was still in Makkah. The two of them
spoke to ‘Iyaash, saying to him, ‘Verily, your mother has vowed never to allow a comb to touch her
head until she sees you; and never to take shade away from the sun until she sees you. ‘‘Iyaash felt
compassion for his mother [and seemed to agree that he should return to Makkah and comfort her]. ‘ I
said to him, ‘By Allah, ‘Iyaash, your people want nothing other than to tempt you away from your
religion, so beware of them! By Allah, were lice to harm your mother, she would comb her hair [in an
attempt to remove them]. And were she to feel the extreme heat of Makkah, she would seek out shade.
‘‘Iyaash replied, ‘I will honor my mother’s vow; anyway, I have wealth in Makkah, so I will go and
take it. ‘I said, ‘By
Allah, you know that I am among the wealthiest of the people of the Quraysh: you can have half of my
wealth if you don‘t go with those two men. ‘He refused to accept anything I said, and instead insisted
on going with them.
When I saw that he would not change his mind, I said, ‘If you will do as you feel you must do (i.e., if
you feel you have to go), then at least take my riding camel, for it is a superior and welltrained mount.
Remain on its back [during your journey back to Makkah], and if you become suspicious that your
travel companions are plotting against you, you can ride away on it towards safety. ‘He left with them,
but he took the riding animal. After they had traveled for some time, Abu Jahl said to ‘Iyaash, ‘O my
brother, by Allah, I feel the roughness of this camel of mine [while I ride on it]; will you not then let
me sit behind you on your [more comfortable] riding animal? ‘‘Iyaash said, ‘Yes. ‘ They then both
made their camels kneel down so that Abu Jahl could switch rides, and when they were all standing
on the ground, Abu Jahl and Al-Haarith attacked ‘Iyaash and tied him up. They then took him back to
Makkah and tempted him away from his religion, and he succumbed [to their pressure tactics].
As-Seerah An-Nabawiyyah As-Saheehah: 1/205
Umar’s (May Allah be pleased with him) Vigilance
A short while after the Battle of Badr took place, ‘Umair bin Wahb went to Madeenah, going there
with the intention of killing the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him). When
‘Umair arrived in Madeenah, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) bin AlKhattaab was seated in a
gathering of Muslims; together, they were discussing the events that had taken place on the Day of
Badr – in terms of the honor Allah had bestowed upon them, the feats of certain Muslim soldiers on
the battlefield, and the evil fate that overtook many enemy soldiers.
As they were engaged in that discussion, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) looked up, and much
to his surprise, he saw something that at once alarmed and amazed him: ‘Umair bin Wahb, with a
sword by his side, was busy making his riding camel kneel down to the ground beside the Masjid of
the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him). ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased
with him) immediately exclaimed, “That dog is the enemy of Allah, ‘Umair bin Wahb! He has come
here only for an evil purpose; after all, he was the one who sowed dissension among us.”
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) then entered upon the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah
be upon him) and said, “O Prophet of Allah, here is the enemy of Allah, ‘Umair bin Wahb. He has
come with his sword by his side.”Even though the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him)
told ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) to allow ‘Umair to enter, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased
with him) was not going to allow ‘Umair to enter without first taking a few precautions. He took the
cord that ‘Umair used to hang his sword, and tied ‘Umair with it. ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with
him) then said to the members of the Ansaar who were with him at the time, “Enter upon the Messenger
of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him), and make ‘Umair sit down before him. And
guard over this vile creature, so that he will not be able to harm the Messenger of Allah (Peace and
Blessings of Allah be upon him). For this vile creature cannot be trusted.”
When they entered, and when the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) saw
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) holding onto the cord that was tied around ‘Umair’s neck, the
Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Release him, O ‘Umar (May
Allah be pleased with him). Come nearer [to me], O ‘Umair.”
Having come closer to the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him), ‘Umair said, “May
you have a blessed morning!”This was the customary greeting of the polytheists of Makkah.
The Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “O ‘Umair, Allah has
honored us with a greeting that is better than your greeting. It is the greeting of peace, the greeting of
the dwellers of Paradise.”
“What has brought you here, O ‘Umair?” the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him)
asked.
“I have come for a prisoner that you have in your custody. Bestow upon him a kind favor [by releasing
him for me].”
“Then why do you have a sword hanging from your neck?”the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah
be upon him) asked.
“May Allah curse swords!”exclaimed ‘Umair. “What good did swords do us [on the battlefield of
Badr]?”
“Tell me the truth, “the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) demanded. “Why did you
come here?”
“I told you why I came here, “‘Umair said.
“No, instead, you sat down with Safwaan bin Umayyah in Al-Hijr (a side area of the Ka ‘bah), “said
the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him). “And together you discussed the people of
the Qaleeb from the Quraysh. [The polytheists who were killed at Badr and whose dead bodies were
thrown into a Qaleeb – a Qaleeb being an old well].You then said, ‘Had it not been for a debt I have
to pay and for family members that are my dependants, I would have gone out and killed Muhammad.
‘Safwaan bin Umayyah then promised to pay off your debt and to provide for your family members
on the condition that you succeeded in killing me for him. But Allah is a barrier between you and the
accomplishment of that goal.”
“I bear witness that you are indeed the Messenger of Allah!”‘Umair exclaimed. “O Messenger of Allah,
we would accuse you of lying regarding the news of the heavens you informed us about, and regarding
the revelation that was being revealed to you. As for the meeting you spoke about, no one attended it
other than Safwaan and me. By Allah, I indeed know that only Allah could have informed you about
it. All praise is for Allah, Who has guided me to Islam and Who has steered me towards Islam in this
manner.”‘Umair then bore witness to the Testimony of Faith – none has the right to be worshipped but
Allah – after which the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) said to his
Companions:
“Educate your brother about his Religion, teach him the Qur’an, and release his prisoner (i.e., the
prisoner he wanted to be released).”
The Companions then proceeded to carry out the Prophet’s instructions.
This story provides a clear example of how vigilant ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) was when
it came to protecting the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him). Immediately
upon seeing ‘Umair, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) had the presence of mind to know that
‘Umair was up to no good – that he had come for some evil purpose or mission. ‘Umar (May Allah be
pleased with him) knew this because he knew ‘Umair very well. ‘Umair was one of the main
persecutors of Muslims in Makkah; it was ‘Umair who had played a key role in encouraging the
polytheists to fight the Muslims at Badr, and acted as a spy on behalf of the Quraysh, going out as a
scout to assess the strength of the Muslim army.
Based on ‘Umair’s character and his past deeds, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) took every
possible precaution to make sure that he would not be able to harm the Messenger of Allah (Peace and
Blessings of Allah be upon him). For one thing, he tied a cord around ‘Umair’s neck and held on to it
tightly, thus preventing ‘Umair from gaining access to his sword. What’s more, ‘Umar (May Allah be
pleased with him) ordered a number of Companions to enter with ‘Umair and to stand guard over him.
From this story, we can conclude the wisdom of ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him). When
‘Umayr, who was originally a bitter enemy of Allah’s Messenger approached him, ‘Umar (May Allah
be pleased with him) realized that he had come with some ill intention because ‘Umar (May Allah be
pleased with him) was aware of his character and his history.
Saheeh As-Seerah An-Nabawiyyah (pg. 260). As-Seerah An-Nabawiyyah, ‘Ard Wa-
Tahleel Ahdaath, by As-Sallaabee (pg. 868).
Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)’s Suggestion about Suhail
bin ‘Amr
Another Qurashee prisoner was Suhail bin ‘Amr, the orator of the Quraysh who would deliver speeches
in which he exhorted the people of the Quraysh to wage war against Muslims. After Suhail was taken
prisoner, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said to the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be
upon him), “O Messenger of Allah, allow me to remove the front teeth of Suhail bin ‘Amr, so that his
tongue can hang down, and so that he can never again deliver a speech against you.”The Messenger
of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) replied:
I will not mutilate him and thus bring upon myself the punishment of Allah mutilating me – a
punishment I would in that case receive even though I am a Prophet. And perhaps he (i.e. Suhail) will
do something [wonderful] for which you will not be able to censure him.
What the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) alluded to in this last saying actually
took place years later, after Suhail embraced Islam and just after the Messenger of Allah (Peace and
Blessings of Allah be upon him) died. For just after the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon
him) died, a number of the inhabitants of Makkah were on the point of turning away from Islam. The
situation became so critical that the governor of Makkah, ‘Attaab bin Usaid, feared an oncoming
rebellion and consequently went into hiding. Noticing a lack of leadership in Makkah, Suhail bin ‘Amr
delivered a speech to the inhabitants of Makkah. He began by praising and extolling Allah. He then
mentioned the death of the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him), saying, “That has
only made Islam stronger; so if anyone doubts us (our determination, strength, etc.), we will strike his
neck.”As a consequence of this speech, the people who had planned on apostatizing changed their
minds, and an impending crisis – one that swept many other parts of Arabia – was averted at least in
Makkah.
Al-Bidayah wan-Nihayah: 3/311
The Dream of Allah’s Messenger (Peace and Blessings of Allah

be upon him)
The Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
“While I was sleeping, [I saw a dream in which] I was given a cup of milk. I drank from it…and
then I gave what remained [in the cup] to ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him).”
The Companions asked, “And how do you interpret this dream, O Messenger of Allah?”
The Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “[I interpret the milk in the cup to mean]
knowledge.”
Al-Bukhaari (3681).
Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)’s Valor and Bravery
In times of war, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) showed a degree of skill and strength and
valor that surpassed most, if not all, other Companions. During battles, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased
with him) was effective not just with feats of physical bravery, but also with powerful words that
crushed the morale of the enemy. A clear example of the latter occurred during the Battle of Uhud, the
second major battle in which the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) took
part.
After the battle was over and the polytheists controlled the battlefield, the Prophet (Peace and Blessings
of Allah be upon him) and his Companions took refuge in a mountain pass. The polytheists could not
see them, and in the calm that followed the battle, Abu Sufyaan came forward and called out, “Is
Muhammad among the people?”What he was really asking was: “Is Muhammad alive or dead?” The
Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) said to his Companions:
“Do not answer him.”
Abu Sufyaan then said, “Is Ibn Abi Quhaafah (i.e., Abu Bakr) among the people?”And again, the
Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
“Do not answer him.”
Abu Sufyaan then said, “Is [‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) ] Ibn Al-Khattaab among the
people?”When he received no reply, Abu Sufyaan assumed that they were not answering because they
were dead, and so he said, “Verily, these people have been killed, for had they been alive, they would
have answered [me].”
This time around, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) was no longer able to control himself; he
said, “You have spoken a lie, O enemy of Allah! Allah has kept alive that which will bring about your
humiliation (i.e., all of the people you mentioned are still alive and well).”In response, Abu Sufyaan
said, “Hubal (one of their idols), you have come out on top.”
The Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) said to his Companions: “Answer him.”
“What should we say?”they asked.
He (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Say: Allah is higher, loftier, and greater.”
Abu Sufyaan responded, “We have Al-‘Uzza (one of their idols), and you have no ‘Uzza.”
The Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) said to his Companions: “Answer him.”
“What should we say?”they asked.
He (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Say: Allah is our Helper and Protector, and you
have no Helper and Protector.”
Abu Sufyaan responded, “Today for Badr: War is about winning one time and losing the next. And
you will find mutilations [among your dead brothers], mutilations that I did not command but that I do
not dislike or condemn.”According to one narration, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)
responded to Abu Sufyaan’s claim that they were on even terms since the Muslims won the Battle of
Badr and the polytheists won the Battle of Uhud. ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said, “It is
not equal (i.e., things are not equal between us): Our dead ones are in Paradise, and your dead ones are
in the Hellfire.”
It is related that Abu Sufyaan then drew nearer to ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) and said,
“O ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him), I ask you by Allah, did we kill Muhammad?”He asked
this because a polytheist soldier named Ibn Qamiah made this announcement during the battle: “Verily,
I have indeed killed Muhammad.”In response to Abu Sufyaan’s question, ‘Umar (May Allah be
pleased with him) said, “No; and verily, he (i.e., the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah
be upon him)) hears what you are saying right now.”Abu Sufyaan then said, “To me, you are more
truthful and more trustworthy than Ibn Qamiah (i.e., I believe that you are telling the truth).”
Expedition of Banu Al-Mustaliq
Referring to the Banu Al-Mustaliq Expedition, Jaabir bin ‘Abdullah said, “We were on a military
expedition, and during it, a man from the Muhaajiroon kicked a man from the Ansaar.
The Ansaari said, ‘Help, O people of the Ansaar! ‘And the Muhaajir said, ‘Help, O people of the
Muhaajiroon! ‘Hearing those cries for help, the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be
upon him) said:
‘What is the matter with you that you make a call from the pre-Islamic times of ignorance? (i.e., you
are not calling for help from your fellow believers, but instead from your fellow tribesmen, which is a
characteristic not of Islam, but of ignorance) ‘They said, ‘O Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings
of Allah be upon him), a man from the Muhaajiroon kicked a man from the Ansaar. ‘The Prophet
(Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
‘Leave it (i.e., abstain from making the call for help that you made), for it is evil. ‘
Hearing about what had just transpired, ‘Abdullah bin Ubai said, ‘Did they really do that? Lo! By
Allah, if we return to Madeenah, the noble ones among us (i.e. the native dwellers of Madeenah) will
expel the ignoble ones among us (i.e., those who migrated to Madeenah). ‘Ibn Ubai’s words were
conveyed to the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him), and ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased
with him) [who was in his company] said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, allow me to strike the neck of this
hypocrite (i.e., Ibn Ubai) ! ‘The Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) said: ‘Leave him.
Let not people say that Muhammad kills his companions. ‘“
According to one narration, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) bin Al-Khattaab said to the
Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him), “Order ‘Abbaad bin Bishr to kill him, “to which
the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) responded:
“Then how will it be, O ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him), when people say that Muhammad
kills his companions. No, instead announce that we are departing [from here].”
Conquest of Makkah
Abu Sufyaan bin Harb, Hakeem bin Hizaam, and Budail bin Warqaa were outside of Makkah, trying
to find out if anything important was happening in the area. They did not know about the Muslim army,
which meant that the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) had managed to approach
Makkah with an army of ten-thousand men without being detected – an amazing feat to say the least.
When the three men saw the fires lighted in the distance, Abu Sufyaan said, “Never before have I seen
so many fires and such a large encampment.”Budail said, “By Allah, that is the Khuzaa ‘ah tribe, for
they are consumed with the idea of war (because of what Banu Bakr and the Quraysh did to them).”Abu
Sufyaan said, “Khuzaa ‘ah is too weak and too small to have such fires and such an encampment.”
Through the darkness of the night, Al-‘Abbaasheard and recognized their voices. “O Abu Handhalah
(i.e., Abu Sufyaan)?”he said. “Abul-Fadhl (i.e.Al-‘Abbaas)?” Abu Sufyaan responded. Al-‘Abbaas
said, “Yes.”
Abu Sufyaan said, “May my father and mother be held ransom for you, what is the matter with you?”
“Woe upon you, O Abu Sufyaan!”Al-‘Abbaas said. “Here comes the Messenger of Allah (Peace and
Blessings of Allah be upon him) with his people. By Allah, alas the heavy morning that awaits the
Quraysh!”Abu Sufyaan said, “What can be done about the situation? May my father and mother be
held ransom for you!”Al-‘Abbaas said, “By Allah, if he gains an upper hand over you, he will strike
your neck; so climb onto the back of this mule, and I will take you to the Messenger of Allah (Peace
and Blessings of Allah be upon him) and try to secure your safety with him.”
While Abu Sufyaan climbed onto the back of the mule and returned with Al-‘Abbaasto the
Muslim encampment, his two companions returned from whence they came. Without a doubt,
Al‘Abbaaswas facing an uphill battle; what made matters worse, for him – and more so for Abu
Sufyaan -- was the fact that ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) stood guard at the entry of the
Muslim encampment.
Every time the two riders passed by one of the Muslim fires, the people there asked, “Who is
it?”Everyone seemed to be on guard that night, for they were deep into enemy territory. However,
when they would see and recognize the mule of the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah
be upon him) and Al-‘Abbaas riding on it, they would say, “It is the uncle of the Messenger of Allah
(Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) upon his mule, “and would then let him pass. Yet, when
he passed by the fire of ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) bin Al-Khattaab, he was not so easily
allowed to continue onwards. ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) asked, “Who is it?”And even
when he recognized Al-‘Abbaas, he came closer to see who was riding behind him. Upon seeing Abu
Sufyaan sitting on the back of the mule, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) exclaimed, “Is it Abu
Sufyaan, the enemy of Allah? All praise is for Allah, who has given me power over you when you
have no pact or covenant [that guarantees your safety]!”
Al-‘Abbaas explained the purpose of his visit, but ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) was not
satisfied and wanted to kill Abu Sufyaan right then and there. Finally, when the matter reached a critical
juncture, it was decided that they should take the matter to the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah
be upon him). Al-‘Abbaasrode quickly towards the Prophet’s tent, and ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased
with him) raced behind him in order to get there first.
No one was going to beat ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) to the tent that day; he was too
excited at the opportunity that had just presented itself. He entered upon the Prophet (Peace and
Blessings of Allah be upon him) and said, “O Messenger of Allah, here is Abu Sufyaan. Allah has
given [us] the opportunity to kill him, when he has neither pact nor covenant [to save him]. So give
me permission to strike his neck.”Al-‘Abbaas said, “O Messenger of Allah, I have indeed granted him
protection.”When ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) continued to insist his point, Al-‘Abbaas
said, “Calm down, O ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)! For by Allah, had he been from Banu
‘Adee (‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)’s clan), you would not have spoken such words. You
are only doing this because you know that he is from the men of Banu ‘Abd-Manaaf.”
To ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him), this was an incorrect assumption. He wanted to kill Abu
Sufyaan not because of his lineage, but because he had shown enmity to Islam for many, many years,
and had led the Quraysh in many battles against the Muslims. Explaining to Al‘Abbaas just how wrong
he was in his assumption, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said, “You take it easy, O ‘Abbaas!
For by Allah, your acceptance of Islam on the day that you accepted Islam was more beloved to me
than for Al-Khattaab (‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)’s father) to have accepted Islam – even
though he did not embrace Islam. And that is only because I knew that your acceptance of Islam was
more beloved to the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) than Al-
Khattaab’s acceptance of Islam, were he to accept Islam (though he never did).”
The Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) decided that enough was enough; tempers
were flaring, and it would be best to decide upon the matter the following morning. He (Peace and
Blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
“O ‘Abbaas, take him to your things (i.e., the place where you made camp), and then bring him to
me when you wake up in the morning.”
The following morning, Al-‘Abbaas and Abu Sufyaan returned to the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of
Allah be upon him), who, upon seeing Abu Sufyaan, said: “Woe upon you, O Abu
Sufyaan! Is it not time for you to know that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah?”
Abu Sufyaan responded, “May my father and mother be sacrificed for you! How forbearing, gentle,
generous, and noble you are! And how good and kind you are to your relatives! By Allah, I thought
that had there been another god alongside Allah, he would have helped me up until now.”
The Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Woe upon you, O Abu Sufyaan! Has
not the time arrived for you to know that I am indeed the Messenger of Allah?”
He said, “May my father and mother be sacrificed for you! How forbearing, gentle, generous, and
noble you are! And how good and kind you are to your relatives! As for this issue, by Allah, I still
have some doubts in me about it at this very moment.”
When ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) saw Abu Sufyaan, he remembered the great enmity that
Abu Sufyaan showed to Muslims, as well as the many attempts Abu Sufyaan had made to destroy the
Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) and all of his Companions. ‘Umar (May Allah be
pleased with him)’s anger was, as always, justified, for he was angry not on account of a personal
grievance, but for the sake of Allah. And even though ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) was
right to be angry and right to want to kill Abu Sufyaan, Allah wanted good to befall Abu Sufyaan:
Allah willed to open his heart to Islam, and to thus make sacrosanct his blood, his life, and his honor.
Al-Faarooq Ma ‘an Nabee, by Dr. ‘Aatif Lamaadah (pg. 42).
Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) in the Court of Zayd bin
Thaabit
Once, when Ubai bin Ka‘ab made a claim against ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) regarding
a garden that ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) knew nothing about, the two of them agreed that
Zayd bin Thaabit (May Allah be pleased with him) should judge their case and they went to him at his
house. When they entered upon him, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said to him, “We came
to you so that you can judge between us, and a judge should not have to go out to others, but instead
others should go to his house.”Zayd indicated that ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) should sit
on the best seat of his house, and according to one narration, he took out a pillow and handed it to
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him), saying, “Here you are, O Leader of the Believers.”‘Umar
(May Allah be pleased with him) said, “O Zayd, you have, from the very outset of these legal
proceedings, been unjust. Instead, make me sit alongside my opponent.”The two of them then sat
before Zayd (May Allah be pleased with him) in an equal manner.
Saheeh At-Tawtheeq Fee Seerah WaHayaat Al-Faarooq, pg. 259.
Preferring the Hereafter to the World in the Battle of Hunain
In the early stages of the Battle of Hunain, the polytheists had the upper hand. They ambushed the
Muslim army, and as a result of that ambush,
Muslim soldiers began to flee from the battlefield. In fact, chaos ensued, with each Muslim soldier
running away, caring about nothing and no one except for his own life. To say the least, it was not a
moment when Muslim soldiers were at their best.
The Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him), however, did not flee; on the
contrary, he (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) remained steadfast on the battlefield. Finding
a good place to make a stand against the enemy, the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon
him) began to call out to his followers, saying:
“O people, come to me (i.e. gather around me). I am the Messenger of Allah! I am Muhammad bin
‘Abdullah!”
No one listened as the chaos ensued. While most Muslims were busy fleeing from the battlefield, some
Muslim soldiers remained steadfast alongside the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him).
Among this latter brave group were the likes of Abu Bakr and ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him);
and, from the Prophet’s household, the likes of ‘Ali bin Abu Taalib, Al‘Abbaas bin ‘Abdul-Muttalib,
Al-Fadhl bin Al-‘Abbaas, Abu Sufyaan bin Al-Haarith and his son, and Rabee ‘ah bin Al-Haarith.
We can conclude from this story that ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) loved to participate in
virtuous deeds. He would prefer the Hereafter in comparison to this world.
As-Seerah An-Nabawiyyah, by Ibn Hishaam (2/289) and Akhbaar ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased
with him) (pg. 41).
Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)’s Generosity
According to another narration, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) gained ownership of a piece
of land in Khaibar. He then went to the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) and said,
“I have gained ownership of a piece of land, and I have never gained any wealth that is more valuable
than it. What do you command me to do with it?”
The Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) replied:
“If you want, you can endow the actual land and use it to give away charity (i.e., you can donate its
crops away to charity).”
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) gave the land away, stipulating that the land should not be
sold, given away as a gift, or inherited (i.e., it should be used perpetually as a source of charity).
Furthermore, he stipulated that its proceeds should be given to the following groups of people:
1. The poor
2. Relatives of the person who made the endowment, who in this case was ‘Umar (May Allah be
pleased with him) bin Al-Khattaab
3. Slaves, for whom the proceeds could be used to secure their freedom from the bonds of slavery
4. Those who were fighting in the way of Allah
5. The guest, or in other words, a stranger who would enter a city and require nourishment; and the
traveler who would run out of funds, and who needed money to continue his journey.
As in the previous narration, the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) further made it
clear that:
“There is no sin upon the person who maintains the garden if he eats according to what is deemed
correct [and customary] by society, or if he feeds his friend, without storing any of the wealth (or
without taking ownership of any of it).”
Al-
Bukhaari (2773).
Business Travels
As a young adult, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) occupied himself with business – learning
about history was not the only reason he would go to Arab marketplaces. He was a very successful
businessman, earning large profits that resulted in him joining the ranks of the wealthy elite among the
Quraysh in Makkah. During his business travels, he gained the acquaintance and friendship of many
people. His business would take him to Ash-Sham (Syria and surrounding regions) in the summer, and
to Yemen in the winter.
Refer to ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) ibn Al-Khattaab, by Dr. Muhammad Ahmad Abu
An-Nasr (pg. 17).
The Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) gives a
gift to Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)
Ibn ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said, “Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) saw a man
wearing a two-piece outfit that was made of silk. ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) later took
the outfit to the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) and said, “O Messenger of Allah
(Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him), buy this and wear it when delegations of [foreign] people
come to visit you.”
“Verily, silk is worn only by those who have no share of the Hereafter (or by those who have no
Religion).”
Sometime after this occurred, the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) sent ‘Umar
(May Allah be pleased with him) a two-piece outfit, one that was very similar to the one the Prophet
(Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) had refused to buy, in that it too was made of silk. ‘Umar
(May Allah be pleased with him) was confused, and so he said to the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of
Allah be upon him), “You sent me this, and you said [something serious] about it [or about the robe
that was worn by ‘Utaarid (At-Tameemi)]…”
“I sent it to you only so that you could make some money from it [by selling it (i.e., I did not give it to
you to wear)].”
According to one account, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) gave the outfit as a gift to one of
his brothers – a brother who lived in Makkah and who had not yet embraced Islam.
In a narration that describes another incident, ‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)
said, “While we were on a journey in the company of the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be
upon him), I was riding on a young camel that was not tractable and obedient. It was out of my control,
and I could not stop it from advancing ahead of the people. ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)
would try to restrain the camel and drive it back [out of frustration].
The Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) said to ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with
him):’sell it to me. ‘
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said, ‘It is yours [as a gift], O Messenger of Allah (Peace and
Blessings of Allah be upon him). ‘
The Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) again said: ‘sell it to me, ‘and the Messenger
of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) then bought it from him. After that, the Prophet
(Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) said: ‘It is yours [as a gift], O ‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar (May
Allah be pleased with him). Do with it what you want. ‘“
Muslim (2068). Al-Bukhaari (5636). The phrase “not yet embraced Islam” indicates that he did
embrace Islam later on. Al-Bukhaari (2009).
Number of Ahaadeeth narrated by Umar (May Allah be
pleased with him)
It was because ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) was a dedicated student of knowledge that he
was able to later relate 539 Ahaadeeth (narrations) from the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be
upon him).According to one account, however, he related a total of 537 Ahaadeeth (narrations).
Of those narrations, Imaam Al-Bukhaari and Imaam Muslim jointly related a total of 29 narrations.
Imaam Al-Bukhaari related 34 narrations from ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) that Imaam
Muslim did not relate, and Imaam Muslim related 21 of ‘Umar’s narrations that Imaam Al-Bukhaari
did not relate. The rest are found in other Hadeeth compilations.
‘Umar ibn Al-Khatlab, Dr. Ali Khateeb: 109
Most Trusted Advisor
It is related that, on one occasion during Abu Bakr’s caliphate, ‘Uyainah bin Hisn and Al-Aqra’ bin
Haabis visited Madeenah in order to meet Abu Bakr. They said to Abu Bakr, “O Khaleefah of the
Messenger of Allah, we live beside a low marshy area of land, which contains no grass, and which is
not being put to use.”The land they were referring to was public property and was under the
management of the Muslim government.
‘Uyainah and Al-Aqra ‘went on to say, “If you think doing so is appropriate, perhaps you can confer
ownership of the land to us, so that we might plow the land or cultivate crops on it. Then, from now
onwards, perhaps Allah will make that land beneficial [for us].”
Abu Bakr said to the people in his company, “If the land is indeed marshy and is not being used for
any benefit, what have you to say regarding what these two men have said?”
They replied, “We think that you should confer ownership of the land to them; perhaps, from this day
onwards, Allah will make the land useful.”Abu Bakr conferred ownership of the land to them, writing
down a document to that effect; however, he stipulated that ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)
bin Al-Khattaab should first bear witness to that document (or to that deed of ownership).
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him), however, was not present; and so ‘Uyainah and Al-Aqra
‘eagerly went out in search of ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him), excited at the prospect of
becoming owners of a property that they could use for farming. When they reached ‘Umar (May Allah
be pleased with him), they saw that he was busy anointing one of his camels with some tar.
They said, “Verily, Abu Bakr wants you to bear witness to the contents of this document (or, of this
deed of ownership). Shall we read it for you, or will you read it?”
“You see the condition I am in now (i.e., my hands are dirty, and I am busy working). So, if you want,
you can read it to me. And if you want, wait until I am finished [with this job], and I will read it
aloud to you.”
Apparently, they were eager to conclude their business as quickly as possible, and so they said, “Rather,
we will read it.”After ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) listened to them reading the document,
he grabbed it from their hands, spit on it, and erased what was written on it. The two men expressed
their extreme displeasure and even spoke vile and harsh words to ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with
him). For his part, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) replied, “Verily, the Messenger of Allah
(Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) would provide you with wealth in order to encourage you
to become sincere Muslims. Back then, Islam was weak [as a force on earth]; today, on the other hand,
Allah has honored Islam and made it strong. So go and work hard (this either means, work hard at
earning a lawful living, or, fight hard alongside Muslim soldiers, and in that way you will earn wealth
in a lawful manner – by gaining a share of war booty). May Allah not take care of you if you take care
of livestock (instead of going out to fight in the way of Allah)!”
The two men went to Abu Bakr, complaining and saying to him, “By Allah, we do not know who the
Khaleefah [of the Muslim Nation] is: you or ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him).”Abu
Bakr replied, “No. Had he wanted, he would have been the Khaleefah.”
By this time, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) too had approached the company, and he was
furious. He stood over Abu Bakr and said, “Tell me about this land that you have given these two men.
Does it belong to you specifically, or is it jointly owned by all Muslims?”Abu Bakr replied, “It belongs
to all Muslims.”‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said, “Then what prompted you to give it
specifically to these two men instead of to the Muslim masses?”Abu Bakr said, “I consulted the men
who were with me at the time, and they suggested that I give the land to these two men.”‘Umar (May
Allah be pleased with him) said, “Even if you consulted the men who were with you at the time, would
all Muslims be pleased with their suggestion?”Abu Bakr said to ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with
him), “I indeed told you that, with your strength, you are more suited to this job (to the job of being
Khaleefah) than I am, but you forced it upon me!”
This story leaves no room for doubt that, during the era of the rightly-guided Khaleefahs, the Islamic
government was run based on the principle of mutual consultation. As Khaleefah, Abu Bakr as well as
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him), ‘Uthmaan, and ‘Ali– would consult Muslims about all
matters, big and small. And he would make a final decision about any given issue only after he first
consulted, if not all Muslims, then at least his most trusted advisors, the most trusted of them being
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) bin Al-Khattaab.
Istikhlaaf Abu Bakr As-Siddeeq, by Jamaal ‘Abdul-Haadee (pg. 166, 167).
Displaying Mental Dexterity
Abdullah bin ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (Peace and
Blessings of Allah be upon him) once said to his Companions:
“Verily, among trees there is one particular tree whose leaves do not fall; and it is similar to a
Muslim. Tell me which tree that is.”
Here, the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) presented a riddle of sorts, thus
providing the Companions an opportunity to display their mental dexterity.
The Companions tried to figure out which tree was similar to a Muslim, and in which way. They all
focused on trees that thrived in the desert. As for ‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with
him), he later recounted what happened next,
“When the people [present] focused on the trees of the desert, it occurred to me that the Prophet (Peace
and Blessings of Allah be upon him) was referring to the date-palm tree. But I was shy [not wanting
to speak out of turn, and not wanting to put myself forward in the presence of so many eminent
Companions. Finally, [giving up,] the Companions said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, tell us which tree it
is… ‘
The Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) said: ‘It is the date-palm tree. ‘
I afterwards told my father (‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) about the answer that had occurred
to me, and he said, ‘For you to have said that answer is something I love more than for me to have
such and such (he obviously mentioned valuable things to indicate just how much he wished that
‘Abdullah had given the right answer). ‘“
Bukhari: 131
‘More beloved than my own self ‘
It is related that ‘Abdullah bin Hishaam said, “Once, when we were with the Prophet (Peace and
Blessings of Allah be upon him), he took ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) bin AlKhattaab by
his hand. ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) then said to him, ‘O Messenger of Allah, you are
indeed more beloved to me than all things, except for my own self. ‘
The Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
‘No! By the One Who has my soul in His Hand, [you will not truly and completely believe] until I
become more beloved to you than your own self.’
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said, ‘Now, by Allah, you are indeed more beloved to me than
my own self. ‘
The Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
‘Now [you do have complete Faith], O ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him). ‘“
Bukhari: 6632
Glad Tidings of a Castle in Paradise
The Arabic word Ghayrah has no equivalent in the English language. Ghayrah is a positive trait;
therefore, the word “jealousy, “which has pejorative connotations, does not do it justice.
The phrase “sense of honor” does not comprehensively cover all of the meanings of Ghayrah. So what
does Ghayrah mean? Simply put, if a person has Ghayrah, he will guard his honor with vigilance, with
watchfulness, and with a kind of jealousy that is commendable. One does not have Ghayrah, therefore,
if one does not mind one’s wife or one’s daughter going out in public in tight or otherwise revealing
clothing. And one doesn’t have Ghayrah when one is happy and proud to see others stare lustfully at
one’s attractive and yet improperly dressed wife.
The following Hadeeth sheds further light on the meaning of the word Ghayrah:
The Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
“[In a dream] I saw myself entering Paradise and then suddenly coming across Ar-Rumaisaa – who
was the wife of Abu Talhah. When I heard the sound of footsteps, I asked, ‘Who is that? ‘He [Here,
‘He ‘probably refers to the Angel Jibreel or to some other Angel] said, ‘That is Bilaal. ‘And I saw a
castle, and in its courtyard there was a young woman. I asked, ‘To whom does this [castle] belong?
‘They [‘they ‘probably refers to a group of Angels that were with the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of
Allah be upon him) ] said, ‘It belongs to ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him). ‘I wanted to enter it
in order to have a look inside, but then I remembered your Ghayrah (here the Prophet (Peace and
Blessings of Allah be upon him) was of course addressing ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him).”
“May my father and mother be sacrificed for you, O Messenger of Allah!” exclaimed ‘Umar (May
Allah be pleased with him). “And should I [be so foolhardy and ungrateful as to] feel Ghayrah against
you!”
Muslim: 2394
The Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon

him) Prays for ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)
On one particular occasion, when the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) saw ‘Umar
(May Allah be pleased with him) wearing a white garment, he (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon
him) asked, “Is your garment new, or has it just been washed (so that it looks new)?” ‘Umar (May
Allah be pleased with him) replied, “Yes, it has just been washed.”The Prophet (Peace and Blessings
of Allah be upon him) then prayed for ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him), saying to him:
“May you wear new [clothing]; may you live commendably; and may you die a martyr.”
As-Silisilah as-Sahiha: 352
Gathering the Qur‘an in a Single Book
When the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) died, the Qur’an was not gathered in a
single Book; instead, parts of it were with different people – on leather parchments, on bones, and in
the hearts of men. Thus, when many Companions who had the Qur’an memorized died on the Day of
Yamaamah, their loss signified much more than the departure of noble and pious Muslims. It signified
a possible tragedy that would, if it occurred, outweigh all other tragedies: the loss of the Qur’an, or at
least the loss of some of its verses and chapters. This is because the Prophet’s Companions were likely
to fight in many more battles against apostates and disbelievers. And if they too were going to die on
the battlefield – particularly those among them that had the Qur’an memorized in its entirety – then
the greatest tragedy of all, the one I just referred to, was likely to occur.
The first person to perceive not only the danger of the situation, but also the necessity of taking
immediate and decisive action, was ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) bin Al-Khattaab. Shortly
after the Battle of Yamaamah took place, Abu Bakr As-Siddeeq summoned for Zayd bin Thaabit Al-
Ansaari to come to him. When Zayd went to Abu Bakr, he saw ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with
him) sitting down beside him. Abu Bakr then said to Zayd, “Verily, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with
him) came to me and said, ‘Many of the Qurr‘aa (those who had the Qur’an memorized in its entirety)
died on the Day of Yamaamah, and I fear that many other Qurr‘aa will die in future battles and
conflicts, and the dangerous result of that will be the loss of much of the Qur’an. Therefore, I think
that you should order someone (or some committee of people) to gather the Qur’an (from what is
written of it on leather parchments and bones, and from what is preserved in the hearts of men). ‘
I said to ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him), ‘How can I do something that the Messenger of
Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) did not do himself? ‘‘Umar (May Allah be pleased
with him) said, ‘By Allah, this is something good [that you must do]. ‘ ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased
with him) continued to come back to me with the same advice until Allah (SWT) opened my heart to
the same idea to which Allah had opened ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)’s heart. And, I came
to hold the same opinion that ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) held regarding the gathering of
the Qur’an.”
Up until this point, Zayd probably had no idea of what was coming next: he was about to be assigned
the greatest and most important mission of his entire life. Abu Bakr went on to say, “Verily, you are a
young man who is wise and intelligent, and we have nothing to accuse you of. And you used to write
down revelation for the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him). Therefore,
search out for the various parts of the Qur’an and gather them all [into one Book].”Zayd replied, “By
Allah, had you charged me with the task of moving a mountain from one place to another, you would
not have placed a greater burden than you placed upon me now by ordering me to gather the Qur’an.”
Bukhari: 4986
Interest in the History of his People
Umar cared a great deal about the history of his people; and in order to learn more about that subject-
matter, he would visit the famous marketplaces of Arabia – such as ‘Ukaadh, Mijannah, and Dhul-
Majaaz – where eminent poets and speakers would attempt, through their poems and speeches, to
elevate the status of their respective tribes. So, for instance, if a battle took place between two tribes,
poets from each tribe would recite poems to elevate the status of their own respective tribe, to eulogize
the bravery and military feats of their fellow tribesmen, and to mock and satirize soldiers from the
opposing tribe. Poets would even recite poems to honor the achievements of their forefathers. In this
manner, Arab history remained perpetually relevant and unforgotten in the minds of Arabs. The
meeting of rival poets, in addition to the effects of their poems, sometimes even led to wars. On one
occasion, for instance, an altercation in the marketplace of ‘Ukaadh escalated into an all-out war; or
more precisely, into four wars – which, together, are famously remembered as the Fijaar wars.
Refer to ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) ibn Al-Khattaab: Hayaatuhu, ‘Ilmuhu, wa
Adabuhu, by Dr. ‘Alee Ahmad Al-Khateeb (pg. 153).
The Devil’s Fear of ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)
Sa‘d bin Abi Waqqaas said, “Once, when ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) bin AlKhattaab
asked permission to enter upon the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him), a
group of women from the Quraysh were with the Messenger (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon
him); they were asking him to respond to a number of questions (regarding things they needed,
regarding their religion, regarding Islamic legal rulings), and their [combined] voices were raised to a
volume that was higher than that of his voice. When ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) bin Al-
Khattaab asked permission to enter, they all stood up and hurried to veil themselves [behind a screen].
The Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) then granted ‘Umar (May Allah
be pleased with him) permission to enter, and when ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) came
inside, he saw that the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) was laughing.”
When ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) asked why he was laughing, the Prophet (Peace and
Blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
“I was amazed by the women who had just been with me: As soon as they heard your voice, they
hurried to veil themselves [behind a screen].”
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said, “O Messenger of Allah, you are more deserving of their
fear and veneration.”‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) then called out to the women [who were
probably veiled behind a screen in the same room], saying to them, “O enemies of your own selves,
are you afraid of me, while you are not afraid of the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah
be upon him)?”They said, “Yes, for unlike the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be
upon him), you are stern and harsh.”
The Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) then said:
“O son of Al-Khattaab, by the One Who has my soul in His Hand, the Devil (the Shaitaan) has never
met you while you are traveling along an open road, except that he [retreats from you and] travels
along another road.”
Muslim: 2396
Three Most Perspicacious and Judicious of People

Abdullah bin Mas‘ood said, “The three most perspicacious and judicious of people are the following:
Moosa’s female companion, who said,
‘O my father! Hire him! Verily, the best of men for you to hire is the strong, the trustworthy’
(refer to Qur’an 28: 26);
Yousuf’s companion, who said,
‘Make his stay comfortable, for it may be that he will profit us or we shall adopt him as a son ‘
(refer to Qur’an 12: 21);
And Abu Bakr, when he appointed ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) as his successor.”
Majma ‘-az-Zawaid: 10/268
Good Omen
A person once came to ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) from the battlefield of Nahawand.
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) asked him what his name was to which the person replied,
“Qareeb (meaning, near).”‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) then asked him for his father’s
name to which the man replied, “Zufar (meaning, success).”‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)
took this as a good omen and said, “Success is near. The ability to do good is with the help of Allah.”
[Abqariyah ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him), pg. 31]
Encouraging the Weak
A judge should make a weak person feel secure and at ease so that his fear will go away, and so that
he will have the courage to speak. ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) wrote the following to
Mu‘aawiyah: “When dealing with a weak person, be kind and reassuring, so that he will have the
courage to speak his mind.”
Majmoo‘ah Al-Wathaa‘iq As-Siyaasiyyah (438).
“Check the state of your house”
Yahya bin Sa ‘id related that ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) once asked a person, “What is
your name?”The person replied, “Jamrah (live coal).”‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) then
asked him for his father’s name to which the person replied, “Shihab (flame).”‘Umar (May Allah be
pleased with him) then asked him about his tribe to which the person answered, “Banu Huraqa
(burning).”‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) then asked about his sub-tribe to which the person
answered, “Banu Dhiram (flaming).”Flaming and burning were common in all the names, so ‘Umar
(May Allah be pleased with him) said to him, “Go and check the state of your house, for I have come
to know that the fire has reached your houses.”
Historians have said that when to went back to his tribe the houses were truly on fire. ‘Umar (May
Allah be pleased with him) had realized this because of his deduction skills and intellect.
Abqariah ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him): 31
Keen Insight of ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)

Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) was blessed with an exceptionally high level of Firaasah. There
is no individual word in the English language that does justice to the word Firaasah. Insight,
discernment, acumen, sound judgment – each of these conveys a partial meaning, while the word
“penetration” perhaps is closer than all of the above to the meaning of Firaasah.
In short, Firaasah is the ability to penetrate the outer shell of something and to know its inner reality.
The following has been related in a Hadeeth:
“Beware of the Firaasah of the believer; for indeed, he sees with the light of Allah.”
Firaasah has nothing to do with magic. One acquires it, first and foremost, by the grace of Allah; and
then through righteousness, wisdom, sincerity, and reflection.
Imam Ath-Thahabi (may Allah have mercy upon him) related that, when Al-Aswad Al-Ansi openly
claimed to be a prophet, Abu Muslim Al-Khawlaani spoke out against him. Al-Aswad ordered his men
to capture Abu Muslim, and to prepare a huge fire for him. When that huge fire was ignited in a pit,
Al-Aswad threw Abu Muslim inside. Miraculously, however, the fire did not harm Abu Muslim in the
least – which was reminiscent of how Prophet Ibraaheem (May Allah be pleased with him) was not
harmed by a fire into which he had been thrown.
At any rate, Al-Aswad’s advisors said, “If you do not banish Abu Muslim from this land, he will turn
your followers against you.”Realizing that his advisors were right and that he would not be able to
harm Abu Muslim physically, Al-Aswad ordered Abu Muslim to travel away from the region
immediately.
Wanting the company of righteous people, Abu Muslim Al-Khawlaani was probably more than happy
to comply, and so he headed towards the city of the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah
be upon him), Al-Madeenah Al-Munawwarah. Upon arriving in Madeenah, Abu Muslim made his
camel kneel down on the ground, after which he proceeded to enter the Prophet’s Masjid.
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him), who at the time was inside the Masjid, stood up to meet the
stranger who had just entered. “Where are you from?”‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) asked.
“From Yemen, “replied Abu Muslim.
“And what do you know about the man that the ‘Liar ‘ tried to burn with fire?”asked ‘Umar (May
Allah be pleased with him).
“That is ‘Abdullah bin Thuwab, “replied Abu Muslim.
Looking keenly at Abu Muslim, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) had a strong feeling about
him, as if he knew something about the character of the stranger, even though he had never previously
seen him. “I ask you by Allah, “said ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him), “are you him?”
“Yes, “replied Abu Muslim.
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) then said, “All praise is for Allah, Who has not caused me to
die before showing me the person from the nation of Muhammad for whom was done the same that
was done for Ibraaheem Al-Khaleel.”
Siyyar ‘Alaam An-Nubalaa: 4/8, 9- Ashaab Ar-Rasool: 1/137
Mu‘aadh’s Return from Yemen
During the Madanee phase of his life, the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon
him) sent Mu‘aadh bin Jabal to Yemen. Mu‘aadh made good use of his time during his tenure in
Yemen, inviting Yemen’s inhabitants to Islam; teaching Muslims there about their religion; and, later
on, fighting against the apostates. After the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon
him) died, Mu‘aadh decided to return to Madeenah.
During his stay in Yemen, Mu‘aadh earned some wealth through lawful means; however, it appears
that ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) was of the opinion that, since Mu‘aadh had gone to
Yemen as a government official, he should give back some of the wealth he had acquired. And so
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said to Abu Bakr, “Summon that man (i.e., Mu‘aadh); then
give him enough to live on, and take whatever is left over from him.”Abu Bakr disagreed, saying to
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him), “Verily, the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon
him) sent him only to make him happy (i.e., the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him)
would have wanted Mu‘aadh to keep the wealth he acquired).”
Even though Abu Bakr did not agree with him, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) was convinced
that he was in the right. He therefore went to Mu‘aadh, hoping to convince him to follow his opinion.
Mu‘aadh responded to him as follows: “Verily, the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah
be upon him) sent me in order to make me happy, and so I will not do as you ask (i.e., I will not allow
you to scrutinize the wealth I acquired through lawful means).”
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) wanted what was in the best interests of Mu‘aadh and of the
general population of Muslims; but when Mu‘aadh didn’t accept his advice, ‘Umar (May Allah be
pleased with him) let the matter rest, knowing that he had done his duty by sincerely advising Mu‘aadh
to do what was right. Furthermore, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) knew that he had no
authority over Mu‘aadh, for the man in charge of the affairs of the Muslim nation was not him, but
Abu Bakr.
Nonetheless, shortly after ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) and Mu‘aadh parted company,
Mu‘aadh went back to ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) and said to him, “I will obey you. And
I will do what you commanded me to do; for indeed, in a dream I saw myself in a stream of water. I
feared that I would drown, but then, O ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him), you saved
me.”Mu‘aadh then went to Abu Bakr and the matter was quickly resolved.
‘Uyoon Al-Akhbaar: 1/125
Death of the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him)
Ibn Rajab (may Allah have mercy upon him) said, “When the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings
of Allah be upon him) died, the Muslims became shocked, bewildered, and confused. Some of them
were stunned and became confused; others sat down and were not even able to stand up; others lost
their ability to speak; and yet others were in complete denial, refusing to believe that the Prophet (Peace
and Blessings of Allah be upon him) had really died (and among this last group was ‘Umar (May Allah
be pleased with him) bin Al-Khattaab).”
Imaam Al-Qurtubi (may Allah have mercy upon him) said, “One of the greatest afflictions a person
can suffer is an affliction in matters that pertain to religion. The Messenger of Allah (Peace and
Blessings of Allah be upon him) said: ‘When one of you is afflicted by a calamity, then let him
remember how he was afflicted with my death, for indeed, that is the greatest of all calamities. ‘”
Indeed the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) spoke the truth. Until the Day of
Resurrection, no Muslim can be afflicted with a calamity that is greater than the calamity of the
Prophet’s death: revelation ceased to descend to earth, and prophethood became a thing of the past
(i.e., no other Prophet would be sent to mankind). After the Prophet’s (Peace and Blessings of Allah
be upon him) death, the first appearance of evil was the apostasy of many Arabs – an event that
signified the first decline [of the Muslim nation (a decline that ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)
referred to when he said, ‘Whenever something reaches completion, it has nowhere to go but down.
‘)].”
Perhaps no one was more in denial than ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) bin Al-Khattaab. He
began to threaten anyone who claimed that the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him)
had died. He said, “He has not died, rather, he has gone to his Lord, just as Moosa bin ‘Imraan (May
Allah be pleased with him) went, remaining absent from his people for forty nights, after which he
returned to them. By Allah, the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) will
indeed return [to us], just as Moosa (May Allah be pleased with him) returned [to his people], and he
will cut off the hands and legs of those men who claimed that he had died.”
When Abu Bakr heard about the news of the Prophet’s death, he mounted his horse and rode from his
house until the Masjid. Without saying a single word to anyone, Abu Bakr entered the Masjid, and
then entered upon ‘Aa’ishah in her apartment. He (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) then
headed straight for the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him), who was
covered in a garment. Removing the part of the garment that covered the Prophet’s face, Abu Bakr
leaned down, kissed the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him), and began to cry. He
then said, “May my father and mother be sacrificed for you! By Allah, Allah will not combine two
deaths upon you. As for the death that was decreed for you, you have just experienced it.”When Abu
Bakr said, “Allah will not combine two deaths upon you, “he (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon
him) was refuting ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him), who was claiming that the Prophet (Peace
and Blessings of Allah be upon him) would come back to life. Abu Bakr knew that, even if that was
the case, the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) would still have to die again, which
meant that he (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) would have to die a total of two deaths; and
Abu Bakr understood that the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) enjoyed too high
of a ranking with Allah for that to happen to him.
As Abu Bakr came out of the Masjid, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) was speaking to the
people, and was still in a fit of rage. Abu Bakr said, “O ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him), sit
down, “after which he stood up to deliver a sermon to the people. He praised Allah, glorified Him, and
then said,
“To proceed: Whosoever used to worship Muhammad, then indeed Muhammad has died. And
whosoever worships Allah, then Allah is alive and does not die.” He then recited this verse of the
Noble Qur’an:
{Muhammad (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him)) is no more than a Messenger, and
indeed (many) Messengers have passed away before him. If he dies or is killed, will you then turn
back on your heels (as disbelievers)? And he who turns back on his heels, not the least
harm will he do to Allah, and Allah will give reward to those who are grateful.} (Qur’an 3: 144)
Abu Hurairah said, “By Allah, it was as if people did not know that this verse had been revealed until
Abu Bakr recited it to them that day.”And ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) later said, “By
Allah, no sooner did I hear Abu Bakr recite that verse, than I fell down to the ground, for my two legs
could no longer carry me. And I came to know that the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of
Allah be upon him) had indeed died.”
Imaam Al-Qurtubi (may Allah have mercy upon him) said, “This verse [as well as this incident] is the
strongest proof of Abu Bakr’s bravery, if bravery is defined as having a firm and steadfast heart during
times of hardships and calamities. And there was no calamity that was greater than the death of the
Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) …The people said, ‘The Messenger of Allah
(Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) has not died, ‘ and among them was ‘Umar (May Allah
be pleased with him). ‘Uthmaan lost the ability to speak, and ‘Ali went into seclusion. Utter chaos was
on the verge of breaking out, but Abu Bakr brought calm to the situation with this verse.”
Bukhaari, the Book of Al-Maghaazee (4452).
Al-Bukhaari, the Book of Al-Maghaazee (4454).
Refer to Tafseer Al-Qurtubee (4/222).
The Courtyard of Banu Saa ‘idah

When the Companions knew for certain that the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be
upon him) had indeed died, one of the main duties that rested on their shoulders was choosing a
Khaleefah – a leader who would guide the Muslim nation based on the teachings of the Qur’an and
Sunnah. As such, the Ansaar gathered in the courtyard of Banu Saa’idah on the very same day on
which the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) died, which was Monday, 12 Rabee ‘
ul-Awwal, the year 11 A.H. The purpose of their meeting was to choose someone among them to be
the first Caliph of the Muslim nation; however, they were wrong in doing so, for the Prophet (Peace
and Blessings of Allah be upon him) made it clear that the leader of the Muslim nation should be from
the Quraysh.
Before the Ansaar could arrive at a final decision, Abu Bakr, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)
bin Al-Khattaab, and Abu ‘Ubaidah bin Al-Jarraah arrived at their meeting. ‘Umar (May Allah be
pleased with him) intended to speak first, but Abu Bakr silenced him, after which he proceeded to
speak himself. ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) later said, “By Allah, I wanted to speak only
because I had prepared a talk that I liked, and I feared that Abu Bakr would not be able to convey our
message in a similar manner. But when Abu Bakr spoke, I realized that the most eloquent of people
(after the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him)) was speaking.”
Among the things Abu Bakr said to the Ansaar was, “We are the leaders, and you are [our]
ministers.”Hubaab bin Al-Mundhir, a member of the Ansaar, said, “No, by Allah, we will not do so
(i.e., we will not choose one of you as our leader); rather, there should be a leader from among us, and
a leader from among you.”Abu Bakr remained steadfast, replying, “No, we are the leaders, and you
are [our] ministers, “after which he mentioned the elevated status of the Quraysh among the tribes of
Arabia.
Abu Bakr then said, “So pledge allegiance to either ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) or Abu
‘Ubaidah.”But before anyone could do anything, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) interjected,
“Rather, we will pledge allegiance to you, for you are our chief, the best person among us, and the
most beloved of us to the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him).”‘Umar
(May Allah be pleased with him) immediately took hold of Abu Bakr’s hand and pledged allegiance
to him; and without any further hesitation, everyone else present at the meeting did the same.
“We are the leaders and you are (our) ministers”
May Allah be pleased with ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him). When voices were raised in anger
in the courtyard of Banu Saa ‘idah, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) feared that after so many
years of unity, Muslims would become divided over the issue of the caliphate. He knew that unity
could only be achieved if Abu Bakr became Khaleefah of the Muslim nation. Throughout the
Peninsula, Arabs recognized the elevated status of the Quraysh -- a status that no other tribe enjoyed.
So if a leader had been chosen from outside the Quraysh – say, from the Ansaar – then many tribes in
Arabia would have vied against one another for the caliphate, with each tribe thinking that they were
more worthy of leading than were the other tribes of the region.
Furthermore, even among the Muhaajiroon and the Ansaar, it was important to choose the most worthy
man for the caliphate, the man that the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) had
prepared for the job – the man whom the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him)
repeatedly indicated was supposed to have the job. Because of all of these reasons, what ‘Umar (May
Allah be pleased with him) feared most that day was that the Ansaar would hasten to pledge allegiance
to a man among them. For once people make a pledge to a leader, it is next to impossible to convince
them to take back their pledge without division, disputes, arguments – and perhaps even physical
confrontations.
Imagine if the Ansaar had pledged allegiance to a man among them before Abu Bakr and ‘Umar (May
Allah be pleased with him) were to arrive at the meeting. And imagine if ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased
with him) then told them to take back their pledge; he certainly would have had a hard time convincing
them to do so. Thus, in order to avoid a potential disaster, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)
rushed to pledge allegiance to Abu Bakr before anyone else could pledge allegiance to another man.
And to convince the people of the Ansaar to pledge obedience to Abu Bakr, ‘Umar (May Allah be
pleased with him) said, “O people of the Ansaar, do you not know that the Messenger of Allah (Peace
and Blessings of Allah be upon him) ordered Abu Bakr to lead the people in Prayer? Then which one
of you would be pleased with himself, if he were placed ahead of Abu Bakr?”The people of the Ansaar
replied in unison, “We seek refuge with Allah from us being placed ahead of Abu Bakr.”Without
wasting even a second, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) then said to Abu Bakr, “Extend your
hand.”Abu Bakr complied, and ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) pledged allegiance to him.
Then everyone present, both from the Muhaajiroon and the Ansaar, pledged allegiance to Abu Bakr.
Refer to Al-Fath (7/30).
Al-Hikmah Fid-Da ‘wah Ilallah, by Sa‘eed Al-Qahtaanee (pg. 226). Refer to
Saheeh Al-Bukhaari (3668).
Abu Bakr Appoints ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) As
His Successor
It was in the month of Jumaadah Al-Aakhirah of the year 13 A.H. that the Khaleefah of the Messenger
of Allah, Abu Bakr As-Siddeeq, became sick with the illness that led to his death. His condition quickly
worsened, and when it became clear that the end was near for him, he ordered the people to gather
around him. When they were all gathered before him, he said, “Verily, as you can clearly see I have
been afflicted with a severe illness, and I feel certain that, because of the severity of my condition, I
will soon die. Therefore, Allah (SWT) has released you from the pledge that you have made to me,
and my covenant with you (i.e., my covenant as your Khaleefah) has also come to an end. Allah has
returned your affair to you (i.e., your ability to choose a leader among yourselves), so appoint over
yourselves whomsoever you wish. Indeed, if you choose your new leader while I am still alive, you
will be less likely to differ among yourselves after I am gone.”
In order to complete the process of appointing his successor, Abu Bakr took a number of steps. First,
heconsulted the most eminent of the Prophet’s Companions from the Muhaajiroon and the Ansaar.
After he expressed his desire that they should choose a leader before he died, they discussed the matter
among themselves. Whenever a given Companion was nominated for the job of Khaleefah, he would
refuse and suggest someone else in his place. Such was the way of the Prophet’s Companions: each
one of them thought that his Muslim brother was better and more worthy than he was. For this reason,
the Prophet’s Companions, unable to arrive at a decision among themselves, returned to Abu Bakr and
said to him, “O Khaleefah of the Messenger of Allah, your opinion is our opinion (i.e., appoint your
successor for us).”He said, “Then give me some time, so that I can see what is best in the view of Allah
and what is best for His religion and His slaves.”
Abu Bakr, as did the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) before him, always consulted
his companions before making an important decision. In keeping with that policy, he discussed the
matter with a few eminent Companions. First, he summoned for ‘Abdur-Rahmaan bin ‘Awf, to whom
he said, “Tell me about ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) bin AlKhattaab.”Abdur-Rahmaan
responded, “In regard to what you are asking me about, you have more knowledge than I do.”Abu
Bakr said, “Even so.”Abdur-Rahmaan said, “He is, by Allah, better than what you think of him.”Abu
Bakr then summoned for ‘Uthmaan bin ‘Affaan, and when he came, Abu Bakr said to him, “Tell me
about ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) bin Al-Khattaab.”‘Uthmaan said, “You know more
about him than any of us do.”Abu Bakr said, “Even so, O Abu ‘Abdullah.”‘Uthmaan said, “O Allah,
what I know about him is that his secret, private life is better than his open, public life; and that there
is no one among us that is equal to him.”
Abu Bakr then summoned for Usaid bin Hudair, and when Usaid came, Abu Bakr asked him the same
question that he asked ‘Abdur-Rahmaan and ‘Uthmaan. Usaid said, “Next to you, he is the best among
us. He is happy when happiness is called for, and he becomes angry when anger is called for. And that
which he keeps secret is better than that which he displays openly. And there is no one that is stronger
and better able to take on this responsibility than he is.”Similarly, Abu Bakr consulted Sa‘eed bin Zayd,
and a number of other Companions from the Ansaar and the Muhaajiroon. The vast majority of them
were of the same opinion: ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) was the most worthy of the
Prophet’s Companions to succeed Abu Bakr as the Khaleefah of the Muslim nation.
The sole dissenter in this regard was Talhah bin ‘Ubaidullah, who was afraid of ‘Umar (May Allah be
pleased with him)’s harshness. Talhah said to Abu Bakr, “What will you say to your Lord when He
asks you about why you appointed ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) over us even though you
knew all along about his harsh demeanor?”Abu Bakr said, “Help me sit up, “after which he said, “Is it
by Allah that you are trying to frighten me? Verily, one is truly a loser if one acts regarding your affairs
(i.e., the affairs of the Muslim nation) in a wrongful and oppressive manner. [In answer to your
question] I will say, ‘O Allah, I have appointed over them the best of your people. ‘”It is related that
Abu Bakr further justified his decision to appoint ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) in spite of
his harshness by saying, “That is because ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) sees me as being
soft, but then when the responsibilities of leadership fall upon him, he will abandon much that he is
upon now (i.e., he will act less harshly than he does now).”
Abu Bakr then wrote a decree, which was to be read both to the Muslims of Madeenah and to Muslims
who lived abroad. The following is the text of that decree:
“In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.
This is the [final] command of Abu Bakr bin Abu Quhaafah, which he writes as he is exiting this
world, and entering the world of the Hereafter…a time during which a disbeliever comes to
believe, an evildoer comes to have faith, and a liar tells the truth: Verily, I appoint over you
‘Umar bin Al-Khattaab as my successor, so listen to him and obey him….If he acts justly, then that is
what I think of him and that is what I know about him. However, if he changes for the worse (i.e., he
begins to act unjustly), then for each person is that which he has earned. Goodness is what I wanted,
and I do not know anything of the Unseen world.
{And those who do wrong will come to know by what overturning they will be overturned}
(Quran 26:227).”
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) was Abu Bakr’s solution for this nation. Abu Bakr (May
Allah be pleased with him) saw that the world was coming to the Muslims with its riches and
temptations, and he feared that if they embraced those temptations with open arms, then they
would be heading down the path of destruction. It is not unlikely that Abu Bakr (May Allah be
pleased with him) remembered the saying of the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah
be upon him): “Verily, by Allah, it is not poverty that I fear for you; rather, I fear that the world
will be given to you in abundance, just as it was given to those who came before you; that you will
compete over it just as those before you competed over it; and that it will destroy you just as it
destroyed them.”
Fearing this eventuality, Abu Bakr prescribed a potent cure, a cure that was embodied, both literally
and symbolically, in the leadership of ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) bin AlKhattaab; after
all, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) was the man to whom the Prophet (Peace and Blessings
of Allah be upon him) said:
“O Ibn Al-Khattaab, by the One Who has my soul in His Hand, Shaitaan (Satan) has never come across
you in a mountain pass except that he then passes through a mountain pass other than the one through
which you are passing.”
The next step Abu Bakr took was to inform ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) bin AlKhattaab
about his decision. When ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) flatly refused to accept his
appointment, Abu Bakr threatened him not just with words, but with his sword as well. ‘Umar (May
Allah be pleased with him), seeing no escape, acquiesced, accepting the post, even though it was the
last thing he wanted.
Wanting to make sure there would be no confusion regarding his decision, Abu Bakr stood up before
the people and said to them, “Are you pleased with the person that I have appointed over you? Verily,
I have thought long and hard before making this decision, and I did not appoint a relative (to the post);
instead, I appointed over you ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) bin Al-Khattaab, so listen to
him and obey him.”They said, “We hear and we obey.”
Even though Abu Bakr took all the worldly steps that were necessary to carry out his decision, he did
not forget to invoke Allah for guidance and help. It is related that, during the final days of his illness,
he said, “O Allah, I have appointed him without having been commanded to do so by
Your Prophet; still, all I desired through his appointment was to improve the situation of the people. I
feared that trials and tribulations would descend upon them, and so I exhausted all of my efforts to do
what is in their best interests. That is why I have appointed the best among them to rule over them –
the one among them who most desires to make their affairs upright and correct. You indeed know what
has befallen me from Your decree (i.e., this illness and my imminent death), so replace me (with a
good successor), for they are Your slaves.”
Al-Bidaayah Wan-Nihaayah (7/18) and Taareekh At-Tabaree (4/238).
At-Taareekh Al-Islaamee (9/258). Tabaqaat Ibn Sa‘ad (3/199); and Taareekh Madeenah, by Ibn
Shubbah (2/665-669).
Ali’s Endorsement of the Judgment of Umar (May Allah be
pleased with him)
Saalim bin Abi Al-Ja ‘ad said, “If ‘Ali were to overturn any of ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with
him)’s judgments, he would have overturned the one he made regarding the people of Najraan, which
he made one day when they came to him. ‘Ali was the one who wrote the treaty between the people of
Najraan and the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him). Then during the era of ‘Umar
(May Allah be pleased with him), they increased in numbers, to the point that, because of them, ‘Umar
(May Allah be pleased with him) feared for the people (i.e., for their safety). When a disagreement
arose with the people of Najraan, they went to ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) and asked him
for compensation, and he compensated them. They then regretted what had happened, and again some
disagreement occurred among them, and so they went back to ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)
and asked him to pardon them (they were asking him to overturn his judgment regarding the previous
case that involved them). However, he refused to pardon them. Then, when ‘Ali became Khaleefah,
they came to him and said, ‘O Leader of the Believers, you interceded for us with your tongue, and
you wrote down a treaty for us with your right hand. ‘‘Ali said, ‘Woe upon you, for indeed ‘Umar
(May Allah be pleased with him) was of sound judgment. ‘”In this story, we see that ‘Umar (May
Allah be pleased with him) refused to cancel his initial ruling regarding the people of Najraan; and
then later on, ‘Ali also refused to nullify that ruling.
Sunan Al-Baihaqee (10/120), Mausoo‘ah Fiqh ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) ibn Al-
Khattaab (pg. 728).
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)’s Place on the Pulpit
According to yet another narration, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) ascended the pulpit and
was about to sit on the step that Abu Bakr used to sit on, when, suddenly, he held himself back and
said, “It is not befitting that Allah should see me while I consider myself worthy of taking Abu Bakr’s
seat.”He then descended a step, praised and extolled Allah, and then said, “Recite the Qur’an, and you
will known by it (i.e., by your adherence to the Qur’an); apply its teachings, and you will become one
of the people of the Qur’an. Weigh your [deeds] before they will be weighed [for you]. And adorn
yourselves for the great presentation – for the day when you will be presented before Allah, without a
single secret of yours being hidden. Remember that no person can have such a great right over you that
he deserves to be obeyed when he orders you to disobey Allah. Lo! I am to Allah’s wealth (i.e.to the
wealth of the Muslim treasury) what a guardian is to the wealth of an orphan. If I have enough [money
of my own], I will not touch that wealth, and if I am in need [of some money to fulfill my basic needs],
I will eat from that wealth based on Ma‘roof (i.e., based on what is commonly accepted in society as
being reasonable).”
Refer to Kanz Al-‘Ummaal (44214) and Ad-Daulah Al-Islaamiyyah, by Dr. Hamdee Shaaheen (pg.
120).
A Moving Speech
According to another narration, only two days after ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) became
Khaleefah people began to discuss among themselves their fear of ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with
him)’s harshness. ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) did not fault them for their misgivings about
him, but instead felt that now that he was their leader, he would have to change. As an advisor to Abu
Bakr, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)’s harshness was offset by Abu Bakr’s gentleness.
However, as the leader of an entire Nation, harshness would only alienate the general population of
Muslims. And so, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) ascended the pulpit once more and delivered
a moving speech to the people. He began by reminding them about their good dealings with the Prophet
(Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) and Abu Bakr. He praised them, reminding them that both
the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) and Abu Bakr were respectively pleased with
Muslims when they departed from this world.
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) then said, “Then, O people, I became in charge of your affairs.
Know that my harshness has lessened in intensity; nonetheless, I will continue to be harsh against
people who do wrong and who commit acts of transgression. If anyone wrongs another person or
commits a hostile act against him, I will place that wrongdoer’s cheek on the ground, and I will place
my foot on top of his other cheek until he submits to the truth. Nevertheless, after showing harshness
in that situation, I will place my cheek on the ground for people who are chaste and peaceful. O people,
I promise to adhere to a number of qualities for which you must hold me accountable.”‘Umar (May
Allah be pleased with him) went on to say that, regarding all taxes and war booty that came his way,
he would not wrongfully take anything, and hewould distribute that wealth only in a manner that was
sanctioned by Islamic Law.
He then said, “And it is your right that I should make you wealthier, in shaa ‘Allah (Allah willing);
and that I should properly protect our borders. It is also your right that I should not send you to your
destruction [on ill-conceived and poorly-planned military expeditions], and that I should not keep you
away on military missions for unreasonably extended periods of time. While you are away on military
missions, I will be [like] a father to your dependents, providing for them until you return to them. Fear
Allah, O slaves of Allah. And help me to help you…and help to keep me upright by ordering me to do
good, forbidding me from doing evil, and sincerely advising me regarding the duties Allah has charged
me with concerning your affairs. Having said what I needed to say, I ask Allah to forgive both me and
you.”
Al-Idaarah Al-‘Askariyyah Fee ‘Ahd Al-Faarooq (pg. 106).
Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)’s Inaugural Speech
There are seemingly contradictory accounts regarding the first speech ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased
with him) delivered after becoming Khaleefah of the Muslim Nation. One group of narrators related
that ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) ascended the pulpit and said,
“O Allah, I am indeed harsh, so make me gentle; I am weak, so make me strong; and I am

miserly, so make me generous.”
Ibn Jawzi: 170, 171
The Islamic State during the Reign of ‘Umar (May Allah be
pleased with him)
The Muslim State during the reign of ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) covered a huge portion
of the globe, whose boundaries were defined by the Rivers Oxus and the Indus in the East, West Africa
and its desert in the West, the mountain ranges of Asia Minor and Armenia in the North and the Nubian
State and Pacific Ocean in the South. This was a single continuous state containing various peoples,
religions and customs. Its inhabitants lived under the justice and mercy of Islam, a religion which
safeguarded their rights in a noble life despite differing with them in beliefs and customs.
Al-Idaarah Al- ‘Askariyyah, (page 231)
Traveling Towards Ash-Sham during the Plague Epidemic
On one occasion, while ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) was traveling towards Ash-Sham
(Syria and surrounding regions), word reached him about a plague that was ravaging the people of
Ash-Sham. ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) was therefore left with the difficult decision of
either continuing onward towards Ash-Sham or returning to Madeenah. He stopped at a place called
Sargh, which was not too far from Ash-Sham; and with him were many eminent members of the
Muhaajiroon and Ansaar. He gathered them together and asked for their counsel: Should he continue
onwards, or should he return? They disagreed among themselves, with some of them saying to ‘Umar
(May Allah be pleased with him), “You left [on a mission] for the sake of Allah, so do not let news of
this plague prevent you from completing your mission.”Meanwhile, others said, “This is a great trial,
and continuing onwards will mean certain death; therefore, we do not think that you should continue
onwards.”
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) then consulted a specific group of men from the Quraysh, and
they all agreed that the entire traveling party, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) included, should
return to Madeenah. Having heard everyone’s point of view, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)
made up his mind about what he had to do. He announced his decision, saying to his fellow travelers,
“Verily, in the morning I will mount my riding animal [for the return journey to Madeenah].”Abu
‘Ubaidah then exclaimed, “Are you fleeing from Allah’s decree?”‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with
him) replied, “Yes: We are fleeing from Allah’s decree and heading to another one of Allah’s decrees.
Suppose you had camels and you descended into a valley that had two distinct sides, one that was
fertile, and the other that was barren. If you tended to the fertile side, would you not be doing so based
on the decree of Allah? And if you tended to the barren side, would you also not be doing so based on
the decree of Allah?”
Having heard about the meeting that was taking place, ‘Abdur-Rahmaan bin ‘Awf approached ‘Umar
(May Allah be pleased with him) and the others, and said, “Verily, the Prophet (Peace and Blessings
of Allah be upon him) said: ‘If you hear about an outbreak of this epidemic (i.e., about a plague) in a
country, do not approach that country. And if there is an outbreak of an epidemic in a country in which
you happen to be, do not leave that country in an attempt to escape that epidemic. ‘“
‘Asr Al-Khulafaa Ar-Raashidoon (pg. 91). Muslim
(4/1740) (2219).
Innocent Until Proven Guilty

‘Abdullah bin ‘Aamir said, “I went out with a caravan of people, and when we reached DhalMarwah,
a bag of mine was stolen. Among the people there was a man [that I accused of having stolen my bag].
My companions said to him, ‘O so and so, give him back his bag. ‘ He said, ‘I did not take it. ‘ I went
back to ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) and informed him about what had happened. He said,
‘Who was with you? ‘ I named all of them (all of the people of the caravan). And I said, ‘I think it was
so and so (referring to the person he had accused). O Leader of the Believers, I wanted to bring him
here tied up in chains. ‘ ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said, ‘Would you bring him in chains
without any proof [to back up your accusation]?
‘“
Mausoo‘ah Fiqh ‘Umar (pg. 729), and Al-Muhallaa (11/132).
Difference between a King & Khaleefah
According to another narration, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) asked Salmaan AlFaarisee
(May Allah be pleased with him), “Am I a king or a Khaleefah?” Salmaan (May Allah be pleased with
him) said, “If you take a Dirham – or less or more – of taxes from that which grows on the earth, and
if you then use that Dirham in a way that it should not be used – then you are a king and not a
Khaleefah.”‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) then began to cry.
Ash-Shaikhan: (pg. 256, 257).
Year of the Drought
At one point during ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)’s caliphate, Madeenah was afflicted with
a severe drought. The land was so parched during the drought that, when the wind blew, the dirt that
flew in the air was dry like ashes, and so, the year of that drought became known as “The Year of the
Ashes.”‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) swore that until the situation of his people improved,
he would taste neither cooking fat nor milk nor meat. When the effects of the drought lessened in
intensity and when food was readily found in the marketplace, a large shipment of cooking fat and
milk was brought to Madeenah. ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)’s servant purchased a quantity
of those items for 40 (Deenars or Dirhams). He then went to ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)
and said, “O Leader of the Believers, Allah has fulfilled your oath [by providing people with an
adequate amount of sustenance], and has certainly decreed for you a great reward. A shipment of milk
and cooking fat has arrived in our marketplace, and so we bought 40 [Deenars] worth of those items
[for you].”‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) replied, “They are overpriced; give them away as
charity, for indeed, I hate to eat immoderately.”‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) further said,
“How will I personally come to care about the affairs of the people when I do not share in their
suffering?”
This was ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)’s attitude vis-à-vis the “Year of the Drought”; he
was similarly self-denying during the “Year of High Prices, “a year during which the prices of
commercial goods became excessively high. As cooking fat was very expensive during that year,
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) would eat a cheaper substitute – [some kind of] oil. He would
go hungry for so long that his stomach would rumble; and he would look down at his stomach and say,
“Growl as much as you want, for by Allah, you will not eat cooking fat until the people also eat it.”
Manaaqib Ameer Al-Mo ‘mineen, by Ibn Al-Jawzee (pg. 101).
Principle of Equity
Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) upheld the principle of equality not just in Madeenah, but also
in the various provinces of Muslim territory. He ordered his governors to adhere to the principle of
equality in all matters and dealings, even going as far as saying that governors should not eat food that
the masses could not afford to eat. For instance, when ‘Utbah bin Farqad went to Azerbaijan, a delicacy
known as Al-Khabees was brought to him. He tasted the Al-Khabees and found it to be at once
delicious and sweet. ‘Utbah said to those who were in his company, “By Allah, would that you
prepared a quantity of this food for the Leader of the Believers!”
Two bucketful of the delicacy were then loaded on to a camel, and two men were ordered to take the
delicacy to ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him). When the two men arrived in Madeenah, ‘Umar
(May Allah be pleased with him) opened the seal of the buckets and asked, “What is this?”They replied,
“It is Al-Khabees.”‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) tasted it and found it to be sweet. After
taking only a small taste of the delicacy, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) asked, “Where ‘Utbah
is staying right now, are all Muslims able to fill themselves with this [kind of] food?”One of the two
men replied, “No.”‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said, “Lo! Then take it back.”‘Umar (May
Allah be pleased with him) then wrote the following message to ‘Utbah: “To proceed: This [food] was
derived neither from the hard work of your father nor from the hard work of your mother. In the place
you are staying, fill Muslims with the same food with which you fill yourself.”
Tabari: 4/158, Al-Bidayah wan-Nihayah: 7/98
Protecting the Dignity of the Poor

Ibn ‘Abbaas reported that, one year, while ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) bin AlKhattaab
was performing Hajj, Safwaan bin Umayyah prepared a large meal for ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased
with him). The food was placed on a tray that was carried by four men, who placed it in front of the
people for whom the food was meant. When the food was about to be served, the servants stood up to
leave. ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) asked his hosts why the servants were leaving, and
Sufyaan bin ‘Abdullah gave a reply that infuriated ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him).
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) then called out to the servants, saying to them, “Sit down and
eat.”The servants sat down and ate, and ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) simply sat there,
refusing to eat even a morsel of the food.
Nidhaam Al-Hukm Fee ash-Sharee ‘ah Wat-Taareekh Al-Islaamee (1/188).
Showing Respect for other People’s Rights
Throughout the conquests that took place during ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)’s caliphate,
Muslims showed over and over again their respect for other people’s right to choose their own religion.
From the common Muslim soldier all the way up to the rank of Khaleefah, it was universally
understood among Muslims that they didn’t have the right to force anyone to embrace Islam. This was
a principle that ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) followed himself. For example, one day an
elderly Christian woman went to ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) and asked for help regarding
a personal matter. ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said to her, “Embrace Islam, and you will
achieve safety. Verily, Allah has sent Muhammad with the truth.”She replied, “I am an old woman,
and my death is near, “which was her way of refusing to accept ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with
him)’s invitation. As per her request, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) helped her, but he feared
that what he had said to her might have been misconstrued as a threat: that he was willing to help her
only if she embraced Islam. This is not what he had meant at all – for in the end, he did help her even
though she refused to become a Muslim. And so he asked Allah for forgiveness, after which he said,
“O Allah, I only tried to guide her, not coerce her.”
Mo ‘amlat ghairil-muslimeen fil-mujtamil Islami: 41
There is No Compulsion in Religion
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) had a slave whose name was Ashaqq. After ‘Umar (May Allah
be pleased with him) died, Ashaqq told others the following story:
I was a Christian slave, and my master was ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him). One day, ‘Umar
(May Allah be pleased with him) said to me, ‘Embrace Islam, so that we can use you to take care of
certain matters that pertain to Muslims. For indeed, in taking care of their affairs, it is not appropriate
for us to rely on the help of those who are not from them (i.e., of those who are not Muslims). ‘ I
refused, upon which he said,
‘There is no compulsion in religion (a reference to the following verse of the Noble (Qur’an: 2:
256). ‘
Later, when death was about to overtake him, he freed me [from the bonds of slavery] and said to me,
‘Go wherever you want. ‘
Nidhaam Al-Hukm Fee ash-Sharee ‘ah Wat-Taareekh Al-Islaamee (1/58).
Conquest of Tastar
An-Nu ‘man bin Muqarrin and Sahl bin ‘Adi marched towards Tastar with their respective armies and
placed them under the command of Abu Sabrah bin Ruhm. The commander asked ‘Umar (May Allah
be pleased with him) for reinforcements. ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) responded by
sending Abu Moosa Al-Ash‘ari with the Basra army. Abu Sabrah retained the overall command of all
the forces. The Muslims laid siege to Tastar for several months in which the enemy encountered them
in 80 skirmishes. Many knights gained fame in these skirmishes for one on one duels. Several of them
gained the unique distinction of slaying a hundred or more enemies in duels alone, apart from the great
number they killed in general combat. These included Al-Baraa ‘ bin Malik, Mujza ‘ah bin Thawrah,
Ka ‘b bin Sur and Abu Tamimah from the Basrah Army, and Habib bin Qurrah, Rib ‘ie bin ‘Amir and
‘Amr bin ‘Abdullah Al-Aswad from the Koofah Army.
At the final skirmish when the fighting grew intense, Muslims called out to Al-Baraa ‘ bin Malik, “O
Baraa ‘! Take an oath by Allah that He will defeat them.”Al-Baraa ‘ beseeched his Creator, “O Allah!
Defeat our enemy, and grant me martyrdom!”Finally, as the Muslims fought on, they were able to beat
back the enemy and threw their corpses into the trenches. As the siege grew tighter and it became more
difficult for Persians to bear the choking grip of Muslims, two Persian men defected to the Muslim
side in two different places along the besieged city. They told the invaders that the way to conquer the
citadel was to enter from the place water drained out of the city. As the information reached them
separately, both Abu Moosa and An-Nu ‘man asked for volunteers for the task from their respective
battalions. Commandos from both battalions met up at the mouth of the drain in the night. Once some
of the commandos managed to get inside the city, those outside gave a resounding cry of “Allahu-
Akbar!”The infiltrators opened the gates of the walled city and quickly eliminated the little resistance
offered.
Al-Baraa ‘ bin Malik and Mujza ‘ah bin Sur were martyred in the battle by arrows shot by Hormuzan.
However, both were martyred after the Muslim victory had already materialized. Hormuzan, the
Persian commander took refuge in the fort inside the city but the commandos who had first infiltrated
encircled him upon recognizing him. Hormuzan said, “What do you want? We are both in a tight spot.
I have a hundred arrows in my quiver. By God, you will not reach me as long as I have a bow and an
arrow. And you know I am a good shot, having killed or wounded a hundred of your men.”The
commandos charged, “What is it you want then?”Hormuzan replied, “I want to surrender myself on
the condition that ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) will personally decide my fate.”The
commandos agreed to this proposal, so Hormuzan threw down his bow and gave himself up. The
Muslims bound him up, placed guards to watch over him and prepared to send him to ‘Umar (May
Allah be pleased with him) in Madeenah. Then they started collecting the spoils of the city. After
taking the fifth for the central treasury, they divided the rest among themselves, such that each
horseman got 3,000 Dirhams and each infantryman got a thousand.
Al-Bidayah wan-Nihayah: 7/88
Allah The Almighty Honored You With Islam
When ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) came to the Levant, he was riding a donkey with his
feet dangling on one side. Abu ‘Ubaidah said to him, “O Leader of the Believers! You are about to
meet the dignitaries of another nation!”‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) replied, “Allah The
Almighty has brought honor to the Muslims through Islam. If you seek honor in something other than
Islam, Allah would disgrace you!”
Mahdh As-Sawab (2/590). The chain of narration is authentic.
Protection of the Minorities Rights
At-Tabaree related that, in a letter that ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) sent to the people of
Eeliyaa, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) made the following guarantees to them: He
guaranteed that they would not be harmed; that their wealth was safe, and would not be wrongly taken
or seized; and that their crosses and churches would not be destroyed or harmed.
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)’s governor of Egypt, ‘Amr bin Al- ‘Aas, wrote the following
official letter to the inhabitants of Egypt: “In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most
Merciful. ‘Amr bin Al- ‘Aas guarantees the people of Egypt safety for their lives, their [freedom to
practice their] Religion, their wealth, their churches, their crosses, their land, and their sea.”
At-Taareekh Al-Islamee (11/202, 204) Taareekh At-Tabaree (5/63-64)
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) Prays at the Al-Aqsa
Mosque Jerusalem
Abu Salamah narrated that Abu Sinan told him that ‘Ubaid bin Adam heard ‘Umar (May Allah be
pleased with him) bin Al-Khattaab say to Ka ‘b Al-Ahbar (a Jewish man who became a Muslim),
“Where do you think I should pray in the Mosque?”Ka ‘b said, “If you take my opinion, I think you
should pray behind the Foundation Stone so that the whole Jerusalem is in front of you (and at the
same time you will be facing Makkah).”‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) retorted, “You are
competing with the Jews! No. I shall pray where the Prophet of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah
be upon him) prayed (during his miraculous night journey to Jerusalem. See the Qur’an, 17:1).”Thus,
he faced the Ka ‘bah and prayed. Then he swept the mosque with his robe and others followed suit.
Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy upon him) said, “The Al-Aqsa Mosque is the name for the
entire mosque…however some people apply that name only to the prayer place built by ‘Umar (May
Allah be pleased with him) in its front portion. Praying in that portion is better than anywhere else in
the mosque. When ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) conquered Jerusalem, he found a great
garbage dump on the Foundation Stone, which the Christians had placed there to belittle the people of
the Jewish faith who prayed towards it. ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) ordered the filth to be
removed from it. He asked Ka ‘b where to make a mosque for the Muslims. Ka ‘b suggested making
it behind the Foundation Stone. However, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) rejected this idea,
saying ‘Nay, I shall build it in front of it, as we should have the front part of mosques. ‘”
This stance adopted by the Caliph shows practically that Islam respects all the heavenly religions and
their sacred relics. The rock that ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) personally cleaned with his
hands and carried the dust and garbage off it in his own cloak, was the Holy of Holies to the Jews and
they prayed towards it, believing it to the place where Allah The Almighty spoke to Israel. Just as
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) exhibited unprecedented tolerance and respect for the freedom
of belief for the Christian faith, giving assurance of security to their crosses and churches, he did not
hold a grudge against the Jewish faith despite the various crimes its adherents had committed against
the Muslims. He cleansed the most sacred site of the Jewish religion and restored it to its dignity.
Al-Bidaayah Wan-Nihaayah (7/57). The chain of narration is good.
Great System of Government
When the history of rulers and the systems of government is studied, we come to realize that ‘Umar
(May Allah be pleased with him) was unique in his personality. He established an office of records, a
census bureau, which was better than that which is found today. He was aware of every woman, child,
and their residence, which was all recorded in their records. He was also aware of the stipend that every
Muslim received from the Public Treasury. He classified them according to their services to Islam.
Those who participated in the Battle of Badr were given preference to other fighters. Next in preference
were those who participated in the treaty of Hudaibiyah. Next in preference were those who
participated in the War of Apostasy, then came those who fought against the Romans and Persians
with courage and valor. The children of those who fought in Badr and the children of those who fought
against the Romans and Persians were treated equally. Other distributions were also based on this
formula. ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) organized the army, dividing them into units and
sections.
Accountability of Government
When ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) went to Jerusalem, he stayed there for several days and
gave instructions about the necessary rules. Once Bilal complained to ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased
with him) that the commanders of the army were eating the meat of fowl and fine breads, which were
not available to the common Arabs. ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) investigated into the
matter and the commander of the army answered that these foods were cheap in this area. They are
able to buy this food for the same price that they would pay for dates and rough bread in Hijaz. ‘Umar
(May Allah be pleased with him) couldn’t force the army commanders to not eat this type of food, but
he established a salary and rations for every soldier.
Al-Farooq: 137
Expelling the Jews from Khaibar
In Saheeh Al-Bukhaari, it is related that, one night, ‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with
him) went to Khaibar in order to check up on some wealth he had there. During his stay there, he was
attacked by a group of Jews, who broke the joints in ‘Abdullah’s hands and feet, causing them to come
out of their sockets. ‘Abdullah’s hands and feet became twisted, which was an unusually cruel
punishment that his attackers had inflicted upon him. After this incident, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased
with him) stood up to deliver a speech; and in it, he announced that he had made up his mind to expel
the Jews of Khaibar from their homes. One of members of the Banu Al-Haqeeq tribe went to ‘Umar
(May Allah be pleased with him) and said, “O Leader of the Believers, are you expelling us even
though Muhammad (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) allowed us to work our land and made
an agreement with us with regard to [the sharing of] our wealth…?”
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) replied, “Do you think that I have forgotten what the
Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) said [to you]: ‘How will it be for you
when you will be forced to leave Khaibar, and when, while mounted on your riding camels, you will
be traveling [further and further away from Khaibar] night after night? ‘“When the Prophet (Peace and
Blessings of Allah be upon him) said this, he (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) was, in no
uncertain terms, promising the Jews of Khaibar that one day they would be banished from Khaibar.
The Jewish man replied, “Abul-Qaasim (i.e., the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him))
was only joking.”‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said, “O enemy of Allah, you are
lying!”‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) then expelled the Jews from Khaibar and compensated
them for the wealth they were forced to leave behind.
(Bukhari: 2730)
Shuraih’s Judgment
One day, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) wanted to buy a horse from a Bedouin, and so he
rode it in order to test it out. During his test ride, the horse stumbled and was crippled as a result. ‘Umar
(May Allah be pleased with him) said to the Bedouin, “Take back your horse.”The man said,
“No.”‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said, “Then choose a judge to render a judgment in our
dispute.”The man said, “I choose Shuraih.”They went to him, and after he heard their opposing
arguments, he said, “O Leader of the Believers, take what you have purchased (i.e., the horse), or return
what you took in the condition it was in when you took it.”‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)
was so impressed by Shuraih’s judgment and reasoning that he exclaimed, “This is how a judge should
pass judgments!”He then sent him as a judge to Koofah.
Khilaafah Ar-Raashidah (pg. 147), and Shaheed Al-Mihraab (pg. 211).
Policy of Keeping Eminent Companions in Madeenah
Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) kept the most eminent of the Prophet’s Companions by his
side in Madeenah, forbidding them from traveling to conquered lands. Some of them did leave
Madeenah, but only with his permission to conduct official, governmental business – such as going
abroad to be the governor of a province, or going out to be the commander of an invading Muslim
army. ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) kept various eminent Companions by his side for a few
important reasons. First, he needed them to play the role of counselors, people he could turn to for
advice when he would have to face difficult problems. This was similar to what Abu Bakr did when
he became Khaleefah. When Usaamah’s army was about to depart for its mission, Abu Bakr asked
‘Usaamah permission to leave behind one of his soldiers. That soldier was none other than ‘Umar (May
Allah be pleased with him) bin Al-Khattaab; and Abu Bakr wanted ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with
him) to remain in Madeenah so that he could use him as an adviser, a role that ‘Umar (May Allah be
pleased with him) went on to play throughout the duration of Abu Bakr’s caliphate.
“Umar wanted a single, central leadership for the entire Muslim Nation, rather than pockets of
decentralized power”
In keeping certain eminent Companions by his side in Madeenah, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with
him) had something else in mind as well. He wanted a single, central leadership for the entire Muslim
Nation, rather than pockets of decentralized power throughout Muslim lands. A profoundly wise
leader, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) understood the nature of human beings, particularly
their tendency to aggrandize the qualities of men they admire. ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)
did not doubt the trustworthiness of the Prophet’s Companions, but he feared that, if they were to settle
down in foreign lands, people would exaggerate their importance, giving them a kind of celebrity status
that would do more harm than good. People would then honor those Companions so much that, for
them, their opinions would be just as binding as an official decree from the overall Muslim leadership
in Madeenah. If this would occur if a few Companions settled down abroad; imagine, then, what would
happen if many Companions were to do the same? The followers of each Companion would honor
only his opinion, and with the occurrence of many, varying opinions throughout Muslim lands, chaos
would result, and the central government would lose its authority. This is why ‘Umar (May Allah be
pleased with him) said to the Prophet’s Companions, “The thing I fear most for this Nation is for you
to spread out [and settle down] in [various Muslim] lands.”So in order to avoid the harmful effects of
the decentralization of power, and in order to benefit from the counsel of trustworthy and
knowledgeable men, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) forbade many eminent Companions from
leaving Madeenah.
Al-Murtadah, Abul Hassan an-Nadwi: 209
Salary of the Caliph
During the early stages of his caliphate, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) bin Al-Khattaab did
not take a salary; instead, he lived off the profits of his business. However, as time went by, ‘Umar
(May Allah be pleased with him) spent more time taking care of the affairs of the Muslim Nation, and
less time tending to his business. Obviously, therefore, his profits plummeted; and soon ‘Umar (May
Allah be pleased with him) was faced with a serious personal financial crisis, or to put it more bluntly,
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) became poor, and he, as well as his family, began to suffer
the hardships of poverty. This, mind you, was the situation of the Leader of an entire Nation, a man
who had huge sums of wealth at his disposal, but who refused to take for himself a single Dirham or
Deenaar.
It was not long before his situation became unbearable; his personal hardships – hunger being at the
forefront of those problems – was affecting his energy level, which was making it difficult for him to
fulfill his duties as Khaleefah. He therefore convened a meeting with the Companions of the Messenger
of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him), and asked them to advise him about his situation.
He said to them, “I am completely preoccupied with this matter (with the job of being Khaleefah), so
what is appropriate for me to take [in order to fulfill my basic needs].”
‘Uthmaan bin ‘Affaan said, “Eat [yourself] and feed your family.”Or in other words: You should be
paid with enough food to nourish both yourself and your family. Sa‘eed bin Zayd bin ‘Amr bin Nufail
seconded ‘Uthmaan’s opinion in the matter. ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) then turned to
‘Ali bin Abi Taalib and said, “What do you say about the matter?”‘Ali replied, “Lunch and dinner.”In
other words: You should receive as a salary enough food to satisfy yourself and your family for two
meals of the day: lunch and dinner. Since everyone was in agreement, the matter was thus decided
upon; however, other narrations indicate that, in addition to food, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with
him) was to be given a few other basic needs as well – such as clothing for each season, and a riding
animal for performing Hajj or ‘Umrah. ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said, “Lo! I am, with
regard to Allah’s wealth (i.e., to the wealth of the Muslim treasury), what a guardian is to the wealth
of an orphan. If I have enough [money of my own], I will not touch that wealth; and if I am in need
[of some money to fulfill my basic needs], I will eat from that wealth based on Ma‘roof (i.e., based on
what is commonly accepted in society as being reasonable).”
Al-Khilphah ar-Rashidah, Yahya al-Yahya: 270
‘Umar’s (May Allah be pleased with him) Patched Garments

After ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) became Khaleefah of the Muslim Nation, he was once
seen delivering a sermon while wearing a lower garment that was patched in 12 different places. And
he was similarly seen with 12 patches on his lower garment while he was performing Tawaaf around
the Ka‘bah; one of the patches, the narrator of this story recalled, was made of red leather.
Az-Zuhd: 124
Numbering of the Muslim Calendar
The numbering of the Muslim calendar was a key advancement for the Muslim civilization, giving the
Muslim Nation a unique stamp that distinguished it from other Nations. The first person to number the
Muslim calendar based on the Hijrah (migration) of the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon
him) was ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him).
Every nation or religion dates its calendar based on some important event that defines its citizens or
adherents as a people. Christians date their calendar based on what they believe to be the birthdate of
‘Eesa (May Allah be pleased with him); early on, Arabs dated their calendar based on the great events
that surrounded the infamous attempt of Abrahah to destroy the Ka‘bah; and Persians would date their
calendar based on the birth-date of various kings. At any rate, a number of narrations describe slightly
different – but certainly not conflicting – reasons for why ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)
designated year 1 of the Muslim calendar to be the year during which the Prophet (Peace and Blessings
of Allah be upon him) migrated from Makkah to Madeenah.
Maimoon bin Maihraan related that ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) was once given some sort
of business document whose terms came into effect in the month of Sha‘baan (or it was some other
kind of document whose terms came into effect in the month of Sha‘baan). Since Muslims did not
have a calendar by which they dated various events, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) had no
way of knowing which Sha‘baan the document was referring to. And so he said, “Last Sha‘baan, next
Sha‘baan, or the Sha‘baan we are in now?”‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) then gathered the
Prophet’s Companions and said to them, “Establish a system [of counting years] for the people, a
system they will all be familiar with.”Someone suggested that they follow the calendar of the Romans,
but then another member of the gathering rejected the idea for more than one reason, one of them being
that it was too long [ (already, about sixhundred years had gone by) and was thus filled with many
years of events that were specific and unique only to the people of a different nation]. Someone else
suggested that Muslims follow the calendar of the Persians, but others in the gathering protested,
saying, “Every time a new King comes into power, they cancel the dating of their previous calendar
and start over from scratch.”Wanting an event that uniquely identified Muslims as a people, they
agreed that the main turning point in Muslim history was the migration of the Prophet (Peace and
Blessings of Allah be upon him). And so, they asked themselves how many years the Messenger of
Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) lived in Madeenah, and the answer they agreed upon
was 10 years. Therefore, they made year 1 of the Muslim calendar the year during which the Prophet
(Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) migrated from Makkah to Madeenah.
According to another narration, ‘Uthmaan bin ‘Ubaidullah related that he heard Sa‘eed bin
AlMusayyib say, “Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) bin Al-Khattaab gathered the Muhaajiroon
and the Ansaar and asked them, ‘Based on what criteria should we date the events of [our collective]
history? ‘ ‘Ali bin Abi Taalib said, ‘[We should date our calendar] from the time the Prophet (Peace
and Blessings of Allah be upon him) left the land of polytheism (i.e., the time when the Prophet (Peace
and Blessings of Allah be upon him) migrated from Makkah to Madeenah). ‘‘Umar (May Allah be
pleased with him) bin Al-Khattaab then decided to date the Muslim calendar based on that event.”
Ibn Al-Musayyib said, “The first person to date the [Muslim] calendar was ‘Umar (May Allah be
pleased with him) bin Al-Khattaab, and he did so two-and-a-half years after he became Khaleefah.
After consulting ‘Ali bin Abi Taalib on the matter, he first dated the Muslim calendar on the 16th of
Muharram.”
Abu Az-Zinaad said, “Regarding the dating of the Muslim calendar, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased
with him) consulted [the Prophet’s Companions], and they all agreed that the calendar should be based
on the Hijrah (on the migration of the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) from
Makkah to Madeenah).”
However, other than dating the Muslim calendar based on the Hijrah, there was the issue of why ‘Umar
(May Allah be pleased with him) chose to make the first month of that calendar Muharram, when, in
reality, Rabee ‘ul-Awwal was actually the month during which the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of
Allah be upon him) completed his migration by arriving in Madeenah. Providing an answer to this
question, Ibn Hajar (may Allah have mercy upon him) related that when ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased
with him) consulted the Companions about dating the Muslim calendar, they found that they could
base the beginning of their calendar on four events: the birth-date of the Prophet (Peace and Blessings
of Allah be upon him), the month and year during which the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings
of Allah be upon him) first received revelation, the migration of the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of
Allah be upon him), and the month and year during which the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah
be upon him) died.
They concluded that Muslims would disagree about the exact date of the Prophet’s birth and of the
first time the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) received revelation. Besides, they
did not want to base their calendar on the date of the Prophet’s death, since that would arouse feelings
of sadness and pain among Muslims. And so the only thing that remained was the migration of the
Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him). Ibn Hajar (may Allah have mercy on him) went
on to say that they agreed upon Muharram instead of Rabee ‘ulAwwal because the Prophet (Peace and
Blessings of Allah be upon him) first made a firm resolve to migrate to Madeenah in the month of
Muharram. The second pledge of Al-‘Aqabah took place in Dhul-Hijjah, which represented the first
stage of the Prophet’s migration. After the second pledge of Al-‘Aqabah took place, and after the
Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) made a firm resolve to migrate to Madeenah, the
first new moon that appeared was the new moon of Muharram, thus making Muharram the appropriate
first month of the Muslim calendar.
Choosing the Hijrah as the event upon which Muslims based their calendar was similar to choosing
the Adhaan as a means of calling Muslims to prayer. In both cases, Muslims first suggested following
the ways of other Nations. Regarding the Adhaan, for instance, some Muslims first suggested using a
bell to call Muslims to prayer, a practice that was followed by Christians. As for the Muslim calendar,
some Muslims first suggested following the calendar of the Romans. When the Adhaan was chosen as
the ideal means of calling people to Prayer, it became a source of pride for Muslims, a means of
distinguishing them from the peoples of other nations. The same was the case for the Muslim calendar:
basing it on the Hijrah was also a source of pride for Muslims, and it was also a means by which they
distinguished themselves from the peoples of other nations. Through the simple act of establishing a
unique Muslim calendar, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) helped promote further unity among
Muslims. Muslims were already united by a single religion; by a bond of brotherhood -- a bond that
took only faith into consideration, and not other factors such as skin color, race, or lineage. They were
united by a single Qiblah, the direction they all faced during Prayer, no matter where they were on
earth – and now they were also united by the same calendar, by the same means by which they could
record the events of their collective, and proud, history.
Al-Mustadrak: 3/14
“Hit Me As I Hit You”
One day, while ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) was preoccupied with a matter that affected
the general population of Muslims, a man went to him and said, “O Leader of the Believers, come with
me and help me against such and such person, for he has indeed wronged me.”‘Umar (May Allah be
pleased with him) picked up a stick, hit the man on the head with it, and then said, “You steer clear of
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) when he comes to you, offering his help; but then, when he
becomes busy with the affairs of the Muslims, you come to him!”The man then left in an obviously
sour mood.
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) then said, “Call the man back.”When some of ‘Umar (May
Allah be pleased with him)’s companions brought the man back, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with
him) said to him, “Take hold of this stick and hit me with it just as I did to you.”The man replied, “No,
O Leader of the Believers. I will abstain from doing so for the sake of Allah I and for you.”‘Umar
(May Allah be pleased with him) said, “That is no good: Either you abstain [from hitting me] for the
sake of Allah and out of a desire to receive His rewards or you do to me what I did to you…”
The man replied, “I will abstain [from hitting you] for the sake of Allah, O Leader of the Believers.”The
man then left. As for ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him), he walked back to his home in the
company of a group of men, one of whom was Al-Ahnaf bin Qais. Al-Ahnaf later recounted what
happened next, “Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) commenced his Prayer, performed two units
[of Prayer], and then sat down.”Al-Ahnaf then said to ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him), “O Ibn
Al-Khattaab, you were a simple person, and then Allah raised you; you were a misguided person, and
then Allah guided you; and you were a lowly figure, and then Allah (SWT) honored you. After that,
Allah granted you authority over all Muslims. Then a man came to you, seeking out your help. And in
response to his appeal for help, you struck him! What will you say to your Lord tomorrow when you
will go to Him?”Al-Ahnaf later said, “Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) began to reproach
himself so severely that I began to think that he was the best person on earth.”
Mahd as-Sawab Fee Fadail Amirul Momeneen: 2/503
“You do not know him”

A man bore witness to ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) and he said to him: “I do not know
you, but it does not matter that I do not know you. Bring me someone who does know you.”A man
among the people said, “I know him.”‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) asked, “What do you
know about him?”He said, “He is of good character and is virtuous.”He asked, “Is he your closest
neighbor who you know by night and by day, and you know when he comes in and goes out?”He said,
“No.”He asked, “Did he have any financial dealings with you which is the way to know whether he is
God-fearing or not?”He said, “No.”He then asked, “Has he been your companion on a journey, which
is the way to know whether he is of noble character and attitude?”He said, “No.”He (‘Umar (May
Allah be pleased with him) said, “Then you do not know him.”
Sunan Al-Baihaqee, 10/125; Mausoo‘ah Fiqh ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him), p. 731.
Swearing an Oath in Court
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) had to swear an oath, and Zayd said, “Excuse the Leader of
the Faithful.”‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said, “Why should he excuse the Leader of the
Faithful? If something belongs to me I would be entitled to it by virtue of my oath, otherwise I would
not lay claim to it. By the One besides Whom there is no other Deity worthy of worship but He, this
date palm is mine and Ubai has no right to it.”After the case was settled, he gave the garden to Ubai
as a gift. It was said to him, “Why didn’t you give it to him before the oath O Leader of the Faithful?”He
said, “I feared that if I did not swear the oath, the people would not swear oaths for their rights after
me, and that would become the Sunnah.
Taareekhul-Madeenatil-Munawwarah, 2/755; Mausoo‘at Fhiqh ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased

with him), p. 732
Fair Dealings
Ma‘n bin Zaa ‘idah managed to forge the seal of the state by engraving something similar, which he
used to take money from the public treasury. The case was referred to ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased
with him), who had him beaten one hundred times and imprisoned. Someone tried to intercede on his
behalf, and he had him beaten another hundred times. Someone else tried to intercede on his behalf
and he had him beaten a further hundred times and banished.
Awwaliyyaat Al-Faarooq, p. 453.
Sanctity of the Ka ‘bah
Abu Salaamah said, “I once came across ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) as he was busy
hitting men and women in the Haram (The Inviolable Masjid) – men and women who were standing
beside each other and performing ablution from the same basin. ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with
him) hit them in order to separate them (i.e., in order to separate men from women).”
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) then said, “O so and so!, “to which Abu Salaamah replied,
“Here I am, answering your call.”‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said, “You have not
answered my call or obeyed me! Did I not order you to make separate basins for men, and separate
basins for women [so that they do not have to come into contact with each other when they perform
ablution]?”‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) then rushed away; and later on, when he met ‘Ali,
he said to him, “I fear that I have become destroyed!”‘Alicalmly asked, “And what has brought about
your destruction?”‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said, “I hit men and women in Allah’s
Inviolable Masjid.”‘Ali said, “O Leader of the Believers, you are a shepherd (or guardian) like any
other shepherd [in that it is your job to take care of your flock]. Therefore, if you are sincere, and if
you act with the intention of improving [the state of your people], then Allah will not punish you. But
if you hit them for a false or wrong reason, then you are a wrongdoer.”
Musannaf ‘Abdur-Razzaaq: 1/75,76
The Reforms of ‘Umar

When ‘Umar became Caliph, he delivered a stirring speech in which he announced his policies and
reforms. The reforms that he introduced were unique and unprecedented in history. These reforms
would become famous throughout history as “the reforms of ‘Umar”. Many scholars and historians
have discussed these reforms and have they have been greatly appreciated.
[Abqariyah ‘Umar]
Assessing the Performance of the Governors
Every year, there were certain occasions during which large groups of Arabs gathered together; Hajj
was the most obvious of those occasions, but the Arabs also convened at various marketplaces during
specific times of the year in order to buy and sell merchandise.
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) would order his governors to be present during those
gatherings. The idea was that, since groups of Muslims from various provinces would be present at
such gatherings, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) could ask them about how they assessed the
performance of their governors. If someone complained about a governor, ‘Umar (May Allah be
pleased with him) could then confront that governor on the spot. It was more than a periodic
performance review of governors: It was a court trial, in which any citizen could be a plaintiff, and
governors would have to stand as defendants – such was the degree to which ‘Umar (May Allah be
pleased with him) held his governors accountable for their actions.
During one particular gathering, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) called out to the people,
saying, “O people, I did not send my governors to you so that they can take your wealth. I sent them
only for them to act as a barrier between you [in your disputes] and to distribute among you your war
revenues. If anyone feels that their governor does not act in that manner, let him stand up.”Only one
man stood up. He said, “O Leader of the Believers, your governor struck me with a whip one-hundred
times.”‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) looked at the governor in question and asked, “Why
did you strike him?”Not receiving any reply from the governor, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with
him) turned to the other man and said, “Stand up and take your revenge (i.e., whip this governor one-
hundred times).”
Before the man stood up to execute ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)’s command, ‘Amr bin Al-
‘Aasstood up and said, “O Leader of the Believers, if you do this, you will have to deal with many
similar situations (situations in which citizens complain about their governors). Then, when you depart
from this world, it will remain an established norm.”‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) rejected
‘Amr’s arguments, insisting that upholding justice was his duty. ‘Amrthen said, “Then at least allow
us to try to appease him.”‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) replied, “He is all yours: make him
satisfied [with another solution if you can].”The man then agreed that, instead of exacting revenge on
the governor who had whipped him, he would take from the governor two Deenars for every lashing
he received. Since he received 100 lashings, he took 200 Deenars from the governor, and the matter
was thus resolved.However, had they not been able to appease him with their offer, ‘Umar (May Allah
be pleased with him) would have ordered him to exact his revenge by whipping the guilty governor
100 lashes.
Manaqib Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) bin Al-Kattab, p: 162
Leading by Example
If all the Muslims could not enjoy specific types of food, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him), as
a show of solidarity to them, refused to eat those very foods, opting instead to eat simple, inexpensive
foods that were available to everyone.
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) would fast for many consecutive days.During the Year of the
Ashes, whenever evening-time would arrive, hewould take some bread, dip it in oil in order to soften
it, and then eat it – and that would be his meal for the day. Then one day, a camel was slaughtered, and
its meat was distributed among the people. The people who were in charge of the slaughtering saved
the best parts of the camel for ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) – meat from the hump of the
camel and from its liver. When the meat was presented to him, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with
him) asked, “Where did this meat come from?”Someone replied, “O Leader of the Believers, from the
camel that we slaughtered today.”‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) replied, “Wonderful!
Wonderful! But what a vile leader I would be if I ate the best part of the camel and left the people to
eat its bones. Lift up this tray, and bring me some other food.”Some bread and oil were procured for
him, and he began to break the bread with his hand and dip it in the oil.He then said, “Woe upon you,
O Yarfa ‘!Lift up this tray and take it to the household of Yathmagh. I have not gone to them in three
days, and I fear that they have not eaten anything since that time. So go and give it to them.”
Taareekh At-Tabaree: 5/78 - Fannul - Hukm: 71.
"I would Kill All of Them"

It was narrated from Ibn ‘Umar that a boy was murdered and ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)
said: “If all the people of San‘aa ‘(Sana) had taken part in that, I would kill them all.”In other narrations,
four men killed a boy and ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said, “If all the people of San‘aa ‘
had taken part in that, I would kill them.”
Al-Bukhaari, Kitaabud-Diyaat, 6896.
The Title, “The Leader of the Believers”
Until his dying breath, Abu Bakr was known by the title, “The Khaleefah of the Messenger of Allah
(Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him).”After Abu Bakr’s death, Muslims began to say among
themselves that the Khaleefah that would come after Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) should
be called, “The Khaleefah of the Khaleefah of the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah
be upon him).”This idea, however, was soon rejected for obvious logistical reasons: a century down
the line, it would be too long and cumbersome to call the leader of the Muslim Nation, “The Khaleefah
of the Khaleefah of the Khaleefah of the Khaleefah of the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of
Allah be upon him).”
Therefore, some Companions thought of a better idea: They came up with a title that could be used for
all leaders that came after ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him). They said, “We are believers, and
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) is our leader.”Thus ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)
was thereafter called, “The Leader of the Believers (Ameer Al-Mu
‘mineen).”And he was the first to be called by that title.
Sulaimaan related that, on one occasion, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) bin Al-Khattaab
wrote an official letter to his governor of Iraq, a letter, it seems, that was to be read out to the people
of Iraq. For in the letter, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) seems to have asked, not his governor,
but the people of Iraq to send to him two noble, hardy, and patient men – men he could question and
grill regarding the state of affairs in Iraq.
“Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) was the first to be called by that title Ameer Al-Mu
‘mineen”
The people of Iraq sent to him Labeed bin Rabee‘ah and ‘Adee bin Haatim. Upon arriving in
Madeenah, the two men made their camels kneel to the ground in the courtyard of the Masjid, after
which they entered the Masjid. Inside, they met ‘Amr bin Al- ‘Aas, and they said to him, “O ‘Amr,
ask permission for us to enter upon the Leader of the Believers.”‘Amr entered upon ‘Umar (May Allah
be pleased with him) and said, “Peace be upon you, O Leader of the Believers.”‘Umar (May Allah be
pleased with him) then asked, “What prompted you to call me by that name, O Ibn Al- ‘Aas?”When
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) then insisted that ‘Amr answer his question, ‘Amrreplied,
“Yes [I will tell you]. Labeed bin Rabee‘ah and ‘Adee bin Haatim came and said, ‘Ask permission for
us to enter upon the Leader of the Believers, ‘and I then said, ‘By Allah, the two of you have correctly
named him; for indeed, he is the Leader [of the believers], and we are believers. ‘“Having told this
story to ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) bin ‘Abdul-‘Azeez (may Allah have mercy on him),
Sulaimaan said, “From that day onward, the title ‘The Leader of the Believers ‘was used in all [official]
letters.”
According to yet another narration, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said in a gathering, “You
are believers, and I am your leader.”Thus, according to his account, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with
him) gave himself the title, “The Leader of the Believers.”Whatever the case may be, it is at least clear
that ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) was the first Muslim leader to be called, “The Leader of
the Believers.”If one were to study the sayings of Companions during the era of ‘Umar (May Allah be
pleased with him)’s caliphate, one would find that all of them agreed to call ‘Umar (May Allah be
pleased with him) by the title, “The Leader of the Believers”. In fact, it even became customary for
Muslims in distant lands and provinces to call ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) by that title –
a title that identified ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) as the Khaleefah just as readily as the
title Caesar identified the Emperor of Rome.
Ibn Sa ‘d: 3/281, Al-Mustadrak: 3/81, 82
Refusing to Take One’s Right
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) possessed the quality of Wara ‘to such an elevated degree that
he sometimes refused to take what was rightfully his, or even what he most desperately needed. One
day, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) fell ill, and a group of doctors told him that he needed to
take some honey as medicine. It so happened that the Muslim treasury contained some honey that had
arrived from a land that Muslims had recently conquered. In spite of the advice of his doctors, and in
spite of the availability of honey, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) refused to take the honey
since it belonged to all Muslims. However, when his condition did not improve, he climbed the pulpit
in an obviously frail and weak state. Hethen said to the people who were gathered before him, “If you
give me permission [I will take some of the honey as medicine]; otherwise, it is Haraam (unlawful) for
me.”The people who were gathered collectively broke down into tears, feeling mercy and compassion
for their humble, pious, brave, and wonderful leader. They all granted him permission to take the
honey, and they began to say to one another, “How good ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) is!
He has indeed set a very difficult and hard-to-follow precedent for the Khaleefahs who will come after
him.”
Faraaid Al-Kalaam Lil-Khulafaa Al-Kiraam p:113
A Difficult Example to Follow
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) used to say, “If a young goat was to die on the bank of the
Euphrates, Allah will ask me concerning it on the Day of Resurrection.”
‘Ali related: Once I saw ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) riding on a camel without a saddle,
moving swiftly. I asked, “Where are you going, O Leader of the Believers?”He replied, “One of the
charity camels has fled away, so I am going in search of it.”I said, “You have established a difficult
example to be followed by your successor.”‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) replied, “Do not
blame me Abu Hassan. By Allah, the One who sent Muhammad with Prophethood, if any baby goat
is lost on the bank of the Euphrates, then I will be held responsible for it on the Day of Resurrection.”
[Manaaqib ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him), Ibn al-Jawzi, pg. 161]
“I own no other outfit”
On one particular Friday, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) did not come out to the Friday
Prayer on time, and since he was to deliver the Friday Sermon, the people had to wait until he came
out to them. When ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) finally did come out to them, he apologized,
explaining, “I was prevented from coming out because this garment I am wearing was being washed;
and I own no other outfit.”
Mahd As-Sawaab Fee Fadaail Ameer Al-Mo ‘mineen ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) ibn
Al-Khattaab (2/566).
Strong Sense of Wara ‘
‘Abdur-Rahmaan bin Najeeh related the following narration, and it too illustrates ‘Umar (May Allah
be pleased with him)’s strong sense of Wara‘ (piety). ‘Abdur-Rahmaan said that he once stayed as a
guest under ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)’s care, and during his stay he came to know that
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) owned a camel whose milk he would drink. Then, one day,
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)’s servant gave ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) milk
whose taste was somehow different from the milk he had become accustomed to drinking. ‘Umar (May
Allah be pleased with him) said to his servant, “Woe upon you! From where did you get this milk?”The
servant explained that the baby of ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)’s camel got to its mother’s
milk and drank it all; and so he was forced to take milk from another camel, a camel that belonged to
the Muslim treasury. Upon hearing his servant’s explanation, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)
exclaimed, “Woe upon you, do you want to give me fire to drink?”‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with
him) then asked a number of eminent Companions about the matter, and they all told him that it was
lawful for him to drink the milk of a camel that belonged to the Muslim treasury, and that it was even
lawful for him to eat from that camel’s meat.
Taareekh Madeenah Al-Munawwarah (pg. 702).
“We will listen and obey”

One day, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) stood up to deliver a sermon, and he barely finished
the sentence, “O people, listen and obey, “when a man suddenly interrupted him, saying, “O ‘Umar
(May Allah be pleased with him), we will neither listen nor obey.”With a perfectly calm and tranquil
demeanor, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) asked, “And why is that, O slave of Allah?”The
man replied, “Because each one of us received a single shirt to cover his private areas [and it appears
that you have received two garments].”‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said to the man, “Stay
in your place, “after which he asked his son ‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) to
come forward. ‘Abdullah then proceeded to explain to everyone that he had given the garment he had
received to ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him), since ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)
needed an extra garment to fully cover his private areas. Thus, satisfied that ‘Umar (May Allah be
pleased with him) did not wrongfully receive more clothing than did everyone else, the man, with all
humility and respect, said, “Now, O Leader of the Believers, we will listen and obey.”
‘Uyoon Al-Akhbaar (1/55) and Mahd As-Sawaab (2/579).
A Stipend for Al-Khansaa ‘
When ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) found out that Al-Khansaa’s four sons were martyred
in the Battle of Al-Qaadisiyyah, he gave the order that Al-Khansaa should receive her four sons ‘ salary
not just for a few weeks or months, but for as long as she remained alive. Thus, from that day until she
((May Allah be please with her) died, Al-Khansaa continued to receive on a monthly basis 200 Dirhams
for each of her four martyred sons.
Al-Idaarah Al-'Askariyyah: 2/764
Abstinence “A Salient Feature of Umar (May Allah be pleased
with him)’s Character”
On another occasion, Hafsah ((May Allah be please with her), the Mother of the Believers, entered
upon ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him), and was saddened by the obvious signs of austerity and
harshness and plainness that could be seen in ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)’s face, clothing,
and general living conditions. She (May Allah be pleased with him) said, “Verily, Allah has given us
an abundant supply [of wealth and things of value], and He has provided you with a more-than-
adequate amount of sustenance. Would, therefore, that you ate food that was softer [and of better
quality] than this [the food you now eat]; and would that you wore an outfit that was softer [and more
comfortable] than the one you now wear!”
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) replied, “I will make you a judge against yourself, “after
which he proceeded to remind her about the Messenger of Allah’s life, and about the many hardships
the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) endured while she ((May Allah
be please with her) was with him. He continued to remind her about days she remembered very well
herself, until finally she broke down in tears. ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) then said,
“Verily, I had two Companions who followed the same path. And I hope that if I follow the path of
difficulty [and hardship], perhaps I will join them in the easy and comfortable life that they now enjoy.”
When we speak about ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)’s Zuhd, we are likely to get confused
into thinking that he ruled over Muslims during hard and difficult times. That, however, certainly was
not the case: the world and its riches were opened up to Muslims, and the major Empires of the world
were conquered by the Muslims during the period of ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)’s rule.
However, the more the world came to ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him), the less he cared about
its riches and pleasures. ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)’s happiness did not lie in the world
and its pleasures and riches, but instead in honoring Allah’s Religion and subduing the strength of
polytheists. Consequently, Zuhd was a salient feature of ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)’s
character.
Az-Zuhd, by Imaam Ahmad (pg. 125); and At-Tabaqaat (3/277).
No Extra Privilege
‘Abdullah bin ‘Aamir bin Rabee‘ah reported that, one particular year, he accompanied ‘Umar (May
Allah be pleased with him) bin Al-Khattaab during Hajj, remaining in his company both during the
journey from Madeenah to Makkah and during the return voyage. ‘Abdullah bin ‘Aamir said that,
throughout the entire journey to Makkah in addition to the return voyage to Madeenah, ‘Umar (May
Allah be pleased with him), despite being Khaleefah, allowed no one to erect a pavilion or even a tent
for him. As an alternate means of seeking shade from the sun, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)
would simply hang clothing or a rug on a branch of a tree and then seek protection from the sun
underneath.
At-Tabaqaat, by Ibn Sa‘ad (3/279); and the chain of this narration is authentic.
Humbleness of ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)
Abdullah bin ‘Abbaas said, “Al-‘Abbaas (the Prophet’s uncle, and ‘Abdullah’s father) owned a gutter
that ran from his home to a path that ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) often used. One Friday,
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) attired himself in his clothing [and prepared to make his way
towards the Masjid]. That same morning, however, two small birds were slaughtered for Al-Abbaas;
and so, when ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) walked by Al‘Abbaas ‘ drain, some water that
was mixed with the two birds ‘ blood fell from the drain and landed on ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased
with him), thus soiling his clothing. ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) ordered that the drain be
removed, and then he returned to his home, removed his stained clothing, and wore an outfit that he
was forced to borrow from someone else. He then went out again and led the people in Prayer.
Afterwards, Al-‘Abbaas went to him and said, ‘By Allah, the drain was put in that spot by none other
than the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him). ‘‘Umar (May Allah be
pleased with him) replied, ‘I take a firm pledge from you that you will climb my back and [while seated
or standing on my shoulders you will] put the drain back in the exact spot that the Prophet (Peace and
Blessings of Allah be upon him) had placed it. ‘Al-‘Abbaas then complied, doing exactly what ‘Umar
(May Allah be pleased with him) told him to do.”
Sifatus-Safwah (1/285).
Golden Sayings of ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)
1. “Whenever you see anyone offering prayer or observing the fast do not judge him as a pious
person; rather, you should see if he speaks the truth, if given a trust does he return it faithfully, and if
he abandons sins from the fear of Allah.”
2. “Is the best one amongst you he who abandons this life for the Hereafter or the he who works
hard for this life while neglecting the Hereafter? The best amongst you is the one who strives hard for
the Hereafter and also tries his best for this worldly life. Interest in this world that exceeds what is
needed is dangerous, and if anyone strives for only what he needs then he will not have problems in
it.”
3. “The one who has true trust in Allah is the one who sows a seed in the earth, and then places
his trust in Allah. If anyone remains in his house without performing any labor [for his livelihood], but
instead says, ‘O Allah, give me prosperity and wealth, ‘ then this is not having true trust in Allah. Gold
and silver has never rained from the heavens. However, Allah gives wealth and prosperity to those
who strive hard for it.”
4. Once, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) was told that a certain person fasts throughout
the year. ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) beat him and said, “You have no fast, you have no
fast! Break your fast immediately. Allah’s Messenger said: ‘Whoever fasts throughout the year has no
fast. ‘”
[Abqariyah ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him), pg. 90-91]
Islam A Strong and Dominating Religion
Once ‘Umar saw a young person walking while being hunched over, so ‘Umar said loudly, “O young
man, raise your head. True humility is in the heart and not shown through the body and face. If anyone
shows his humility through his body in excess of what is contained in his heart, then he is a
hypocrite.”‘Umar used to like for the young pious people to wear nice clothes and perfume. He used
to hold the view that young people should be experts in archery, swimming, horseback riding. He used
to say, “O Muslim nation, your greatness will remain as long as you continue riding on the back of
horses.”
‘Umar wanted Islam to remain a strong and dominating religion, because of this he would say to the
young, “Your personalities should demonstrate the respect of Islam. Do not show yourselves as weak
and humiliated people.”
Once ‘Umar saw a person who was showing that he was a pious person by walking with humility, so
‘Umar rebuked him and said, “Do not defame your religion.”
[Abqariyah ‘Umar, pg. 90-91]
“Would you deliberately disclose that which Allah has

concealed?
A man came to ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) and said, “I had a daughter whom I buried
alive during the pre-Islamic time, then we dug her up before she died. She was made to know the
meaning of Islam and accepted Islam, then she did something that deserves one of the legal
punishments of Allah. She took a knife to kill herself, but we caught her when she had cut some of her
veins. We looked after her until she recovered, then she repented sincerely and now some people are
proposing marriage to her. Should I tell them what happened?”‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)
said, “Would you deliberately disclose that which Allah has concealed? By Allah, if you tell anyone
about her situation, I will make an example of you to the people of all regions. Marry her off as a chaste
Muslim woman. “
Mahdus-Sawaab, 2/709; its chain of narrators is sound as far as Ash-Sha‘bee, but it is interrupted
between Ash-Sha‘bee and ‘Umar.
Relying on Evidence, not Personal Opinion
Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) himself related an incident in which he met a man and asked,
“What has happened?”The man replied, “Ali (May Allah be pleased with him) and Zayd (May Allah
be pleased with him) issued such and such legal ruling.”‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)
replied, “Had it been me, I would have given such and such ruling (i.e., he mentioned a legal ruling
that was contrary to the one that was given by ‘Ali (May Allah be pleased with him) and Zayd (May
Allah be pleased with him)).”
The man asked, “What prevents you from intervening when the final authority is yours?”‘Umar (May
Allah be pleased with him) replied, “In order to back up my judgment, had I been able to cite as
evidence for you [a verse from] the Book of Allah or the Sunnah of His Prophet, I would have
intervened. But [as a means of supporting my legal judgment] I have nothing to cite as evidence for
you other than my opinion.”
Such was the manner in which ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) gave the Companions the
freedom to express their views regarding issues that were legitimately open to two or more
interpretations; when it came to such issues, he (May Allah be pleased with him) never forced others
to accept his viewpoint.
‘Ailaam Al-Muwaqqi ‘een (1/65). As-Sultah At-Tanfeedhiyyah, by Ad-Daihlawee 2/738).
Dismissal of Al-Muthanna and Khalid
When ‘Umar bin Al-Khattaab (May Allah be pleased with him) became caliph, he dismissed
AlMuthanna and nominated Abu ‘Ubaydah bin Mas‘ood Ath-Thaqafi. Al-Muthanna was dismissed at
the same time as Khalid (May Allah be pleased with him), which aroused the amazement of the people,
but ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said, “I did not dismiss them because of any doubt
regarding anything that they did; rather the people exaggerated about them and I feared that the people
would depend on them.”Despite his dismissal, Al-Muthanna was a sincere soldier who took part with
Abu ‘Ubaydah (May Allah be pleased with him) in most of his battles and did well.
Al-Bidaayah wan-Nihaayah, 7/28.
“Allah raises some people in status because of this Book”
It is also narrated that Naafi‘ met ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) in ‘Usfaan when he came
for Hajj. ‘Umar asked him, “Whom have you appointed over the people of the valley [meaning
Makkah]?”Naafi‘ said, “Ibn Abza.”He said, “Who is Ibn Abza?”Naafi‘ said, “One of our freed
slaves.”‘Umar then said, “Have you made a freed slave over them?”Naafi‘ said, “He has great
knowledge of the Book of Allah is well-versed in the rule of inheritance and is a good judge.”‘Umar
said, “Did not your Prophet say: ‘Allah raises some people in status because of this Book and brings
others low because of it? ‘“
Al-Wilaayah ‘alal-Buldaan by ‘Abdul-‘Aziz Al-‘Umari, 1/67.
The Most Beloved of People to ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with
him)
Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) famously said, “The most beloved of people to me is he that
points out my flaws to me.”It seems that ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) repeatedly ordered
others to advise him because he feared that some people might have held back their opinions because
they were shy, or because they were afraid of him. This is supported by ‘Umar’s saying, “Verily, I fear
that, when I make a mistake, not a single person among you will correct me as a result of [you all]
being intimidated by me.”
One day, a man went to ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) and, in front of a rather large audience,
said, “O ‘Umar, fear Allah!”Imagine if someone said this to a leader or a king today; he would be
fortunate if imprisonment were his only punishment. But what was ‘Umar’s reaction? Did he punish
the man for insulting him? Did he imprison or kill the man? At first, he (May Allah be pleased with
him) said nothing, mainly because some people around him reacted so quickly and so angrily that he
did not have a chance to respond to the man’s saying, “O ‘Umar, fear Allah!”When those people tried
to silence the man, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) spoke, addressing not the man, but instead
the people who were censuring him for his comment: “There is no good in you all if you do not say
what he said – ‘O ‘Umar, fear Allah! ‘ And there is no good in us (in leaders such as myself) if we do
not [humbly] listen to that [command to fear Allah].”
Nidhaam Al-Hukm Fee ‘Ahd Al-Khulafaa Ar-Raashideen (pg. 198).
Every Muslim had a Right to the Treasury
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) firmly believed that every single Muslim, from the day of his
birth until the day of his death, had a right over the wealth that was stored in the Muslim Treasury.
Proclaiming this belief, he said,
“By Allah, and none has the right to be worshipped but Him (he said this three times), every single
person has a right to this wealth, regardless of whether he is given it or is deprived of it. And no one is
more deserving of it than any other person, except for a slave that is owned (since others have more of
a right to wealth from the Treasury than he does). With regard to that wealth, I am just like any one of
you, except that we all have our ranks as indicated by the Book of Allah, and we all have our respective
share of closeness to the Messenger of Allah. So, a man is given based on his seniority, on how much
he has contributed to Islam, on the basis of how rich he is, and on the basis of the level of his needs.
By Allah, if I remain alive, a shepherd who resides beside Mount San ‘aa will get his share of this
wealth without him having to travel [to here in order to ask for it].”
At-Tabaqaat Al-Kubraa (3/299), and Kitaab Al-Kharaaj, by Abu Yusuf (pg. 50).
The Opinion of ‘Umar is Accepted by Allah
Once a person asked ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him), “What do you say concerning the prayer
of a sea traveler; is the prayer shortened for him?”The person wanted to know if the sea traveler is
considered as a regular traveler. ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) replied, “Why would he not
be, when Allah has said in His Book,
“And when you (Muslims) travel in the land, there is no sin on you if you shorten As-Salat ( the
prayer) if you fear that the disbelievers may put you in trial (attack you).verily, the disbelievers are
ever unto you open enemies.”
Most of the opinions of ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) would turn out to be correct; whenever
he used to say, “This is my opinion concerning this matter, “it would result in being the correct opinion.
What could be a greater proof for this than Allah accepting his opinion on several occasions?
[al-Farooq, pg. 347]
Stipends and Salaries for the Governors

‘Umar was very generous toward the governors and other civil servants concerning their stipends.
When he appointed ‘Ammaar bin Yaasir as the governor of Koofah, he gave to him and his helpers a
combined salary of 600 Dirhams a month. However, gifts were not included in this salary. He would
also give them half a goat and a half bag of flour as rations. When he appointed Abdullah bin Mas ‘ood
as teacher of Koofah and exchequer of the Treasury, he gave him a salary of 100 Dirhams and a quarter
of a goat. When ‘Umar appointed Uthman bin Hunaif, he gave him a salary of 150 Dirhams and a
quarter of a goat. He also gave him 5000 Dirhams per year. According to this formula, he gave salaries
and stipends to others as well.
[Abqariyah ‘Umar, pg. 108]
In Service of the Camels of Charity
Once an Iraqi delegation came, which included Al-Ahnaf bin Qays. The weather was extremely hot
and the people noticed that ‘Umar had his head covered while he was rubbing oil mixed with sulfur on
the camels. He ordered Al-Ahnaf to change his clothes and to come and assist him, because these were
the camels of the orphans, widows, and the poor. A person from among them said, “Order a slave to
perform this task.”‘Umar answered, “Who can be a greater slave than me or Al-Ahnaf? Anyone who
becomes a leader of the people, then he is their servant, similar to a slave to his master.”
[Akhbaar ‘Umar, pg. 343]
Respect for Abu Bakr (May Allah be pleased with him)
Jubair bin Nufair related that some people came to ‘Umar and said, “O Leader of the Believers, you
are the best person that we have seen, a keen observer of the hypocrites, who also speaks the truth.
You are the most just. In short, you are the best after the Messenger of Allah.”‘Awf bin Malik was
listening to this conversation, so he interrupted them and said, “You are not speaking the truth. The
best after Allah’s Messenger (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) was another person.”‘Umar
asked, “Who?”‘Awf bin Malik replied, “Abu Bakr.”‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) endorsed
the opinion of ‘Awf and said, “‘Awf has spoken the truth and you have spoken lies. By Allah, Abu
Bakr was purer than amber. I accepted Islam six years after Abu Bakr.”Because of this, ‘Umar used to
say, “Abu Bakr was with Allah’s Messenger (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) during the
time when I was more disarrayed than my camel.”
[Manaaqib ‘Umar, Ibn al-Jawzi, pg. 14]
Riding on a Donkey
Al-Hasan Al-Basree (may Allah have mercy upon him) related that, on a hot and scorching day, ‘Umar
(May Allah be pleased with him) went out, with his robe placed over his head. He (May Allah be
pleased with him) passed by a young boy who was riding a donkey, and he (May Allah be pleased with
him) said to the boy, “O young boy, carry me with you.”The boy jumped off the donkey and said,
“Ride, O Leader of the Believers.”The boy said this, insisting that ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with
him) ride in front on the saddle, and that he ride behind him. However, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased
with him) rejected the boy’s offer, saying, “No! Instead you ride, and I will sit behind you. You want
me to sit on a smooth surface (on the saddle), while you sit on a rough surface.”‘Umar (May Allah be
pleased with him) climbed the donkey and sat behind the boy, and when they entered Madeenah, the
people stared at them, amazed that their leader was commuting in such an uncomfortable manner while
an ordinary boy was seated comfortably on a saddle.
Ashaab Ar-Rasool, by Mahmood Al-Misree (1/157).
Capability and Trustworthiness
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) carried out this principle and preferred more capable men over
others. He dismissed Shurahbil bin Hasanah and put Mu‘aawiyah (May Allah be pleased with him) in
his place. Shurahbil asked him, “Did you dismiss me because you are not pleased with me, O Leader
of the Believers?”He said, “No, I think well of you, but I wanted a man who is more capable.”One of
the most eloquent comments quoted from ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) concerning this
matter is his saying: “O Allah, I complain to You of the capability of the evildoer and the incapability
of the trustworthy one.”
Taareekh at-Tabaree, 5/39. Al-
Fataawaa, 28/42.
“The people look at you as a bird looks at meat”
When ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) would forbid people from something, he (May Allah
be pleased with him) would go to his family and say, “Verily, I forbade the people from such and such
deed. And indeed, the people look at you in the same way that a bird looks at meat. If you stoop down
[to eat the meat], they too will stoop down [to eat the meat]; if you show that you are afraid [by
refraining from touching the meat], they too will be afraid [by refraining from touching the meat] (i.e.,
if you act unscrupulously, they will follow your example; and if you act with integrity and uprightness,
again, they will follow your example). Verily, by Allah, if a man [among you] is brought to me because
he is guilty of doing that which I forbade the people from doing, I will give him a double punishment,
and I will do so because of his relation tome…”Throughout the duration of his caliphate, ‘Umar (May
Allah be pleased with him) closely watched over his children, wives, and relatives, holding them
accountable for their every action, and thus forcing them to live by a higher code of honor than any
other Muslim had to live by. Az-Zuhd, by Imaam Ahmad (pg. 17); and Faraaid Al-Kalaam (pg.
139).
The Camel of the son of ‘Umar
(The Leader of the Believers)
‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar bought a camel which would graze in a public pasture, causing it to become
healthy. Afterwards, he took the camel to the market with the purpose of selling it. ‘Umar saw the
camel in the market and became amazed at the healthiness of the camel and asked about its owner. The
people related to him that its owner was ‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar. He asked in an astonished tone, “Does
this camel belong to the son of the Leader of the Believers; he was afforded the opportunity to do so
by the people because it belonged to son of the Leader of the Believers.”He then said to his son
‘Abdullah, “Take your initial investment and all the profit will go the public treasury.”
[Manaaqib Umar, Ibn al-Jawzi pg. 157, 158]
Hafsah (May Allah be please with her), the Mother of the
Believers, Makes a Suggestion
As happened often during ‘Umar’s caliphate, a shipment of wealth arrived in Madeenah, and the duty
of distributing that wealth fell on the shoulders of the Khaleefah, ‘Umar bin Al-Khattaab (May Allah
be pleased with him). Upon learning about the shipment, Hafsah ((May Allah be please with her), the
Mother of the Believers, said to ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him), “O Leader of the Believers,
your relatives have a right to a portion of this wealth. Indeed Allah – the Possessor of Might and
Majesty – commanded that relatives be given a share of this wealth.”‘Umar (May Allah be pleased
with him) replied, “O my daughter, my relatives have a right to my personal wealth; as for this [wealth
that belongs to the Muslim treasury], it must be paid to the general population of Muslims. [In saying
what you have just said] you have been unfaithful to your father and sincere to your relatives. Stand
up [for it is time to end this discussion].”
Az-Zuhd, by Imam Ahmad, P:17
Knowing How to do Things
Umar bin Al-Khattaab (May Allah be pleased with him) employed some people, and did not employ
others who were of greater virtue than them, because the former knew how to do things. In this case,
those whom ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) passed over were better in terms of religion and
piety, and better in character, but their experience in running affairs was less than that of others. It was
not essential to combine both factors.
This principle which was set out by ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) is still followed today in
the most advanced nations, where a man of religious piety and good character who does not have any
experience of matters of government is more likely to be ensnared by the tricks of those who follow
their lusts and desires. However, the one who is astute and experienced will grasp things quickly and
understand what is behind the spoken word. This is the very reason why ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased
with him) would avoid assigning a man who did not know anything about evil. He asked about a man
whom he wanted to make an agent and he was told, “O Leader of the believers! He does not know
anything about evil.”‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said to the man, “Woe to you, he is more
likely to fall into it.”This is not one of the characteristics required for administration and ruling, rather
the criterion for determining who is best suited for this field and has the most knowledge of how to do
the job.
[Nidhaamul-Hukm fi Ash-sharee'ah wat Tareekhil Islamee: 1/482]
His father was more Beloved to the Messenger of Allah (Peace
and Blessings of Allah be upon him)
On one particular occasion, when ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) had at his disposal a large
quantity of wealth, he gave Usaamah bin Zayd May Allah be please with him) a share of 4000
[Dirhams]; meanwhile, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) gave his own son, ‘Abdullah (May
Allah be pleased with him), a share of only 3000 [Dirhams]. ‘Abdullah (May Allah be pleased with
him) went to ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) and said, “O my father, you gave Usaamah (May
Allah be pleased with him) a share of 4000, while you gave me a share of only 3000. And yet his father
was not superior to you, and his son is not superior to me (i.e., he is not known for sacrifices that I did
not make as well).”‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) replied, “Verily, his father was more
beloved to the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) than your father was,
and he (i.e., Usaamah (May Allah be pleased with him) was more beloved to Messenger of Allah
(Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) than you were.”
Ibn Sa ‘d: 3/277 - Mahd As-Sawab: 2/491
Expelling the Feeling of Arrogance
‘Urwah bin Az-Zubair (May Allah be pleased with him) related that, upon once seeing ‘Umar (May
Allah be pleased with him) carrying a container of water on his shoulder, he approached him and said,
“O Leader of the Believers, you should not do such work.”
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) replied, “When many delegations of people came to me,
promising to listen and obey [my orders], a feeling of arrogance crept inside of me, and so I wanted to
subdue, overmaster, and expel that feeling [by doing this menial and labor-intensive task].”
Manaaqib Umar ibn Al-khattaab by ibn Al-Jawzee P: 108
Umm Saleet ((May Allah be please with her) is More Deserving
of It
Tha ‘labah bin Abi Maalik related that, on one particular occasion, ‘Umar bin Al-Khattaab (May Allah
be pleased with him) distributed clothing among the female inhabitants of Madeenah, and that, when
every woman received her share of the clothing, there remained a single outfit – an outfit that happened
to be of decent quality. Some people who were with ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) at the
time said, “O Leader of the Believers, give this to the daughter of the Messenger of Allah (Peace and
Blessings of Allah be upon him) that is with you (i.e., Umm Kulthoom, who was the granddaughter of
the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) and the wife of ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased
with him)).”‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) replied, “Umm Saleet is more deserving of
it.”Umm Saleet ((May Allah be please with her) was one of the Ansaaree women who pledged to obey
and follow the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him). Explaining at least
one reason why Umm Saleet ((May Allah be please with her) was more deserving of the outfit, ‘Umar
(May Allah be pleased with him) said, “Verily, she would draw out and carry containers of water for
us on the Day of Uhud.”
[Fath Al-Bari, 424/7,and Ar-Raheeq;ul Makhtum]
Fear of Allah
Anas narrated, “Once with ‘Umar who entered into a garden and a wall came between me and him and
I could hear his voice, ‘O son of Khattab, have fear of Allah, otherwise you will be punished by Him.
‘”
[Muwatta Imam Malik 2/992]
‘Abdullah bin ‘Eesa narrated, “There existed two lines on the cheeks of ‘Umar due to the persistent
shedding of tears.”
‘Umar used to say, “If it was announced from the heavens that everyone will go to Paradise except
one, I am afraid that that person may be me. If it was announced that everyone will go to Hell except
one, then I am hopeful that [the fortunate] person would be me.”
[Ar-Riyaadh an-Naadhirah, pg. 1/373]
Acceptance of Others ‘ Advice
Asim bin Bahdalah narrated that a close friend of ‘Umar’s mentioned that he was sitting with ‘Umar
when the prayer time began. They smelled an odor, so ‘Umar said, “Whoever has broken his ablution
should go and re-do it.”Jarir bin ‘Abdullah said, “O Leader of the Believer, we should all go and
perform Wudhoo ‘, so as not to expose that individual.”‘Umar accepted his advice and they all went
to re-do their Wudhoo ‘.
‘Umar’s Dealings with the Prophet’s Wives
Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) was exceptionally kind towards the Prophet’s wives, caring
for them more than one might care for one’s mother, sister, or daughter. Whenever he (May Allah be
pleased with him) had food, he would send some of it to them. Recalling ‘Umar’s generosity towards
her and towards the other wives of the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him), ‘Aa’ishah
(May Allah be please with her) said, “When ‘Umar bin Al-Khattaab (May Allah be pleased with him)
would send us our share of food, he (May Allah be pleased with him) would send us the heads and
calves [of slaughtered animals (i.e., he (May Allah be pleased with him) would send us the best parts
of slaughtered animals) ].”And, in general, whenever ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) would
distribute wealth, he (May Allah be pleased with him) would not forget the right that the Mothers of
the Believers had over him; he (May Allah be pleased with him) would send them generous amounts
of wealth, always concerned for their wellbeing, and always making sure they were well cared for.
If ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) was generous towards the Mothers of the Believers, he
(May Allah be pleased with him) was also very protective of them. The Prophet’s wives were all very
innocent and pious, and yet, as ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) certainly remembered, that
did not stop the hypocrite ‘Abdullah bin Ubai from slandering ‘Aa’ishah (May Allah be please with
her). Thus, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) would do everything in his power to safeguard the
honor of the Prophet’s wives. So, when the Prophet’s wives asked ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with
him) to grant them permission to perform Hajj, he denied their request.
Then, when they continued to implore him for permission, he met them halfway, saying to them, “I
will grant you permission to go the following year, and yet even that is something I do not truly agree
with.”The following year, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) sent ‘Uthmaan bin ‘Affaan (May
Allah be pleased with him) and ‘Abdur-Rahmaan bin ‘Awf (May Allah be pleased with him) to
accompany the Mothers of the Believers during their pilgrimage. And ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased
with him) gave both of them strict orders: One of them was to walk ahead of the Prophet’s wives and
the other was to walk behind them; they were not to allow anyone to walk alongside the Prophet’s
wives; when they had to stop to set up camp, they were to set up camp in a mountain pass (an enclosed
area); as long as the Prophet’s wives rested inside of the mountain pass, they were to stand guard at
the entrance of the mountain pass; they were to allow no one to enter upon the Prophet’s wives; and,
when the Prophet’s wives performed Tawaaf around the Ka ‘bah, they were to forbid all men from
performing Tawaaf at the same time.
[At-Tabaqat by Ibn Sa'd, 8/109]
Honoring ‘Ali bin Abi Taalib (May Allah be pleased with him)
and His Children
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) respected and honored all of the members of the Prophet’s
household; in fact, he (May Allah be pleased with him) honored the children of the Prophet’s household
more than he honored his own children.
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) once said to Al-Husain bin ‘Ali (May Allah be pleased with
him), “O my son, would that you visited us and honored us with your company.”Some days afterwards,
Al-Husain (May Allah be pleased with him) took up ‘Umar’s invitation, but when he reached ‘Umar’s
house, he (May Allah be pleased with him) saw that ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) was alone
with Mu‘aawiyah (May Allah be pleased with him); and that ‘Umar’s son asked permission to enter
but was refused entry. Discouraged from going any further, Al-Husain (May Allah be pleased with
him) left without even knocking on ‘Umar’s door. Later on, upon meeting Al-Husain (May Allah be
pleased with him), ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said, “O my son, why did not you visit
us?”Al-Husain (May Allah be pleased with him) said, “I did visit you when you were alone with
Mu‘aawiyah (May Allah be pleased with him), but when I saw Ibn ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with
him) return [without being granted permission to enter], I too returned [from whence I came so that I
would not disturb you].”‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said, “You have a greater right to be
granted permission to enter than does ‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him). Verily,
you see this growth [of hair] on my head: That is because of Allah, and then because of you (because
of the members of the Prophet’s household).”As ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said this, he
(May Allah be pleased with him) pointed to his head.
[Al-Murtaza by Nadwi: 118]
Testing Agents before Appointing Them

Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) tested his agents before appointing them, and in some cases
this testing took a long time, as was stated clearly by Al-Ahnaf bin Qays who said: “I came to ‘Umar
Al-Khattaab (May Allah be pleased with him) and he kept me with him in Madeenah for a year. He
said, ‘O Ahnaf, I have been testing you and I have seen that you are outwardly good, and I hope that
you are as inwardly (good) as you are outwardly. We used to say that this nation will be destroyed by
knowledgeable hypocrites. ‘ Then ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) asked him, ‘Do you know
why I kept you here? ‘ He explained to him that he had wanted to test him, then he made him as a
governor. Among the advice he gave to Al-Ahnaf was the following:
“O Ahnaf, one who laughs too much loses dignity; one who jokes too much loses respect; whoever
does something a great deal, becomes known for it; one who speaks a great deal makes mistakes; one
who makes many mistakes loses his sense of dignity. Whoever loses his sense of dignity loses his God-
fearing and whoever loses his God-fearing is spiritually dead.”
Al- Wilaayah alal Buldan 1/142
‘Umar’s Relations with Al- ‘Abbaas and ‘Abdullah bin ‘Abbaas
If ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) loved Al-‘Abbaas (May Allah be pleased with him) because
he was his brother in Islam and because he was a close relative of the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of
Allah be upon him), ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) loved Al-‘Abbaas’s son ‘Abdullah (May
Allah be pleased with him) for the same reasons, but for an additional reason as well: He loved and
honored ‘Abdullah (May Allah be pleased with him) for his profound knowledge and understanding
of the Qur’an in particular, and of Islamic Law in general.
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) would convene gatherings with Muslim elders – with those
Companions who had participated in the Battle of Badr. Such gatherings were exclusive in that only
those who were invited had the right to attend them. During the course of those gatherings, ‘Umar
(May Allah be pleased with him) would, among other things, consult the Prophet’s Companions about
important issues. To the surprise of the elite group of mainly elderly Companions who made up
‘Umar’s circle, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) admitted ‘Abdullah (May Allah be pleased
with him) into their company. The Prophet’s Companions were surprised not because of who
‘Abdullah (May Allah be pleased with him) was, but because of how young he was. Many of them had
children who were around ‘Abdullah’s age, but none of them was allowed to attend those exclusive
gatherings. This struck some of the Prophet’s Companions as being unfair, and so some of them
complained to ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him), “Why do you allow this boy to enter upon us,
when we have children who are similar to him in age?”The obvious answer to their question was that
‘Abdullah (May Allah be pleased with him) was more knowledgeable than many of the most eminent
of Companions, let alone children who were of his age.
However, rather than point out that fact to the Prophet’s Companions, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased
with him) decided to answer their question practically, with a display of sorts. So, during that particular
meeting, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) sufficed with the reply, “He is among those that you
know about (i.e., those that you know are people of distinction and honor and knowledge).”However,
some days later, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) invited the same group of eminent
Companions, and he invited ‘Abdullah bin ‘Abbaas (May Allah be pleased with him) as well. After
everyone arrived, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) asked the group of venerable and
knowledgeable men, “What do you have to say about the following [verses]?”He (May Allah be
pleased with him) then proceeded to recite chapter “An-Nasr”:
{When there comes the Help of Allah (to you, O Muhammad (Peace and Blessings of Allah be
upon him) against your enemies) and the conquest (of Makkah), and you see the people
enter Allah’s Religion (Islam) in crowds.}
(Qur’an: 110:1, 2)
Here, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) was not asking them for the literal meaning of the
verses; rather, he (May Allah be pleased with him) was asking them to explain to him the deeper
meaning that the entire chapter signified. Some of them replied, “We do not know, “while others
among them gave no reply at all. The reader would do well to remember that these were the most
eminent of the Prophet’s Companions. Therefore, if they did not know the answer, one can be certain
that it was a very difficult question.
After everyone had the chance to respond, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) turned to the
youngest member of the gathering, ‘Abdullah bin ‘Abbaas (May Allah be pleased with him). ‘Umar
(May Allah be pleased with him) asked him, “O son of Al-‘Abbaas (May Allah be pleased with him),
is that what you say also?”In other words, do you also have nothing to say in reply to my question?
‘Abdullah (May Allah be pleased with him) replied, “No.”‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)
asked, “Then what do you say about [these verses].”
‘Abdullah (May Allah be pleased with him) replied, “Through these verses, Allah was informing the
Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) about the nearness of his death. When Allah said,
‘When there comes the Help of Allah (to you, O Muhammad (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon
him) against your enemies) and the conquest (of Makkah), and you see the people enter Allah’s
Religion (Islam) in crowds, ‘ it was as if He was saying the following to the Prophet (Peace and
Blessings of Allah be upon him): When Allah’s help comes to you in the form of the conquest of
Makkah, then that is a sign of your imminent death...”
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) then said to ‘Abdullah (May Allah be pleased with him),
“What I know regarding this [Chapter] is not any different than what you know regarding it (regarding
its correct interpretation).”
Bukhari: 4294 Al- Aqeedah Fee Ahlil Bait bainal Ifrat wattefreet, P: 324, 325
Honoring Abdullah bin ‘Abbaas (May Allah be pleased with him)

with his Company
Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) would ask ‘Abdullah bin ‘Abbaas (May Allah be pleased with
him) to honor him with his company, he would have him sit near him, and he (May Allah be pleased
with him) would say to him, “Verily, I saw the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be
upon him) call you one day, pass his hand over your head, and say, ‘O Allah, bestow upon him an
understanding of the Religion and teach him At-Ta ‘weel (i.e., teach him the interpretation, or the
meanings, of the Qur’an).”
Al-Haafidh Ibn Katheer (may Allah have mercy on him) related that ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased
with him) would say to ‘Abdullah bin ‘Abbaas (May Allah be please with her), “What a blessed
interpreter of the Qur’an you are, O ‘Abdullah bin ‘Abbaas!”And when ‘Abdullah (May Allah be
pleased with him) would go to ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him), ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased
with him) would say, “Here comes a boy who is like middle-aged men [in terms of his knowledge and
understanding], a boy whose tongue frequently asks [good] questions, and whose heart is filled with
wisdom and understanding.”
Based on the preceding pages, it should be amply clear to the reader that there existed a high degree of
mutual love and respect between ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) and the members of the
Prophet’s household.
[Al-Bidayah wan Nihayah,202/8]
“Welcome to a Close Relation!”

Zayd bin Aslam related from his father the following account: One day, Aslam (May Allah be pleased
with him) accompanied ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) to the marketplace. As they were out
together, a young woman met ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) and told him her sad situation:
Her husband had died; she had young children; and she had very little money to take care of them.
She said to ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him), “My husband has died and has left behind small
children. By Allah, there is no Kiraa ‘ (Kiraa ‘ means the meat that is between an animal’s knee and
its ankle, but she obviously meant meat in general) to cook for them. They have no animals to milk,
and they own no property to farm. And I fear that they will die as a result of the drought [that has
afflicted our lands].”Having told ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) her situation, she (May Allah
be please with her) said, “I am the daughter of Khifaaf bin Eemaa AlGhifaaree. My father was present
alongside the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) at Al-
Hudaibiyyah.”Even though ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) probably had pressing business,
he (May Allah be pleased with him) stayed to listen to the young woman’s story. When she was
finished talking, he (May Allah be pleased with him) said to her, “Welcome to a close
relation!”Indicating to her that she should wait, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) went to a
strong camel that was tied to a nearby house. He loaded the camel with two bags that were filled with
food, and he (May Allah be pleased with him) placed between the bags spending money and clothes.
He (May Allah be pleased with him) then handed her the reins of the camel and said, “Steer this camel
[to wherever you have to go] for it and everything upon it are yours!.”Then, giving her hope for easier
days to come, he (May Allah be pleased with him) said to her, “These things will not run out before
Allah brings good your way (i.e., until Allah improves your situation).”
A man who witnessed what happened said, “O Leader of the Believers, did you not give her too
much?”‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) replied, “May your mother be bereaved of you! By
Allah, I saw her father and brother lay siege to a fortress for quite some time. And then, when the two
of them defeated those who were inside of the fortress, we began to ask from them our shares of the
Fai ‘y (war booty).”
This is a clear proof of ‘Umar’s faithfulness and loyalty towards anyone who made sacrifices or
contributions to the cause of Islam. Certainly, today we need to look at ourselves and ask whether we
are faithful to those who deserve our loyalty. It is certainly an important question that each one of us
needs to ask himself, since faithfulness, although an important sign of one’s Eemaan (Faith), is lacking,
or even non-existent, in most people today.
Bukhari: 4160, 4161 Ashabur –Rasool by Mahmood Misri: 1/177
Warning a Person over how he spoke to a Woman on the
Roadside
From the many virtues of Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) is the virtue that he would not miss
the opportunity to invite people to righteousness and forbid them from evil. He kept a stick in his hand,
which was a symbol of his Caliphate.
Whenever he saw any misdeed or sin, he would try to rectify it instantly. He not only ruled over the
people but he also ruled over their hearts. Let us look at an event from his virtuous life. Umar once
saw a man speaking to a woman by the roadside. He began to beat him with his stick and asked the
man why he was shamelessly speaking to a woman by the roadside. The man answered that the woman
was his wife. Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) then said, “Then why are you discussing your
personal matters by the roadside and enticing the people to listen to your personal conversation?”He
answered, “O Leader of the Believers, we have just arrived in Madeenah and were discussing where
we should stay.”When Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) heard his answer he apologized to the
man, gave him his stick, and ordered him to take his revenge. The man said, “I forgive you for the sake
of Allah.”However, Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) insisted that the man take the stick and
seek out his revenge, but the man refused every time. Thereby, Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)
said, “Your reward will be with Allah.”
[Akhbaar ‘Umar, 190]
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) did not Appoint any of
his Relatives as Governors
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) was keen to keep away from appointing governorship to any
of his relatives, despite the fact that some of them were qualified and had come to Islam early on, such
as his paternal cousin Sa‘eed bin Zayd and his son ‘Abdullaah bin ‘Umar}. One of his companions
heard him complaining about a problem with the people of Koofah and their governor, when ‘Umar
(May Allah be pleased with him) said, “Would that I could find a strong, trustworthy, Muslim man to
make governor over them.”The man said, “By Allah, I will tell you of one such, ‘Abdullaah bin
‘Umar.”‘Umar said, “May Allah kill you! By Allah! You did not say that for the sake of Allah.”And
he used to say, “Whoever makes governor a man because of friendship or blood ties, and for no other
reason, has betrayed Allah and His Messenger.
Manaqib ‘Umar by Ibn Al Jawzee, P:108
The World was Unable to Seduce Him
The beauties and seductions of this world were unable to seduce ‘Umar. Camels laden with gold, silver,
and jewels would be brought to Madeenah, and ‘Umar would distribute them among the people on the
spot. Even after distributing such treasures, ‘Umar would offer prayer in his old and patched clothes.
He was the Leader who led the destruction of the Hercules ‘ Empire. In spite of these achievements,
even hard bread was not available for him to eat at times.
[Abqariyah ‘Umar]
‘Umar Avoided Borrowing from the Public Treasury
Whenever ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) was in need of money, he would take a loan from
the Public Treasury while apologizing for doing so and promising to repay it when he received his
salary, which he would do. Oncea trade caravan was going to Syria, so ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased
with him) requested Abdur-Rahman bin ‘Awf to lend him four thousand Dirhams, promising him to
return the money on receiving his salary. Abdur-Rahman said to him, “Why don’t you take it from the
Public Treasury?”‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) felt hurt by his suggestion, and replied, “If
I die before the trade caravan returns or before receiving my salary, then who will repay on my behalf
on the Day of Resurrection? Rather than take a loan from the Public Treasury, I would take a loan from
a strong person who can receive repayment of it from my heirs.”What ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased
with him) feared is exactly what happened. At the time of his death, he had a lot of debt that he owed.
He didn’t neglect this important matter even during that time. He called his elder son, Abdullah bin
‘Umar, and dictated to him his will and stipulated that if the wealth of his household was sufficient to
cover this debt, then it was well and good, otherwise he should ask Banu ‘Adi to help repay the debt.
If their assistance does not help cover this debt, then he should ask the Quraysh. “Do not go to any
other people besides these, “he admonished. Abdur-Rahman bin Awf was present during this time, so
he suggested, “You should repay your debt from the Public Treasury, and then repay the Public
Treasury from your wealth.”‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) did not accept this suggest and
instead asked his son Abdullah to accept the responsibility of the debt, which Abdullah did.
When Abu Lu ‘lu Firoz attacked ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) and the latter was martyred,
Abdullah bin ‘Umar took many people as witnesses for his father’s death and afterwards he buried
him. Within a week, Abdullah handed over all of the wealth of Umar’s household to Uthman for
repayment of ‘Umar’s debt. For this purpose, Abdullah had to sell one of ‘Umar’s houses, which was
known for a long time as Darul Qadha (the house sold for the repayment of debt). It was a great honor
for ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) and a proof for his honesty that when he died he was in
debt, which was repaid properly after his death.
[Abqariyah ‘Umar, 216]
The Mail of the Muslim Fighters
Whenever mail arrived from the battlefield, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) would check it
properly and convey the letters and messages to the houses of the fighters. He would say to their
families, “Your males are fighting in the path of Allah and you are in the city of Allah’s Messenger. If
you can read and write its reply then it is good; otherwise, I will read it to you and write your reply on
your behalf.”It was in this manner that the greatest ruler of his time would go to every house of
Madeenah and fulfill the responsibility of delivering the mail.
Taking Care of the Houses of the Islamic Fighters
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) would be conscious of his great responsibility for caring for
the homes of the Islamic fighters. He would go to their homes and say to their family members, “Your
males are not present so let me know if you are in need of anything. If you need something from the
market, then I will purchase it on your behalf.”Most of the women would send their female servants
with ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him), and he would purchase the supplies from the market and
give it to their female servants. If any woman did not have money, then he would use his own money
for the purchase.
‘Umar refuses his Wife’s Offer
Upon receiving a shipment of perfume from Bahrain, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said,
“By Allah, I would love to find a woman who is good at weighing things, so that she can weigh this
perfume for me, and so that I can then distribute it among the general population of Muslims.”His wife
‘Aatikah bint Zayd bin ‘Amr bin Nufail (May Allah be please with her) said, “I am good with weights.
So bring the perfume, and I will weigh it for you.”‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said,
“No.”She asked, “Why?”He said, “Verily, I am afraid that you will take it, that you will hold it like
this (to show her what he meant, he placed his fingers on his temples), and that you will rub some of
it onto your neck. Consequently, I will have received more of a share [of the perfume] than any other
Muslim."
Az-Zuhd by Ahmad: 11
A Loan for Hind (May Allah be please with her) Bint ‘Utbah
Hind (May Allah be please with her) was among the best and wisest of Quraysh’s women; however,
at the end of her life she seemed to have been afflicted with certain financial troubles. Prior to the
advent of Islam, Hind was married to Hafs bin Al-Mugheerah, Khalid bin AlWaleed’s grandfather.
Then she married one of Makkah’s most respected chieftains, Abu Sufyaan. The two remained together
as long as they were at war with the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) and his
Companions; and even after embracing Islam, they remained together for a period of time. Towards
the end of his life, however, Abu Sufyaan (May Allah be pleased with him) divorced Hind (May Allah
be please with her). And while Hind (May Allah be please with her) was not a widow, she was a
divorcee who needed money for her upkeep.
So she (May Allah be please with her) went to ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) and asked him
to loan her some money from the Muslim treasury; she (May Allah be please with her) explained that
she intended to invest the money in the marketplace. ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) lent her
4000 Dirhams. With some principal capital in her hand, Hind (May Allah be please with her) traveled
to the lands of Kalb, where she started up a business buying and selling merchandise.
During her stay abroad, Hind (May Allah be please with her) visited her son Mu‘aawiyah (May Allah
be pleased with him), who at the time was ‘Umar’s governor of Ash-Sham (Syria and surrounding
regions). It is related that, during her visit to her son, Hind (May Allah be please with her) said to
Mu‘aawiyah (May Allah be pleased with him), “He is indeed ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him),
and he works only for the sake of Allah (SWT).”It was as if Hind (May Allah be please with her) was
at once praising ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) and exhorting her son – who, like ‘Umar
(May Allah be pleased with him), held a position of authority – to follow the good example that ‘Umar
(May Allah be pleased with him) had set as a leader.
Tareekhul –Khulafa by Ad-Dahbi: 298, 299
The Difference between Abu Bakr and ‘Umar

The famous writer Mahmood Abbas al-Aqqad wrote: “The difference between Abu Bakr and ‘Umar
is that Abu Bakr recognized Muhammad as being a Prophet because he knew his character prior to
prohethood as he was a close friend to him. However, ‘Umar recognized Muhammad as being a
Prophet upon accepting Islam as his closeness to the Prophet was not on the same level as Abu Bakr’s.
Whenever ‘Umar observed any wrong being done in the company of the Prophet he would ask
immediately, “O Allah’s Messenger, permit me to kill that wrongdoer!”If Allah’s Messenger were to
permit him to do so on every occasion, then he would have killed dozens of people. Like all humans,
the Prophet also left this world. ‘Umar took his unsheathed sword in his hand and said, “If anyone says
that Allah’s Messenger has died, then I will severe his head from his shoulders.”
[Abqariyah ‘Umar]
Here is a Woman Whose Complaint Allah Heard from Above the
Seven Heavens
One day, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) left the Masjid in the company of Al-Jaarood Al-
‘Abdee. When a woman approached them on the pathway, ‘Umar bin Al-Khattaab (May Allah be
pleased with him) extended greetings of peace to her. She replied to his greetings and then said,
“O ‘Umar, I knew you when you were called ‘Umayr (in a grammatical sense, ‘Umayr is the diminutive
form of the name ‘Umar) in the ‘Ukaadh marketplace, when you were frightening other children with
your stick. Then, as the days went by, you came to be known as ‘Umar (i.e., you came to be known by
your proper name, instead of by a nickname). Then, as even more days went by, you finally came to
be known as ‘The Leader of the Believers. ‘ Fear Allah regarding your people! Know that a person
who truly fears Allah’s warnings, believes with certainty that that which is seemingly far off (The Day
of Judgment) is actually near at hand; and know that whoever is afraid of death, is afraid of missing
out [on the opportunity to perform good deeds and to make good use of one’s time in this world].”
Jaarood then said, “O woman, you have lectured the Leader of the Believers too much.”
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said to Jaarood, “Leave her alone; do you not know who she
is? She is Khawlah bint Tha ‘labah (May Allah be please with her), the woman whose words Allah
heard from above the seven heavens (i.e., the woman regarding whom a verse of the Qur’an was
revealed). Certainly, therefore, it is ‘Umar’s solemn duty to listen to her.”
Mahd As-Sawab: 3/777
Treating Agents and Governors if they Fell Sick

Mu‘ayqib, who was ‘Umar’s keeper of the public treasury, fell sick, and ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased
with him) asked for a remedy for him from everyone who had any medical knowledge. Then two men
came from Yemen and he asked, “Do you have any remedy that you can offer this righteous man, for
his pain is getting worse?”They said, “We cannot take away his illness, but we can give him some
treatment that will stop it from getting any worse.”‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said, “It
will be a blessing if it stops it from getting any worse.”They said, “Does colocynth (bitter-apple) grow
in your land?”He said, “Yes.”They said, “Gather some of it for us.”‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with
him) gave orders and two large basketfuls were gathered for him. They went and cut each colocynth
in two, then they made Mu‘ayqib lie down. Each of them took one of his feet and started rubbing the
bottom of the foot with the colocynth; when it wore out they picked up another and carried on. Then
they let him go. ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said, “His pain will not get worse.”The
narrator said: “By Allah, after that Mu‘ayqib was fine and his pain did not get any worse, until he
died.”
Akhbaar Umar,P: 341
Umar’s Piety
As for ‘Umar’s piety, the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) once said:
“While I was sleeping, I saw [a dream in which] people were being presented to me. They were wearing
shirts, and among them were people whose shirts reached their chests (i.e., they covered them only
from their necks to their chests). And among them were people whose shirts reached lower than that
(or perhaps, whose shirts did not even reach that level). ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) was
then presented to me, and upon him was a shirt that he was dragging on the ground.”
The Companions asked, “And how do you interpret that, O Messenger of Allah?”
The Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) replied: “[I interpret that to mean]
religion.”
When the Companions asked, “And how do you interpret that, O Messenger of Allah?”they meant:
And how do interpret what you saw in terms of ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) having such
a long shirt that he was dragging it along the ground? That ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)
dragged his shirt meant that, as he walked, he was leaving behind tracks in the ground; and those tracks
were a metaphor for good deeds and positive accomplishments he left behind after his death, so that
others could follow his rightly-guided character. And Allah knows best.
[Sahih Muslim: 2390 ]
“O ‘Umar, remain fearful of Allah!”

After the death of Allah’s Messenger (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him), Abu Bakr (May
Allah be pleased with him) was appointed as the Caliph. ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)
would remain the company of Abu Bakr (May Allah be pleased with him) on every occasion just as
he would remain in the company of Allah’s Messenger (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him).
‘Umar was the most trustworthy advisor and minister of Abu Bakr (May Allah be pleased with him).
When the last moments of Abu Bakr’s (May Allah be pleased with him) life arrived, he appointed
‘Umar as his successor and dictated his will to ‘Umar. Abu Bakr (May Allah be pleased with him)
said,
“I am journeying to the Hereafter. In the Hereafter, I am more in need of the rewards of my deeds then
the trivial things of this world, which I am no longer in need of. O ‘Umar bin Khattab, (May Allah be
pleased with him) I appoint to you the responsibility of the affairs of this nation, if you perform this
duty with justice and responsibility it will be good for you, and this is my hope for you. However, if
you do not perform it with justice, then Allah knows the secrets of the hearts. I am no longer fond of
living in this world. ‘Umar remain fearful of Allah, because death can approach a person at any time,
as it is approaching me at this moment.”
[Abqariyah ‘Umar, pg. ]
Establishing Regular Prayer
Umar bin Al-Khattaab (May Allah be pleased with him) used to write to his governors. “The most
important of your affairs in my view is prayer; whoever performs the prayer regularly has protected
his faith, but whoever neglects it is bound to be more negligent in other issues of faith.”
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) also emphasized to his governors the importance of
establishing regular prayer among the people, as he said, “We have appointed you to establish regular
prayer and teach them knowledge and the Qur’an” ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) used to
state in his letters of appointment that so-and-so was in charge of the prayer and the wars, as in the
document in which he made ‘Ammaar bin Yaasir in charge of the prayer and the wars, and ‘Abdullaah
bin Mas‘ood in charge of the judiciary and the public treasury. The juristics who wrote about Islamic
politics spoke of the importance of prayer with regard to the ruler, and how that had great significance
in this world and in the Hereafter.
Al-Wilaayah alal-Buldan: 2/67
Striving Hard to Ensure that People Received their Salaries

‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said, “If I live, I would not leave the widows of Iraq in need
of anyone after me.”We should not forget the attitude of ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)
during the year of Ar-Ramaadah, when famine was widespread. ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with
him) mobilized all the resources of the state to resolve the crisis and feed the hungry. Al-Bayhaqee
reported in his Sunan that ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) spent on the people affected by the
famine of Ar-Ramaadah, until rain fell and they started moving on from Madeenah. ‘Umar (May Allah
be pleased with him) set out to them, riding a horse, and saw as they were moving on, with tears
flowing down his cheeks.
A man from Banu Muhaarib bin Khasfah said, “I bear witness that you are relieved, and you are not
the son of slave woman”– praising ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said to him, ‘Woe to you!
I would accept this praise if I had spent my own wealth or the wealth of Al-Khattaab (May Allah be
pleased with him), but I spent the wealth of Allah.
Shaheeh At-Tautheeq, P: 373
“You Want Me to Meet Allah as a Deceitful King!”
A male relative (through marriage) visited ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) and demanded that
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) give him some money from the Muslim treasury. ‘Umar (May
Allah be pleased with him) chastised him, and then said, “You want me to meet Allah as a deceitful
king [instead of as a trustworthy and honorable Khaleefah]!”Sometime later, ‘Umar (May Allah be
pleased with him) gave the very same relative 10,000 Dirhams – not from the Muslim treasury,
however, but instead from his own money.
Taareekh Al-Islam by Adh-Dhahabee, P: 271
O Leader of the Believers, “My Right Hand is Busy, “
A group of soldiers from Ash-Sham (Syria and surrounding regions) entered Madeenah; but they
intended to stay for only a short while; they were only passing through on their way to Yemen.
When ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) performed the afternoon prayer, he (May Allah be
pleased with him) would place a number of trays of food on the ground. One of the visiting soldiers
sat down and began to eat with his left hand. Upon seeing the soldier do that, ‘Umar (May Allah be
pleased with him) said, “Eat with your right hand.”When the man did not heed ‘Umar’s command,
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said for a second time, “Eat with your right hand.”
“O Leader of the Believers, my right hand is busy, “answered the man. When the man finished eating,
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) beckoned to him, inviting him to come closer to him. ‘Umar
(May Allah be pleased with him) then asked, “What made your right hand so busy [that you were not
able to use it to eat]?”
The man took out his right arm, and ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) was taken aback when
he saw that it was severed somewhere above his hand. ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) asked
him how his hand had been cut off, and the man replied, “My hand was cut off on the Day of Yarmook
(i.e., during battle against polytheist enemies).”
“Then who helps you perform ablution?”‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) asked.
“I use my left hand, and it is Allah Who helps me, “replied the man.
“Where are you going?”‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) asked.
“To Yemen, “the man replied. “I am going to my mother, who I have not seen for such and such
number of years.”
“And [beyond having been injured in the way of Allah] you are dutiful [to your mother] as well?”‘Umar
(May Allah be pleased with him) ordered that the man be given a servant and five camels that were
earmarked for charity; and before the man left, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) loaded the
camels with supplies.
Ash-Shaikhan by Bladuri: 174, 175
Displays of Trustworthiness by Muslims

When Muslims entered Al-Madain and started gathering the spoils, a man came to the treasurers. He
gave them a small but precious cup. The officer in charge and his lieutenant said, “We have never seen
such a thing! It is more precious than all we have gathered by far. Did you take anything from it?”The
man replied, “By Allah! Had it not been for Him, I would not have returned it to you.”The treasurers
realized that this was someone important. They asked, “Who are you?”The man said, “By Allah I will
not tell you or others who I am, lest you praise me. I praise Allah and am content with His reward!
“They followed the man secretly until he reached his friends, and found that it was none other than
‘Amir bin ‘Abd Qais (the famous scholar and ascetic) !
Taareekh At-Tabaree 4/468
“Is Uwais bin ‘Aamir Among You?”
When reinforcements from Yemen would come to him, ‘Umar bin Al-Khattaab (May Allah be pleased
with him) would ask groups of the arriving Yemeni soldiers, “Is Uwais bin ‘Aamir among
you?”Finally, when someone pointed to a man among them, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)
went up to him and asked, “Are you Uwais bin ‘Aamir?”The man replied, “Yes.” “Are you from
Muraad and then from Qaran?”asked ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him).
“Yes, “Uwais replied.
“Were you sick with leprosy, and were you then cured, except for a spot on your body that is the size
of a Dirham [coin]?”asked ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him).
“Yes, “Uwais replied for a third time.
“And do you have a mother?”‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) asked.
“Yes, “replied Uwais.
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) then said, “I heard the Messenger of Allah (Peace and
Blessings of Allah be upon him) say: ‘Among a group of reinforcements from Yemen, Uwais bin
‘Aamir will come to you. He is from Muraad and then from Qaran. He was sick with leprosy, and then
he became cured of the disease, except for a spot [on his body] that is the size of a Dirham [coin]. He
has a mother, and he is dutiful to her. Were he to swear by Allah (for something to occur), Allah would
answer him (i.e., Allah I would fulfill his oath). If you are able to have him ask forgiveness [from
Allah] for you, then do so. ‘”‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) then said to Uwais, “So ask
forgiveness [from Allah] for me.”Uwais then invoked Allah to forgive ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased
with him).
“Where do you want to go?”‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) asked.
“To Koofah, “replied Uwais.
“Should I not write to Koofah’s governor for you [by informing him of your arrival, so that he can
honor you and take proper care of you]?”‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) asked.
“For me to travel among common people – people who are weak, poor, and who do not receive
attention from others – would be more beloved to me, “said Uwais, politely rejecting ‘Umar’s offer.
The following year, a high-ranking Yemeni man from the previous year’s group of reinforcements met
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him). When ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) asked about
Uwais, the man replied, “When I left him, he was in a dishevelled state, with little to his name in terms
of material possessions.”
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) then said to the man, “I heard the Messenger of Allah (Peace
and Blessings of Allah be upon him) say: ‘Among a group of reinforcements from Yemen, Uwais bin
‘Aamir will come to you. He is from Muraad and then from Qaran. He was sick with leprosy, and then
he became cured of the disease, except for a spot [on his body] that is the size of a Dirham [coin]. He
has a mother, and he is dutiful to her. Were he to swear by Allah (for something to occur), Allah would
answer him (i.e., Allah would fulfill his oath). If you are able to have him ask forgiveness [from Allah]
for you, then do so. ‘”
The man then went back to Uwais and said, “Invoke Allah to forgive me.”Uwais said, “Compared to
me, you are the one who has more recently completed a journey whose purpose was noble (i.e.,
therefore, your supplication is more likely to be answered). So you invoke Allah to forgive me.”The
man paid no heed to what Uwais said, but instead simply repeated his request, “Ask forgiveness for
me.”Uwais asked, “Did you meet ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)?”The man replied,
“Yes.”Uwais then invoked Allah (SWT) to forgive the man. Only a short while passed before people
came to know about Uwais and about his story; and when they did find out about him, he simply left,
probably hoping to go to a place where he would not be known – where he could live a simple obscure
life among simple, poor people.
Muslim: 2542
‘Umar’s Prohibition of Letting Captives of War Stay in
Madeenah
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) did not allow captives of war from conquered lands to enter
the capital, Madeenah. Hence, the Zoroastrians of Iraq and Persia, and Christians of the Levant and
Egypt were forbidden from staying in Madeenah, except if they became Muslims and entered Islam.
This policy shows his wisdom and foresight, since these were a defeated and vanquished people who
were revengeful of Islam and hated it. They were prepared to conspire and plot against Islam and
Muslims. Hence, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) forbade them from residing in the capital to
safeguard Muslims from their evil. However, some Companions of the Prophet (Peace and Blessings
of Allah be upon him) had taken some of these non-Muslim captives as personal slaves. One of them
used to plead with ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) to let him keep some of these slaves in
Madeenah to help him in his work. So ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) let some of them stay
in Madeenah, despite being against the idea. And it led to what he expected…
Ruling against the Slave’s Owner
Moosa bin Anas bin Maalik related that Seereen, who was the father of Muhammad bin Seereen, was
a slave, and that his master was Anas (May Allah be pleased with him). Like many slaves, Seereen
asked his master to make a Mukaatabah deal with him. A Mukaatabah deal was one in which a slave
owner agreed to allow a slave to purchase his freedom; this deal customarily involved a payment plan,
and when the slave finished making his final payment, he would automatically become a free man.
Anas (May Allah be pleased with him), however, was wealthy; and so he was not interested in gaining
any money from Seereen. He therefore rejected Seereen’s offer, and thus more or less said that he
preferred keeping Seereen as his slave. Seereen went to ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) and
told him what had happened. ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) then went to Anas (May Allah
be pleased with him) and said, “Make a Mukaatabah deal with him.”When Anas (May Allah be pleased
with him) then refused, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) struck him with a stick and then
proceeded to recite the following verse of the Noble Qur’an:
{Give them such writing, if you know that they are good and trustworthy.} (Qur’an 24:33)
Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) submitted to this Qur’anic command, agreeing then to allow
Seereen to pay his way towards emancipation. This story clearly exemplifies the beauty of Islam, for
in it, we read about a slave who wished to gain his freedom, while his owner refused to grant him that
wish. Then, when the matter was brought before the leader of the entire Muslim Nation, he sided with
the slave, and ruled against the slave’s owner. Where else, other than in Islam, can we find a similar
example in the annals of history?
Shaheed Al-Maihraab,P:222
‘Umar’s Apology to ‘Adee bin Haatim (May Allah be pleased

with him)
One day, ‘Adee bin Haatim (May Allah be pleased with him) and a number of delegates from his tribe
visited ‘Umar bin Al-Khattaab (May Allah be pleased with him). ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with
him) began to hand out shares of wealth to various men
amongthedelegates.Hegaveoneparticularman2000 (Dirhams), but he turned away from ‘Adee (May
Allah be pleased with him). Perhaps thinking that he had not been seen, ‘Adee (May Allah be pleased
with him) stood directly in front of ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him), but again, ‘Umar (May
Allah be pleased with him) turned away from him [and continued to distribute wealth among the
various delegates of the Tai ‘ tribe, i.e., ‘Adee’s tribe). Then ‘Adee (May Allah be pleased with him)
drew nearer, until he was standing face-to-face with ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him). Much to
‘Adee’s chagrin, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) turned away from him for a third time.
‘Adee (May Allah be pleased with him) then said, “O Leader of the Believers, do you know
me?”Perhaps it was the expression on ‘Adee’s face, or perhaps it was the manner in which he asked
his question – whatever the case, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) was greatly amused,
laughing until he fell on his back. Realizing that ‘Adee’s feelings had been hurt when he turned away
from him three times, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said on a more serious note, “Yes, by
Allah, I do indeed know you: You believed, when others disbelieved; you came forth [with your Islam],
when others turned their backs [on the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) ]; and you
were faithful, when others acted treacherously. And verily, the first Zakaat wealth that whitened the
face of the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) and the faces of his
Companions (i.e., that made them happy) was the Zakaat that arrived from the people of Taiy (i.e.,
from ‘Adee’s tribe). And you were the one who brought that Zakaat wealth to the Messenger of Allah
(Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him).”
“You believed, when others disbelieved; you came forth when others turned their backs
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) then apologized for his previous behavior, after which he said,
“Verily, I gave shares of wealth to people who have been afflicted with poverty. I have given shares
to the leaders of various sub-tribes, leaders who represent the rights of the people they left behind [and
so that is why I focused on giving wealth to them rather than paying attention to you.”According to
one particular narration, ‘Adee (May Allah be pleased with him) then said, “If that is the case, then I
do not mind.”
Muslim: 2523,Ahmad: 1/405
‘Abdullah bin Huthaafah (May Allah be pleased with him) and

the Roman Emperor
During the period of ‘Umar’s caliphate, the noble Companion ‘Abdullah bin Huthaafah AsSahmee
(May Allah be pleased with him) was captured and taken as a prisoner by the Roman army. His captors
took him to their emperor, who saidto him, “Convert to Christianity, and I will make you a partner
over my dominion; and furthermore, I will give you my daughter’s hand in marriage.”‘Abdullah (May
Allah be pleased with him) replied, “Were you to give me all that you own, in addition to all that Arabs
own, asking in return that I turn away from the Religion of Muhammad (Peace and Blessings of Allah
be upon him) for even the blinking of an eye, I still would not do so.”
“Then I will kill you!”exclaimed the Emperor.
“That is up to you, “‘Abdullah (May Allah be pleased with him) replied. The Emperor gave the order,
and ‘Abdullah (May Allah be pleased with him) was placed on a cross. The Emperor gave another
command, and a number of archers fired a volley of arrows, all of which barely missed ‘Abdullah’s
hands and legs. They missed intentionally, of course, for their job was to terrify him rather than to hurt
him actually. As the arrows were being fired at ‘Abdullah (May Allah be pleased with him), the
Emperor kept telling him that he only had to embrace Christianity in order to save himself.
Nevertheless ‘Abdullah (May Allah be pleased with him) remained steadfast, refusing to succumb to
the Emperor’s threats, even though in such situations one is allowed to utter words of disbelief, as long
as one’s heart is at peace with Eemaan (Faith). ‘Abdullah bin Huthaafah’s faith was exceptionally
strong, and so he refused to take the easy, albeit permissible, way out of his predicament.
The Emperor decided to resort to a crueler tactic. He ordered that ‘Abdullah (May Allah be pleased
with him) be taken down from the cross, after which he ordered his men to prepare a huge pot. Once
the pot was heated to a very high temperature, a Muslim prisoner was led to the pot and was thrown
inside, melting away very quickly, until all that remained of him were his bones that floated on the
surface of the boiling water. All of this was done as a show for ‘Abdullah (May Allah be pleased with
him), so that he would know that he had only two choices: either die a painful death or become a
Christian. ‘Abdullah (May Allah be pleased with him) chose the former option. Consequently, he (May
Allah be pleased with him) was about to be thrown into the pot, when, suddenly, he began to cry. The
Emperor thought that he had finally broken ‘Abdullah (May Allah be pleased with him), and so he
ordered his men to bring ‘Abdullah (May Allah be pleased with him) back to him.
“I cried merely because I have only a single soul that, at the present moment, can be thrown into
this pot for the sake of Allah”
When the Emperor rejoiced at the thought that he had finally won his battle of wits with his prisoner,
‘Abdullah (May Allah be pleased with him) said, “I cried merely because I have only a single soul
that, at the present moment, can be thrown into this pot for the sake of Allah. I wish that, for each hair
I have on my body, I had a soul that could be given this punishment (i.e., the punishment of being
boiled alive) for the sake of Allah.”
According to some accounts, the Emperor then imprisoned ‘Abdullah (May Allah be pleased with him)
and deprived him of both food and drink for a number of days. Then, when ‘Abdullah (May Allah be
pleased with him) was on the verge of dying of dehydration, the Emperor sent him a feast, one which
consisted of generous portions of pork and a sufficient quantity of alcohol – both of which are, of
course, prohibited in Islam. ‘Abdullah (May Allah be pleased with him) ate not even a morsel of the
pork, and he drank not even a sip of the alcohol.
The Emperor then sent for him, and when ‘Abdullah (May Allah be pleased with him) stood before
him, the Emperor asked, “What prevented you from eating?”‘Abdullah (May Allah be pleased with
him) replied, “In fact, the food and drink were lawful for me.”He (May Allah be pleased with him)
said this because, in emergencies or dire situations, when a man cannot find lawful food, he may eat
enough unlawful food to keep him alive. After making it clear that the food was lawful for him,
‘Abdullah (May Allah be pleased with him) went on to explain why he did not eat it: “I did not want
to give you the opportunity to gloat over my grief.”
“At least kiss my head, and I will then free you, “said the Emperor.
“And, along with me, will you free all of the Muslim prisoners [that you have in your custody]?”asked
‘Abdullah (May Allah be pleased with him).
“Yes, “replied the Emperor. ‘Abdullah (May Allah be pleased with him) kissed the Emperor’s head,
after which, in keeping with his promise, the Emperor freed ‘Abdullah (May Allah be pleased with
him) as well as all the Muslim prisoners that his men had captured.
When ‘Abdullah (May Allah be pleased with him) and the others returned safely to Madeenah,
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said, “It is the duty of every Muslim to kiss the head of
‘Abdullah bin Huthaafah (May Allah be pleased with him), and I will be the first to do so.”Having said
that, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) stood up and kissed ‘Abdullah (May Allah be pleased
with him) on his head.
Ibn Kathir, Surah An-Nahal, 106
Dismissal of an agent who mocked at one of the people
Qays ibn Abi Haazim (May Allah be pleased with him) narrated: “‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with
him) made use of a man of the Ansaar who stayed with the leader of the people of Al-Hirah, ‘Amr ibn
Hayyaan ibn Baqilah. He brought him food and drink and whatever he wanted, then he (the Ansaari)
started to joke more and more. He called the man and wiped his hand on his beard. Then ‘Amr ibn
Hayyaan went to ‘Umar and said, “O Leader of the Believers! I served Chosroes and Caesar and I was
never given in the manner in which I was given under your reign.”‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with
him) asked, “How is that?”He said, “Your agent stayed with me and we brought him food and drink
and whatever he wanted, then he started to joke more and more. He called me and wiped his hand on
my beard. ‘Umar sent for him and said, “What is this? He brought you food and drink and whatever
you wanted, then you called him and wiped your hand on his beard? By Allah, were it not that I do not
want to set a precedent; I would have left a single hair of your beard without pulling it out. Now go,
for by Allah you will never do any work for me.”
Taareekhul-Madeenah, 3/813
Treaty of Jerusalem
Following is the text of the peace accord, as reported by At-Tabari:
(In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Beneficent.
This is what the slave of Allah, Umar bin Al-Khattaab, the leader of the believers, has offered the
people of Jerusalem of security granting them protection for their selves, their money, their churches,
their children, their lowly and their innocent, and the remainder of their people. Their churches are not
to be taken, nor are they to be destroyed, nor are they to be degraded or belittled, neither are their
crosses or their money, and they are not to be forced to change their religion, nor is any one of them
to be harmed.
No Jews are to live with them in Jerusalem and it is required of the people of Jerusalem to pay the
Jizyah, like the people of the cities. It is also required of them to remove the Romans and robbers from
the land; if they leave, they will be safe in their selves and wealth until they reach their secure
destination and whoever of them stays here is also safe, provided he pays the same Jizyah as the people
of Jerusalem. Whoever amongst the people of Jerusalem wishes to depart with their selves and their
money with the Romans, leaving their trading goods and children behind, then their selves, their
trading goods and their children are safe until they reach their secure destination. Whoever was present
in Jerusalem before so-and-so was killed, can stay in Jerusalem if he pays the Jizyah paid by the people
of Jerusalem or leave with the Romans or return to his own people. They will not have to pay anything
until the harvest is reaped.
We ratify what is in this document with the covenant of Allah, the covenant of His Messenger, of the
Caliphs and of the believers if they (the people of Illyaa ‘) gave what was required of them of Jizyah.
The witnesses upon this were Khaalid ibn Al-Waleed, ‹Amr ibn al-›Aas, Abdur Rahman bin Awf and
Muawiyah ibn Abi Sufyaan. Written and passed in the year 15 AH.
The peace treaty that ‘Umar ratified clearly shows that Islam is a tolerant religion which does not force
others to believe what they do not want to. It also shows that the Muslims dealt with the Christians
present in Jerusalem in a manner that they did not expect, as conquerors were known force or impose
whatever they willed upon the conquered. However, as he was representing Islam, he did nothing of
the sort.
Islam does not force anyone to enter its fold, nor does it accept the faith of anyone who does not believe
in it of his own free will. Faith is not something that can be imposed on people, since it is an action of
the heart, and no one knows what is in the hearts except Allah The Almighty. Sometimes a person may
pose as believer while he really is not. The harm caused by such hypocrites to the true believer is much
worse than that caused by those who are openly committed to disbelief. Hence, Muslims have always
given people the freedom of worship and to protect all their sacred relics, if they choose to live under
Muslim rule and protection by paying the Jizyah tax. Living under Muslim rule and justice offered
them a peaceful life and an opportunity to view from up close the beauty of Islam, its tolerance and
justice. It afforded them an opportunity to experience the facts about Islam which were clouded by
false propaganda from afar. This served as a precursor for multitudes of people to enter Islam, as it
happened in all the countries conquered by Muslims.
Preference to Those who Accepted Islam First
Umar’s criteria of preference in the service of Islam was the following: Once some tribal chiefs of the
Quraysh came to meet ‘Umar, which included Suhail bin ‘Amr and Abu Sufyaan bin Harb. At the
same time Bilal, Suhaib, and other freed slaves, all who were among those who were the first to accept
Islam, also came to see ‘Umar. ‘Umar gave permission to the freed slaves first to see him. The chiefs
of the Quraysh became angry at ‘Umar’s behavior. Abu Sufyaan said to his companion, “I didn’t see
such shame in my entire life. ‘Umar prefers slaves over us.”Suhail said, “O people, by Allah, I am
watching the signs of anger on your faces. We should not be angry with ‘Umar, but should be angry
with our attitudes. The Prophet invited all of us to Islam simultaneously, but these slaves accepted his
invitation while we rejected it. However, now you should be worried about the Hereafter, as these
slaves will be called before you on that Day as well.”
Appointment of Abu ‘Ubaid Ath-Thaqafi as the Commander of
the Iraq Campaign
Abu Bakr As-Siddeeq (May Allah be pleased with him), the first Caliph died and was buried on the
night of Tuesday, 22 Jumada II, 13 A.H. The following morning, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with
him) urged and exhorted the people to fight the Iraqis and encouraged them by reminding them of the
reward from Allah The Almighty in waging this war. However, nobody stood up to volunteer, since
they were averse to fighting the Persians due to their legendary power and war prowess. ‘Umar (May
Allah be pleased with him) exhorted them again the following day, and then on the third day too, but
nobody stepped forward.
Al-Muthanna bin Haarithah also spoke eloquently on the occasion and informed them of the victories
Allah The Almighty had granted to Khalid bin Al-Waleed (May Allah be pleased with him), which
had resulted in the conquest of most of Iraq. He also reminded them of what awaited them in that
region in terms of gains in wealth, property, provisions and goods. Hence, for three days not a single
man volunteered for the campaign. On the fourth day, the first Muslim to step forward to take up the
gauntlet was Abu ‘Ubaid bin Mas ‘ood At-Thaqafi, and then the people followed suit in large numbers.
Sulait bin Qais Al-Ansari volunteered after Abu ‘Ubaid AtThaqafi. Sulait said, “O leader of the
faithful! To this day, there has been mesmerizing but false talk by Satan about the Persians (i.e., with
regard to their splendor and might! As for me, then I have gifted to Allah The Almighty my own life
and the lives of those who respond to me and follow me.”
Sulait’s speech had a strong impact on the listeners in encouraging them, lifting their morale and
making them more desirous of the impending campaign against Persians. The enlisted men asked the
Caliph to appoint over them a commander from the Emigrants or Helpers. ‘Umar replied, “By Allah!
I don’t find anyone more worthy of the task than the one who first responded to my call. Had Sulait
not been given to haste in making war, I would have appointed him. However, Abu ‘Ubaid will be the
commander and Sulait his advisor.”
So, the people said, ‘We hear and obey. ‘
It had also been narrated that he appointed Abu ‘Ubaid the commander over the entire battalion, even
though he was not a companion of the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him). ‘Umar
was asked, “Why don’t you appoint over them someone from the Prophet’s Companions?”He replied,
“I will appoint the one who responded first. You (the Companions) indeed preceded the people in
supporting this religion; however this man preceded you in responding (to the call for fighting the
Persians).”
Al-Bidaayah wan-Nihaayah: 7/26
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) Kisses ‘Ali’s Head
In order to appreciate this story better, the reader would do well to know the meaning and significance
of a Kunyah. A Kunyah, in general, is a name through which one is ascribed to one’s son or daughter.
It takes of Abu (fatherof) so-and-so. Usually, one is given a Kunyah based on the name of one’s eldest
son: If one’s eldest son’s name is Muhammad, one’s Kunyah is Abu (father of) Muhammad. One can
have a Kunyah without having a child, and a Kunyah is sometimes given in a figurative sense, in order
to point out a strong connection between a person and an object or quality. One famous Companion
(May Allah be pleased with him) of the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) would
often be seen walking around with a kitten, and the Arabic word for kitten is Hurairah. The kitten
became so closely associated with that Companion (May Allah be pleased with him) that the latter
took on the Kunyah Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him). At any rate, it is customary among
Arabs that, if someone wants to call his Muslim brother in an affectionate manner, he will call him,
not by his proper name, but by his Kunyah. This much information is, for the purpose of this story,
sufficient.
One day a man went to ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) – who was Khaleefah at the time –
and complained about ‘Ali (May Allah be pleased with him). Court proceedings then followed: The
man who complained appeared before ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) as the plaintiff in the
case; and ‘Ali (May Allah be pleased with him), as the defendant. When the two litigants stood before
him, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) turned to ‘Ali (May Allah be pleased with him) and said,
“Be equal with your opponent, O Abu Hasan.”Perhaps ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) felt
that ‘Ali (May Allah be pleased with him) was not standing exactly parallel to the plaintiff; but
whatever the case, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him), from the outset, was making it clear that
he was not going to take sides and that both litigants were equal in the eye of the law.
When ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) uttered the above-mentioned command, ‘Ali’s face
took on an expression of anger. The proceedings then continued until ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased
with him) issued his verdict in the case; and then afterwards ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)
said to ‘Ali (May Allah be pleased with him), “O Abu Hasan, did you become angry because I treated
the two of you as equals?”
“No, O Leader of the Believers! Rather, I became angry because you did not treat my opponent and
me as equals! You honored me when you called me by my Kunyah – Abu Hasan. But you did not call
my opponent by his Kunyah (instead, you called him by his proper name).”‘Umar (May Allah be
pleased with him) then kissed ‘Ali (May Allah be pleased with him) on his head and said, “May Allah
not keep me alive on a land upon which there is no Abu Hasan!”
['Umar bin Khattab by Salih Abdur-Rahman,P:79]
The Marriage of a Woman from the Quraysh with a Slave

‘Umar encouraged the people to perform marriages with different tribes, so that love would develop
amongst the people. Therefore, a slave went to a man from the Quraysh and asked him to marry his
sister to him, which the latter refused. ‘Umar went to that man and asked him, “Why do you not marry
your sister to him? He is a talented and pious individual. You should seek the opinion of your sister;
if she accepts the proposal then you should marry her to him.”The man from the Quraysh accepted the
advice of ‘Umar and went to his sister to ask her opinion. She agreed to the marriage and the man
married his sister to the slave.
Al-Murtadaa by An-Nadawee, P: 106
A Woman is Right and ‘Umar is Wrong
During a sermon that he (May Allah be pleased with him) delivered, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased
with him) said, “Do not give women more than forty Ooqiyahs (an amount that was equivalent to 400
Dirhams) as dowry [for marriage],even if one of you marries the daughter of
Dhil-Qissah (here, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) was referring to the daughter of Yazeed
bin Al-Husain. ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) probably meant that a man should not give a
woman more than 400 Dirhams as dowry even if she is wealthy and of noble lineage. If anyone gives
more than that amount, then the excess amount (the amount that exceeds the limit of 400 Dirhams)
will be [taken and] placed in the Muslim treasury.”
A woman in the audience interrupted ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) by calling out, “You
have no right to do that!”‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) asked, “And why is that?”She said,
“Because Allah said…”And she proceeded to recite the following verse of the Noble Qur’an:
(And you have given one of them a Qintar (of gold i.e. a great amount) as Mahr, take not the least
bit of it back; would you take it wrongfully without a right and (with) a manifest sin?)
(Qur’an: 4:20)
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) then said, “A woman was right and a man was
wrong.”According to one particular narration, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said, “O Allah,
forgive me! Every person has a better understanding of the Religion than does ‘Umar.”‘Umar (May
Allah be pleased with him) then climbed the pulpit once more and said, “O people, I indeed forbade
you from giving women more than 400 Dirhams for their dowry [but I was wrong in doing so]. So
whoever wishes to give [as dowry] whatever he wants from his wealth, and whatever he is pleased to
give away, then let him do so.”
Umar ibn Al-khattab, by Saaleh, Abdur Rahman, P:79
Respect for the Injured Muslim Fighters

‘Umar was once giving gifts to the people and looked at the face of a person which showed the scars
of his injuries. ‘Umar asked him concerning his scars. He said, “I was badly injured in a battle.”‘Umar
ordered that he be given one thousand Dirhams. When he was given the amount, ‘Umar ordered that
he be given an additional one thousand Dirhams. When that too was given, ‘Umar ordered that he be
given another one thousand Dirhams. When this occurred for the fourth time, the man became
embarrassed, due to ‘Umar’s generosity, and left. ‘Umar said, “If he had remained here, then I would
have given him all the Dirhams that were in my possession. The person who has been badly injured in
Allah’s cause has a high rank.”
‘Umar’s (May Allah be pleased with him) Wish
One day, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said to his companions, “Wish for something.”One
of them said, “I wish that this house was filled with gold, so that I could then spend it all in the way of
Allah and on charitable causes.”Another man said, “I wish that it was filled with precious gems and
jewels, so that I could then spend it all in the way of Allah and on charitable causes.”
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) repeated his question: “Wish for something.”His companions
said, “We do not know [what to wish for], O Leader of the Believers.”‘Umar (May Allah be pleased
with him) then said, “I wish that this house was filled with the likes of Abu Ubaidah bin al-Jarraah
(May Allah be pleased with him), Mu‘aadh bin Jabal (May Allah be pleased with him), Saalim (May
Allah be pleased with him) the freed slave of Abu Hudhaifah, and Hudhaifah bin Al-Yamaan,so that I
can use them for the obedience of Allah (i.e., so that I can make use of their time, talent, abilities, and
strengths in order to further the cause of Islam).”
According to another narration, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) explained the true meaning
of brotherhood and friendship in Islam: “Seek out truthful brothers, brothers that you know will care
for you [and look out for your best interests]. In times of comfort, such [sincere and caring] friends are
like ornaments [in your gatherings (in that one is pleased to look at them, and is happy to know that
they are by one’s side) ]; and in times of hardship, they are like tools [in that they are always willing
to help and be of use]. Always think the best of your [Muslim] brother, at least until he does something
that gives you good cause to be angry [and upset with him]. Stay away from your enemies, and be
wary of your friends, except for that friend of yours who is trustworthy; and remember that one is not
trustworthy unless one fears Allah. Do not keep company with an evildoer, for if you do keep company
with an evildoer, you will learn from his evil ways. Do not allow a evildoer to know any of your secrets.
And when you need advice, consult only those who fear Allah.”
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) longed for the company of good and noble friends.
Remembering a friend during one particular night, Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said, “Slow
is the passing of this night!”The following day, he (May Allah be pleased with him) went out to pray,
after which he went to his friend and hugged him.
It is related that ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) would also say, “To go out in the way of
Allah, to place my cheek on the ground for the sake of Allah, and to sit among a group of people who
pick out beautiful words to say just as fruits are picked out – were it not for these activities, I would
long ago have preferred to [die and] meet Allah.”
Ash-Shaikhaan by way of the narration of al-Balaaduri, P:225.
“O Allah, increase my fear in their hearts”

‘Amr bin Murrah narrated, “Once I met ‘Umar and advised him that he should be lenient toward us
and told him that he had filled our hearts with fear.”‘Umar asked, “Have I oppressed anyone?”I replied,
“No.”‘Umar then said, “O Allah, increase my fear in their hearts.”
When Muslims Bear Witness to the Righteousness of a Muslim
Who Has Died
Abul-Aswad related that when he once entered Madeenah, there was widespread illness in the city –
people were dying quickly and in large numbers. During his stay in Madeenah, AbulAswad sat down
beside ‘Umar bin Al-Khattaab (May Allah be pleased with him); and as they were sitting down together
– and with them were a number of other people – a funeral procession passed by. A number of Muslims
(the exact number is not mentioned in the Hadeeth) praised the person who was being led to his grave.
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) then said, “It has become compulsory.”Shortly thereafter,
another funeral procession passed by, and again a number of people praised the person who was being
led to his grave. Again, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said, “It has become
compulsory.”Then a third funeral procession passed by, but this time people spoke ill of the person.
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) then said, “It has become compulsory.”Abul-Aswad asked,
“What has become compulsory, O Leader of the Believers?”‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)
said, “I [just] said [now] what the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) said
[once during his lifetime]: ‘If any Muslim has four people (i.e., four upright Muslims) bear witness
that he is good, then Allah will admit him into Paradise. ‘
We asked [the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) ], ‘And what about three (i.e., and
what if only three Muslims bear witness to the goodness of another Muslim) ? ‘ The Prophet (Peace
and Blessings of Allah be upon him) said: ‘And even three (i.e., even if three Muslims bear witness to
the goodness of another Muslim, then Allah will admit that person into Paradise). ‘ We asked, ‘And
what if only two [Muslims bear witness to the goodness of another Muslim]? ‘ The Prophet (Peace and
Blessings of Allah be upon him) said: ‘And even two (i.e., even if only two Muslims bear witness to
the goodness of another Muslim, then Allah will admit that Muslim into Paradise). ‘“Then ‘Umar (May
Allah be pleased with him) told Abul-Aswad that he and the other Companions who were with the
Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) at that time did not then ask him whether a person
was guaranteed Paradise if only one Muslim bears witness to his goodness.
Bukhari: 2643
‘I will follow my two companions, the Prophet (Peace and

Blessings of Allah be upon him) and Abu Bakr ‘
Sa‘eed bin Al-Musayyib reported that, in the aftermath of a battle, a camel that was a part of the spoils
of war was injured. ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) slaughtered it and sent some of its meat
to the wives of the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him). He (May Allah be pleased
with him) cooked what remained of the meat, after which he invited a group of Muslims to eat with
him. Al-‘Abbaas bin ‘Abdul-Muttalib (May Allah be pleased with him), who was among those who
were invited, said, “O Leader of the Believers, would that everyday you prepared for us food that is
similar to this, so that we can eat in your company and engage in conversation.”‘Umar (May Allah be
pleased with him) replied, “I will never do this again [for enjoying such comforts on a regular basis
was not the way of my predecessors]. Verily, my two companions (the Prophet (Peace and Blessings
of Allah be upon him) and Abu Bakr (May Allah be pleased with him)) acted a certain way, and were
made to follow a certain path (i.e., the one that leads to Paradise). But if I were to act contrary to the
way they acted, I would be led along a path that is different from their path (i.e., a path of
misguidance).”
At-Tabaqaat Al-kubraa: 3/288
‘Umar Inspired Awe and Sometimes Even Fear
People loved ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him), they respected him (May Allah be pleased with
him), held him in high regard, trusted him implicitly – and they held him in awe, perhaps even fearing
him to a certain degree. ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) was a decisive and convincing leader,
a leader, who – due to his strong character and staunch adherence to the truth – would never be
disobeyed. When ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) gave an order, people obeyed him without
the least bit of hesitation, regardless of whether they were weak, strong, rich, or poor – and regardless
of whether they were common soldiers or generals of armies. There is perhaps no clearer proof of
‘Umar’s strength as a leader than his decision to remove Khalid bin Al-Waleed (May Allah be pleased
with him) from his post as overall commander of the Muslim army. Khalid (May Allah be pleased with
him) had done nothing wrong, unless achieving victory after victory is considered a fault; and, as a
military commander, he (May Allah be pleased with him) was just reaching the pinnacle of his career,
becoming famous throughout Muslim and nonMuslim lands for his many military conquests.
Just when the masses of people were admiring Khalid (May Allah be pleased with him) more so than
ever before, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) decided to remove him from his post. Before we
proceed, think of modern-day examples of leaders and presidents removing top generals from their
posts. The results of such occurrences have ranged from military unrest to outright violent mutiny,
whereby the military takes over a country. So what happened when ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with
him) fired Khalid (May Allah be pleased with him) from his job? Was there any unrest or rebellion?
Not at all!. In fact, ‘Umar’s orders were executed immediately, even though it was a time when the
Muslim army was in dire need of Khalid’s leadership skills. I say this because the order to have Khalid
(May Allah be pleased with him) step down from his post coincided with the Day of Yarmook, when
the Muslim army was standing in rows, ready to take on the formidable army of the Romans.
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) sent word that the new leader of the army was going to be
Abu ‘Ubaidah (May Allah be pleased with him). Upon receiving that message, Khalid bin AlWaleed
(May Allah be pleased with him) – a man who was known for his bravery and strength, not to mention
his desire to die a martyr – simply said, “I hear and obey the command of the Leader of the
Believers.”When a soldier then expressed his view that the change of leadership was going to cause
unrest and internal disagreements among Muslims, Khalid (May Allah be pleased with him) said,
“There can be no internal disagreements [among Muslims] as long as ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased
with him) is with us [as our leader].”
Al-Murtada by An-Nadawee, P: 107
Sense of Awe in the Hearts of the People

‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) was feared not because he oppressed his people, for he was
just, fair, and merciful. First, he (May Allah be pleased with him) was feared because Allah placed a
sense of awe for him in the hearts of people; and second, he was feared because his stern approach to
rectifying wrongs, in addition to his staunch and unwavering adherence to the truth, instilled in
people’s hearts a sense of awe and dread. ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) realized that, no
matter what he did, and no matter how gentle he became, there always remained for him a sense of
awe and fear in the hearts of people. Realizing that, he (May Allah be pleased with him) once said, “O
Allah, You indeed know that I fear You more than they fear me, “an appropriate and pithy statement
that summed his relationship, not just with people, but with Allah as well.
Manaaqib' Umar by Ibn Al-Jawzee, P:135
Salaries of the People
Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) distributed salaries based on how closely people were related
to the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him), as well as on how early it was that they
embraced Islam. Thus, the first people to receive salaries were the members of the
Prophet’s household – namely, the members of the Banu Haashim clan. Al-‘Abbaas (May Allah be
pleased with him) would collect money on their behalf, and would then distribute it among them. They
were followed by the wives of the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him); each of them
would receive a stipend that was separate from what the members of the Prophet’s household received.
As for the rest of the Muslim population, they were divided into groups, that division being based on
their participation in past wars and battles. The first group consisted of those who had fought in the
Battle of Badr; then came those who had fought from the time between Badr and Al-Hudaibiyyah;
then came those who had fought from the time between Hudaibiyyah and the end of the Apostate Wars;
and they were followed by those who had been present at Al-Qaadisiyyah and Al-Yarmook, and so
on.
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) also gave special stipends to the wives of Muslim soldiers and
to their children from birth. He (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) took special care of
children and newborns whose parents had died; for them he (May Allah be pleased with him)
established a yearly stipend, which began at a minimum of one-hundred Dirhams, and which increased
when they reached the age of puberty. ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) also established a
stipend for freed slaves, and it ranged between one-thousand to two-thousand Dirhams.
At-Tabaqaat: 3/301, Taareekh Al-ya'qoobee: 2/153-154
The Butcher Shop of Az-Zubair bin Al-‘Awwaam (May Allah be

pleased with him)
Az-Zubair bin Al-‘Awwaam (May Allah be pleased with him) owned the only butcher shop in
Madeenah. ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) would go there, and if he (May Allah be pleased
with him) would see a man buying meat two days in a row, he would hit him with his stick and say,
“[At least for a short while] should you not make your stomach remain hungry for the sake of your
neighbor and your cousin (i.e., so that they do not come here only to find that the shop is out of meat).”
Ad-Daur As-Siyaasee lis-Safwah, P:231
‘Uyainah bin Hisn and Maalik bin Abu Zufar
One day, ‘Uyainah bin Hisn visited ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him). At the time, ‘Umar (May
Allah be pleased with him) was already entertaining a guest, Maalik bin Abu Zufar (May
Allah be pleased with him), who was known to be poor. In a belittling way, ‘Uyainah said to Maalik
(May Allah be pleased with him), “The weak have become strong, and the lowly have become elevated
in status.”‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) became angry with ‘Uyainah (May Allah be pleased
with him) and said to him, “Be humble in Islam. For by Allah, I will not be pleased with you until
Maalik intercedes to me on your behalf.”‘Uyainah (May Allah be pleased with him) was then left with
no choice but to humbly ask Maalik (May Allah be pleased with him) to intercede on his behalf, so
that ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) would cease to be angry with him.
Ad-Daur As-Siyaasee Lis-Safwah, P:191.
‘Umar’s Advice to Abu ‘Ubaid
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) called for Abu ‘Ubaid and advised him to fear Allah The
Almighty and to be good to the Muslims with him. ‘Umar commanded him to consult the Companions
of the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) in general and Sulait bin Qais especially,
since he was well experienced in warfare.”It has been mentioned in the recorded advice of ‘Umar to
Abu ‘Ubaid, that he said, “Listen to the Prophet’s Companions, share the authority with them and don’t
act hastily. Act deliberately, since only a composed and careful man, who can recognize an opportunity
is fit for warfare. What stopped me from appointing Sulait as the commander was only his haste in
making war, and hastiness for war is a symptom of alienation (from the rest of the soldiers). By Allah!
Had it not been for his hastiness, I would have appointed him.”
Then he said, “You are going to a land of deceit, deception, treachery and arrogance. You are going to
a people who are emboldened in doing evil and deliberately ignorant of good and virtue. Hence, be
careful in what you do, guard your tongue and do not divulge your secrets. If a secret is closely guarded,
it does not lead to undesirable consequences, but if it is not then it leads to ruin.”
Itmam Al-Wafa Fee Seerat Al-khulafaa, P: 65
A Special Discount on War Booty
During ‘Umar’s caliphate, ‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) participated in the
Battle of Jaloolah, a battle that took place in the lands of Persia. After victory was achieved by the
Muslim Army, the war booty was gathered together, and it probably consisted of a number of valuable
items – such as weapons, food, livestock, clothing, gold, silver, and so on. From his own personal
wealth, ‘Abdullah (May Allah be pleased with him) purchased a number of items from the war booty
for the amount of 40,000 Dirhams. When he returned home and visited his father, ‘Umar (May Allah
be pleased with him) said to him, “Suppose you were placed before the Hellfire and it was said to you,
‘Pay ransom money in order to save yourself from the Hellfire. ‘ Would you agree to pay that ransom
money?”‘Abdullah (May Allah be pleased with him) replied, “By Allah, if one were to be hurt by any
[small] thing (never mind the extreme pain and punishment of the Hellfire), one would be willing to
pay ransom money to save himself.”
Taareekh Al-Islam by Adh-Dhahabee, P: 270-271.
The House of Abu Sufyan in Makkah
Once ‘Umar visited Makkah and the people came to him and said, “Abu Sufyaan has built his house,
which has blocked the passage of rain water, thus causing our houses to become damaged.”‘Umar
immediately went to the house of Abu Sufyaan and had the portion of Abu Sufyaan’s house demolished
which caused the blockage of the rain water. Afterwards, ‘Umar went to the Ka ‘bah and said, “O
Allah, I am thankful that you have given me such honor that I ordered Abu Sufyaan in Makkah and he
obeyed my order.”
How ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) Strove to Fulfill the
Needs of the People
Ibn ‘Abbaas (May Allah be pleased with him) related the following story: After every [congregational]
Prayer, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) would not leave immediately, but would remain seated
for a while. He (May Allah be pleased with him) did that for the benefit of the people: If anyone had
a problem or needed help, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) would look into that person’s
situation [and would do whatever he could to help him]. But then, for a number of congregational
Prayers, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) did not follow his usual practice: instead of remaining
seated, he (May Allah be pleased with him) got up after Prayer and left. Ibn ‘Abbaas (May Allah be
pleased with him) was concerned that something had happened, and so he went to ‘Umar’s home and
said to Yarfa ‘(who perhaps was a servant), “O Yarfa ‘, is the Leader of the Believers ill?”Yarfa
‘replied, “No.”Then suddenly ‘Uthmaan (May Allah be pleased with him) arrived as well. Yarfa
‘entered ‘Umar’s home, and a short while later, he (May Allah be pleased with him) came out and said,
“Stand, O son of ‘Affaan; stand, O son of ‘Abbaas.”Upon entering ‘Umar’s home, ‘Uthmaan (May
Allah be pleased with him) and Ibn ‘Abbaas (May Allah be pleased with him) saw ‘Umar (May Allah
be pleased with him), and they also saw in front of him mounds of wealth.
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said to the two of them, “Verily, I considered the matter, and
I know of no one in Madeenah who has a larger extended family than the two of you. So take this
wealth and distribute it among the people; and if there is anything left over, then return it [to the Muslim
Treasury].”Ibn ‘Abbaas (May Allah be pleased with him) knelt down to the ground and said, “If it is
not enough [to go around to all the people], then will you give us more?”‘Umar (May Allah be pleased
with him) replied, “Compare what you are saying now to how Muhammad (Peace and Blessings of
Allah be upon him) and his Companions lived: [When times were tough, and when they literally faced
starvation,] they would eat leather straps [in order to remain alive].”
Ibn ‘Abbaas (May Allah be pleased with him) said, “Had Allah granted the Prophet (Peace and
Blessings of Allah be upon him) [wealth], he would have acted differently from the way you are acting
now.”It was as if Ibn ‘Abbaas (May Allah be pleased with him) wanted to say following: ‘Umar (May
Allah be pleased with him), you are being too austere and self-denying, and you are expecting too
much from others, demanding from them that they meet the same standards that you are imposing upon
yourself.
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said, “And how would he (Peace and Blessings of Allah be
upon him) have acted?”
“[Had he possessed this much wealth] he would have eaten himself, and he would have fed us as well,
“replied Ibn ‘Abbaas (May Allah be pleased with him).
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) then began to cry uncontrollably, and all the while he (May
Allah be pleased with him) was saying, “I wish that I could extricate myself from this situation (from
being responsible for so many people) and just break-even – with nothing against me, and with nothing
being owed to me.”
Ash-Shaikhaan Fee Riwaayatil-Balaadhuree, P: 221
“Do Not Cause Our Religion to Die”
Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) believed that piety was displayed, not through affectation,
wearing coarse garments for show, or lowering one’s head and speaking in an almost in audible tone–
but through sincerity and righteous deeds. After the generation of the Companions, some people began
to focus, not so much on actual piety or on deeds of the heart, but on an outward display of
righteousness. These people did not fool ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him); in fact, ‘Umar (May
Allah be pleased with him) did not tolerate their behavior.
One day, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) saw a man who, in order to show off his asceticism,
pretended to be weak, and so he walked with an affected, feeble, overly slow gait. ‘Umar (May Allah
be pleased with him) struck him with a stick and said, “Do not cause our Religion to die, for if you do
that, then may Allah cause you to die!”What ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) meant was that,
when people would begin to focus on the outward aspects of asceticism, and not on actual piety that is
based on sound knowledge, they would corrupt the teachings of Islam – as occurred later on with the
advent of Sufi orders.
On another occasion, Ash-Shifaa ‘ bint ‘Abdullah (May Allah be please with her) saw a group of young
men walking slowly in an affected manner, and speaking slowly also in an affected manner. It was as
if they were trying to show off their humbleness and devoutness. Shifaa ‘asked, “Who are they?”Some
people who were nearby replied, “They are devout [Muslims].”She (May Allah be please with her)
then exclaimed, “By Allah, when ‘Umar bin Al-Khattaab (May Allah be pleased with him) would
speak, he would make sure others could hear his voice; when he walked, he walked at a fast pace; and
when he hit someone, he did so in such a way that he inflicted pain [upon the person he hit]. And yet,
by Allah, he was one truly devout [Muslim].”
Ash-Shaikhaan Min Riwaayatil-Balaadhuree, P:226.
Taking the Opinion of the Bride and Groom

‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) held the opinion that people should take into consideration
the view of the prospective bride and groom concerning marriage. He also held beauty to be an
important factor. He permitted the bride-to-be to look at her future husband and to understand his
character in a better manner. He would forbid the parents from forcing their daughters to marry those
whom they found unattractive. He used to say, “Just as you want a beautiful wife, similarly, girls also
want their life partner to be attractive.”Once a woman came to ‘Umar with her husband, and the latter’s
hair was disheveled. ‘Umar ordered her husband to go and take a bath, cut his nails, and comb his hair.
At first, the woman had wanted to divorce her husband, but when she saw him after his transformed
appearance, she withdrew her request of divorce. At this, ‘Umar said to those who were in attendance,
“You should take care of yourselves, because the women also wish to see you attractive just as you
wish to see them.”
Umar’s Concern for the Wellbeing of his People
Ibn al-Jawzi (may Allah have mercy upon him) narrated that ‘Umar once saw an extremely overweight
person, whose belly was very big. ‘Umar asked, “What is this?”The man replied, “It is Allah’s
blessing.”‘Umar replied, “This is your misconception. It is not a blessing from Allah, but it is His
punishment.”
[Manaaqib ‘Umar, pg. 200]
One would think, therefore, that human beings have hitherto been blind to the dangerous consequences
of obesity. However, this is not the case – certainly not in Islam. Fourteen centuries ago, ‘Umar bin
Al-Khattaab (May Allah be pleased with him), the Leader of the Muslim Nation, launched what was
tantamount to a nationwide health campaign. He (May Allah be pleased with him) warned his people
about the dangers of obesity and gluttony. He (May Allah be pleased with him) encouraged fasting
and encouraged people to eat not according to their desires, but according to their needs. In one of his
speeches, he summed up succinctly the grave consequences of obesity, “O people, beware of gluttony,
for indeed, it makes one lazy during Prayer, it harms the body, and it causes diseases. And indeed,
Allah despises the learned man who is fat. Instead, adhere to moderation in your intake of food, for
moderate, sensible eating brings one nearer to piety, and further away from excessiveness; also, it
makes one stronger when it comes to worshipping Allah, the Possessor of Might and Majesty. And a
slave [of Allah] will not become [spiritually] destroyed until he gives preference to his desires over his
Religion.”
In other ways as well, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) showed concern for the well-being of
his people. For instance, he forbade people with contagious diseases from mixing with the general
population of citizens. If he (May Allah be pleased with him) saw someone with a contagious disease,
he (May Allah be pleased with him) would order that person to stay in his home until he recovered
from his illness. It is related that, one day, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) passed by a female
leper who was performing Tawaaf (walking around the Ka ‘bah as an act of worship) around the Ka
‘bah. He (May Allah be pleased with him) said to her, “O female slave of Allah, would that you stayed
in your home, so that you do not harm others.”The woman then obeyed ‘Umar’s command. After
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) died, a man passed by the woman’s home and said to her,
“Verily, the one who forbade you [from mixing with the people] has died, so come out now.”She,
being a pious Muslim, replied, “By Allah, it is not right that I should have obeyed him while he was
alive, only to disobey him now that he is dead.”
Al-Khaleefah Al-Farooq, P: 124.
Checking on Governors
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) did not rest at selecting the best men to work as his agents
and governors, rather he strove hard to follow up on them and check on them after appointing them,
to be sure that they were doing well, and for fear that they might deviate or drift away. His slogan was:
“It is better for me to dismiss one governor every day than to leave a wrongdoer in place for even one
minute. And he said, “Any governor of mine who wrongs anyone and I hear of his wrongdoing, if I do
not change him, then I will have wronged him..”
One day he said to those who were with him, “What do you think, if I were to make over you the best
one I could find, then order him to be just, would I have done what is required of me?”They said,
“Yes.”He said, “No not until I see how he fares, and whether he will do what I have ordered him or
not.”
The Persian Reaction
After continuous defeats during the era of Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) Persian leaders
gathered and scolded Rustam and Fairazan, “Look where this dispute has landed us! It has weakened
us and enticed the enemy to attack us. No one is responsible for this except a military commander like
you. You have caused the Persians to split and held them back from the enemy. Your might is not of
such proportions that Persia would let you have your way and let itself be destroyed in the process. By
God! You are only waiting for them to descend upon us and finish us off. What is left after Baghdad,
Sabat and Tikrit except Madain? By God, you two should unite or else we will start with your
destruction before we are destroyed. By God, if we did not know that killing you would lead to our
own destruction, we would have slain you this very hour. If you do not stop, we will put you to the
sword, and then be destroyed after having been rid of you.”
After this grilling, Rustam and Fairazan went enraged to Queen Boran. They asked her, “Summon the
wives and mistresses of Khosrau, along with the wives and mistresses of his sons.”She complied and
produced the official decree. The women were sent for and brought to the two commanders. They
handed them over to men who tortured them to garner information about the whereabouts of Khosrau’s
male offspring. However, none of them knew where they were. At last, one woman mentioned that
only one son, called Yazdegerd had survived. This man was the son of Shahryar, Khosrau’s own son.
She told them his mother belonged to Badoria (west of Baghdad). They arrested her and asked her to
produce her son, Khosrau’s grandson.
At this time, Shahryar’s brother Shahrweh was the occupant of the White Palace. He had come to
power by sheer intrigue, having killed all the male offspring of Khosrau with the connivance of his
seventeen brothers. Hence now, no one could claim ascension to the Persian throne except him.
Yazdegerd’s mother had fled the slaughter and hid her son among her maternal relatives in the Istkhar
province. Those whom Shahrwah had slaughtered included her husband, Shahryar, Khosrau’s son from
his favorite wife, Shirin. The interrogators forced her to tell them about her son’s whereabouts. They
now sent for Yazdegerd and brought him back to his homeland as the only surviving male of the
Sassanian Dynasty. They installed him as the Emperor at the age of twenty one.
Taareekh At-Tabaree (4/300)
“Stop Walking This Way!”

One day, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) saw a man walking along a pathway with a stiff gait;
he was clearly strutting in a haughty manner. ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said to him, “Do
not walk this way.”The man said, “I am unable to stop.”‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)
whipped the man, after which he walked with a strutting gait again. ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with
him) then whipped him again, but this time around, the man actually stopped walking with a strut.
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said, “If I am not going to inflict the punishment of whipping
for this [kind of arrogant behavior], then for what behavior should I whip someone?”Afterwards, the
same man returned and said to ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him), “May Allah reward you well!
That was nothing short of the Devil (the Shaytaan) [that made me walk that way], and, through you,
Allah has driven him away [from me].”
Akhbaar Umar, P175.
Affection towards Children
‘Umar deeply loved children. It was common in society for the nobles to not show any affection toward
children. However, when we study history we find that our predecessors deeply loved children. In this
context, Sinan bin Salamah narrated, “During my childhood, I was once picking fallen dates under a
date-palm tree. Suddenly ‘Umar came and all the children ran away, but I remained. When ‘Umar
came near I said, ‘O Leader of the Believers, these dates had already fallen. ‘‘Umar said, ‘show me.
‘After seeing this, ‘Umar said, ‘You have spoken the truth. ‘ I requested ‘Umar to come with me to my
house, because if I went alone, then all the boys would catch me and take away my dates from
me.”‘Umar accompanied Sinan to his home.
Teaching Children and preparing them for Fighting in the cause
of Allah (SWT)
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) wrote to the people of the different regions, giving them orders
to teach their children horsemanship, swimming and archery. A boy was struck by an arrow while
training in Syria and died. They wrote to ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) to tell him about
that, but that did not deter him from his command to teach the children archery.
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) took special notice of the records of the armies, based on his
belief that the people of the regions were most in need of such records, especially in the regions that
were close to the enemy, for those were the regions that needed armies on an ongoing basis.
An-Nudhumal-Islaiyyah, P: 488, 491.
“Whosoever sees any crookedness in me let him straighten [it]
out”
One day, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) stood up to deliver a sermon; in it, he (May Allah
be pleased with him) said, “O people, whosoever among you sees any crookedness in me (i.e., in my
character, my dealings, my actions), then let him straighten out that crookedness.”A man from the
audience called out, “By Allah, were we to see any crookedness in you, we would have straightened it
out with our swords.”‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) then said, “All praise is for Allah, Who
has placed in this nation someone who will straighten the crookedness of ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased
with him) with his sword!”
Akhbar-e-Umar, P:331,332
‘Umar’s Advice to Someone Who Became an Alcoholic
There was a man from Ash-Sham (Syria and surrounding regions) who used to frequent ‘Umar’s
gatherings. When ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) didn’t see him for a number of successive
days, he asked others about him. Someone said to ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him), “He has
become addicted to drinking alcohol.”
Upon hearing this sad news, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said to his scribe, “Write down
the following:
From ‘Umar bin Al-Khattaab to so-and-so.
Peace be upon you. I say to you that all praise is for Allah and that none has the right to be worshipped
but Him. In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.” ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased
with him) then recited the following verse:
{Ha Mim. [These letters are one of the miracles of the Qur’an, and none but Allah (Alone)
knows their meanings]. The revelation of the Book (this Qur’an) is from Allah the All-
Mighty, the All-Knower. The Forgiver of sin, the Acceptor of repentance, the Severe in
punishment, the Bestower (of favors). La ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped
but He), to Him is the final return.} (Qur’an: 40:1-3)
Having dictated the contents of the letter, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said to his
messenger, “Do not hand him this letter until you find him to be completely sober.”‘Umar (May Allah
be pleased with him) then ordered those who were with him to supplicate for the forgiveness of the
alcoholic man.
Upon being given ‘Umar’s letter, the alcoholic man proceeded to read it; and having reflected on the
meaning of the verse that ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) quoted in the letter, he said, “Verily,
my Lord has promised to forgive me, and He has warned me about His punishment.”As he continued
to repeat those phrases to himself, tears began to flow from his eyes. He asked for forgiveness from
his Lord, and thus, successfully completed an important step in the process of repentance. He was
determined not to stop there, but to go further by making his repentance complete: he did so by vowing
to never imbibe even a drop of alcohol again. In fulfillment of that vow, he went cold turkey, turning
away from his addiction both abruptly and completely. First and foremost because of Allah’s help, and
then because of his own determination and sincere repentance, the man made a smooth and complete
and immediate transition from the state of alcoholism to that of total abstinence.
“Verily, my Lord has promised to forgive me, and He has warned me about His punishment.”
When ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) heard the good news, he said to his companions, “This
is what you should do: If you see that one of you has fallen into error, then help him to correct himself,
and supplicate for him – but [whatever you do] do not be a helper of the Devil against him (i.e., by
shunning him, condemning him, being judgmental in a non-helpful way, or by doing anything to
discourage him from repenting).”
Tafseer Al-Qurtubee 15/256
I am amazed at you, O Ibn ‘Abbaas!
Ibn ‘Abbaas (May Allah be please with her) said, “I held back from asking ‘Umar about a matter until,
one year, he performed Hajj (Pilgrimage to Makkah). I performed Hajj with him, and at one point
along the way, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) deviated from the road, and I accompanied
him, taking along with me a leather flask. [Having found an appropriate spot where he could remain
concealed,] he relieved himself. When he came to me afterwards, I poured water over his hands, and
he performed ablution. I said, ‘O Leader of the Believers, who were the two women from the wives of
the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) regarding whom Allah said:
{And if you two (wives of the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him)) turn in
repentance to Allah, (it will be better for you), your hearts are indeed so inclined.} (Qur’an: 66:4) ”
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) replied, “I am amazed at you, O Ibn ‘Abbaas!”Some scholars
opined that ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said this because he was surprised that, in spite of
Ibn ‘Abbaas ‘vast knowledge of Tafseer (of the explanation and meanings of the Qur’an), he did not
know the Tafseer (explanation) of the above-mentioned verse. Other scholars surmised that ‘Umar
(May Allah be pleased with him) was expressing his amazement at Ibn ‘Abbaas ‘determination to learn
as much as he could about the Qur’an’s meanings.
The Biography of Umar ibn Al-khattab by Dr. As-Sallabi 1/171, 172
“Verily, you are a Stone that can neither harm nor benefit
[anyone or anything]”
Aabis bin Rabee ‘ah reported that, one day during his caliphate, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with
him) went to the Ka‘bah, kissed the Black Stone, and said, “Verily, I know that you are a stone that
can neither harm nor benefit [anyoneor anything].
And had it not been for the fact that I saw the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) kiss
you, I would not have kissed you.”
This is a wonderful example of how the Companions would adhere closely to the example of the
Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him).In Fathul-Baaree, Ibn Hajar (may Allah have
mercy on him) ascribed the following saying to Imaam At-Tabaree (may Allah have mercy on him):
“Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said this simply because many people had only recently been
idol-worshippers. ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) feared that some ignorant people might
misconstrue his kissing of the Black Stone as signifying that some stones are worthy of being glorified
– as was the belief of Arabs during the pre-Islamic days of ignorance. ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased
with him) wanted to make it clear to the people that the only reason why he kissed the Black Stone
was that he (May Allah be pleased with him) saw the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon
him) kiss it [during his lifetime].”Having related this saying, Ibn Hajar (may Allah have mercy on him)
went on to write, “The above-mentioned saying of ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) points to
how, in religious matters, he (May Allah be pleased with him) would always submit to the commands
of Allah (SWT) and the example of the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) – even
when he (May Allah be pleased with him) did not fully understand the wisdom behind a particular act
of worship. This is a tremendously important principle [that all Muslims must adhere to]: One should
follow whatever the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) did, even in situations
wherein one does not know the wisdom behind one of the Prophet’s actions.”This principle, in fact, is
a key to understanding why the Companions enjoyed victory after victory, and why Allah blessed them
with stability and power on earth. They understood that, in order to be blessed with Allah’s Divine
Help, they had to be upright Muslims who closely followed the example of the Prophet (Peace and
Blessings of Allah be upon him).
FathulBaaree 3/590, 591.
Sense of justice and fair play

‘Umar once saw a beggar who had a bag full of food and he was still begging. ‘Umar took his bag and
provided the food within it to the charity camels and said, “Now you can beg.”
Take it, O Mu’aiqeeb, and Place it in the Muslim Treasury
Mu’aiqeeb related that, one day, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) summoned for him at noon-
time. When Mu’aiqeeb entered upon ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him), he saw that ‘Umar (May
Allah be pleased with him) was busy demanding something from his son ‘Aasim (May Allah be
pleased with him).‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) then stopped, turned towards Mu’aiqeeb,
and said to him, “Do you know what he has done? Verily, he went to Iraq, informed the people there
that he is the son of the Leader of the Believers, and asked them for spending money. They gave him
dishes, gold, an adorned sword, and other items.”‘Aasim (May Allah be pleased with him) said, “I did
not do that; rather, all that happened was that I visited some of my people, and they then gave me
[these things].”‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said, “Take it, O Mu’aiqeeb, and place it in
the Muslim treasury.”
Here is an example of a person gaining wealth not through hard work, but through being one’s own
business card – through announcing one’s title and rank, hoping that that will be enough to gain some
money. When ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) felt that his son received wealth because of his
status, and not because he worked hard to earn it, he knew that he could not in good conscience allow
his son to keep the wealth.
Asrul- Khilafah Ar-Raashidah by Al-Umaree, P:236
Salient Features of the financial system

These are some of the more salient features of the financial system of the Islamic State during the
caliphate of ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him). ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) was
very careful when it came to spending the wealth of the general public. He took a very modest salary,
as is explained in his saying, “I will inform you about what is lawful for me from the wealth of Allah:
an outfit for winter and summer, a mount that I can ride upon for Hajj and ‘Umrah, and food for my
family, such as is given to a man from the Quraysh who is neither the richest nor the poorest among
them. I am simply a man among the Muslims; I go through what they go through.”
He would say, “O Allah, You indeed know that I eat only my food, that I wear only my own clothing,
and that I take only what is rightfully mine.”And he would say, “I treat the wealth of Allah as I would
the wealth of an orphan:
{‘And whoever (among guardians) is rich, he should take wages, but if he is poor, let him have for
himself what is just and reasonable (according to his labor).} (Qur’an 4:6) ”
At-Tabaqaat 3/313.
Cutting Down the Ar-Ridhwaan Tree
It was under a tree that the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) took an important and
historically famous pledge from his Companions. Not surprisingly, therefore, some people from the
following generation of Muslims considered significant, not just the famous pledge, but also the tree
under which it was made. And so, during ‘Umar’s caliphate, people would go to the Ridhwaan tree
and perform Prayer beside it. Innocent though their intentions may have been, they were clearly guilty
of introducing a religious innovation, which, in Islam, is a grave and heinous sin.
The Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) in no way indicated that the Ridhwaan tree
was holy or intrinsically special, neither is it related that any Companion would go to it in order to
offer two units of Prayer. Therefore, upon being informed about what people were doing at the
Ridhwaan tree, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) first issued a stern warning, and then he gave
the order that the tree should be cut down; and shortly thereafter, his order was carried out. ‘Umar
(May Allah be pleased with him) knew that while all religious innovations are evil, some are especially
dangerous. In a society that had only recently became free from the shackles of idol-worship, the
continued ritual of praying beside the Ridhwaan tree was – had not ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with
him) put a stop to the practice – likely to turn into Prayer, not beside the Ridhwaan tree, but actually
to the Ridhwaan tree, thus signaling a return to the days of idol-worship. Today, we would do well to
be as vigilant in guarding against innovations as was ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) during
his time. May Allah be pleased with him (May Allah be pleased with him) and with all of the Prophet’s
Companions.
Ibn Sa'ad: 2/100.
Allah Alone Grants Victory
When ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) decided to remove Khalid bin Al-Waleed (May
Allah be pleased with him) from his post as overall commander of the Muslim army in AshSham, he
(May Allah be pleased with him) did not have the reasons that leaders commonly have for firing their
subordinates.
Khalid (May Allah be pleased with him) did not betray his leader or his people; in fact, he (May Allah
be pleased with him) was honorable and trustworthy, performing his duties with great skill and ability.
He (May Allah be pleased with him) did not make major mistakes in strategy; in fact, he (May Allah
be pleased with him) was at the pinnacle of his military career, having achieved victory after victory
against the enemy. However, to ‘Umar’s mind, that was the very problem; it was the reason why he
felt he had to remove Khalid (May Allah be pleased with him) from his post. Khalid (May Allah be
pleased with him) had become renowned throughout the Muslim world for his feats on the battlefield.
And so ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) feared that people became too attached to Khalid (May
Allah be pleased with him) – that they might soon come to believe that victory in war was inextricably
linked to Khalid’s military prowess and blessedness as a leader; as a result, they might begin to equate
Khalid (May Allah be pleased with him) with victory, and the absence of Khalid (May Allah be pleased
with him) with defeat.
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) wanted to remove such thoughts from the minds of people.
He (May Allah be pleased with him) wanted to inform them that it was Allah alone Who granted
victory. And that is the only reason why ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) replaced Khalid (May
Allah be pleased with him) with Abu ‘Ubaidah (May Allah be pleased with him). In the dismissal letter
that was sent out to the various Muslim provinces, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) wrote,
“Verily, I did not dismiss Khalid [from his post] because I was angry or because he somehow betrayed
me; rather, I dismissed him because people have fallen in love with him [and have made him into a
larger-than-life personality]; and so I wanted them to know that it is only Allah who grants [victory
for our armies].”
Al-Bidaayah Wan-Nihaayah 7/82
The One Who Truly Trusts in Allah is the One Who Couples His
Trust in Allah with Hard Work
Mu‘aawiyah bin Qarrah related that, upon meeting a group of people from Yemen, ‘Umar bin
AlKhattaab (May Allah be pleased with him) asked, “Who are you?”They replied, “We are the ones
who place their trust in Allah.”‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) immediately understood that
they were a people who did not work for a living, but instead relied on the handouts of others. It wasn’t
that they could not work; rather, they chose not to work. And so, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with
him) said, “No, instead you are the ones who rely [on others for help]. The people who truly place their
trust in Allah do two things: They cast a seed into the ground (i.e., they work for a living), and they
place their trust in Allah, the Possessor of Might and Majesty.”
Ashaab Ar-Rasool 1/164
Umar’s Knowledge
As for ‘Umar’s knowledge, the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) once
said:
“While I was sleeping, [I saw a dream in which] I was given a cup of milk. I drank from it…and then
I gave what remained [in the cup] to ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him).”
The Companions asked, “And how do you interpret this dream, O Messenger of Allah?”
The Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “[I interpret the milk in the cup to mean]
knowledge.”
Bukhari, 7006, 7007
Turning the Traces of the Prophets
According to an authentic narration, ‘Umar bin Al-Khattaab (May Allah be pleased with him) was on
a journey when he saw a group of people going out of their way to reach a specific place in order to
perform prayer there. He (May Allah be pleased with him) asked, “What is this?”They said, “It is the
very spot where the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) once
prayed.”‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said, “Those [peoples] who came before you were
destroyed as a result of this very same practice: They turned the traces (remnants, vestiges, etc.) of
their Prophets & into places of worship (Masjids). So whoever happens to come to this place when it
is time to pray [without having planned to do so in advance], then let him perform prayer here. But if
one comes here at other times [or for the specific reason of praying here], then let him simply move
on.”
Al-Fataawa: 10/23
We will not abandon something that we used to do during the
lifetime of the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah
be upon him).
The quick jog around the Ka‘bah was legislated for a reason: to show the enemy the strength of the
Muslim army. However, even when that reason was no longer a factor – when Muslims were in full
control of Makkah, and when they no longer had any need to put forward a show of strength – ‘Umar
(May Allah be pleased with him) still ruled that Muslims should jog around the Ka‘bah for a number
of circuits. Aslam related that he heard ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) say, “Why should we
jog [around the Ka‘bah] now (i.e., the reason why we jogged around the Ka‘bah in the past is no longer
applicable today) ? And yet still, we will not abandon something that we used to do during the lifetime
of the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him).”
Mahd As-Sawaab: 2/532
Qualities of a Judge
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said, “The only person that should take this job is a man who
possesses four qualities: He is gentle without being weak, stern without being harsh, frugal without
being miserly, and forgiving without being excessive.”
“Only appoint as a judge someone who is wealthy and of good lineage. For indeed, a wealthy person
will not desire the wealth of people, and a person of noble lineage will not be afraid of the consequences
[of the judgments he makes] among people.”
Mausoo ‘ah Fiqh Umar ibn Al-Khattab, P:724.
Number One Priority
Prayer was a number-one priority for ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him). Never mind the sin of
missing an obligatory Prayer, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) became furious with himself
even if he only slightly delayed the performance of an obligatory Prayer, performing it not late, but
after its most favored time. Once, when he (May Allah be pleased with him) became busy with some
work, he ended up delaying Maghrib Prayer until two stars appeared in the sky. He (May Allah be
pleased with him) became so furious with himself that he felt the need to atone for his delay: He (May
Allah be pleased with him) did so immediately after Prayer by freeing two slaves.
Then Abu Bakr (May Allah be pleased with him) became Khaleefah, and he (May Allah be pleased
with him) followed the rightly-guided policies of the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon
him). Later, when ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) became Khaleefah, he (May Allah be
pleased with him) adhered closely to the way of his two predecessors. He (May Allah be pleased with
him) made sure people attended congregational Prayers, and he (May Allah be pleased with him)
punished those who abandoned Prayer. To make sure his policies were applied in distant provinces,
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) wrote the following letter to his governors: “Verily, in my
view, the most important issue for you is Prayer. If one adheres to it, by performing it regularly and
properly, then his Religion will remain preserved. But if one is negligent regarding it, it is almost
certain that he is even more negligent regarding other matters [of the Religion].”
Al-Fataawa: 10/249, At-Taareekh Al-Islame by Al-Humaidee 19/20, 40
“I only complain of my grief and sorrow to Allah”

According to another narration, when ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) once recited the
following verse during Fajr (Dawn) Prayer, he cried, and the noise of his sobbing could be heard even
among the last row of worshippers:
{I only complain of my grief and sorrow to Allah} (Qur’an: 12: 86)
Upon seeing a man fidgeting restlessly during Prayer, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said,
“If his heart were to become fearful [of Allah and focused on his Prayer], his limbs would have
followed suit [by remaining still, in a posture that showed reverence].”
Al-Fataawa 10/374
“We are Followers, not Innovators”
In a speech that he delivered from the pulpit, ‘Umar bin Al-Khattaab (May Allah be pleased with him)
said, “Lo! Verily, the people of opinion (those who place their opinions on an equal footing with the
Qur’an and Sunnah) are the enemies of the Sunnah practices of the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of
Allah be upon him). Not being able to memorize Hadeeth narrations, they issue legal rulings based on
their opinions. Consequently, they not only go astray themselves, but also lead others astray. Lo!
Indeed, instead of expressing our opinions, we follow [the Prophet’s example]; and instead of
innovating, we abide by [the Prophet’s teachings]. We will not go astray as long as we adhere to what
has [authentically] been related to us [from the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him)
].”
Manaaqib Umar, by ibn Jawzee, P:23
Importance of the Friday Prayer
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) would reproach anyone who was late for Friday Prayer
(Jumu‘ah Prayer). Both Saalim bin ‘Abdullah (May Allah be pleased with him) and ‘Abdullah bin
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) related that one day, while ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with
him) was delivering his weekly Friday sermon, a man from the Muhaajiroon – who happened to be
one of the earliest converts to Islam – entered the Masjid. ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)
considered him to be late, for a Muslim should try one’s best to enter the Masjid before the Imaam
stands up to deliver his Friday Sermon. At any rate, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) saw him
enter and called out to him, “Is this any time [to enter (i.e., you should have arrived earlier) ]?”The
man said, “I became preoccupied with some work, and then no sooner did I return to my family than I
heard the Athaan (the call to Prayer). Then [in order to avoid being late] all I did [before coming out
again] was perform ablution.”
“And on top of being late, you only performed ablution!”‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)
exclaimed. “You certainly know that the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon
him) would order us to take a bath [before coming to Friday Prayer].”
Bukhari: 878
The Abomination of Raised Voices in the Masjid
Since the Masjid is a place of Prayer, and since worshippers need a peaceful atmosphere so that they
can remain focused on their Prayers, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) would forbid people
from raising their voices in the Masjid. As-Saaib bin Yazeed (May Allah be pleased with him) said,
“One day, I was standing in the Masjid when a man suddenly began to throw some pebbles at me [in
order to draw my attention to him]. I looked [around] and saw ‘Umar bin AlKhattaab (May Allah be
pleased with him). He (May Allah be pleased with him) said [to me], ‘Go and bring me back those two
[men]. ‘When I returned with them, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) asked, ‘Who are you?
‘(Or perhaps he (May Allah be pleased with him) said, ‘Where are the two of you from? ‘) They
replied, ‘We are from the inhabitants of At-Taaif. ‘ ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said, ‘Had
you been from the inhabitants of this city, I would have inflicted a painful punishment upon you, for
the two of you are raising your voices in the Masjid of the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings
of Allah be upon him). ‘“
Al-Fath: 1/668
Adhering Closely to the Teaching of the Quran and Sunnah
To be sure, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) was stern when it came to upholding the truth.
Nevertheless, if he expected others to submit to the truth when they were in the wrong, he (May Allah
be pleased with him) certainly expected no less from himself. ‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar (May Allah be
pleased with him) related that the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him)
said:
“When the wife of one of you asks permission to come to the Masjid, then do not forbid her [from
coming].”
‘Umar’s wife would pray in the Masjid, which was not something that ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased
with him) wanted. Yet, based on the above-mentioned Hadeeth, he (May Allah be pleased with him)
knew that he could not forbid her from going to the Masjid. And so, regarding her practice of going
regularly to the Masjid, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said to her, “Verily, you indeed know
what I would love for you to do.”Or in other words: You indeed know that I would prefer it if you
stayed at home, instead of coming to the Masjid regularly. ‘Umar’s wife felt neither afraid nor
intimidated, for she knew both that the truth was with her and that ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with
him) would never act contrary to any of the commands of the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah
be upon him). And so she replied, “By Allah, I will not stop [going to the Masjid] until you forbid me
[from doing so].”Of course, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) could not and did not forbid her.
Consequently, she continued to go to the Masjid on a regular basis, a practice she adhered to throughout
‘Umar’s lifetime. In fact, she (May Allah be pleased with him) was in the Masjid on the very morning
when ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) was stabbed and killed during Congregational Prayer.
This story shows us that ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) adhered closely to the teachings of
the Qur’an and Sunnah not just publicly, but on a personal level as well.
At-Tareekh Al-Islamee: 19/20,40
Enjoin As-Salat on your Family

‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) loved to perform voluntary prayers deep into the night. He
(May Allah be pleased with him) would continue to pray until the very last part of the night, when he
(May Allah be pleased with him) would wake up his family and say to them, “Prayer! Prayer!”And as
he (May Allah be pleased with him) woke them up, he (May Allah be pleased with him) would recite
the following verse:
{And enjoin As-Salat (the prayer) on your family, and be patient in offering them [i.e., the
Salat (prayers) ]. We ask not of you a provision (i.e. to give Us something: money, etc.); We
provide for you. And the good end (i.e. Paradise) is for the Muttaqun (pious and righteous
persons).} (Qur’an: 20: 132)
Al-Faarooq ‘Umar by Ash-Sharqaawee, P: 214
Salaries of Judges
In Asr Al-Khilaafah Ar-Raashidah,Dr. Al-‘Umaree mentioned the salaries of certain judges during the
caliphate of ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him):
Salmaan Al-Baahilee, who was a judge in Koofah: He received a salary of 500 Dirhams a month.
Shuraih Al-Qaadhee, who was a judge in Koofah: He received a salary of 100 Dirhams a month.
‘Abdullah bin Mas ‘ood Al-Hudhali, who was also a judge in Koofah: He received a salary of 100
Dirhams a month, and a quarter of a sheep, which he would receive daily.
‘Uthmaan bin Qais bin Abul-‘Aas, who was a judge in Egypt: He received a salary of 200 Deenars.
Qais bin Abee Al-‘Aas As-Sahmee, who was also a judge in Egypt: He was given an expense account
worth 200 Deenaars, which he was to use for hosting his guests.
‘Umar was the First to Mint Coins
Historical documents suggest that ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) continued to use the
currencies that had been in circulation prior to the advent of Islam as well as during the lifetimes of
the Messenger (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) and Abu Bakr (May Allah be pleased with
him).Those currencies consisted of Byzantine coins that had Christian inscriptions upon them and
Persian coins that had inscriptions that pertained to fire-worship. ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with
him) added the word ‘legal tender ‘ on coins, so as to distinguish them from counterfeit coins.
The first Muslim to mint original Islamic coins was ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him), and here
the reference is to the Islamic Dirham. Al-Maawardee said, “Indeed, it was ‘Umar (May Allah be
pleased with him) who decided what the official weight was of the Islamic Dirham.”AlMiqreezee said,
“The first Muslim to mint currency was ‘Umar bin Al-Khattaab (May Allah be pleased with him), in
the year 18A.H. He imprinted over the Persian inscriptions and added the phrase, “All praise is for
Allah.”On some coins, he (May Allah be pleased with him) added the phrase, “None has the right to
be worshipped but Allah.”And on one part of the coin, the name of the Khaleefah, ‘Umar (May Allah
be pleased with him), was inscribed.”
Shudhoor Al-Uqood Fee Dhikr An-Nuqood, P:31, 33.
The Complaints of the People of Homs against Sa‘eed bin ‘Aamir
Khalid bin Ma‘daan said: ‘Umar bin Al-Khattaab made Sa‘eed bin ‘Aamir Al-Jumahi as governor over
us in Homs. When ‘Umar came to Homs he said, “O people of Homs, how do you find your
governor?”and they complained about him. The people of Homs were known as “the little Koofah”
because of their complaints about their governors. They said, “We have four complaints about him:
He does not come out to us until late in the day.”He said, “This is a serious matter. What else?”They
said, “He does not respond to anyone at night.”He said, “This is a serious matter. What else?”They
said, “There is one day in the month when he does not come out to us.”He said, “This is a serious
matter. What else?”They said, “Sometimes he passes out.”‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)
gathered them and him together and said, “O Allah, do not fail me in my view about him this day,
“then he began to judge the matter.
He asked them in front of him, “What is your complaint against him?”They said, “He does not come
out to us until the late in the day.”‘Umar asked, “What do you say?”Sa‘eed said, “By Allah, I did not
want to mention it. My family has no servant, so I make dough and wait for it to rise, then I bake my
bread, then I make ablution, then come out to them.”‘Umar asked, “What is your complaint against
him?”They said, “He does not respond to anyone at night.”‘Umar asked, “What do you say?”Sa‘eed
said, “I did not want to mention it. I have set aside the day for them and the night for Allah.”‘Umar
then asked, “What is your complaint against him?”They said, “There is one day in the month when he
does not come out to us.”‘Umar asked, “What do you say?”Sa‘eed said, “I have no servant to wash my
garment for me and I have no garment other than this, so I wait for it to dry, then I put it on and come
out to them at the end of the day.”‘Umar asked, “What is your complaint against him?”They said,
“Sometimes he passes out.”‘Umar asked, “What do you say?”Sa‘eed said, “I gave witness the killing
of Khubayb Al-Ansaari in Makkah when Quraysh cut his flesh and tied him to a tree trunk and said,
‘Would you like Muhammad to be in your place? ‘ He said, ‘By Allah, I would not like to be with my
family and my children and see Muhammad pricked by a prickle. Then he called out, ‘O Muhammad!
‘ Whenever I remember that day and how I failed to help him at that time, when I was a polytheist and
did not believe in Allah The Almighty, I think that Allah will never forgive me for that sin. Then I pass
out.”‘Umar said, “Praise is due to Allah Who has not failed my insight.”He sent him with a thousand
Deenars and said, “Use it to help yourself, “and he distributed it.
Hilyatul- Awliya: 1/245, Akhbar Umar, P:152.
A Gift from the Empress of Rome
In a speech, Dr. Al-Khudaree told a story that involved the Empress of Rome and Umm Kulthoom
(May Allah be please with her), the wife of ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) and the daughter
of ‘Ali bin Abi Taalib (May Allah be pleased with him) (and by extension, the granddaughter of the
Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him)). When the Emperor of Rome ceased
attacking Muslim lands, he wrote a letter to ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him). A diplomatic
channel was opened, and the Emperor of Rome and the Leader of the Believers began to write letters
to one another.
With tensions easing between the Roman Empire and the Muslim Nation, Umm Kulthoom (May Allah
be please with her) decided to send gifts to the Emperor’s wife. She prepared a package that contained
perfume, some beverages, and some other items, and she (May Allah be please with her) gave them to
the messenger that ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) was sending to the Roman Emperor. The
messenger agreed to take her package and to give it to the Empress of Rome.
Upon receiving Umm Kulthoom’s gifts, the Empress gathered a number of women and said to them,
“These are gifts that the wife of the Arab king sent to me; she is, in addition to being the wife of the
Arab king, the daughter of their Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him).”The Empress
wrote a reply, and sent along with her reply a number of gifts. One of those gifts was a necklace of the
highest quality. When the messenger returned to Madeenah, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)
intercepted the package and was taken aback by the high value of the gifts.
Not sure what to do about the situation, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) gathered the Muslims
together, led them in two units of Prayer, and then said, “Verily, there is no good in my personal affairs
if final decisions regarding them are made before mutual consultation first takes place. So tell me what
I should do regarding the gift that Umm Kulthoom (May Allah be please with her) sent to the Empress
of Rome [and regarding the gifts that the Empress sent back].”People expressed varying opinions, and
in the end, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) decided to place the Empress’s expensive gifts in
the Muslim treasury, and to recompense Umm Kulthoom (May Allah be please with her) for the value
of the gifts she had sent to the Empress.
Al-Khulafaa Ar-Raashidoon by An-Najjar, P: 245.
Compensation of Night Prayer

On any given night, if ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) was unable to recite the invocations
that he was accustomed to reciting on a nightly basis, he (May Allah be pleased with him) would make
up for them in the morning. It is related that he (May Allah be pleased with him) said, “If, on any given
night, one misses the opportunity to recite his nightly invocations, then one should recite them
sometime between Fajr Prayer and Dhuhr; for if he does that, then it will be as if he recited them the
previous night.”
Muslim: 747
Taraweeh Prayer
Taraweeh Prayer is a voluntary prayer that Muslims perform at night in the month of Ramadhan. It
consists of a number of units (usually 8 or 20), and it is performed at the beginning of the night, most
often immediately after ‘Isha (Night) Prayer. In each Masjid, rather than perform Taraweeh Prayer
individually or in small groups, worshipers perform it as one congregation, behind one Imaam.
However, Taraweeh Prayer was not always performed in that manner. Throughout the caliphate of
Abu Bakr (May Allah be pleased with him), worshipers would perform it individually or in small
groups. This continued until the caliphate of ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him). Thus, it was
during his rule that ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) became the first person to make Taraweeh
Prayer an organized, congregational prayer on a widespread level: He (May Allah be pleased with him)
ordered that Taraweeh Prayer be performed behind a single Imaam in Madeenah, and he (May Allah
be pleased with him) sent messages to governors of distant lands, ordering them to apply the same
practice.
It all started when, on one particular night during Ramadhan, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)
went to the Masjid and saw that people were performing Taraweeh Prayer in scattered groups. Some
people were performing it individually, while others were spread out into various groups, with each
group praying behind a different Imaam. Upon seeing this situation, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased
with him) said, “I certainly think that it would be better if I were to gather all of these people behind a
single reciter (i.e., Imaam).”Having resolved to put his plan into action, he (May Allah be pleased with
him) gathered everyone together and told them to pray as one congregation, and he chose Ubai bin Ka
‘ab (May Allah be pleased with him) to be their Imaam. The narrator of this story, ‘Abdur-Rahmaan
bin ‘Abdul-Qaaree, related that, on an ensuing night, he went out and saw that the people were again
performing Taraweeh Prayer behind a single Imaam. Muslims would perform Taraweeh Prayer at the
beginning of the night, and ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) was of the view that the best thing
to do after Taraweeh Prayer was to sleep for the rest of the night. Regarding his idea to gather people
behind a single Imaam, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said, “What a blessed innovation (Bid
‘ah) this is! And those who sleep after it are better than those who stand up to pray [during the last part
of the night].”
While it is true that ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) was the first to formalize congregational
Taraweeh Prayer, no one should make the mistake of thinking that he invented Taraweeh Prayer. The
fact is that Taraweeh Prayer was established by the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon
him); ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) just happened to be the first to formally organize
worshipers behind one Imaam.
Bukhari: 2010, Mahd As-Sawab: 1/349.
Freedom of Discussion
Freedom of discussion between the Caliph and his governors was guaranteed to a remarkable extent.
The governors did not fear the authority of the Caliph. There follow some examples of that:
When ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) came to Syria, he was met by Mu‘aawiyah (May Allah
be pleased with him) with a great caravan. When Mu‘aawiyah saw ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with
him), he dismounted from his horse and walked up to him and said, “Peace be upon the Commander
of the Faithful.”‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) walked on and did not return his greeting, and
Mu‘aawiyah ran behind ‘Umar’s camel; he was corpulent and started panting. ‘Abdur-Rahmaan bin
‘Awf (May Allah be pleased with him) said, “O Leader of the Faithful! You have made this man tired.
Why don’t you talk to him?”‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) turned to him and said, “O
Mu‘aawiyah, are you the owner of the caravan that I see?”He said, “Yes, O Leader of the
Faithful.”‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said, “And in addition to that you keep away from
the people and those who are in need stand waiting at your door?”Mu‘aawiyah (May Allah be pleased
with him) said, “Yes. O Leader of the Faithful.”He said, “Why is that, woe to you?”Mu‘aawiyah (May
Allah be pleased with him) said, “Because we are in a land where the enemy has many spies, and if
we do not take precautions the enemy will no longer fear us and they will attack us. As for the
doorkeeper, we are afraid that we will lose respect and the people will become audacious. I am still
your agent, and if you forbid me to do that, I will stop, O Leader of the Faithful.”‘Umar (May Allah
be pleased with him) said, “Whatever I ask you, you have an answer. If you are telling the truth, it is a
shrewd idea, and if you are lying, it is clever and subtle trick. I am not commanding you and neither
am I forbidding you, “and he left him.
Futuh Misr by Ibn Abdul Hakam, P:141, Al-Idarah Al-Askariyah: 1/137.
“O Allah, make all of my deeds righteous”

‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) would frequently supplicate to Allah. Among his supplications
and sayings about supplications are the following:
“O Allah, make all of my deeds righteous, make all of my deeds sincere for Your Countenance, and
do not allow even the slightest portion of any of my deeds to be performed for anyone else.”
“O Allah, if you have written me down as being someone who is miserable, then erase that for me; and
instead write me down as being happy. For indeed, You erase whatever You wish, and You write down
and uphold [whatever You wish].”
He (May Allah be pleased with him) would say, “I do not carry with me the burden of answering my
supplications [for the power to answer my supplications is with Allah alone]; I only carry with me the
responsibility of making supplication. For if I become inspired [or guided] to make supplication, then
its answer comes along with it.”
Al-Fatawa ibn Taimiyyah
Sense of Accountability
‘Umar used to ask the travelers passing by Madeenah about the situation in Qadisiyyah from the
morning and returned home at midday. When Sa‘d’s messenger approached Madeenah, ‘Umar asked
him, “From where are you coming?”When he said he was coming from Iraq, ‘Umar asked him to tell
more. He said, “Allah The Almighty has defeated the enemy!”‘Umar followed him into the city,
questioning him on the way, while Sa‘d’s messenger remained mounted on his camel and did not
recognize him. When they entered Madeenah, the residents greeted ‘Umar as the Leader of the
Believers. The man was astounded and said, “Why did you not tell me you are the Caliph, may Allah
have mercy on you?”‘Umar replied, “That is not a big issue, brother!”This event also contains
important lessons to be learnt:
‘Umar’s utmost concern for the war, which made him go out of the city each day in order to meet
people coming from Qadisiyyah so that he may know about the condition of Muslims there. He could
have appointed someone else for the task and the information could have been relayed to him by his
appointee. However, the enormous concern he had for the Muslims did not permit him to do just that.
This shows the extent of his compassion and sense of accountability.
The great humility that ‘Umar had. He kept walking with Sa‘d’s messenger who was riding the camel,
asking him questions about the battle. This messenger did not want to divulge the details until he
reached the Caliph, but little did he know that the person walking besides his camel was ‘Umar himself!
This is the exalted character in their long history, which Muslims should be rightly proud of in front
of the world. They should use him as an example to show the greatness of this religion, which produced
such men as ‘Umar filled with justice, compassion, prudence and humility.
At-Taareekh Al-Islaamee: 4/408.
The Sweat from a Horse

Once, ‘Umar wished to eat fresh fish, so ‘Umar’s servant Yarfa ‘ travelled two nights and days and
bought fresh fish. Yarfa ‘was cleaning the sweat from the horse, which was sweating due to the long
travel. When ‘Umar saw the condition of the horse he said, “You travelled on a long journey to fulfill
my desires; this is not suitable. By Allah, I will not eat this fish!”
[ar-Riyaadh an-Naadhirah, pg. 408]
First Mudarbah of Islamic Government
Abdullah (May Allah be pleased with him) and ‘Ubaidullah (May Allah be pleased with him), two of
‘Umar’s sons, accompanied the Muslim Army on a mission to Iraq. On their way back from the
mission, they stopped along the way in order to meet Abu Moosa Al-Ash‘aree (May Allah be pleased
with him), who, at the time, was the governor of Basrah. Abu Moosa (May Allah be pleased with him)
welcomed the two sons of the Khaleefah and said to them, “If I were able to benefit you in some way,
I would certainly do so.”After a short pause, Abu Moosa (May Allah be pleased with him) said, “Yes,
as a matter of fact there is something [I can help you with]. Here I have with me some of Allah’s wealth
(i.e., wealth that belongs to the Muslim treasury, or wealth that is earmarked for charity), and I want
to send it to the Leader of the Believers. [Since you are headed his way,] I will advance you that money;
[while you are here,] use that money to buy some merchandise in Iraq. Then sell that merchandise in
Madeenah. When you have sold the merchandise, return the principal capital to the Leader of the
Believers, and whatever is left over you can keep as profit.”
‘Abdullah (May Allah be pleased with him) and ‘Ubaidullah (May Allah be pleased with him) accepted
his offer; and as for Abu Moosa (May Allah be pleased with him), he wrote a letter to ‘Umar (May
Allah be pleased with him), informing him that he was sending him some money in the hands of his
two sons. When ‘Abdullah (May Allah be pleased with him) and ‘Ubaidullah (May Allah be pleased
with him) arrived in Madeenah, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him), who was aware of the
arrangement they had made with Abu Moosa (May Allah be pleased with him), asked, “Did every
soldier in the army receive a loan like the two of you did?”They replied, “No.”‘Umar (May Allah be
pleased with him) said, “Hand over the principal capital as well as the profit [you made].”‘Abdullah
(May Allah be pleased with him) remained silent, keeping his feelings on the matter to himself.
‘Ubaidullah (May Allah be pleased with him), on the other hand, spoke, expressing his dissatisfaction
with ‘Umar’s decision: “O Leader of the Believers, you should not do this. If we lost the entire principal
capital, or even a part of it, we would have guaranteed it (i.e., we would have paid it back to you from
our own pockets).”Not the least bit moved by his son’s plea, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)
simply replied, “Hand over the money (i.e., the entire amount).”Again, ‘Abdullah (May Allah be
pleased with him) remained silent; and again, ‘Ubaidullah (May Allah be pleased with him) spoke
back. One of the men who was seated in ‘Umar’s gathering tried to ease the brewing tension by saying
to ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him), “O Leader of the Believers, if only you made it a Qiraad
arrangement.”A Qiraad arrangement is a legitimate form of business partnership in Islam. It involves
one man providing the principal capital for investment, and for another man to take that money and
use it to actually establish and run a business. They then divide the profits in a manner that they had
agreed upon when they first decided to do business together.They have the right to decide to share the
profits evenly, or to divide the profits based on any ratio that both parties are satisfied with.
At any rate, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) seemed satisfied with the man’s suggestion; for
in the end, he kept the principal capital and half of the profits for the Muslim treasury, and he allowed
‘Abdullah (May Allah be pleased with him) and ‘Ubaidullah (May Allah be pleased with him) to keep
the other half of the profits for themselves.
Al-Khulafaa Ar-Raashidoon by An-Najjar, P:244.
Importance of Hajj
As for Hajj, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) considered it to be one of his duties as Khaleefah
to oversee the yearly pilgrimage. Accordingly, he ((May Allah be pleased with him)) performed every
Hajj during his caliphate, which means that, as Khaleefah, he performed Hajj ten times (it is said,
however, that he performed it nine times as Khaleefah; and Allah knows best).
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) felt that it was the duty of the Khaleefah – or the person who
was appointed by the Khaleefah – to perform many duties during Hajj; a few of those duties are as
follows:
• Informing people about the exact dates of Hajj.

• Keeping pilgrims organized and informed about the rites of Hajj.
• Guiding pilgrims throughout the various stages of Hajj, based on the example that was set by
the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him).
• Being the Imaam of pilgrims for obligatory prayers.
• Delivering the sermons that the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) legislated
during his performance of Hajj.
As-Sultah At-Tanfeedhiyyah: 1/382,383.
Companions ‘Praise for the Soldiers

Senior Companions of the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) praised this army
lavishly. Sa‘d bin Abi Waqqaas said, “By Allah! This Army is trustworthy. Had I not known the
excellence of the warriors at the Battle of Badr, I would have said this army was better.”Jaabir bin
‘Abdullah said, “By Allah, the One besides Whom there is no deity! We have not seen any soldier of
the army at Al-Qadisiyah who desired worldly gains along with the Hereafter. We had apprehensions
about three of them, but we found them to be more pious and trustworthy than that. These three were
Tulaihah bin Khuwailid, ‘Amr bin Ma‘di Karb (former leaders of apostacy) and Qais bin Mashkoh
(‘Amr’s nephew, though he fought against the apostates).”
More than this was the praise heaped upon the soldiers by ‘Umar himself. The usual fifth of the booty
was sent to him, which also contained Khosrau’s sword, belt and jewels. He said, “These people have
returned these to those entrusted with it.”‘Ali said to him, “If you remain chaste, the subjects would
remain pious too, but if you indulge in luxuries, so would they.”
Taareekh At-Tabaree:4/468.
False Humility and Humbleness
‘Umar once saw a person who was showing his humility and humbleness. ‘Umar beat him with his
stick and said, “May Allah guide you, you shouldn’t ‘t show false humility and humbleness.”
“May this not make you happy!”
On another occasion, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) went out to the marketplace and saw
people using their excess wealth to purchase and hoard goods. ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)
said to them, “May this not make you happy! Allah brings wealth to us (i.e. through the importation
of goods to our city), and then when that wealth reaches our marketplace, a group of people buy and
hoard it all with their excess wealth, thus depriving the widow and the needy person [from buying at
low prices directly from importers]. Then, when importers leave, those same people sell arbitrarily at
prices that are to their own liking. If an importer brings goods on the back of his camel…in either the
winter or the summer, and if he stops [to sell] in our marketplace, then he is the guest of ‘Umar. He
may buy and withhold [goods] as he pleases (since he has made an effort and is acting in a way that
benefits consumers).”
On one occasion, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) asked Haatib bin Abu Balta ‘ah (May Allah
be pleased with him), “How do you sell, O Haatib?”Haatib replied, “I sell two handfuls [ (of food) for
one Dirham].”‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said, “You buy goods at our gates, in our
courtyards, and in our marketplaces. You cut off our necks [by buying everything importers bring into
this city], and then you sell in the manner that suits you. [No! instead] sell four handfuls [ (of food) for
one Dirham]. Otherwise, do not sell in our marketplace. Or else [as a last option], travel in the lands
and import goods. If you do that, then you may sell in whatever way you want.”
Mausoo ‘ah Fiqh Umar ibn Al-Khattaab by Qal ‘ajee, P:28.
Policing the Marketplace

Through numerous corroborating historical accounts, we know that ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with
him) was especially vigilant when it came to policing the marketplace. He (May Allah be pleased with
him) was known to personally patrol the marketplace with a stick in his hand, using it to discipline
anyone that deserved to be punished. Anas bin Maalik (May Allah be pleased with him) related that
he once saw ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) walking in the marketplace while wearing a
lower garment that contained 14 patches; and, Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) recounted, ‘Umar
(May Allah be pleased with him) was not wearing either a shirt or a robe, but he was carrying a stick
in his hand. Here was the leader of a great Nation, the overall ruler of a huge population, patrolling the
marketplace in simple, tattered clothing, in order to make sure that weak and poor consumers were not
taken advantage of by rich and greedy merchants. AlHaafidh Ath-Thahabi (may Allah have mercy
upon him) related that Qataadah said, “While he was Khaleefah, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with
him) would wear a robe made of wool, and parts of it were patched with leather. Donned in such attire,
he (May Allah be pleased with him) would patrol the marketplace. And on his shoulder he carried a
stick, which he used to discipline people.”
Taareekh Al-Islam, Ahd Ar-Raashideen, P:268.
Personally Patrolling the Marketplace
The marketplace is a source of great benefit to every country in the world: it is where sellers come to
offer their wares, and where buyers come to purchase their necessities. However, the marketplace, if
left unsupervised, can also become a place of great evil – where people cheat one another, where
lewdness takes place, where the rich wrongfully take advantage of the poor, etc.
That being the case, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) would personally patrol the marketplace,
forcing buyers and sellers to conduct their transactions in accordance with the teachings of Islam. Since
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) could not always be present in the marketplace, he (May Allah
be pleased with him) appointed others to oversee its proceedings on his behalf. For instance, he (May
Allah be pleased with him) appointed As-Saaib bin Yazeed (May Allah be pleased with him) to be in
charge of the marketplace of Madeenah; and he also appointed ‘Abdullah bin ‘Utbah bin Mas‘ood to
perform the same job.
As-Sultah At-Tanfeedhiyyah:1/408.
Keeping a Close Eye on the Market
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) walked around keeping a close eye on what took place in the
marketplace, and he (May Allah be pleased with him) would intervene whenever he (May Allah be
pleased with him) saw an Islamic principle of buying or selling being violated, or a transaction in
which someone was wronging another person. According to a narration that is related in Saheeh
Muslim, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) intervened when two Muslims were conducting a
transaction that involved usury. The buyer and the seller had no intention of getting involved in usury,
but, being unaware of a specific kind of usury transaction; nonetheless, they did get involved in it.
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) pointed out their mistake to them, and ordered them to conduct
the transaction in a different, lawful manner. On another occasion, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with
him) saw a merchant surreptitiously dilute milk with water, so that he could make a greater profit with
the diluted mixture. ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) spilled the mixture onto the ground, thus
punishing the greedy merchant for his dishonest behavior.
Muslim: 1586. Al-Hisbah fil Islam by Ibn Taymiyyah, P:60
Limits of Intervention in the Market
Muslim bin Jundub related that, on one occasion, when a shipment of food arrived in Madeenah, the
merchants of the city went out and bought the entire shipment. ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with
him) said to them, “Are you conducting business in our marketplace? If so, then do one of two things:
Either allow the people (common consumers) to participate with you [in the buying of goods that are
shipped to Madeenah], or go out [into the lands], buy [goods], return [to Madeenah], and sell [whatever
you have imported].”
In each of the above-mentioned instances, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) intervened only
when merchants tried to fix prices on essential goods. In another similar example, a man entered the
marketplace with oil and began to sell it for a price that was higher than its market value. ‘Umar (May
Allah be pleased with him) said to him, “While we will not force you to sell for a specific price, [we
will give you only two choices]: Sell your product at market value or
leave our marketplace [and sell your product somewhere else].”
‘Umar’s Views on Gainful Employment
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) was a strong proponent of hard work and gainful employment.
He (May Allah be pleased with him) encouraged people to do whatever was necessary to earn a living,
as long as they did so in a lawful manner. He (May Allah be pleased with him) encouraged people to
do business, and would also encourage people to take up a trade.
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) wanted merchants to be fair and just in their dealings; he (May
Allah be pleased with him) wanted them to earn their wealth in a lawful manner, which, in the end,
was in their best interests. However, more than anything, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) was
a strong advocate of consumer rights. While he (May Allah be pleased with him) promoted a free
market, he (May Allah be pleased with him) did intervene whenever merchants acted against the
interests of consumers – particularly of poor and needy consumers. Thus, he (May Allah be pleased
with him) forbade merchants from forming any kind of monopoly, from hoarding goods, or from any
similar strategy that was adopted in order to raise the prices of goods.
According to another narration, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) once said, “O group of poor
people, raise your heads [with dignity] and do business, for the way to doing business is open to you.
And do not become dependent on other people.”
Umar Ibn Al-Khattab by Dr. As-Sallabi:1/461.
Umar’s Sense of Responsibility
‘Umar was the first person to begin caring for the safety of people at night. In Madeenah, whenever
the people went to sleep, one person who would remain awake and active. ‘Umar would provide food
to the people while ignoring his own hunger. He would abandon his own rest for the sake of the people.
When the sky would fill with stars and the people were in deep sleep, ‘Umar would take his stick and
patrol the streets of Madeenah. If he found anyone in need, he would help him; if he found a traveler,
he would give him shelter and food; if he found any criminal, he would punish him.
[Abqariyah ‘Umar, pg]
Forcing Businessmen to Learn The Islamic Laws of Buying and
Selling
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) would hit with a stick any person who sat down in the
marketplace to sell goods without knowing the Islamic laws of buying and selling. He (May Allah be
pleased with him) would say, “Whoever does not know usury (its definition and the various forms it
takes) may not sit down [to sell goods] in our marketplace.”‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)
said this because there is more than one category of usury, and each category consists of various forms
of transactions. Therefore, if one does not have an in-depth knowledge of usury, one will likely enter
into a usury transaction unknowingly. This is why ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) would
patrol the marketplace and hit certain merchants with his stick, while saying, “None may sell in our
marketplace except for those who have an understanding [of the Islamic laws of buying and selling];
otherwise, one will end up eating the proceeds of usury, regardless of whether he does so willingly or
unwillingly (i.e., knowingly or unknowingly).”
Nidhaam Al-Hukoomah Al-Islamiyyah by Al-Khattaane: 2/17.
Balanced Approach to Governing his People
Rather than focus on some issues while ignoring others, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) had
a balanced approach to governing his people, giving each matter the attention it deserved. Since
commerce is so important an activity in any society, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) took
important steps to ensure the following:
1) Business was conducted in such a way that benefited consumers.
2) The marketplace remained stable, such that prices did not fluctuate erratically.
3) No form of cheating took place in the marketplace.
4) No individual or group of people formed a monopoly or engaged in the practice of pricefixing.
5) No black market existed.
There was no ignorance among buyers and sellers about what is lawful and unlawful in the buying and
selling of goods.
This last aim ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) achieved by issuing the following effective yet
simple decree: “Whoever has not gained an understanding [of the Islamic laws of buying and selling]
may not conduct business in our marketplace.”
Shaheed Al-Maihraab, P:209.
Appointment of Supervisors
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) appointed supervisors to oversee what went on in the
marketplace. Among the people he (May Allah be pleased with him) appointed as supervisors were
Sulaimaan bin Hathamah (May Allah be pleased with him) (who was the overall supervisor of all
existing marketplaces), As-Saaib bin Yazeed (May Allah be pleased with him) (who was in charge of
the marketplace of Madeenah), and ‘Abdullah bin ‘Utbah bin Mas‘ood (May Allah be pleased with
him). There was, if you will, an overall Minister of Commerce, who was in charge of marketplaces
throughout Muslim lands; and then there were local supervisors who were in charge of specific
marketplaces, and who were answerable to the said Minister.
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) understood that, in order to protect the rights of average
consumers, he would, at times, have to set restrictions on what merchants were allowed to do; and,
without a doubt, everything ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) did in this regard was derived
from principles that are clearly outlined in the Qur’an and Sunnah. With his wise and effective policies,
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) proved that the laws of Islam are suitable to every era, and to
every place throughout the earth. Islam’s laws push backward countries forward, and protect advanced
countries from spiraling into an abyss of decadence and corruption.
According to another narration, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) once said, “When one of you
buys a camel, let him buy one that is large and fat; for, if he is not able to benefit from it himself, he
will at least be able to sell it.”
Shaheed Al-Maihraab, P:210.
Complete Trust in Allah (SWT)

Regarding the topic in question, nothing vexed ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) more than the
person who refused to work while making the disingenuous claim that he was placing his complete
trust in Allah, believing with certainty that Allah would provide him with sustenance. For ‘Umar (May
Allah be pleased with him) knew that a person who truly trusts in Allah works hard in order to earn a
lawful living. Or, as ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) put it, “Let none among you sit down,
abstain from seeking out lawful sustenance, and then say, ‘O Allah, provide me with sustenance. ‘
[How can he say this when] he knows fully well that the sky does not send down rain in the form of
gold and silver. Verily, Allah only provides for people through other people (i.e., through the exchange
of goods and services).”‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) then proceeded to recite the saying
of Allah:
{Then when the (Jumu‘ah) Salaat (prayer) is finished, you may disperse through the land and
seek the Bounty of Allah (by working, etc.), and remember Allah much, that you may be
successful.} (Qur’an:62: 10)
Nidhaam Al-Hukoomah Al-Islaamiyyah:2/20.
Business is one-third of Leadership
Muhammad bin Seereen related that his father said, “I once attended Maghrib Prayer with ‘Umar bin
Al-Khattaab (May Allah be pleased with him), and afterwards he came to me and asked, ‘What is this
that you have with you? ‘ I said, ‘It is a cart full of clothing. I stand in this marketplace, and I buy and
sell [merchandise]. ‘He (May Allah be pleased with him) then said, ‘O people of the Quraysh, do not
let him and others like him beat you in business, for [supremacy in] business is one-third of achieving
leadership over others. ‘”
In the previous example, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) was of course speaking in a playful
manner, hoping to foster an atmosphere of friendly competition between the businessmen of various
tribes. On other occasions, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) would offer people more specific
advice about business. For instance, Al-Hasan (May Allah be pleased with him) related that ‘Umar
(May Allah be pleased with him) once said, “Whoever does business in something three times without
gaining any profit in the process, should move on to something else.”
Nidhaam Al-Hukoomah An-Nabawiyyah:2/20.
When ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) Became Afraid
that His People Would Abandon Business Altogether
One day during his caliphate, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) entered the marketplace and
was taken aback when he looked around and saw that most of the people who were doing business
were foreigners who, in the past, had worked as farmers. Where, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with
him) asked himself, were the native inhabitants of Makkah and Madeenah? Why were they not doing
business? Although ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) likely knew the answers to these
questions, the situation nonetheless irked him.
When the people gathered together a short while later, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)
reproached them for abandoning the marketplace. In their own defense, they said, “Verily, by granting
us victory (victory in war, and consequently great quantities of war booty), Allah has made us rich, so
that we no longer need [to conduct business in] the marketplace.”‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with
him) said, “By Allah, if you continue in this manner, you will become dependent on their men [ (i.e.,
on foreign men) for help], and your women will become dependent on their women.”
Nidhaam Al-Hukoomah Al-Islaamiyyah:2/18.
Honoring the Experts
‘Umar’s honoring the experts was not limited to any field. Whenever ‘Umar found a person who was
an expert in his respective field, he would honor him. He gave a stipend of 200 Deenars per year to
‘Umair bin Wahb al-Jumahi because he was steadfast in the battlefield. Once ‘Umar wrote to
Mugheerah bin Shu ‘bah to send the poetry of the people of Koofah. After studying their poetry, he
called Aghlab Ijlee and requested him to recite his poetry. He also called Labeedh, who was a famous
poet in the pre-Islamic era. When ‘Umar asked him to send his poetry, the latter wrote Surah al-Baqarah
and sent it, saying, “Allah has given me a better alternative to my poetry.”‘Umar said, “You should
increase the stipend of Labeedh by 500 Dirhams, and decrease the stipend of Aghlab.”A person
objected saying, “It is not suitable for Aghlab.”So ‘Umar said, “You should increase the stipend of
Labeedh, and do not decrease the stipend of Aghlab, keep it at the same amount.”
[al-Farooq, pg. 383]
Umm Hakim bint Al-Harith in the Battle of Merj As-Sufr
Umm Hakim bint Harith was married to ‘Ikrimah (the son of Abu Jahl). He was martyred during the
wars in the Levant, so she waited the mandatory period (before re-marriage in case of the husband’s
death) of four months and ten days.Yazeed bin Abi Sufyaan and Khaalid bin Sa ‘eed proposed to her,
but she chose the latter. Khalid bin Sa ‘eed had fought at Ajnadayn and Pella. When the army moved
to Merj As-Sufr, Khaalid wished to consummate the marriage. However, Umm Hakim requested him
to delay it until Allah The Almighty granted them victory over the Romans. Khaalid replied that he
feared that he would be killed in the looming battle. At this, Umm Hakim acquiesced and they stayed
together at a tent near the bridge at Merj, which was later named Umm Hakim Bridge. Khaalid threw
a banquet to celebrate the marriage and invited his friends. They had barely finished their dinner when
the Romans started readying their troops in battle order. Khalid bin Sa ‘eed fought valiantly and was
soon killed. Umm Hakim tightened her robes and came out to fight, while the perfume she had worn
for her marriage was still fresh. A fierce battle was fought to control the river, and both sides held their
ground. Umm Hakim killed seven Romans that day with the pole of the tent where she had stayed with
her new husband!
Taareekh At-Tabaree:4/429.
Supplication for Rain
At one point during the drought that afflicted Madeenah, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)
decided to ask Allah to save the Muslims by virtue of the fact that the Prophet’s uncle Al-‘Abbaas
(May Allah be pleased with him) was among them, and the story of how that happened is related in
Saheeh Al-Bukhaari, on the authority of Anas (May Allah be pleased with him). According to that
narration, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said, “O Allah, we used to ask You [for help] by
virtue of the fact that the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) was among us [and was
supplicating along with us], and you would then send down rain to us. Now [since the Prophet (Peace
and Blessings of Allah be upon him) is no longer with us] we are asking of You [for help] by virtue of
the fact that the uncle of the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) is among us [and is
praying alongside us], so send down rain upon us.”
Bukhari: 101.
‘Umar Wanted to be a Mu’aththin
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) wished that he were able to be a Muaththin (the Caller to
Prayer); however, his busy schedule precluded the possibility of him fulfilling both his duties as
Khaleefah and the duties of a Muaththin. He (May Allah be pleased with him) said, “Had I been able
to regularly make the call to Prayer and at the same time fulfill my duties as the Khaleefah, I would
have [regularly] made the call to Prayer.”
Ash-Shaikhan Min Riwaayatul-Balaadhuree. P:225.
Seeking Help from Allah, and the Rain Prayer
Sulaimaan bin Yasaar said, “On one occasion during the drought, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with
him) delivered a sermon to the people, and in it he said, ‘O people, fear Allah regarding your own
selves, and fear Him when others cannot see you. Indeed, I have been tested through you, and you
have been tested through me. And I do not know: Is this wrath [which has descended upon us] directed
at me and not at you? Or is it directed at you and not at me? Or is it directed at all of us? So come and
let us invoke Allah to rectify our hearts, to have mercy on us, and to raise from us this drought. ‘ That
day, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) could be seen raising his hands and supplicating to Allah,
and the people were supplicating as well. ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) cried, and the people
cried for a while as well, and then ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) descended [from the
pulpit].”
At-Tabaqaat: 3/322.
‘Umar’s Keenness and Intelligence
A person once asked ‘Umar, “Is a person who feels an inclination toward sin in his heart, but does not
commit it better or the person who abhors the sin and does not commit it?”‘Umar answered, “Those
people who feel an inclination in their hearts, but do not commit them are better, and Allah has selected
them for piety and forgiveness.”
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) Prohibits the Early
Weaning of Infants
Aslam (May Allah be pleased with him), the freed slave of ‘Umar bin Al-Khattaab (May Allah be
pleased with him), related the following story:
When a group of businessmen visited Madeenah and were put up for the night in the Masjid, ‘Umar
(May Allah be pleased with him) said to ‘Abdur-Rahmaan bin ‘Awf (May Allah be pleased with him),
“Are you up for the task of guarding them with me tonight?”‘Abdur-Rahmaan (May Allah be pleased
with him) replied, “Yes.”These two noble Companions then spent the night guarding their guests, and
they made good use of their time by praying. Early on in the night, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with
him) heard the sound of a baby crying. He decided to investigate the matter, and so he followed the
direction of the sound; finally, when he (May Allah be pleased with him) reached the source of the
sound, he saw both the crying baby boy and his mother. ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said
to the mother, “Fear Allah, and treat your child well, “after which ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with
him) returned to his guarding post.
Either the mother did not heed ‘Umar’s advice or the baby was somehow not well, for the baby
continued to cry throughout the night. At the end of the night, when ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with
him) heard the baby burst out into renewed fit of crying, he went to the mother and said to her, “Woe
upon you! You are indeed a bad mother. Why is it that your child has not stopped crying since the
beginning of the night?”
“O slave of Allah, “she replied, “I have tried my best to keep his mind off of food, but to no avail, for
that is all he can think about.”
“And why [are you doing that]?”‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) asked.
“I am doing that because ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) issues a [government-funded]
allowance only to those children that have been weaned [from breast-feeding], “said the mother, not
knowing that she was talking to the Khaleefah of the Muslim Nation, ‘Umar bin Al-Khattaab (May
Allah be pleased with him). The woman was in fact right: ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)
gave out government-funded allowances only to those children who had been weaned off of breast-
feeding. Perhaps the logic behind that policy was that a mother who was breastfeeding her child did
not need extra money to buy food for her child, since her milk was providing her child with sufficient
nourishment.
“And how old is your son?”‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) then asked. After she told him
that her son was only a number of months old, he ((May Allah be pleased with him)) said,
“Woe upon you! Do not rush to wean your child [away from your breast].”
A short while later during Fajr Prayer, people could not make out the words of ‘Umar’s recitation: his
voice kept breaking up as he cried uncontrollably. He was crying because he regretted a policy-decision
that led to at least one woman putting the health of her child at risk, doing so because she was desperate
for money. ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said to himself, “Misery for ‘Umar (May Allah be
pleased with him) ! How many Muslim children has he killed!”He ((May Allah be pleased with him))
then ordered someone to make the following announcement to the people: “Do not rush to wean your
children away from breast-feeding, for indeed, from now onwards we will be giving an allowance for
every newborn Muslim.”‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) then wrote down the announcement
and ordered that it be sent out to all Muslim lands.
Al-Bidaayah wan-Nihaayah: 7/140.
Encouraging People to Perform Hajj
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) encouraged people to perform Hajj, and his encouragement
turned into a command when it came to those people who had yet to perform their first Hajj although
they had the means and the ability to embark upon the pilgrimage. In fact, if people abstained from
performing their first Hajj even though they had the ability to perform it, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased
with him) felt that they should be given the same treatment that was meted out to the People of the
Book. He ((May Allah be pleased with him)) felt that, by knowingly abandoning a pillar of Islam, they
deserved to have levied against them the Jizyah tax – a tax that was paid by Christians and Jews who
lived peacefully in Muslim lands. ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said, “I, indeed, have
seriously considered sending out men to different cities and ordering them to see who among the
inhabitants of those cities was able to perform Hajj but still abstained from performing it. And I would
order those men to charge such people the Jizyah tax.”
Faraaid Al-Kalaam, P:173.
Umar’s Activities during the Drought
Beginning after Fajr Prayer, skilled workers prepared meals in huge pots that ‘Umar (May Allah be
pleased with him) had provided to them; then, the workers would set about the task of distributing the
cooked food among the people. Everyone had to make sacrifices, and those who had food were
required to share it with those who had nothing. It was now a matter of life and death, a point that
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) made clear in an announcement he made to the people:
“Verily, if Allah does not end this drought [soon], I will send to each household a number of people
that is equal to the number of its members, and we will feed them as long as we find food to give them.
If we find that we are short on food, we will send to the people of each household that has food a
similar number of people who do not have food, a policy that will remain in place until Allah sends
down rain.”
Al-Faarooq Umar, P:263.
Sending Starving Individuals to Other Muslim Households
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said, “If the famine continues, we will send every starving
individual to another Muslim household; for indeed, people will not die if their stomachs are halfway
full.”
Since it was a waste of time and energy to have food shipments arrive in Madeenah only to then ship
them out again to famine-stricken parts of the Peninsula, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) set
up committees to distribute aid in a timely and organized manner. For instance, as soon as a caravan
of aid reached Arabia from the borders of Ash-Sham, it was met by aid workers who distributed its
provisions along the way back to Madeenah. They would stop in famine-stricken areas, slaughter
camels from the caravan, and distribute its meat, in addition to flour and clothing. When ‘Amr (May
Allah be pleased with him) sent a shipment of food by sea, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)
appointed men to transport that food immediately to Tihaamah, and to distribute it among its people.
Manaaqib Ameer Al-Mo ‘mineen, P: 89, 90.
‘Umar (May Allah be please with him) nor his caller can see you.
Aslam (May Allah be pleased with him) related that, one night, while he and ‘Umar (May Allah be
pleased with him) were patrolling the streets of Madeenah, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)
was overcome by fatigue, and therefore felt the need to stop andrest.Leaningagainstawallforsupport,
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) suddenly heard a woman say to her daughter, “O my daughter,
go and mix that milk with water.”The woman’s voice was coming from inside of the house beside
which ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) had stopped to rest. The daughter then replied, “O my
mother, do you not know about the recent decree of the Leader of the Believers?”
“And what was his decree?”shot back the mother.
“He (May Allah be pleased with him) ordered his caller to make the following announcement to the
people: Let no one mix milk with water.”‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) prohibited this
practice in order to protect consumers from low-quality, diluted milk.
“O my daughter, “said the mother, “go and mix the milk with water, for you are in a place wherein
neither ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) nor his caller can see you.”
“By Allah, “replied the daughter, “I will not obey him publicly only to disobey him privately!”
From where he was resting, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) heard the entire conversation
between the mother and her daughter. Having regained his strength, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased
with him) was ready to resume his night patrol, but before getting up to leave, he (May Allah be pleased
with him) said, “O Aslam, put a mark on the door [of this house] so that you can find this spot again
[during the day].”
The following morning, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said to Aslam (May Allah be pleased
with him), “O Aslam, go back to the same spot and find out the identities of the two women who were
speaking; also, find out if they have husbands.”A short while later, when Aslam (May Allah be pleased
with him) returned from the errand, he ((May Allah be pleased with him)) informed ‘Umar (May Allah
be pleased with him) that neither the woman nor her daughter was married.
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) was greatly impressed by the young woman’s character, and
therefore thought that she would be a good wife for any practicing Muslim. With this thought in mind,
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) gathered his sons and said to them, “Is there anyone among
you who needs a wife, for I know a woman whom I can marry off to one of you? Had your father felt
any desire for women [in this old age of mine], none of you would have beaten me to this young
woman!”
‘Abdullah (May Allah be pleased with him) replied, “I have a wife.”
‘Abdur-Rahmaan (May Allah be pleased with him) then also said, “I have a wife.”
Then ‘Aasim (May Allah be pleased with him) said, “O my father, I have no wife, so marry her off to
me.”‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) then sent a proposal to the young woman on behalf of
his son, and shortly thereafter, the marriage took place. The young woman gave birth to a daughter,
who eventually gave birth to a daughter, who went on to give birth to ‘Umar bin ‘Abdul-‘Azeez (may
Allah have mercy on him) – the ruler who was famed for hissense of justice, because his piety and
success as a leader has often been compared to the rightly-guided Khaleefahs.
Manaaqib Ameer Al-Mo ‘mineen, by Ibn Al-Jawzee, P: 89, 90.
“Will You Carry the Burden of My Sins for Me on the Day of
Resurrection?”
One day, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) went out to Hurrah Waaqim, a rocky area of land
just outside of Madeenah. His companion during this particular excursion was Aslam (May Allah be
pleased with him),his freed slave. When the two of them reached a place called Siraar – which is
situated 3 miles outside of Madeenah – they discerned in the distance a small fire being ignited.
Obviously, some people had made camp out in the open desert; and, thinking that they might need
some help, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) ordered Aslam (May Allah be pleased with him)
to accompany him towards the direction of the fire.
Both ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) and Aslam (May Allah be pleased with him) ran towards
the campsite, and when they drew near to it, they saw a woman watching over a group of children,
who were crying loudly. Beside the woman, there was a pot hanging over a flame of fire. ‘Umar (May
Allah be pleased with him) called out to the woman, saying to her, “Peace be upon you, O people of
the light.”Aslam (May Allah be pleased with him), the narrator of this story, pointed out that ‘Umar
(May Allah be pleased with him) disliked saying to them, “O people of the fire, “lest they think he
meant, not the fire that they had ignited for cooking, but the Hellfire.
“And peace be upon you, “the woman answered.
“May I come nearer [to you]?”asked ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him).
“Either come nearer with the intention of doing well [by us], or leave [us alone], “replied the woman.
“What is the matter with you?”‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) asked, having come close
enough to speak to her without having to raise his voice. The woman complained about the harsh
conditions of the night and of the cold weather outside, after which ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with
him) asked, “And what is the matter with these children? Why are they crying out loud?” “Hunger,
“replied the woman tersely.
“[If it is hunger that the children suffer from] then what is cooking in this pot?”‘Umar (May Allah be
pleased with him) asked.
“It is only water, “replied the woman, explaining that she had placed a pot over a flaming fire in order
to “calm the children down until they fell asleep.”She then went on to say, “By Allah, we have a serious
grievance with ‘Umar.”She obviously did not know that she was, at that very moment, addressing none
other than ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him).
“May Allah have mercy on you, “said ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him). “Umar (May Allah be
pleased with him) does not know about your condition.”
“He is given authority over us, and then he forgets us!”said the woman plaintively.
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) then returned to where Aslam (May Allah be pleased with
him) was waiting for him, and the two of them then ran off in the distance, and they continued to run
until they reached a flourmill. ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) purchased a sack of flour and
some cooking fat, and he (May Allah be pleased with him) then asked Aslam (May Allah be pleased
with him) to load the said items onto his shoulder.
“I will carry them for you, “said Aslam (May Allah be pleased with him).
“May you have no mother!”exclaimed ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him). “And will you carry
the burden of my sins for me on the Day of Resurrection?”Left with no choice, Aslam (May Allah be
pleased with him) loaded the heavy sack onto ‘Umar’s shoulder; and in spite of the heavy load he was
carrying, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) ran all the way back to the woman’s campsite.
Aslam (May Allah be pleased with him) related that, upon reaching the woman’s campsite, ‘Umar
(May Allah be pleased with him) filled the woman’s pot with flour and cooking fat, and cooked a large
portion of broth for her and her children. Aslam (May Allah be pleased with him) described how he
saw ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) blowing underneath the pot, while smoke was coming
out from between the hairs of ‘Umar’s beard. ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) cooked the broth
and stayed where he was until the woman and her children were full and stopped eating.
Then, when ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) and Aslam (May Allah be pleased with him)
stood up to leave, the woman said to ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him), “May Allah reward you
well [for your kindness]! You are more deserving of being the leader than is the actual Leader of the
Believers.”
Still not identifying himself, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) humbly replied, “Speak well!
And when you go to the Leader of the Believers, you will find me there, Allah willing!”
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) then gave the woman some space, but still did not leave.
Curious as to why ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) was not leaving, Aslam (May Allah be
pleased with him) asked, “Is there something else you need to do here?”But ‘Umar (May Allah be
pleased with him) gave no reply. Instead, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) silently watched on
as the children settled down and fell asleep. After he was sure that the children were all asleep, ‘Umar
(May Allah be pleased with him) stood up, praised Allah I, turned to Aslam (May Allah be pleased
with him), and said, “O Aslam, hunger caused them to stay awake and cry. And so I did not want to
leave until I saw [them content, happy, and calm].”Even though it often goes unnoticed in history
books, this soft and gentle side of ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) had always been a
fundamental part of his character.
Al-Kaamil Fit-Taareekh:2/214. At-Tabaree: 5/200.
Year of the Ashes
Hazm bin Hishaam related that his father said, “Once during the Year of the Ashes, I saw ‘Umar (May
Allah be pleased with him) pass by a woman who was busy making porridge. ‘Umar (May Allah be
pleased with him) said to her, ‘This is not how you should make porridge. He then took a spoon and
said, ‘This is how you should make it. ‘ He then showed her what he meant. And he would say [to
women], ‘Do not sprinkle the flour [into the pot] until the water becomes hot; in fact, sprinkle in the
flour a little at a time, and all the while stir it with a spoon. That will make the texture smoother and
will prevent it (i.e., the porridge) from developing clumps. ‘ And when I once spoke to one of the wives
of ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him), she said [to me], ‘During the period of the [Year of the]
Ashes, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) was so overwhelmed by grief and sorrow and worry
[for his people] that he did not even once come near any of his wives [in order to engage in sexual
intercourse].”
Akhbaar ‘Umar, P:112
“O Leader of the Believers, Give Your Companion Glad Tidings
of a Baby Boy!”
Late one night, while patrolling the streets of Madeenah, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)
entered a wide-open space and came across a roughly built tent – a tent that had not been present at
that spot the night before. ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) could clearly hear the moaning
voice of a woman emanating from inside of the tent, and he (May Allah be pleased with him) also saw
a man sitting directly outside the makeshift door of the tent. ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)
drew near to the man, extended greetings of peace, and said, “Who are you?”
“I am a man who is from the people of the desert, “replied the man. “I have come here in order to meet
with the Leader of the Believers, and to be a beneficiary of his generosity.”
“And what about the voice that I hear coming from inside of this house?” ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased
with him) asked. When the man explained that there was a woman inside of the tent who was in labor,
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) asked, “Is there anyone with her [to help her]?”
“No, “replied the man.
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) rushed back to his home; and upon entering it, he said to his
wife, Umm Kulthoom bint ‘Ali (May Allah be please with her), “Allah has brought to you a means of
gaining rewards. Are you up for the task of going after those rewards?”
“And what is it [that I need to do to get those rewards]?”asked Umm Kulthoom (May Allah be please
with her).
“A newly-arrived woman is in labor, and she has no one with her [to help her], “replied ‘Umar (May
Allah be pleased with him).
“Yes [I will gladly help], if you wish, “said Umm Kulthoom (May Allah be please with her).
“Then gather what the woman needs for her impending delivery, in terms of rags and oil; also, bring
me a pot, some cooking fat, and some grains.”Shortly thereafter, Umm Kulthoom (May Allah be please
with her) returned with the items he had asked for, after which ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)
said, “Now [let us] go.”
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) carried the pot, and Umm Kulthoom (May Allah be please
with her) walked behind him. Upon reaching the tent, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said to
Umm Kulthoom (May Allah be please with her), “Go inside to the woman.”Meanwhile, ‘Umar (May
Allah be pleased with him) sat down beside the man and said to him, “Light a fire for me.”When a
suitable fire was ignited, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) proceeded to cook some broth over
it. By the time the broth was fully cooked, Umm Kulthoom (May Allah be please with her) called out
to ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him), saying to him, “O Leader of the Believers, give your
companion glad tidings of a baby boy!”
The Bedouin man seemed more affected by the words “Leader of the Believers”than he was by the
announcement of the delivery of his baby boy. He could not believe that the man who had helped him
so late in the night was none other than the leader of the entire Muslim Nation. The man was in awe
of ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him), and he moved back a little bit as a sign of respect for the
Khaleefah.
Putting the man at ease, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said, “Stay where you are.”He then
picked up the pot, placed it in front of the tent’s door, and said to Umm Kulthoom (May Allah be
please with her), “Make sure that she (i.e., the woman who had just delivered a baby boy) eats until
she becomes full.”After Umm Kulthoom (May Allah be please with her) finished serving the woman
the broth that ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) had prepared for her, she placed the pot outside
the door of the tent. ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) then took the pot, placed it in front of the
man, and said to him, “Woe upon you! Eat, for you have remained awake throughout the night.”‘Umar
(May Allah be pleased with him) then said to his wife, “Come out.”Then, before leaving, ‘Umar (May
Allah be pleased with him) said to the man, “Come to me tomorrow, and I will order that you be given
what you need.”The following day, when the man visited him, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)
not only gave him what he needed, but also ordered that the man’s newborn son be allotted an
allowance from the Muslim Treasury.
Al-Bidaayah Wan-Nihaayah 7/140
Four Most Capable Judges of this Nation

Abu Moosa (May Allah be pleased with him) was blessed not just with theoretical knowledge, but also
with the practical ability to solve real-life problems, to apply his knowledge to every-day situations,
and to dig out the truth when he had to settle disputes between opposing litigants. Based on these and
other qualities, Abu Moosa (May Allah be pleased with him) became a brilliant, capable, and wise
judge; in fact, according to Ash-Sha ‘bee’s estimation, Abu Moosa (May Allah be pleased with him)
was one of the four most capable judges of this Nation. Or, as Ash-Sha ‘bee put it, “The following
were the preeminent judges of this Nation: ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him), ‘Ali (May Allah
be pleased with him), Zayd bin Thaabit (May Allah be pleased with him), and Abu Moosa (May Allah
be pleased with him).”
Siyyar ‘Alam An-Nubala: 2/389.
“Did You not Know that They Have a Right Over You?”
One day, Al-Ahnaf bin Qais (May Allah be pleased with him) and a group of delegates visited
Madeenah, and they brought with them a great deal of war booty. Upon entering Madeenah, the
delegates were welcomed by ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him), who asked them, “Where have
you made camp?”When they told him where they had left behind their animals and belongings, ‘Umar
(May Allah be pleased with him) went to that spot with Al-Ahnaf (May Allah be pleased with him).
Immediately noticing that the riding animals of the delegates were tied up on a barren spot of land,
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said to Al-Ahnaf (May Allah be pleased with him), “Should
you not fear Allah regarding these riding animals of yours? Did you not know that they have a right
over you? Should you not have allowed them to move about freely, so that they can eat from the earth’s
vegetation?”
Adab Ad-Dunyaa wad-Deen
Gentle Without being Weak
One day, when ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) saw people of high rank mistreating those that
were under them, he (May Allah be pleased with him) said, “Since when have you made people slaves,
when [the fact is that] their mothers gave birth to them as free men?”While discussing the ideal
qualities of a leader, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said, “The only person that is suited for
this job is one who is gentle without being weak, and who is strong without being harsh.”Speaking
about the same topic, he (May Allah be pleased with him) once said, “The kind of leader I want is a
man who, if he is among his people while being their leader, will be thought of [by an outside observer]
as nothing more than one of them; and who, if he is among them while being nothing more than one
of them, will be thought of [by an outside observer] as their leader.”
Adab Ad-Dunyaa wad-Deen, P:311. Faraaid Al-Kalaam, P:111
Leading by Example
Ever a leader by example, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) worked himself in the refugee
camps. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) said, “May Allah have mercy on Ibn Hantamah
(i.e., ‘Umar bin Al-Khattaab (May Allah be pleased with him)) ! Once during the Year of the Ashes, I
saw him carrying two sacks on his back and holding a container of olive oil in his hand. He and Aslam
would take turns carrying those items. Then, when ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) saw me,
he asked, ‘Where are you coming from, O Abu Hurairah? ‘ I replied, ‘From nearby. ‘ I began to take
turns with them as well, and we carried the items until we reached Diraar, where we came across
approximately twenty families from the Muhaarib tribe. ‘Umar
(May Allah be pleased with him) asked them, ‘What has made you come here? ‘They replied, ‘Hunger.
‘[to show us the seriousness of their predicament] they took out for us the barbecued skin of a Maytah
animal (a Maytah animal is one that is not slaughtered Islamically, but has, instead, died of natural or
other causes; in Islam, it is forbidden to eat such meat, unless out of dire necessity, which was the case
regarding the aforementioned twenty families). They would eat that skin. They also took out crushed
bones, which they would also eat. Then I saw ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) cast aside his
robe, after which he proceeded to cook for them and feed them until they became full. He then sent
Aslam to Madeenah, and the latter soon came back with camels, which the twenty families then rode
on [in the company of ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) or Aslam (May Allah be pleased with
him) ] until they reached Al-Jabaanah. Then he (May Allah be pleased with him) gave them clothing,
and he continued to check up on them and on others [like them] until Allah I lifted from them that
[drought and famine].”
Akhbar ‘Umar, P:112.
Welfare State
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) was very strict in ensuring that no person remained hungry in
his state. Every poor, injured, and needy person had been given a stipend from the Public Treasury. A
record of hundreds of thousands of people was maintained. They received their stipends in a timely
manner. First food was prepared from 25kgs of flour, and then it was analyzed for how many people
this food was sufficient. The answer was that it was sufficient for 30 people. During the evenings, the
same amount of food was prepared and served and analyzed. It was also sufficient for 30 people. It
was decided to provide every person with 50kg of flour every month. Afterwards, ‘Umar ascended the
pulpit and announced, “I have decided to provide this amount of food to the people. Whoever decreases
it will be answerable to Allah.”
Regarding How ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) was

Cautious when it Came to Accepting Hadeeth Narrations
One day, Abu Moosa Al-Ash‘aree (May Allah be pleased with him) asked permission to enter upon
‘Umar bin Al-Khattaab (May Allah be pleased with him). Abu Moosa (May Allah be pleased with
him) heard no reply; and, thinking that ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) was probably busy, he
(May Allah be pleased with him) left. ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) had,infact,been
preoccupied, and was not able to answer Abu Moosa’s request to enter. However, a few moments later
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) was less busy, and so he asked someone nearby, “Did I not
hear the voice of ‘Abdullah bin Qais (i.e., Abu Moosa Al-Ash‘aree) ? Give him permission to enter.”
“He has already returned [from whence he came], “someone replied. ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased
with him) asked someone to bring Abu Moosa (May Allah be pleased with him) back, and when Abu
Moosa (May Allah be pleased with him) returned, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) asked him
why he had left so quickly. Abu Moosa (May Allah be pleased with him) replied, “We have been
ordered to do that.”Here, Abu Moosa (May Allah be pleased with him) was referring to the saying of
the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him):
“If one of you asks permission [to enter the private property of another person] three times without
permission being granted to him, then let him return (i.e., then let him leave).”
“You must bring me proof (i.e., witnesses to back up your claim that the Prophet (Peace and Blessings
of Allah be upon him) gave that command), “ordered ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him). Abu
Moosa (May Allah be pleased with him) then went to where the people of the Ansaar were gathered,
and he (May Allah be pleased with him) asked them to testify that he (May Allah be pleased with him)
was telling the truth. In other words, he (May Allah be pleased with him) asked if anyone among them
had also heard the same Hadeeth from the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him). The
people of the Ansaar said to him, “Only the youngest among us will testify on your behalf regarding
this matter.”The youngest among them, Abu Sa‘eed (May Allah be pleased with him), then went to
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) and said, “We were [indeed] commanded to do that (i.e., to
leave if, after having asked permission to enter three times, still no one granted permission to enter).”
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him), who had not been aware of this Islamic etiquette, then said,
“I was not aware about this command from the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be
upon him). [I suppose] I was distracted at the time [he (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him)
gave that command] by business in the marketplace.”
Muslim: 2153
Strict Standards upon Himself and his Family

‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) imposed strict standards not just upon himself, but upon his
family as well. According to ‘Umar’s rules, they too had to suffer more during hard times than did the
rest of the population, a point that is clearly illustrated in the following narrative. One day, during the
Year of the Ashes, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) saw a watermelon in the hands of one of
his sons. ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) immediately exclaimed, “What indeed! O son of the
Leader of the Believers, are you eating a fruit while the members of the Nation of Muhammad (Peace
and Blessings of Allah be upon him) have emaciated bodies [due to a lack of food]?”The young boy
ran out crying, but ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) did not let the issue rest until he inquired
further into the matter and found out that his son had purchased the watermelon for a handful of seeds.”
At-Tabaqaat:3/315.
‘Abdur-Rahmaan bin ‘Awf Advises ‘Umar (May Allah be
pleased with him)
During one of the Hajj pilgrimages that ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) performed during his
caliphate, ‘Abdur-Rahmaan bin ‘Awf (May Allah be pleased with him) brought to ‘Umar’s attention
someone who was engendering mischief among the pilgrims. ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)
became angry and resolved to deliver a speech in which he would outline some important policies.
However, considering the sensitive nature of ‘Umar’s speech, ‘Abdur-Rahmaan (May Allah be pleased
with him) advised ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) against delivering it to the pilgrims. ‘Abdur-
Rahmaan (May Allah be pleased with him) said, “O Leader of the Believers, do not do this. The Hajj
season brings together the riffraff among the people (mobs of uneducated people from various cities).
They will make up the majority of the people who will be near you when you stand up [to deliver your
speech]. I fear that you will say something that they will twist and change. They will not understand
what you will say, and as a result, they will misinterpret your words. So wait until you return to
Madeenah, which is the city of the Hijrah (the place to which the Muhaajiroon migrated) and of the
Sunnah [of the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him)]. Once there, you will be in the
sincere company of those who have an understanding of the Religion and are of high-ranking (because
of their knowledge and deeds). You can speak your mind [to them], and the people of knowledge
[among them] will understand what you will say, and they will place your words in their proper and
intended context.”‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) replied, “By Allah, the first opportunity I
get in Madeenah, I will do as you say, Allah willing.”
Bukhari: 6830.
Daar Ad-Daqeeq, the House of Supplies

During the period of the drought, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) fed the people from Daar
Ad-Daqeeq. A public welfare institution, Daar Ad-Daqeeq consisted of one or more buildings in which
emergency food supplies were stored; those supplies consisted of flour, AsSaweeq (a kind of food
made from ground wheat and barley), dates, and raisins. In order to feed the throngs of refugees who
came to Madeenah, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) continued to rely on the local food that
was stored in Daar Ad-Daqeeq until aid arrived from Egypt, Ash-Sham (Syria and surrounding
regions), and Iraq. ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) then expanded the Daar Ad-Daqeeq
institution, so that it would be able to feed the tens of thousands of people who sought refuge in
Madeenah. The expanded role of the institution came to an end when, after nine months, it began to
rain again and people were able to return to their normal lives. As this example illustrates, ‘Umar (May
Allah be pleased with him) always had the ability to improve governmental institutions in order to
meet the ever-expanding needs of the people.
Al-Madeenah An-Nabawiyyah Fajr Al-Islam: 2/37,38.
Establishing Cities that Served as Military Bases and Centers
from which Muslims Disseminated the Message of Islam
As the Muslims conquered more and more lands, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) focused
much of his efforts on establishing and colonizing fortified cities along the borders of Muslim territory;
furthermore, he (May Allah be pleased with him) soughttoimprovethequality of the roads that
connected one city to another.
The newly-established cities in Iraq and Egypt served an important role for future military conquests.
They were not just cities but also military bases from which supplies and soldiers could easily be
transported to the front lines. Some of the more important citiesthat were built during this period of
great expansion were Basrah, Koofah, Mosul, Fustaat, Jeezah, and Sirt.
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) encouraged Muslims to colonize the newly-established cities.
Besides, he (May Allah be pleased with him) did everything in his power to make those cities flourish,
building in them public institutions – such as Masjids and marketplaces – and establishing in each new
city a publicly owned pasture, which could be used to care for the horses and camels of soldiers.
It was important for the Muslims who lived in Arabia to move to those cities, for no urban center can
prosper without a thriving and productive population. ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)
encouraged men to go there, not alone, but in the company of their families, for those cities were not
the front lines of battle; rather, they were bases from which aid, supplies, and men could be sent to
battalions that were stationed along the front lines. ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) also wanted
to send men who were prepared and qualified not just to fight, but also to teach Islam to the peoples
of conquered lands. As should be clear to the reader by now, the military conquests that took place
during ‘Umar’s rule were massive undertakings that required a great deal of careful planning.
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) ordered his Governors to make sure that there were purely
land-based routes that connected those newly-founded cities to the heart of the Muslim Nation in
Madeenah Al-Munawwarah. This is because ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) feared that,
because of their long history of land-locked existence, the Arabs would not make for skilled seamen.
However, his skepticism in this regard soon vanished when he learned about the successes the Muslim
army in Egypt enjoyed in terms of navigating the sea. It was then that ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased
with him) gave permission to ‘Amr bin Al- ‘Aas (May Allah be pleased with him) to dig a waterway
between the river Nile and the Red Sea, an undertaking that allowed for easy transportation of food
supplies between Egypt and Arabia,as we have hitherto discussed in the previous section.
Iqtisaadiyaat Al-harb Fil-Islam, P:245.
“Two men fought”
‘Abdur-Rahmaan bin Zayd related that, after he would perform voluntary Prayers in the morning,
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) would enter a mirbad that he owned – a mirbad was a room
in which dates were stored. Then ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) would send for a number of
young men who had already studied the Qur’an, and among them was Ibn ‘Abbaas (May Allah be
pleased with him). Together, with ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) as their teacher, they would
study the Qur’an. Then, when it was time to take the customary noon nap, ‘Umar (May Allah be
pleased with him) would get up and leave. During one such study session, ‘Umar (May Allah be
pleased with him) and his students stopped when they reached the following two verses of chapter “Al-
Baqarah”:
{And when it is said to him “Fear Allah”, he is led by arrogance to (more) crime.} (Qur’an 2: 206)
{And of mankind is he who would sell himself, seeking the Pleasure of Allah. And Allah is full of
Kindness to (His) slaves.} (Qur’an 2: 207)
Ibn ‘Abbaas (May Allah be pleased with him) quietly said to the student who was sitting beside him,
“Two men fought.”‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) then turned to Ibn ‘Abbaas (May Allah be
pleased with him) and asked, “What did you say?”Ibn ‘Abbaas (May Allah be pleased with him)
replied, “Nothing, O Leader of the Believers.”
“What did you say? Did you say that two men fought against one another?”asked ‘Umar (May Allah
be pleased with him).
Ibn ‘Abbaas (May Allah be pleased with him) was left with no choice but to explain himself: “I think
this is referring to when a man is ordered to fear Allah, but then is led by his arrogance to perpetrate
more crime. As for Allah’s saying, ‘He who would sell himself, seeking the Pleasure of Allah, ‘I think
this is referring to someone who stands up and orders the first person to fear Allah. When the first of
the two does not accept the advice [to fear Allah], but is instead led by his arrogance to commit more
crime, he gets up and begins to fight against [the person who ordered him to fear Allah]. And then the
two men fight against one another.”‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) then praised Ibn ‘Abbaas
(May Allah be pleased with him) for his deep insight into the meaning of the two verses.
Al-Qurtubee: 4/245, Ad-Durr Al-Manthoor: 1/578.
“Plunge, O one who dives deep in to the meanings of the Qur’an”

It is related that, when ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) would ask Ibn ‘Abbaas (May Allah be
pleased with him) about something from the Qur’an, he would add, “Plunge, O one who dives deep
[into the meanings of the Qur’an].”
While it is true that Ibn ‘Abbaas (May Allah be pleased with him) specialized in the science of Tafseer,
he was an adviser to ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) on all matters. In fact, whenever ‘Umar
(May Allah be pleased with him) was faced with a difficult problem or issue, he would say to Ibn
‘Abbaas (May Allah be pleased with him), “O Ibn ‘Abbaas, we find ourselves to be face-to-face with
some difficult issues. You are worthy of solving them and others like them.”Then ‘Umar (May Allah
be pleased with him) would listen to and accept Ibn ‘Abbaas’s advice. At times, when ‘Umar (May
Allah be pleased with him) would be faced with an exceptionally difficult problem, the only person he
would turn to for advice was Ibn ‘Abbaas (May Allah be pleased with him).
Tafseer At-Taabi ‘een: 1/379
A Lad who has the Mind of Middle-Aged Man
It is related that Sa‘d bin Abi Waqqaas (May Allah be pleased with him) said, “I have never seen
anyone who had a better understanding, a stronger mind, more knowledge, and a greater degree of
forbearance than Ibn ‘Abbaas (May Allah be pleased with him). I remember seeing ‘Umar bin Al-
Khattaab (May Allah be pleased with him) seek him out when he needed help in solving difficult
problems. ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) would say to him, ‘It is up to you to solve this
difficult problem. ‘ He would not even ask anyone other than Ibn ‘Abbaas for advice [on such matters],
even though he would be surrounded by the people of Badr (i.e.the Muslims who fought in the Battle
of Badr) from the Muhaajiroon and the Ansaar.”
In describing Ibn ‘Abbaas (May Allah be pleased with him), ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)
would say, “That is a lad who has the mind of a middle-aged man, who has a tongue that asks many
questions, and who has a heart that is full of understanding.”Talhah bin ‘Ubaidullah (May Allah be
pleased with him) said, “I never saw ‘Umar bin Al-Khattaab (May Allah be pleased with him) give
preference to anyone over Ibn ‘Abbaas (May Allah be pleased with him).”
Talhah bin Ubaidullah narrated, “I do not know anyone who was honored more by ‘Umar than
‘Abdullah bin ‘Abbaas.
[Ibn Sa ‘d, 2/370]
Great Deal of Respect for Al- ‘Abbaas
On one occasion during the year of the Great Drought, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) went
to Al-‘Abbaas (May Allah be pleased with him) and asked him for a drink of water. In the course of
their meeting that day, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) showed a great deal of respect for Al-
‘Abbaas (May Allah be pleased with him).
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) responded by saying, “O ‘Abbaas (May Allah be pleased with
him), your acceptance of Islam is more beloved to me than my own father’s acceptance of Islam [had
he been guided to Islam].”‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) then told Al‘Abbaas (May Allah
be pleased with him) that he felt that way because he knew that, if given a choice between Al-‘Abbaas
(May Allah be pleased with him) and ‘Umar’s father, Al-Khattaab, the Prophet (Peace and Blessings
of Allah be upon him) would have been more pleased with the Islam of the former than with the Islam
of the latter.
Al-Aqeedah Ahlil-Bait Bainal- Ifraat wat-Tafreet, P:210.
Fear of Being Held Accountable
Once ‘Umar saw a very lean and sick camel, so he came forward and rubbed his back with his hand,
and said, “I am afraid that Allah will ask me about this camel on the Day of Judgment.”
[Ibn Sa ‘d, 3/215]
Once an earthquake occurred during the reign of ‘Umar bin Al-Khattab, so he said, “O people, it is a
consequence of your bad deeds. By Allah, in whose Hand is the soul of ‘Umar, if the earthquake occurs
again, I will not live amongst you.”
‘Umar once advised for the concealing the secrets. He said, “Whoever conceals his secrets has the
control in his hand; whoever, reveals his secrets, then his control is in the hands of others.”
‘Umar once said, “You should be balanced in love and hate. You shouldn’t indulge completely in love
and your hate should not be harmful [to others].”
Whenever foreigners met ‘Umar, his speech would be translated for them. When he delivered a speech
in Jabiyah in Damascus, there was a person who translated his speech.
[Izalatul Khafa ‘an Khilafatul Khulafa, 2/135]
Circle of Learning in Ash-Sham
In the central mosque of Damascus, Abu Ad-Dardaa (May Allah be pleased with him) conducted a
large circle of learning, one that was attended by more than 1600 students. Abu Ad-Dardaa (May Allah
be pleased with him) would teach them in groups, with each group consisting of 10 students. There
was a spirit of competition in the air, with each group wanting to spend the most time with, and
therefore benefit the most from, Abu Ad-Dardaa (May Allah be pleased with him). For his part, Abu
Ad-Dardaa (May Allah be pleased with him) was readily accessible to his students; he (May Allah be
pleased with him) would often stand in a designated place in order to answer their questions about how
to recite the Qur’an.
Of all the Prophet’s Companions, Abu Ad-Dardaa (May Allah be pleased with him) is deemed to have
had the most influence on the inhabitants of Damascus; he was, after all, their Faqeeh (a scholar who
is qualified to issue legal rulings) and their judge.
Ghaayatun-Nihaayah Fee Tabaqaat Al-Qurraa, by Ibn Al-Jawzee.1607.
An Enclosure Filled with Knowledge
As was the case with ‘Umar bin Al-Khattaab (May Allah be pleased with him), ‘Abdullah bin ‘Abbaas
(May Allah be pleased with him), Abu Moosa Al-Ash‘aree (May Allah be pleased with him), Anas
bin Maalik (May Allah be pleased with him), and scores of other Companions, ‘Abdullah bin Mas‘ood
(May Allah be pleased with him) worked tirelessly to produce a new generation of Muslims who would
continue to carry and pass on to others the teachings of Islam. ‘Abdullah bin Mas‘ood (May Allah be
pleased with him) had a great deal of knowledge to pass on, as ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with
him) bore witness to in the following narration: Zayd bin Wahb said, “I was once sitting with the
people in the presence of ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him), when a skinny, small-framed man
approached us. As ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) looked at him, his face lit up. He ((May
Allah be pleased with him)) then said, ‘[Here comes one who is like] an enclosure that is filled with
knowledge; [here comes one that is like] an enclosure that is filled with knowledge. ‘ And the man
who was approaching was Ibn Mas‘ood (May Allah be pleased with him).”
Ibn Sa ‘d: 3/156.
Implicit trust in ‘Umar’s Legal Rulings
The school of Koofah was highly influenced by Ibn Mas‘ood (May Allah be pleased with him). Even
after their deaths, the teachers of other schools continued to have an influence on their respective
students, but not as much as Ibn Mas‘ood had on his students. After Ibn Mas‘ood (May Allah be
pleased with him) died, students in Koofah closely followed his legal rulings; in fact, Ibn Mas‘ood’s
influence on the school of Koofah continued for a very long time after his death.
One of the most influential people in Ibn Mas‘ood’s life was ‘Umar bin Al-Khattaab (May Allah be
pleased with him). Ibn Mas‘ood (May Allah be pleased with him) had implicit trust in ‘Umar’s legal
rulings, often abandoning his own view in an issue in favor of ‘Umar’s opinion. It is related that Ibn
Mas‘ood (May Allah be pleased with him) would often say, “Were the knowledge of ‘Umar bin Al-
Khattaab (May Allah be pleased with him) to be placed in the scale [of a balance], and were the
knowledge of the inhabitants of earth to be placed in the other scale, ‘Umar bin AlKhattaab’s
knowledge would weigh more.”
Al-Ilm, by Abu Haneefah, P:123, Bukhari: 5000.
The School of Ash-Sham (Syria and Surrounding Regions)

The name Ash-Sham refers to Syria and surrounding regions; during the caliphate of ‘Umar (May
Allah be pleased with him), some of the most important cities and areas of Ash-Sham were Damascus,
Hims, and Palestine. Following the military conquest of Ash-Sham, Yazeed bin Abu Sufyaan wrote
the following letter to ‘Umar bin Al-Khattaab (May Allah be pleased with him): “Verily, Ash-Sham
has a very large population; its inhabitants fill the cities of the region, and they need someone to teach
them the Qur’an and all that they need to know about their Religion. So help me, O Leader of the
Believers, by sending me men who will teach them.”
After he read this letter, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) invited the following three
Companions to meet with him: Mu‘aadh bin Jabal (May Allah be pleased with him), ‘Ubaadah bin As-
Saamit (May Allah be pleased with him), and Abu Ad-Dardaa (May Allah be pleased with him).
During the course of his meeting with them, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) informed them
that he was sending them to Ash-Sham on a mission to educate its people about the teachings of Islam.
He (May Allah be pleased with him) said to them, “Begin with Hims. There you will find people who
vary [in their ability to learn]; among them are those who are quick learners. When you witness that
for yourselves, proceed to teach a group of people; and when you are satisfied with them (i.e., when
you are pleased with the level of knowledge they have reached), then let one of you stay there;
meanwhile, let one of you go to Damascus, and let a third among you go to Palestine.”
The three above-mentioned Companions went to Hims. As per ‘Umar’s orders, all three of them stayed
there until they were satisfied with the level of knowledge attained by the people who lived there.
Thereafter, Abu ‘Ubaadah (May Allah be pleased with him) stayed there, while Abu Ad-Dardaa (May
Allah be pleased with him) went to Damascus, and Mu‘aadh (May Allah be pleased with him) went to
Palestine.
Al-Ansaare Fil-‘Asr Ar-Raashidee, P:259
Beautiful and Melodious Voice

Among the Prophet’s Companions, Abu Moosa (May Allah be pleased with him) became renowned
for his beautiful voice and his polished recitation of the Qur’an. When he (May Allah be pleased with
him) would recite the Qur’an, people would gather around him in order to enjoy his recitation. When
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) would sit in the company of Abu Moosa (May Allah be
pleased with him), he would ask him to recite whatever was easy for him from the Qur’an.
Abu Moosa Al-Ash ‘aree As-Sahaabee Al-Aalim, P:125, 126.
He Who does not Know Evil is more Likely to Fall into it
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) once said the following about leaders and governors, “I
complain to Allah about the oppression of the strong, and the weakness of the pious.”On another
occasion, he (May Allah be pleased with him) said, “He who does not know evil is more likely [than
those who do know evil] to fall into it.”And on yet another occasion, he (May Allah be pleased with
him) said, “Whatever Allah orders [people] to do, He helps [them to perform]. And whatever He
forbids, He makes sure people do not need [the thing or the action that He has forbidden].”
Faraaid Al-Kalaam, P:111
Some of ‘Umar’s Sayings about Seeking Knowledge
“Verily, a man leaves his home while carrying the burden of [past] sins that are equal [in magnitude]
to the mountains of Tihaamah; but then, if he hears knowledge [in a study circle (for instance)], he
becomes fearful [of Allah], he returns [from his misguided ways], and he repents. Then he returns to
his home free from the burden of any sins (for he has been forgiven). So do not stay away from the
gatherings of scholars.”
“A man does not become a scholar until he is not jealous of those above him, does not look down upon
those below him, and does not take payment for his deeds.”
“Gain an understanding of the Religion before you become leaders [of your people]; for if you do not,
pride will [likely] prevent you from learning, and you will end up living as ignorant people.”
“Knowledge is such that, if it does not benefit you [in this life], then at least it will not hurt you.”
“The death of one thousand worshippers is easier to bear (or is less of a loss) than the death of a single
scholar who has knowledge of what Allah has made lawful and what He has made unlawful.”
“Be like containers who have in them (who have committed to memory) the Book [of Allah], and be
sources of knowledge. Also, ask Allah (SWT) for sustenance one day at a time, and it will not harm
you if you are not given much [in terms of sustenance].”
“Learn knowledge and teach it to the people. Learn how to have about yourselves an aura of dignity
and peace. Be humble to those that have taught you knowledge, and be humble to those that you have
taught knowledge. And do not be haughty scholars; otherwise, your knowledge will not rise due to
your ignorance [which will weigh you down].”
“Islam becomes destroyed by the error of a scholar, by the argumentation of a hypocrite regarding the
Qur’an, and by Imaams who lead people astray.”
Faraaid Al-Kalaam, P: 157, Mahd As-Sawaab: 2/686.
Writing and Calligraphy

We find in history books that ‘Umar rebuked people who made mistakes in their writings. He appointed
scribes who were experts in their fields. Abu Moosa al-Ashari once wrote a letter to ‘Umar, and ‘Umar
wrote to him, “Your scribe made a mistake, you should rebuke him.”Ibn alJawzi narrated that once
‘Amr bin Al- ‘Aas sent a letter to ‘Umar, which contained the word ‘Bismillaah ‘ with the letter seen
missing in it. ‘Umar wrote back, “Punish your scribe who made this mistake.”
[Manaaqib ‘Umar, Ibn al-Jawzi, pg.]
Every Hour of the Day is Suitable for Gaining Knowledge
Whenever Abu Moosa (May Allah be pleased with him) would visit Madeenah, he would make it a
point to spend as much time as possible in the gatherings of ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him);
in fact, on some of his visits he (May Allah be pleased with him) would spend most of his time with
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him). Abu Bakr bin Abu Moosa related that, when Abu Moosa
(May Allah be pleased with him) once went to ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) after ‘Isha
Prayer, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) asked him, “Why have you come?”
“I came to speak with you, “said Abu Moosa (May Allah be pleased with him).
“At this hour?”asked ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) in amazement.
“We will be discussing Fiqh, “said Abu Moosa (May Allah be pleased with him), making the point
that every hour of the day is appropriate for learning and discussing Islamic knowledge. The two of
them then sat down together for quite some time. Then, sensing it was time to perform the late-night
voluntary Prayer (Tahajjud), ‘Abu Moosa (May Allah be pleased with him) said, “Prayer, O Leader of
the Believers. We are right in the middle of prayer.”
Abu Moosa Al-Ash ‘aree As-Sahaabee Al-Aalim Al-Mujahid, P:121
Worth of a Meaningful Poem
For ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him), a meaningful poem was worth more than any worldly
treasure. It is related that he (May Allah be pleased with him) once said to one of the children of
Haraam bin Sinaan, “Recite to me some of the verses [of poetry] that Zuhair spoke about you.”After
Haraam’s son complied with his request, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said, ‘He spoke very
well of you all.”Haraam’s son said, “O Leader of the Believers, we would generously give him [money
as a reward for the poems he wrote about us].”‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) replied, “What
you gave him is gone, while what he gave you remains.”
Al-Madeenah An-Nabawiyyah Fajr Al-Islam wal –Asr Ar-Raashidee: 2/106.
Changes to the Haram in Makkah
Compared to the changes he made to the Prophet’s Masjid, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)
made relatively few and minor changes to the Haram in Makkah – changes that were, nonetheless,
important for the Haram’s upkeep. For one thing, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) moved the
Station of Ibraaheem to where it is located today; it had been attached to the Ka‘bah, but ‘Umar (May
Allah be pleased with him) felt that moving it would make matters easier for worshippers and for those
making Tawaaf around the Ka‘bah.
With the ever-increasing number of pilgrims, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) obviously
needed to make the area around the Ka‘bah more spacious. Consequently, ‘Umar (May Allah be
pleased with him) purchased the homes that surrounded the Ka‘bah, and had them demolished in order
to expand the Masjid. Some people, however, refused to sell their homes. For the greater good of the
people, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) destroyed their homes regardless, and put the money
aside in order to fully compensate them later on. Once the expansion project was completed, ‘Umar
(May Allah be pleased with him) built a short wall – which was around the height of a middle-sized
man – around the Masjid, and upon that wall a series of lamps were placed.
During the pre-Islamic days of ignorance, the Ka‘bah was clothed with animal skins. With the advent
of Islam and the conquest of Makkah, the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) draped
the Ka‘bah with cloth that came from Yemen. Then, during his caliphate, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased
with him) draped the Ka‘bah with Qubaatee cloth – a special kind of Egyptian cloth that was known
for its sheer fabric and whiteness.
The kind of construction and expansion projects described above were not limited to Makkah and
Madeenah. For instance, Sa‘ad bin Abi Waqqaas (May Allah be pleased with him) supervised the
project of building a central Masjid in Koofah; ‘Utbah bin Ghazwaan (May Allah be pleased with him)
did the same for the central Masjid of Basrah, as did ‘Amr bin Al- ‘Aas (May Allah be pleased with
him) for the central Masjid of Al-Fustaat. These large and spacious Masjids were places where
Muslims gathered for congregational prayers, came together in order to get to know one another,
visited in order to study and learn the teachings of Islam, and assembled in order to hear the commands
and exhortations of the Khaleefah and his appointed Governors.
Asr Al-Khilaafah Ar-Raashidah, P:228
Planning and Building Masjids

Some statistics state that 4000 Masjids were built during ‘Umar’s caliphate in the Arab regions alone.
The governors became known for building Masjids in the areas that they governed, such as ‘Iyaadh
bin Ghanam, who founded a number of mosques in various parts of Arabian Peninsula.
Futoohul Buldaan by Al-Balaadharee, P:182.
Expansion of the Prophet’s Masjid
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) expanded the size of the Prophet’s Masjid, incorporating into
it the home of Al-‘Abbaas bin ‘Abdul-Muttalib (May Allah be pleased with him). The expansion of
the Masjid extended 10 arm-spans in the direction of the Qiblah, 20 arm-spans beyond the western
side of the Masjid, and 70 arm-spans beyond the northern side of the Masjid. ‘Umar (May Allah be
pleased with him) also remade the structure of the Masjid with bricks and palm branches; he used
wood for the pillars of the newly-renovated Masjid, and palm branches for its roof; he (May Allah be
pleased with him) further placed material over the roof in order to protect worshippers from the rain.
Akhbar ‘Umar, P:126.
“I am Afraid that I Will be questioned about You”
One day, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) saw a camel that was clearly either exhausted or ill.
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) approached the camel and inspected it, hoping to find out
what was wrong with it. As he looked closely at the camel, he (May Allah be pleased with him) said
repeatedly, “I am afraid that I will be questioned about you [on the Day of Resurrection].”
Stores of Provisions and Water for Travelers between Makkah
and Madeenah
Along the road between Makkah and Madeenah, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) placed stores
of provisions, enough to get a traveler from one watering-place to another. Based on Qur’anic
guidance, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) understood that for any civilization to prosper,
citizens had to feel safe, and they had to be taken care of during difficult times. Since roads were for
the use of the public, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) felt that it was the government’s duty to
properly care for travelers and to make sure they remained safe during their journeys. He (May Allah
be pleased with him) sent out word to the leaders of tribes and provinces, ordering them to adhere
closely to that policy.
Ad-Daur As-Siyaasee, by As-Safwah, P: 189, 190.
Digging a Channel for the People of Basrah
‘Umar bin Al-Khattaab (May Allah be pleased with him) wrote to Abu Moosa Al-Ash‘ari (May Allah
be pleased with him) commanding him to dig a channel for the people of Basrah and Abu Moosa dug
a channel four Parasangs long to bring water to the residents of Basrah.When establishing the famous
cities of Koofah, Basrah and Al-Fustaat ‘Umar’s governors also paid attention to laying out streets,
distributing land, building mosques, securing water sources and other public interests of these cities.
They also urged the people to settle in areas that were less desirable because of their proximity to the
enemy or for other reasons. They offered them incentives and land grants to encourage them to remain
there. ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) and ‘Uthmaan (May Allah be pleased with him) did
that in Antioch and in some parts of Mesopotamia.
Futoohul Buldaan by Al-Balaadhuree, P: 351, 352.
The Grave of Daanyaal
During ‘Umar’s caliphate, the grave of Daanyaal (Daniel) was discovered and dug up in the land of
Tustar. The governor of that region, Abu Moosa (May Allah be pleased with him), wrote to ‘Umar
(May Allah be pleased with him), informing him aboutthesituation.
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) knew that people would now most likely go to the grave of
Danyaal and become tempted to worship him, or to at least perform acts of religious innovation.
Therefore, in order to protect people from falling into acts of innovation and polytheism, ‘Umar (May
Allah be pleased with him) wrote the following letter to Abu Moosa (May Allah be pleased with him),
“During the day, dig thirteen graves. Then during the night, bury him in one of those graves, and cover
his grave with dust, so that people do not become tempted by him [to perform acts of religious
innovation].”
Al-Fatawah: 15/90.
Gatherings of Knowledge
Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) loved to sit in assemblies of knowledge. Abu Sa‘eed, the freed
slave of Abu U said, related that, after ‘Isha (night) Prayer, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)
would patrol the Masjid. If he (May Allah be pleased with him) saw anyone, he would force that person
to leave except if it was someone who was praying [voluntary units of Prayer]. One particular night,
as he (May Allah be pleased with him) was patrolling the Masjid, he (May Allah be pleased with him)
passed by a number of the Prophet’s Companions – and among them was Ubai bin Ka ‘ab (May Allah
be pleased with him). ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) asked them, “Why are you staying here
after Prayer?”They said, “We have sat down in order to remember Allah.”‘Umar (May Allah be
pleased with him) sat down and said to the man among them who was seated nearest to him, “Say
some supplication.”The man proceeded to supplicate to Allah, and thereafter ‘Umar (May Allah be
pleased with him) made each one of them make a supplication to Allah. Finally, when each man in the
gathering had spoken and it was the turn of Abu Sa‘eed (May Allah be pleased with him), ‘Umar (May
Allah be pleased with him) turned to him and said, “Go ahead.”Abu Sa‘eed (May Allah be pleased
with him) stuttered, being unable to express himself; and so ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)
encouraged him by saying, “Say something, even if you simply say, ‘O Allah, forgive us. O Allah,
have mercy on us. ‘“Then ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) began to supplicate, and, Abu
Sa‘eed (May Allah be pleased with him) later recounted, no one cried as much or shed as many tears
that night as did ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him). When ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with
him) finished supplicating, he (May Allah be pleased with him) said to the members of the gathering,
“Now everyone leave.”
Al-Fatawa: 15/90.
Waterway between the Nile and the Red Sea
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) learned that there had once been a waterway that flowed from
somewhere between the Nile (at a place that was situated near the fortress of Baabilyon) and the Red
Sea; it was a waterway that, in the past, connected Arabia to Egypt. That waterway had the potential
of establishing a prosperous trade route between Egypt and Arabia, but the Romans had neglected to
maintain its upkeep, and so by the time of ‘Umar’s caliphate, it had become blocked by sand.
Considering the potential strategic importance of such a waterway, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with
him) ordered the governor of Egypt, ‘Amr bin Al- ‘Aas (May Allah be pleased with him), to dig it up
once more. It was a grand and difficult enterprise, but ‘Amr (May Allah be pleased with him)
succeeded in completing it in a relatively short period of time.
The lands of Hijaaz (such as Makkah and Madeenah) and Fustaat, the capital city of Egypt, were now
connected by a waterway that once again became a heavily used trade route between the “Two
Seas.”Along the banks of that waterway Muslims built a number of parks and homes, and ‘Amr (May
Allah be pleased with him) aptly called the waterway “The Channel of the Leader of the Believers.”
Al-Farooq ‘Umar by Ash-Sharqee, P: 254, 255.
Books of Scholars & Priests

‘Amr bin Maymoon related from his father that a man once went to ‘Umar bin Al-Khattaab (May
Allah be pleased with him) and said, “O Leader of the Believers, when we conquered AlMadaain, we
found a book that contained in it beautiful speech.”
“Was that speech from the Book of Allah?”‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) asked.
“No, “the man replied.
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) asked someone to hand him a stick, after which he proceeded
to beat the man, and all the while he (May Allah be pleased with him) was reciting the saying of Allah:
{Alif-Lam-Ra. [These letters are one of the miracles of the Qur’an. And none but Allah (Alone)
knows their meanings]. These are the Verses of the Clear Book (the Qur’an that makes clear the
legal and illegal things, legal laws, a guidance and a blessing). Verily, We have sent it down as
an Arabic Qur’an in order that you may understand. We relate unto you (Muhammad (Peace and
Blessings of Allah be upon him)) the best of stories through Our Revelations unto you, of this
Qur’an. And before this (i.e., before the coming of Divine Revelation to you), you were among those
who knew nothing about it (the Qur’an).} (Qur’an: 12: 1-3)
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) then said, “Verily, what destroyed those who came before you
was the fact that they betook themselves to the books of their scholars and priests, while they
abandoned the Torah and the Injeel (the Gospel). And they continued to do that until the Torah and the
Injeel became obliterated [from their collective memories], and the knowledge that they contained
[simply] went away.”
Manaaqib ‘Umar, by Ibn Al-Jawzee, P:23.
Roads and Public Transportation

Of course, during ‘Umar’s caliphate there was no public transportation system in the modern sense of
the term: there were no buses, trains, or even chariots. Nonetheless, as Muslim territory continued to
expand, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) wanted to make travel throughout Muslim lands –
between the Arabian Peninsula, Ash-Sham (Syria and surrounding regions), and Iraq – possible even
for poorer Muslims, those that did not own a horse or camel. And so, since camels were the most
widely-used means of transportation at the time, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) set aside a
portion of public funds from the Muslim treasury in order to purchase a number of camels, which could
then be borrowed by those who needed them for travel.
Ad-Daur As-Siyaasee by As-Safwah, P: 189, 190.
A True Man of Character
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) once said, “Do not be amazed (or do not be deluded) by the
humming sound a man makes [when he prays, supplicates, or recites the Qur’an]; instead, know this:
Whoever fulfills the trust and refrains from attacking the honor of other people, then he – he is the
[true] man [of character].”
What Counts More in Society?
One day, a delegation of high-ranking men from the Quraysh visited ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased
with him); two of those men were Suhail bin ‘Amr bin Al-Haarith (May Allah be pleased with him)
and Abu Sufyaan bin Harb (May Allah be pleased with him). At the same time, however, two former
slavesof the Quraysh, Suhaib (May Allah be pleased with him) and Bilaal (May Allah be pleased with
him), also arrived at ‘Umar’s door. Even though both groups arrived at about the same time, ‘Umar
(May Allah be pleased with him) gave priority to Suhaib (May Allah be pleased with him) and Bilaal
(May Allah be pleased with him), allowing them to enter first.
The leaders of the Quraysh perceived what ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) did as an affront
to their honor.Abu Sufyaan (May Allah be pleased with him) said to some of the others, “I have never
witnessed a day such as today!These slaves are granted permission to enter, while we are made to stand
and wait at his door.”Suhail (May Allah be pleased with him) then said to the others, “By Allah, I can
see how you feel by the angry expressions on your faces. If you must be angry, then be angry at your
own selves. They were invited [to Islam], and you were invited as well. The difference is that while
you tarried, they hastened [to answer the Prophet’s invitation to accept Islam]. Then how will it be for
you on the Day of Resurrection when they will be invited [to reap the rewards of their deeds], while
you will be left [to wait].”
Manaqib Ibn Jawzee, P:129.
‘Umar's concern for the Plight of the Muslims
Once, during the early stages of the drought, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) was given bread
that had been soaked in oil. Not wanting to eat the food all by himself, he (May Allah be pleased with
him) invited a Bedouin man to share it with him. When they began to eat, the Bedouin did something
strange: After eating each morsel of food, he would eat some ghee from the side of the dish. ‘Umar
(May Allah be pleased with him) said to him, “It is as if you have not eaten ghee for quite some
time.”The Bedouin replied, “That is indeed the case. Since such and such time until today, I have not
eaten either ghee or olive oil; nor, in fact, have I seen anyone else eat those foods.”
By that statement alone, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) knew that it was not acceptable for
him to enjoy even common foods, if others under his rule were deprived of them. He (May Allah be
pleased with him) took an oath to refrain from eating meat and ghee until people’s lives improved and
the drought came to an end. All narrators are in agreement that ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with
him) was very determined to fulfill his oath. For instance, when a large shipment of ghee and milk
arrived in Madeenah, a young servant bought quantities of each for ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with
him), paying 40 Dirhams for the transaction. The young boy felt that he was justified in buying the
food since the large shipment meant that the situation in the Arabian Peninsula was improving. Thus,
when he went to ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him), he said, “O Leader of the Believers, Allah
has fulfilled your oath and has increased your rewards. A large quantity of milk and ghee has arrived
in the marketplace, and I bought some of each for 40 Dirhams.”
“You have paid too much for them, “replied ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him). “Give away
what you have purchased in charity, for I abhor the idea of eating from the proceeds of an extravagant
purchase.”‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) then said something that showed what a great leader
he was: “How will I come to care about the affairs of the people if I am not afflicted by that which
afflicts them?”
‘Iyaadh bin Khaleefah said, “When I saw ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) during the Year of
the Ashes, his face had turned dark. He was an Arab man who ate ghee and yoghurt, but when the
drought afflicted the people, he forbade himself from eating those foods; instead and ate olive oil until
the color of his skin changed. And he very often went hungry for long periods of time.”It is related
that Aslam said, “We used to say among ourselves that had not Allah – the Most High – ended the
drought that took place during the Year of the Ashes, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) would
have died out of concern for the plight of the Muslims.”
Fiqhul –Aitilaaf, Al-khaazindaar, p:164
“By the time I am gone, they will not need anyone after me”
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) famously said, “By Allah, if Allah The Almighty keeps me
safe (healthy, alive, and with sufficient strength], I will provide for the widows among Iraq’s
population to the point that, by the time I am gone, they will not need anyone after me.”
Saheeh At-Tautheeq, P:373.
Look neither at the Prayer not at the Fasting of a Person
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) would often say, “Look neither at the Prayer nor at the fasting
of a person; instead, look at his intellect (his mentality, intelligence, level of understanding) and at his
truthfulness.”He would also say, “Verily, I do not fear for you two kinds of men: a believer whose
Faith has been clearly established, and a disbeliever whose disbelief has been clearly established (i.e.,
at least I know where these two categories of people stand). But I do fear for you a hypocrite who seeks
protection (anonymity, concealment, etc.) in Eemaan (Faith), and who performs deeds for those
besides Him (i.e., for those besides Allah).”
Umar ibn Al-Khattab, by Saalih ibn, Abdur-Rahim Abdullah, P:66.
Taking Care of Patients
Malik bin Aws narrated that in the year of the drought, a hundred people from his tribe, Bani Aws,
came to ‘Umar and stayed in Jabanah. ‘Umar provided them with flour, dates and stew. He provided
them with such a large quantity of food that was sufficient for them for several months. He took care
of the patients, and arranged for the burial of those who died. Many people died during this calamity.
Several times, he offered the funeral prayer over ten people. When the drought was over, he requested
the people who belonged to the rural areas, to return to their homes. He said, “I will be careful
concerning your needs.”
Seeking Aid From the Inhabitants of Distant Provinces
The famine had disastrous consequences, but ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) understood,
things were going to get much worse if help did not come soon. Thus, he (May Allah be pleased with
him) immediately wrote letters to his governors in distant lands, exhorting them to send aid as quickly
as possible. That is because the drought mainly afflicted the inhabitants of the Arabian Peninsula; in
other places – such as Egypt and Ash-Sham (Syria and surrounding regions) – there were abundant
crops, and people enjoyed comfortable lives.
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) wrote the following letter to his Governor in Egypt, ‘Amr bin
Al- ‘Aas (May Allah be pleased with him):
“This is from the slave of Allah, ‘Umar bin Al-Khattaab, the Leader of the Believers, to‘Amr bin Al-
‘Aas (May Allah be pleased with him).
Peace be upon you.
To proceed: Will you just simply stand by and watch as I and those around me die, while you and
those around you live a life of comfort? Help us! Help us!” ‘Amr bin Al- ‘Aas (May Allah be pleased
with him) wrote back the following reply:
“To: the Leader of the Believers, from ‘Amr bin Al- ‘Aas.
Peace be upon you. I say to you that all praise is for Allah and that none has the right to be
worshipped but Him.
To proceed: Help is coming to you, but remain patient, as it will take time [for that help to reach
you]. Verily, I will send you a caravan, one that is so large that the front part of it will reach you
while the end of it will still be here with me. I also hope to find a way to send you shipments by sea.”
By land, ‘Amr (May Allah be pleased with him) sent one-thousand camels that were loaded with flour.
And by sea, he (May Allah be pleased with him) sent twenty ships, each of which was loaded with
flour and cooking fat; additionally, he (May Allah be pleased with him) sent fivethousand garments.
Akhbar Umar, P:115.
The Servant of the People: The Leader of the Believers

Hazm bin Hisham narrated from his father that he once saw ‘Umar going to a woman who was cooking
food. ‘Umar said to her, “This is not the proper way of preparing this recipe.”He took the spoon in his
hand, stirred it in the pot, and said, “The water should first be boiled and then it should be stirred in
the pot like this.”
[Akhbaar‘Umar, pg.]
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) Consulted ‘Ali (May
Allah be pleased with him) before Making Final Decisions
In his book Al-Faarooq, the eminent scholar Shiblee An-Nu‘maanee titled a chapter “The Fulfilling of
Rights and the Mutual Exchange of Respect and Good Manners between the Members of the Prophet’s
Household and the Companions of the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon
him).”In that chapter, Shaykh An-Nu‘maanee wrote, “Verily, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)
would never make a final decision regarding important matters without first consulting ‘Ali (May Allah
be pleased with him). On his part, ‘Ali (May Allah be pleased with him) was very sincere and caring
towards ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him). Their mutual love and respect for one another further
blossomed, and their attachment towards one another further strengthened when ‘Ali (May Allah be
pleased with him) gave his daughter’s hand in marriage to ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him);
that daughter was Umm Kulthoom (May Allah be please with her), who was also the daughter of
Faatimah (May Allah be please with her) [and the granddaughter of the Messenger of Allah (Peace
and Blessings of Allah be upon him) ].Furthermore, ‘Ali (May Allah be pleased with him) named one
of his sons ‘Umar, just as he named another son Abu Bakr (May Allah be pleased with him), and a
third son, ‘Uthmaan (May Allah be pleased with him).As it is widely known, a person gives his
children only a name that he loves; and if he names a son after someone, then that person is someone
he respects and considers to be a good role model.”
Just as ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) was a trusted advisor of Abu Bakr (May Allah be
pleased with him), ‘Ali (May Allah be pleased with him) was a trusted advisor of ‘Umar (May Allah
be pleased with him). ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) sought out ‘Ali’s counsel in matters
both great and small. Through historical narrations, we know that ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with
him) consulted ‘Ali (May Allah be pleased with him) about the following issues: the dating of the
Muslim calendar; the Muslim conquest of Jerusalem; the conquest of Al-Madaain in Iraq; ‘Umar’s
desire to go to Nahaawand and to attack the Persians; and ‘Umar’s desire to personally go out and fight
the Romans.
“Ali (May Allah be pleased with him) gave his daughter’s handin marriage to ‘Umar (May Allah be
pleased with him); was Umm Kulthoom (May Allah be please with her) ”
Throughout the duration of ‘Umar’s caliphate, ‘Ali (May Allah be pleased with him) remained a
tremendous support for ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him), always wanting what was best, not
just for Muslims, but for ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) as well. The two of them reciprocated
feelings of love and complete trust. In spite of all of that, some people still insist on fabricating
historical accounts in order to suit their false notions of what actually took place during the early years
of Islam. Based on their biased and distorted view of history, they depict for us an era in which the
Prophet’s Companions were constantly plotting against one another, with each one of them setting his
sights on the caliphate.
Dr. Al-Bootee wrote, “One of the most salient aspects of ‘Umar’s caliphate was the spirit of pure,
unique, and complete cooperation between ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) and ‘Ali (May
Allah be pleased with him). Whenever ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) was faced with difficult
issues and problems, ‘Ali (May Allah be pleased with him) was the first person he went to for advice.
Whenever ‘Ali (May Allah be pleased with him) suggested a particular course of action, ‘Umar (May
Allah be pleased with him) would not hesitate to follow his advice. Referring to his reliance on ‘Ali’s
good counsel, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said,
‘Had it not been for ‘Ali (May Allah be pleased with him), ‘Umar would have been destroyed. ‘ As for
‘Ali (May Allah be pleased with him), he was always available to offer ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased
with him) his heartfelt, sincere advice on all matters. On one particular occasion, when ‘Umar (May
Allah be pleased with him) informed ‘Ali (May Allah be pleased with him) about his intention to
personally lead the Muslim Army in its onslaught against the Persians, ‘Ali (May Allah be pleased
with him) spoke to him in the way a loving and protective person speaks to his close friend. He (May
Allah be pleased with him) advised ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) not to go; to send in his
stead someone else; and to stay where he (May Allah be pleased with him) was [and to supervise the
affairs of the Muslim Nation rather than the affairs of a single army from the Muslim Nation]. ‘Ali
(May Allah be pleased with him) warned ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) that, if he went, he
would be sorely missed, leaving behind a gaping hole in the Muslim government that would be more
dangerous than the enemy he wished to go out and meet.
‘Umar’s Supplications for the Muslims
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) knew that no matter what he did, he could achieve nothing
without the help of Allah. Thus, after he led the people in ‘Isha Prayer, he (May Allah be pleased with
him) would go back to his home and continue to pray until the last hours of the night. Then he would
go to Al-Anqaab and check on the people. ‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)
described how, late one night, he heard ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) make the following
supplication: “O Allah, do not destroy the Nation of Muhammad at my hands (i.e., do not allow me to
make an ill-advised decision that will lead to their destruction) !”‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with
him) would also say, “O Allah, do not destroy us with a famine, and lift from us this calamity, “and he
(May Allah be pleased with him) would repeatedly say these words.
Akhbar Umar, P: 111.
‘Umar’s Supplication on his Last Pilgrimage (Hajj) in 23 A.H.
Sa ‘eed bin Al-Musayyib said that when ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) returned from the
Mina valley, he made his camel kneel at Al-Abtah. He made a heap of sand and pebbles and covered
it with a part of his robe. Then he lay down on it, raised his hand towards the sky, and said, “O Allah!
I have grown old, my strength has waned and my subjects have become scattered. So take my soul (let
me die) such that I am neither wasteful nor unrestrained.”Then he proceeded to Madeenah.
Tareekh Al-Madeenah: 3/872.
His Desire for Martyrdom
Zayd bin Aslam narrated from his father that ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said, “O Allah,
grant me martyrdom in Your Way and let my death occur in the city of Your Prophet.”‘Umar (May
Allah be pleased with him) himself exclaimed, “But how can it happen? Allah The Almighty will make
it come to pass if He wills!”Sheikh Yusuf bin Al-Hasan bin AlHadi commented on this by saying:
“Wishing for martyrdom is desirable. This is different from wishing for death. The difference is that
wishing for death is a request for death to be brought earlier than its appointed time. A long life is only
good for a person. Wishing for martyrdom is to ask for the death of a martyr at the end of his lifetime.
Hence, it does not contain the wish for death to occur before its time. On the contrary, it is only a wish
to have a virtuous end. ”
At-Tabaqat by Ibn Sa ‘d: 3/331.
Love with Hasan & Husain (May Allah be please with them)
Abu Ja‘far (May Allah be pleased with him) related that, when ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with
him) was about to distribute a large quantity of wealth, he gathered the Companions of the Messenger
of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him). ‘Abdur-Rahmaan bin ‘Awf (May Allah be
pleased with him) said to ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him), “Begin with yourself (i.e., begin
by taking your share of the wealth).”‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) replied, “By Allah, no [I
will not do that]; instead, I will begin by giving those who are nearest [in relation] to the Messenger of
Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him).”Therefore, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)
began with the children of Haashim, the fellow clansmen of the Messenger of Allah (Peace and
Blessings of Allah be upon him) – Al-‘Abbaas (May Allah be pleased with him), ‘Ali (May Allah be
pleased with him), and others. ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) continued to distribute the
wealth until he reached the members of the Banu ‘Adee bin Ka‘ab clan. While distributing the wealth,
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) also gave precedence to the people who had fought in the
Battle of Badr. Although Al-Hasan (May Allah be pleased with him) and Al-Husain (May Allah be
pleased with him) were young, he (May Allah be pleased with him) gave them a share because of their
close relation to the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him).
After all the robes had been distributed, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) sat down in the
Prophet’s Masjid, somewhere between the pulpit and the Prophet’s grave; meanwhile, people were
coming to him, extending greetings of peace to him, and supplicating for him. Then AlHasan (May
Allah be pleased with him) and Al-Husain (May Allah be pleased with him) came out from Faatimah’s
house, and as they walked by various groups of people, they seemed to be out of place, for unlike the
others, the two of them were not wearing the newly arrived robes. Apparently, ‘Umar (May Allah be
pleased with him) had forgotten to give them their robes (or he did not have any in their sizes).
When ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) saw the two of them approaching, a frown formed on
his face, for he (May Allah be pleased with him) could not believe that he had forgotten them (or that
they had been left out for some other reason). He (May Allah be pleased with him) said to the people
around him, “I take no satisfaction in having given you clothing.”They said, “O Leader of the
Believers, you have clothed your people. You have certainly done something good.”‘Umar (May
Allah be pleased with him) said, “I take no delight in what I did because of two young boys who are
walking among the people, but who have nothing upon them (i.e., who have no robes to wear).”
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) then wrote a letter to his governor in Yemen, ordering him to
send two robes, one for Hasan (May Allah be pleased with him), and the other for Husain (May Allah
be pleased with him), and he (May Allah be pleased with him) ordered his governor to send the
garments in a hurry. Omar (May Allah be pleased with him) found closure in the matter only after the
robes arrived and after he (May Allah be pleased with him) gave them to Hasan (May Allah be pleased
with him) and Husain (May Allah be pleased with him), the two grandsons of the Prophet (Peace and
Blessings of Allah be upon him).
Al-Murtadaa, by An-Nadawee, P:119.
‘Verily the Knots will be Loosened ‘
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) believed that, without at least some insight into or experience
with ignorance, one cannot fully appreciate the truth. For as he famously said, “Verily, the knots of
Islam will be loosened one after the other (thus making Islam weaker and weaker) when a person who
does not know ignorance is brought up in Islam.”
Al-Fawatah: 15/36
The Muslim Nation was built on Justice
Nowadays, people give examples of Winston Churchill when he said, “If our courts base their rulings
on justice, then we will have no fear.”This point was elaborated by Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have
mercy upon him) over 800 years ago.
During the era of the rightly-guided Khaleefahs, the Muslim Nation was built on the principle of
justice. This is mainly why Muslims were so prosperous during those times. Ibn Taymiyyah (may
Allah have mercy on him) wrote, “Verily, Allah helps a just country, even if its people are disbelievers;
and He does not help a wrongdoing, oppressive country, even if its people are Muslims. It is through
justice that men become upright, and it is through justice that wealth becomes abundant [among a
people].”
He also said, “Whoever gives authority to a man over a group when there is a man in that group who
is more pleasing to Allah has betrayed Allah, betrayed his Messenger and betrayed the believers.”
He also said, “Whoever is made in charge of some of the affairs of the Muslims and he appoints a man
because of friendship or blood ties, has betrayed Allah, His Messenger and the Muslims.
As-Siyaasah Ash-Shar ‘eeyah, P:10.
“I fear this food will Turn into fire in ‘Umar’s stomach”

Abu Zayd ‘Umar bin Shabbah related on the authority of Mai ‘daan bin Abu Talhah Al-Ya ‘maree
that, one day, when ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) received a shipment of clothing and food,
he (May Allah be pleased with him) ordered that the shipment be distributed among the people. And
he (May Allah be pleased with him) then said,
“O Allah, you indeed know that it is not I who provides for them; therefore, I will not take exclusive
possession [of that which rightfully belongs to all Muslims]. I might think about placing
my hand in their food [and share it with them since, like every other individual, it is my right to
take my share of the food that is distributed among the general population of Muslims], but I refrain
from doing so, fearing that that food will turn into fire in ‘Umar’s stomach.”
The narrator of this story, Mai ‘daan, said, “I did not leave [‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)
that day] until I saw ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) take a bowl of food that he personally
owned and place it in the midst of food trays that were meant for the general population of
Muslims.”Being the Leader of the Believers, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) wanted to eat
alongside the general population of Muslims, hoping that doing so would further engender a sense of
brotherhood between the Muslim leadership and the Muslim masses.
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) sat alongside his Muslim brothers to eat, but he felt
uncomfortable eating food that belonged to the general population of Muslims. He (May Allah be
pleased with him) feared that he would be held accountable for taking what belonged to them, even
though, like every other citizen, he had a right to his share of the food. On the one hand, he (May Allah
be pleased with him) could not bring himself to eat their food; and on the other hand, he (May Allah
be pleased with him) knew that it was improper for him to just sit there while the others ate. And so
he (May Allah be pleased with him) ordered someone to bring food that he (May Allah be pleased with
him) personally owned; and when his food was brought to him, he ate from it, while the others ate
from the larger trays, from the food that was commonly owned by them all. This story contains a good
example of ‘Umar’s Wara‘. It was clearly not unlawful for ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) to
eat food that was commonly owned by all Muslims, since he (May Allah be pleased with him), like
everyone else, had a right to a share of the food; nonetheless, he (May Allah be pleased with him) held
himself back, desiring, instead of his share of the food, Allah’s rewards in the Hereafter.
Tareekh Al-Islamee: 19/37.
“The most beloved people are those who point out my faults”
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) famously said, “The most beloved of people to me is he that
points out my flaws to me.”It seems that ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) repeatedly ordered
others to advise him because he feared that some people might hold back their opinions because they
were shy, or because they were afraid of him. This is supported by ‘Umar’s saying, “Verily, I fear that,
when I make a mistake, not a single person among you will correct me as a result of [you all] being
intimidated by me.”
Ash-Shaikhaan Abu Bakr wa Umar Min Riwaayati Al-Baladhuree P:231.
‘Umar wept upon receiving the Wealth of Persia
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) wept when he saw the huge quantities of wealth that arrived
as a result of the conquests of Persia. When ‘Abdur-Rahmaan bin ‘Awf (May Allah be pleased with
him) pointed out that it was not a moment of sadness but rather a moment of happiness and of being
thankful, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said, “No! Indeed, whenever a people are given this
[huge amount of wealth], there occurs among them enmity and hatred.”And when he saw the arrival
of wealth that came from the conquest of Jaloolah, he (May Allah be pleased with him) recited the
following verse:
{Beautified for men is the love of things they covet; women, children, much of gold and silver
(wealth).} (Qur’an 3: 14)
And he (May Allah be pleased with him) said, “O Allah, we cannot help but be happy with that which
has been made beautified for us. O Allah, make me spend it as it should be spent, and I seek refuge
with You from its evil.”
Al-Fatawa: 15/36.
Governor Like a Caring Mother
Sa‘d bin Abi Waqqaas (May Allah be pleased with him) is considered the first governor of Koofah
after it was established; indeed he was the one who established it, upon ‘Umar’s directions. He was
the governor of Koofah and the surrounding regions before
Koofah was built. Sa‘d (May Allah be pleased with him) remained the governor of Koofah and played
his role there with great perfection. After residing in Koofah, Sa‘d (May Allah be pleased with him)
embarked upon great conquests in Persia.
Sa‘d (May Allah be pleased with him) also introduced a number of agricultural reforms in his province,
such as when a group of local chiefs asked him to dig a channel to serve the farmers in their areas,
Sa‘d (May Allah be pleased with him) wrote to his agents in that area commanding them to dig a
channel for them. So his agent gathered some workers and dug it for them.
Sa‘d (May Allah be pleased with him) arranged the affairs of the regions belonging to Koofah, and
made agents in charge of them, after consulting ‘Umar bin Al-Khattaab (May Allah be pleased with
him). The citizens of Koofah admired and praised Sa‘d bin Abi Waqqaas (May Allah be pleased with
him).
When ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) asked Jarir bin Abdullaah (May Allah be pleased with
him) about Sa‘d bin Abi Waqqaas (May Allah be pleased with him) and the way he was running the
affairs of governorship, Jarir (May Allah be pleased with him) said: “I left him in his province the most
noble of men, with the strongest authority and least harshness; he is like a caring mother towards them.
He is the strongest of men in times of war and the most beloved of the Quraysh to the people.
Al-Wilaayah ‘alal-Buldaan: 1/123
Respecting Governors after their Dismissal

One of the rights of the governors was that they were to be respected even after having been dismissed.
When ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) dismissed Shurahbil bin Hasanah from his post as
governor of Jordan, he explained to the people the reason for his dismissal. When Shurahbil asked
him, “Did you dismiss me because you are displeased with me, O Leader of the Believers?”, ‘Umar
said, “No, I think well of you, but I want a man who is stronger than you.”Similarly, he dismissed Sa‘d
bin Abi Waqqaas (May Allah be pleased with him) from his post as governor of Koofah. Perhaps he
thought that in order to protect Sa ‘d’s dignity, he should keep him away from people who used to
criticize him with regard to his prayer, even though Sa‘d (May Allah be pleased with him) most closely
imitated the prayer of the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) because of
his knowledge of how the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) performed the prayer.
Thus, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) dismissed him out of respect for him, so as to protect
him from exposure to the ignorant.
Taareekh al-Ya ‘qoobee: 2/139, 140. Al-Wilayah ‘alal-Buldaan: 2/55
‘Umar appoints Ka ‘b as a Judge
One of the requisite qualities of a judge is that he should be intelligent and have a quick and sharp
mind. He should be able to understand and notice the subtle aspects of the cases that come before him.
Ash-Sha‘bee related that, one day, Ka‘ab bin Siwaar (May Allah be pleased with him) was sitting in
the company of ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) when a woman came and said, “O Leader of
the Believers, I have never seen any man who is better than my husband. By Allah, during the night
he stands to pray, and during the day he fasts. Even on hot days he does not break his fast.”‘Umar then
prayed for her forgiveness, and he praised her, saying, “It is only befitting that I should praise one such
as you (i.e., because of how dutiful you seem to be towards your husband).”The woman then felt shy,
and so she stood up to leave.
Ka ‘ab (May Allah be pleased with him) said, “O Leader of the Believers, should you not have helped
her resolve her problem with her husband?”‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said, “And what
is her complaint?”Ka‘ab (May Allah be pleased with him) said, “She is making a strong complaint
against her husband.”‘Umar said, “Is that really what she wanted to convey to me?”Ka‘ab (May Allah
be pleased with him) replied, “Yes.”‘Umar said, “Bring the woman back to me.”When she returned,
‘Umar said, “It is permitted for you to speak the truth. Verily, this man claims that you are complaining
about your husband – and that your complaint is that he stays away from your bed.”She said, “Yes.
Verily, I am a young woman, and I desire what all women desire.”‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with
him) then sent for her husband, and when he came, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said to Ka
‘ab (May Allah be pleased with him), “Render a judgment in their case.”Ka‘ab (May Allah be pleased
with him) said, “The Leader of the Believers has more of a right to render a judgment in their
case.”‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said, “I insist that you judge between them, for indeed,
you have understood from their affair that which I was not able to understand.”
Ka ‘ab (May Allah be pleased with him) said, “Verily, suppose that she had three co-wives and that
she was the fourth wife. In that case, she would have had the right to one out of every four nights.
Therefore, my judgment is that he may dedicate himself to worship for three days and nights, and that
every fourth day she has a right over him both during that day and during that night.”‘Umar said, “By
Allah, I am just as amazed by this judgment of yours as I was by your initial ability to detect a problem
[between them]. Go, for you are now the Judge of Basrah.”
‘Beware of Bribery ‘
‘Umar used to avoid anything that might influence his judgment. This included bribery, allowing
traders to be easygoing with him in business dealings, accepting gifts, or any similar action. ‘Umar
(May Allah be pleased with him) strictly forbade judges from doing business in the marketplace and
from accepting gifts. He wrote the following to Abu Moosa Al-Ash‘aree (May Allah be pleased with
him): “Do not buy and sell [as a trader in the marketplace], do not make investments, and do not accept
bribes.”Shuraih (May Allah be pleased with him) said, “When he appointed me as a judge, ‘Umar
(May Allah be pleased with him) stipulated that I must neither buy nor sell [in the marketplace], and
that I must not accept bribes.”And ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said, “Beware of bribery,
and of ruling based on your desires.”
‘This is your world ‘
Abu Al-Ashhab related that, one day, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) and a group of his
Companions passed by a pit that was used for the disposal of sewage and garbage. For some reason,
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) was forced to stop for a short while beside the pit; he (May
Allah be pleased with him) soon noticed looks of disgust and nausea on the faces of his Companions.
And he (May Allah be pleased with him) then said to them, “This is your world that you strive to gain
and that you cry over [when you do not get something from it].”
Saalim bin ‘Abdullah related that ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) would talk about various
delicious foods and drinks; and that he (May Allah be pleased with him) would then say that, while he
(May Allah be pleased with him) and his companions could have eaten and drank delicious foods and
drinks, they preferred not to, desiring instead to save their share of pleasures and good things for the
Hereafter. ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) would then recite the following verse, as if to say
that he didn’t want to be among the people regarding whom it was revealed:
{“You received your good things in the life of the world”} (Qur’an: 46: 20)
After ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) became Khaleefah of the Muslim Nation, he (May Allah
be pleased with him) was once seen delivering a sermon while wearing a lower garment that was
patched in 12 different places. And he (May Allah be pleased with him) was similarly seen with 12
patches on his lower garment while he (May Allah be pleased with him) was performing Tawaaf
around the Ka ‘bah; one of the patches, the narrator of this story recalled, was made of red leather.
Az-Zuhd by Imam Ahmad P:118, Al-Hilyah: 1/50
‘Umar receives Kisrah’s Clothes & Crown

During the days of Al-Qaadisiyyah, Sa‘ad bin Abi Waqqaas (May Allah be pleased with him) sent
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) a number of Kisrah’s (Kisrah [Chosroes] was the Emperor of
Persia) personal items: his robe, sword, girdle, lower garments, shirt, crown, and shoes. When ‘Umar
(May Allah be pleased with him) received these items, a number of people gathered around him. He
(May Allah be pleased with him) looked at the faces of the people who sat before him, and he (May
Allah be pleased with him) saw that the biggest and tallest of them was Suraaqah bin Ju ‘tham Al-
Mudlajee (May Allah be pleased with him). ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said, “O Suraaqah,
stand up and wear [these articles of clothing].”When Suraaqah (May Allah be pleased with him) had
attired himself in the complete outfit, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) ordered him to walkback
and forth and Suraaqah (May Allah be pleased with him) complied the Khaleefah’s request.
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) then said, “Wonderful! Wonderful! A Bedouin from the Banu
Mudlaj tribe wearing the robe, lower garments, sword, girdle, crown, and shoes of Kisrah!”‘Umar
(May Allah be pleased with him) then ordered Suraaqah (May Allah be pleased with him) to remove
Kisrah’s former articles of clothing, after which ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said, “[O
Allah] You indeed forbade Your Messenger and Prophet from this (from acting the part of a proud
king), and he (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) was more beloved to You and more honored
by You than I am. And you forbade Abu Bakr (May Allah be pleased with him) [from acting the part
of a proud king), and he (May Allah be pleased with him) too was more beloved to You and more
honored by You than I am. Then you gave me these things (things that I can wear and that I can use to
declare myself a powerful king). I seek refuge in You from You having given me these things as a
means of misguiding me.”‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) then cried, and continued to cry
until the people who were with him began to pity him. ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) then
said to ‘Abdur-Rahmaan (May Allah be pleased with him), “I take a strong oath from you that you will
sell these items and then distribute the proceeds of that sale before nightfall.”
Sunan Al-Baihaqi: 6/357.
Muslims Compete for Calling Athaan

Towards the end of the battle, a strange incident occurred which elucidates how concerned the earlier
Muslims were about their religion and drawing closer to Allah The Almighty. The Muaththin (the
person who makes the call to the five daily prayers) of the Muslim army was martyred that day, and
when the time to pray arrived, the Muslims vied with each other to make Athaan (the call for prayers).
The privilege was so hotly contested that it seemed as if blood would be drawn over the issue. Sa‘d
resolved the issue by drawing lots among the contenders. The man whose name came out in the raffle
finally made the call.
Taareekh At-Tabaree: 4/390.
‘Here I am! Here I am! ‘
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) wrote to a man from Banu Aslam assigning him to some
position of authority. The man entered and met ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) and saw him
kissing one of his children who was on his lap. The man said, “Do you do this, O Leader of the
Believers? By Allah, I have never kissed any child of mine!”‘Umar said, “Then by Allah you are the
least merciful of people. You will never do any work for me.”Thus, ‘Umar rejected him and did not
appoint him.
One of his armies went on a campaign in Persia and reached a river that had no bridge. The commander
of the army ordered one of his soldiers to enter the river on a very cold day and look for a place where
the army could cross the river. The man said, “I am afraid that I will die if I enter the water.”However,
the commander compelled him to do what he had ordered him to, and the man entered the water,
screaming, “O ‘Umar, O ‘Umar!”and soon after that he died. News of this event reached ‘Umar (May
Allah be pleased with him) when he was in the marketplace of Madeenah, and he said, “Here I am!
Here I am!”He sent word dismissing the commander of that army and said: “Were it not for the fact
that I do not want to set a precedent, I would have retaliated against you. You will never do any work
for me again.”
Mahdus-Sawaab: 2/519, Manaqib Ameeril-Mu ‘mineen by Ibn Al-Jawzee, P:150.
“They threatened to burn me…....”
Once, Huthaifah bin Yaman sent vessels with the spoils gained at Nahawand, filled with fine jewels
which once belonged to the Khosrau, with As-Saaib bin Al-Aqra ‘ to Madeenah. When ‘Umar received
them he ordered As-Saaib, “Deposit them in the public treasury and return to your army.”
As-Saaib mounted his horse and set out for his unit after doing as he was told. However, ‘Umar sent a
courier after him who caught up with Saaib and told him to return to Madeenah. When ‘Umar saw
him, he said, “I saw a dream on the night you left. I saw that angels were pulling me towards the two
wooden vessels which were burning. They threatened to burn me if I did not distribute the contents of
the vessels. So take the vessels and sell them, and distribute the proceeds among the Muslims.”The
jewels were finally sold in Koofah.
May Allah be pleased with you, O ‘Umar! You followed the way of your beloved Prophet (Peace and
Blessings of Allah be upon him). You were honored by Islam and you brought glory to Islam and
Muslims. O Allah, guide us to follow Your Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) and
prevent us from falling into the abyss of innovating new things in his religion.
Itmam Al-wafa:98.
Feeding Farmers with the Food of Kings
Abu ‘Ubaid met the Persians in battle at Al-Saqqatiyya (a district of Kaskar which falls in the Wasit
province of Iraq) and prevailed upon them, obtaining numerous spoils from the vanquished Persians,
including abundant foodstuff. The Persian commander Narsi fled the battle and the Muslims
overpowered his soldiers and captured his land. They also took possession of his abundant treasures,
but the most pleasing spoils of war they laid their hands on were the date palms called ‘Nirsiyan ‘
(which produced the best type of dates in the region). Narsi used to protect these trees personally,
whose fruit was exclusively reserved for royalty. The Muslims divided the fruit among themselves and
started feeding it to the farmers. They sent five of these to the caliph, ‘Umar and wrote to him, “Indeed,
Allah The Almighty has blessed us with a food which the Persian kings used to protect and use
exclusively. We would like you to see it, so that you may remember Allah’s Grace and Bounties.”
This story shows the kind of high moral character that the Muslims possessed, which they exhibited
by elevating the status of the deprived farmers. The Muslims fed them with the ambrosia reserved for
their kings, which had been forbidden for them. This noble act carried the palpable message: ‘Come
to this great religion which elevates your status and restores your human dignity! ‘
At-Taareekh Al-Islamee: 10/335.
Modern Application of Past Military Concepts
The conquest of Damascus was not devoid of the employment of military strategies by the Muslims.
They utilized elements of surprise, initiative, seizing opportunities and creativity on the part of the
field commanders. This is obvious in how Khalid carried out reconnaissance, chose the spot for
crossing the moat, how the situation evolved and the mode of operation morphed from siege to
invasion. Centuries later, the Egyptian army too employed rope-ladders for crossing the Bar Lev Line
to reach Israeli defensive positions during the Yom Kippur War of 1973 C.E. When we compare the
two events, we observe that the latter was an exact copy of the former in style and method. Islamic
conquests elucidate the genius of the Muslims and prove that our recent battles draw a lot from the
creative military ingenuity of Muslims in the past.
Al-handasa Al-Askariya, P:193
“Did you Honor my Soldiers and Cool their Hearts Likewise?”
Abu ‘Ubaid stayed at Kaskar, while sending troops to pursue the fleeing Persians and discipline the
neighboring towns which had broken their covenant by aiding the Persians. The balance of power in
the region now tilted in favor of the Muslims. After this conquest, some local governors came forward
with offers of truce and armistice. Some of them presented their choicest cuisines to Abu ‘Ubaid,
saying, “This is something by which we wish to honor you, and cool your heart.”He replied, “Did you
honor my soldiers and cool their hearts likewise?”They said, “It is not easy, but we will do it,
nevertheless.”Abu ‘Ubaid said, “Then we do not desire anything which is not available to the
troops.”The delegates were overawed and feared for themselves. Abu ‘Ubaid continued, “Did I not tell
you that I will not partake except from that which is also available to those with me who attacked
you?”The delegates finally said, “Now no one is left except that he was provided to his fill in his camp
of this cuisine or better than this.”Upon learning this, Abu ‘Ubaid accepted their gift and ate from it.
He sent for his guests who used to eat with him and invited him to share the meal with him. However,
these guests had already had their share from the Persian cuisine. They did not know whether the
Persians had presented anything to Abu ‘Ubaid and thought that they were being called to the same
coarse meal that they used to eat with him. They were disinclined to leave the exotic and exquisite
cuisine for the simple fare that were the feature of Abu ‘Ubaid’s diet, so they sent back the reply, “Tell
the commander we do not wish anything besides what the farmers have presented us with.”Abu ‘Ubaid
replied, “Our menu today is a variety of non-Arab cuisines. Come and compare this to what you have
been presented with.”
Taareekh At-Tabaree: 4/272, 273.
‘They are Like Cattle… ‘

Al-Muthanna said, “I have fought against both Arabs and non-Arabs before embracing Islam. In those
days, I used to think that a hundred non-Arabs were harder to beat than a thousand Arabs. But today,
I think a hundred Arabs outweigh a thousand non-Arabs! Allah The Almighty has changed their state
and weakened their plot. Do not be instilled with fear by their appearances, numbers, wide bows (such
that the chord was visible from a distance) or long arrows. If they leave these weapons behind when
fleeing or lose them otherwise, they are like cattle; wherever you wish to drive them, they will obey. ”
Taareekh At-Tabaree: 4/290.
Muslim Chivalry and Magnanimity in Returning the Daughter of
Muqawqis
A noteworthy incident that highlights Muslim chivalry and magnanimity is that when Bilbeis was
conquered, they found the daughter of Muqawqis called Armanosa among the inhabitants. She was
very dear to her father. She was being forced to marry Constantine, the son of Caesar against her will,
so she had taken refuge in the city along with her lady-in-waiting, Barbara. The Muslim Army was
soon able to take many of her slaves into captivity. ‘Amr gathered his advisors and mentioned to them
a verse of the Qur’an:
“Is there any reward for good other than good?”(Qur’an, 55:60).
He added, “Muqawqis had sent a present to the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him)
and I think we should send his daughter and her female slaves and courtiers back to him, along with
any wealth we seized from them.”The council agreed to his proposal and hence ‘Amr sent her off to
her father honorably, with all her belongings including her retinue and companions. Her lady-in-
waiting, Dame Barbara said to her on the way back, “My Lady, the Arabs have surrounded us from all
sides.”Princess Armanosa replied, “My life and honor are safer in an Arab tent than in my father’s
palace!”Her father was very pleased to have her back and delighted at the conduct of the Muslims in
this regard.
Fath Al-Misr by Subhi Nida, P:24.
Conversation between ‘Umar and Huthaifah (May Allah be

please with her) about tribulations, and the Door about to be
Broken
Narrated Abu Wail: Huthaifah (May Allah be pleased with him) said, “‘Umar (May Allah be pleased
with him) said, ‘Who amongst you remembers the statement of Allah’s Apostle (Peace and Blessings
of Allah be upon him) about afflictions ‘? ‘ I said, ‘I know it as the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of
Allah be upon him) had saidit. ‘Umar said, ‘No doubt, you arebold. How did he say it? ‘ I said, ‘A
man’s afflictions (wrong deeds) concerning his wife, children and neighbors are expiated by (his)
prayers, charity, and enjoining good. ‘‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said, ‘I did not mean
that, but I ask about that affliction which will spread like the waves of the sea. ‘ I said, ‘O chief of the
believers! You need not be afraid of it as there is a closed door between you and it. ‘ He asked, ‘Will
the door be broken or opened? ‘ I replied, ‘No, it will be broken. ‘ He said, ‘Then, if it is broken, it will
never be closed again? ‘ I replied, ‘Yes. ‘ “Then we were afraid to ask what that door was, so we asked
Masruq to inquire, and he asked Huthaifah (May Allah be pleased with him) regarding it. Huthaifah
(May Allah be pleased with him) said, “The door was ‘Umar!”We further asked Huthaifah (May Allah
be pleased with him) whether ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) knew what that door meant.
Huthaifah (May Allah be pleased with him) replied in the affirmative and added, “He knew it as one
knows that there will be a night before the tomorrow morning. I narrated a Hadeeth that was free from
any misstatement “
We observe that when Huthaifah (May Allah be pleased with him) presented the information to ‘Umar
(May Allah be pleased with him) that an impregnable door prevents the afflictions from flooding over
the Muslims and that it will be broken and crashed open, then ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)
understood it to mean that it will remain open till the Final Day. This means that trials and tribulations
would remain widespread among the Muslims and they will not be able to eradicate or stop them.
Huthaifah (May Allah be pleased with him) did not state this on his own account nor was it his own
foresight. He did not have knowledge of the unseen (which only Allah The Almighty has). It was the
Prophet’s words which he had heard and memorized verbatim, and that is why he commented, “I
narrated a Hadeeth that was free from any misstatement” i.e. words which are accurate, true and do
not contain any errors or lies since they belong to the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon
him).‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) knew the intent of those sacred words that his caliphate
is that impregnable door and that afflictions would not come to the Muslims during his reign and life.
Al-Khulafa Ar-Rashidun by Al-Khalidi, P:79.
Poor People Going to Wealthy People

‘Umar would say, “Whoever goes to the ruler, upon his return his opinion concerning Allah will be
changed.”
The going of poor people to wealthy people is a cause for affliction. If anyone has ten habits, nine
being virtuous and one being bad, then that bad habit will overcome the nine virtuous ones. If that
tenth habit is ill conduct with others then it will destroy all the rest of his habits.
[Akhbaar ‘Umar, pg.355, 359]
Al-Farooq asks Sa‘d to send a Delegation to Debate the Persian
King
‘Umar said in one of his letters to Sa‘d, “Don’t be distressed due to the information you get about them,
nor due to their intransigence. Seek Allah’s Help and put your trust in Him. Send to him (the Persian
king) men who are insightful, wise and patient who should call him towards Allah The Almighty.
Allah The Almighty will weaken them through this call and make it a precursor of victory over them.”
Besides, ‘Umar asked Sa‘d to write a report to him every day.
Sa‘d began gathering wise, intelligent and forbearing men for the task. The men who were chosen for
their insight, intelligence and nobility were the following:
1. An-Nu ‘man bin Muqarrin Al-Muzani.
2. Busar bin Abi Ruhm Al-Juhani.
3. Hamlah bin Juwiyyah Al-Kanani.
4. Hanzalah bin Al-Rabi ‘ At-Tamimi.
5. Furat bin Hayyan Al-‘Ajali.
6. ‘Adi bin Suhail.
7. Al-Mughirah bin Zurarah bin Al-Nabbaash bin Habeeb.
Sa‘d also chose other men due to their dignified, imposing personalities and well-proportioned,
muscular constitution. This, along with their deep insight made them integral members of the
delegation. They were:
1. ‘Utarid bin Hajib Al-Tamimi.
2. Al-Ash ‘ath bin Qais Al-Kindi.
3. Al-Harith bin Hassan Al-Thuhli.
4. ‘Asim bin ‘Amr At-Tamimi.
5. ‘Amr bin Ma ‘di Karb Az-Zubiedi.
6. Al-Mughirah bin Shu ‘bah Ath-Thaqafi.
7. Al-Muthanna bin Haarithah Ash-Shaybani.
Hence, the delegation consisted of fourteen people whom Sa‘d sent to the Persian King. They were the
cream of his army, as ‘Umar had wished. This would have enabled them to call King Yazdegerd to
Islam with wisdom, appropriate words and convincing arguments, with the hope that Allah The
Almighty may guide him and his army to Islam, and hence bloodshed would be avoided. This
delegation consisted of extremely competent men who were capable of handling the task. Besides
having imposing personalities, wisdom and insight, they had the added advantage of having enough
previous experience with dealing with the Persians. Some of them had faced the Persians in combat in
previous wars, and others had been part of delegations to the Persian courts in pre-Islamic days, while
some knew the Persian language. It was as if Sa‘d chose every one of them after having tested them
on several levels: technically for their competence and thoroughness, and physically for their bodily
strength and competence. Hence, the delegation inspired both awe and admiration at the same time,
due to their imposing personas, forbearance and intelligence.
This noble mission, which was led by An-Nu ‘man bin Muqarrin, finally reached Al-Madain and was
ushered into the royal court of Yazdegerd. He asked through his interpreter, “What brings you here,
and what made you fight us and invade our lands? Is it because we were pre-occupied [with the internal
power struggle in the Persian court], that you decided to avail the opportunity?”
An-Nu ‘man said to his companions, “If you wish, I will talk, but if someone else wants to volunteer,
I would put him forward.”They asked him to speak.
An-Nu ‘man began,
“Allah The Almighty had Mercy on us and sent to us a Prophet who commanded us to do good deeds
and forbade us from evil. Allah The Almighty has promised us rewards in this life and the Hereafter,
if we respond to His Messenger’s call.His call reached all the tribes, until there became a group from
each tribe who drew closer to him, and a group that forsook him. Then he ordered us to start with those
Arabs who opposed him, and we complied. Those Arabs came under his authority either by force, for
which he was thankful to Allah The Almighty, or those who obeyed him of their free will and these
increased in numbers. All of us witnessed the nobility of his mission, by the elimination of enmity and
tension that plagued us.
“Then, the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) asked us to start with those nations
which border us. He asked us to call them towards justice. Thus, we call you to our religion. It is a
religion that tells us about good things and their benefits, and tells us about the evil of all bad things.
If you reject this call, then we offer you something that is harsh, but not worse than the option you
would be left with if you reject it. We offer you the tax: Jizyah. If you do not agree to it, then we will
fight you. If you accept our religion, we will leave you with Allah’s Laws that you have to enforce in
your land, and rule accordingly. In that case we will return and will not interfere in your affairs and
land. If you pay the tax, we will accept it from you and defend you against the aggression of invaders.
If you don’t agree to even that, we will fight you.”
Yazdegerd said,
“I did not know any nation on the face of the earth to be more wretched, less numerous and more
disunited than you. We merely used to let you have some suburban villages, and that alone used to
spare us any worry from you. Do not stand up to Persia. If you are in any delusion about us, set it aside.
If it is poverty that drives you, we will make you plentiful, honor you, clothe you and appoint a kind
and compassionate person to govern you.”
At this, Al-Mughirah bin Shu ‘bah stood up, “Whatever you have mentioned of our inglorious past is
correct, or it was worse than you think.”He described the wretched lifestyles of Arabs before Islam in
detail, and how Allah The Almighty blessed them by sending His Messenger to them, in a manner
similar to Nu ‘man’s speech. Then he added, “Either choose to pay Jizyah willingly and live a life
under subjugation, or face the sword. Better still, save yourself and accept Islam. ”
Yazdegerd retorted, “Had it not been a norm not to kill ambassadors, I would have slain you all. I do
not have anything for you.”Then, he called for a heavy vessel filled with soil to be brought, and
thundered, “Make their most noble man carry it, then drive them out of the gate of AlMadain.”‘Asim
bin ‘Amr stood up and said, “I am the most noble among them.”He took the vessel, carried it to his
mount and placed it on the animal. When ‘Asim arrived back at his garrison, he said to Sa‘d, “Glad
tidings! By Allah, Yazdegerd has given us the keys of his kingdom. “
Al-Bidaayah wan-Nihayah: 7/43.
Rustam gets Scared by the Call to Prayer
When Rustam reached An-Najaf (near Qadisiyyah), he sent a spy to the Muslim camp. The spy
disguised himself as someone who had defected from the Persian side. He saw them using the tooth
stick (Siwak) to cleanse their mouths for every prayer, then praying and after that splitting off to their
respective stations. Then he returned to Rustam and told him about the character and other information
regarding the enemy. Rustam asked about the type of food the army was fed. The spy replied, “I stayed
among them for a night, and I did not observe them eating anything, except that they suck a stick that
they have (i.e. the tooth stick) in the evening, when sleeping and before dawn.”
When Rustam reached Al-Qadisiyyah, he camped between the River ‘Atiq and the fort. While taking
a stroll, he heard the Muaththin call for morning prayers, and saw them preparing to stand up for it.
Rustam immediately ordered his troops to mount their animals and be ready. When asked about the
reason, he said, “Can‘t you see that the battle cry was shouted among the enemy and now they are
getting ready?”The same spy spoke up, “They are getting ready for prayers.”Rustam exclaimed in
Persian, “I heard a sound in the morning; it must have been ‘Umar speaking to his dogs, teaching them
some tricks. When they speak like this, be ready for battle.”When the Muaththin called again for the
noon prayers, Rustam lamented, “It feels as if ‘Umar has eaten my liver!”
At-Taareekh Al-Islamee: 10/347.
The Middle Path
There is a screen between a person and his provisions. If he observes the middle path, then he receives
his provisions in a respected way. However, if anyone becomes impatient and tries to obtain his
provisions with haste, then he removes that screen but he is unable to increase his provisions. ‘Umar
once said, “O Allah, do not give me provisions to such an extent that I become a tyrant, and do not
decrease my provision to such an extent that I become ungrateful to You. A provision which barely
suffices a person is better than a provision which causes a person to forget Allah and the
Hereafter.”Then he added, “You should become a source of knowledge in understanding the Qur’an
and memorizing it. Ask Allah for the provisions which are sufficient for you. If He doesn’t give you
provisions in large quantities, it will not harm you the least.”
[Akhbaar ‘Umar, pg.355]
“Be one whom the righteous trust and the evildoers fear.”
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) consulted the Companions as to whom he should make as
governor of Koofah, and said to them: “Who could tackle the problems of the people of Koofah for
me, and their false accusations against their governors? If I appoint a man with good morals over them,
they will consider him as weak, but if I appoint one who is strong, they will force him to overstep the
limits with them.”Then he said, “O people, what do you say about a man who is weak but is a pious
Muslim, and another who is strong and tough but not so religiously committed? Which one is better
suited to be a governor?”Al-Mughirah bin Shu‘bah told, “O Leader of the Believers! The weak
Muslim’s commitment to Islam counts in his favor but his weakness counts against you and the
Muslims; the fact that the strong man is less pious counts against him but his strength counts in your
favor and that of the Muslims. So do what is best.”‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said, “You
have spoken the truth, O Mughirah.”Then he made him the governor of Koofah and said to him, “Try
to be one whom the righteous trust and the evildoers fear.”Al-Mughirah (May Allah be pleased with
him) said, “I shall try my best, O Leader of the Believers!”
Al-Wilaayah ‘alal-Buldaan: 1/128.
“Your father was better than my father”

Abu Burda Amir bin Abu Moosa narrated: I once met Abdullah bin ‘Umar and he said, “Do you know
what my father said to your father?”I said, “No.”He said, “Once my father, ‘Umar, said to your father
Abu Moosa, ‘Would you like it that we were only rewarded for what we did during the life of Allah’s
Messenger such as accepting faith, migrating to Madeenah, fighting alongside the Messenger, and all
other virtuous deeds, and not held accountable for what we did after his death? ‘ Abu Moosa replied,
‘No. By Allah, after the death of Allah’s Messenger (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) we
fought for the sake of Allah, we prayed and fasted, and many people accepted Islam through us. We
hope for a good reward for all these deeds. ‘Umar said, ‘By Allah, in Whose Hands is ‘Umar’s soul, I
wish that I am only held accountable for what I did during the life of Allah’s Messenger. ‘”Abu Burda
said, “By Allah, Your father was better and more knowledgeable than my father.”
[ ar-Riyaadh an-Naadhirah: 2/442]
Life is a Journey
‘Umar and Abu Darda met, and the latter asked, “Do you remember the Hadeeth of the Prophet?”‘Umar
asked, “Which Hadeeth?”Abu Darda replied, “The Messenger of Allah said, ‘You should keep your
worldly things to the extent that a traveler keeps his luggage for his journey. ‘”‘Umar said, “I remember
this Hadeeth.”Abu Darda said, “O ‘Umar are you aware of what we did after that? We have
accumulated the worldly things in large quantities.”At this, they began to weep while remembering
the life of Allah’s Messenger all the way until Fajr.
[Manaaqib ‘Umar, Ibn al-Jawzi, p:146]
Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) is Given Glad Tidings of
Paradise
In a Hadeeth we have hitherto discussed, the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) saw
a dream in which he passed by a castle in Paradise that belonged to ‘Umar bin Al-Khattaab (May Allah
be pleased with him). To be sure, that Hadeeth clearly indicates that ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased
with him) will be one of the inhabitants of Paradise. Another Hadeeth, however, proves that fact more
clearly: Abu Moosa Al-Ash‘aree (May Allah be pleased with him) said,
“Once I was with the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) in one of the gardens of
Madeenah, when a man came, asking that the gate [of the garden] be opened for him. The Prophet
(Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) said [to me]: ‘Open [the gate] for him and give him glad
tidings of Paradise. ‘
I opened the door for the man, who turned out to be Abu Bakr (May Allah be pleased with him). When
I gave Abu Bakr (May Allah be pleased with him) the glad tidings that the Prophet (Peace and
Blessings of Allah be upon him) had mentioned, Abu Bakr (May Allah be pleased with him) praised
and thanked Allah.
Then another man came, and he too asked that the gate [of the garden] be opened for him. The Prophet
(Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
‘Open [the gate] for him, and give him glad tidings of Paradise. ‘
I opened the door for the man, who turned out to be ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him). When I
informed him about what the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) had said, he (May
Allah be pleased with him) [too] praised and thanked Allah.
Then when another man asked that the gate be opened for him, the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of
Allah be upon him) said to me:
‘Open [the gate] for him, and give him glad tidings of Paradise, which he will have after he is afflicted
with a trial (here, the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) was referring to the ordeal
that led to ‘Uthmaan’s murder). ‘
The man at the gate was ‘Uthmaan (May Allah be pleased with him), and I informed him about what
the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) had said [about him]. He (May
Allah be pleased with him) [too] praised and thanked Allah, after which he (May Allah be pleased with
him) said, ‘I seek help from Allah (i.e., I seek Allah’s help in making me patient and steadfast when I
will be afflicted with the trial that the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him)
referred to). ‘“
Bukhari: 4/196, Muslim: 7/118.
The Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) Loved

‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) More than Almost
Anyone Else
In a Hadeeth that is related both by Imaam Al-Bukhaari and Imaam Muslim (may Allah have mercy
on them), ‘Amr bin Al- ‘Aas (May Allah be pleased with him) once asked the Prophet (Peace and
Blessings of Allah be upon him), “O Messenger of Allah, which human being do you love the
most?”The Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) replied: “Aa’ishah.”‘Amr (May Allah
be pleased with him) then asked, “And among men, O Messenger of Allah?”The Prophet (Peace and
Blessings of Allah be upon him) replied: “Her father.”‘Amr (May Allah be pleased with him) asked,
“Then whom?”The Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) replied: “Umar bin Al-
Khattaab (May Allah be pleased with him), “after which he (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon
him) proceeded to enumerate a number of other men.
The Belly that Causes a Person to enter Hell
‘Umar once entered his home in a state of hunger. He asked, “Is there any food to eat?”His wife replied,
“We only have a few dates.”‘Umar ate some of the dates and drank water, and moved his hand over
his stomach and said, “Woe to a person whose stomach causes him to enter Hell! He doesn’t
differentiate between the permissible and forbidden things.”
[Manaaqib, Ibn al-Jawzi, pg. 123]
‘Umar’s Forbearance
Ibn ‘Abbaas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported that ‘Uyainah bin Hisn bin Hudhaifah once
visited his nephew Al-Hurr bin Qaisand stayed with him as a guest. ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with
him) would keep Al-Hurr closetohim, which was consistent with ‘Umar’s policy
towards people who were knowledgeable regarding the Qur’an: He (May Allah be pleased with him)
would invite them to sit in his gatherings, and he (May Allah be pleased with him) would seek out
their advice, regardless of whether they were young or old.
Upon arriving in Madeenah, ‘Uyainah said to Al-Hurr, “O my nephew, are you a person of standing
with the Leader [of the Believers]. If so, ask permission for me to enter upon him.”AlHurr said, “I will
ask permission for you to enter upon him.”When Al-Hurr fulfilled the promise he had made towards
his uncle, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) granted Al-Hurr’s request. Shortly thereafter, when
he entered upon ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him), ‘Uyainah said, “O son of Al-Khattaab, by
Allah, you do not give us generous amounts [of wealth], and you do not judge justly among us.”‘Umar
(May Allah be pleased with him) became infuriated, and he would probably have struck ‘Uyainah –
for that is what he seemed about to do – had it not been for Al-Hurr, who quickly said, “O Leader of
the Believers, Allah said to His Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) …, “at which
point Al-Hurr proceeded to recite the following verse of the Noble Qur’an:
{Show forgiveness, enjoin what is good, and turn away from the foolish ones (i.e. do not punish
them).} (Qur’an: 7: 199)
Al-Hurr then said, “And this man (here, he pointed towards his uncle, ‘Uyainah) is from the foolish
ones.”The narrator of this story, Ibn ‘Abbaas (May Allah be please with her), said, “By Allah, when
this verse was recited, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) did not go beyond it (i.e., beyond its
command; or in other words, he stopped immediately from carrying out an act that was contrary to the
command given in the verse). And he (May Allah be pleased with him) would always desist from
doing anything that was contrary to a command that was given in the Book of Allah.”
Bukhari: 6856, 4366.
Abu Moosa Al-Ash ‘aree’s Dreams

He said: “I saw as if I was holding many race horses, but they started disappearing until only one
remained. So, I took off the only horse and (rode it until we) came to a slippery mountain. And
suddenly the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) was there, with Abu Bakr (May
Allah be pleased with him) byhis side. The Prophet of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon
him) was beckoning ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) to come. I said to him, “Why don’t you
write it to ‘Umar?”He replied, “I will not inform him about his own death.”
Abu Moosa al-Ash ‘aree narrated: “Once, I saw many roads in a dream; after a while all the roads
disappeared except for one.I followed that road and it led me to a mountain. Suddenly, I saw Allah’s
Messenger and Abu Bakr at that mountain, and they were signaling to ‘Umar to come toward them.
When I saw this I said, “All might and power belongs to Allah!”I realized that ‘Umar's death was soon
approaching. I narrated my dream to Anas bin Malik and he said, “You shouldn ‘t inform the Leader
of the Believer about your dream.”I replied, “How can I inform ‘Umar of his impending death?”
[ar-Riyaadh an-Naadhirah, 2/75]
Interpreting ‘Awf bin Malik’s dream
Awf bin Malik Al-Ashja ‘i said: “I saw (this dream) during the caliphate of Abu Bakr (May Allah be
pleased with him) wherein I saw a rope dangling from the sky. People stretched out for it, but ‘Umar
(May Allah be pleased with him) reached three cubits above them.I asked:
What is that? The reply was, “Because he is one of Allah’s caliphs on Earth and because he does not
fear the blame of the blamers (a reference to Surah Al-Maidah 5:54) and he is going to be killed as a
martyr.”In the morning, I went to Abu Bakr (May Allah be pleased with him) and mentioned the dream
to him. He told me to go and call ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him). When he came, Abu Bakr
(May Allah be pleased with him) ordered me to tell the dream again. When I reached the part of the
dream that “…because he is one of Allah’s caliphs…”, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)
remarked, “Can a sleeping person see all of this?”Later, ‘Umar did become the Caliph and went to
Jabiyah (near Damascus). As he was delivering the sermon, he called me and told me to sit. When he
finished the address, he said to me “Tell me your dream.”I said, “But did you not stop me from doing
so?”He replied, “I tricked you, man. No, I was feeling shy in front of Abu Bakr (May Allah be pleased
with him). So tell me the dream!”When I narrated it to him, he said “As for caliphate, then it has come
to pass as you can see. As for not fearing the blame of blamers, I hope that is how I am known. As for
being killed as a martyr, how can it be when I live inside the Arabian Peninsula (i.e. it is peaceful and
secure) ?
Mahadh As-Sawab: 3/869.
'Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) Rightly Judges what
should be LegislatedRegarding Asking People Permission to
Enter Their Homes
Once, at midday – a time during which Arabs customarily took naps – the Prophet (Peace and Blessings
of Allah be upon him) sent a young boy from the Ansaar to ‘Umar bin Al-Khattaab (May Allah be
pleased with him); the young boy was to give ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) the message
that the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) was summoning him. The young boy
entered ‘Umar’s home without first asking permission to go in, which annoyed ‘Umar (May Allah be
pleased with him) for two reasons: First, he was sleeping; and second, certain private areas of his body
were not covered properly. And so, upon being abruptly disturbed from his sleep, ‘Umar (May Allah
be pleased with him) said, “O Allah, make it unlawful for people to enter upon us during the period in
which we [customarily] sleep.”According to one narration, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)
said to the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him), “O Messenger of Allah, I would love
it if Allah ordered us and forbade us (i.e., clarified the ruling) regarding the act of asking permission
to enter [another person’s home].”
This verse was then revealed:
{O you who believe! Let your legal slaves and slave-girls, and those among you who have not come
to the age of puberty ask your permission (before they come to your presence) on three occasions:
before Fajr (morning) Salat (prayer), and while you put off your clothes for the noonday (rest), and
after the ‘Isha (late-night) Salat (prayer).} (Qur’an: 24:58)
Ar-Riyaadh An-Nadirah, P:332.
“You have spoken the truth”

Once, the dead body of a young person was brought before ‘Umar. The person had been killed and
thrown by the roadside. ‘Umar became extremely worried regarding this incident and began to
investigate about it, but was unable to reach a conclusion of who had done the act. ‘Umar prayed, “O
Allah, guide me to his murderer.”The following year, a newborn baby was found at the same location
[where the dead body was]. The infant was brought to ‘Umar and the people said to ‘Umar that the
infant was found at the same place where the body was found. When ‘Umar saw the infant he said, “In
sha ‘Allah, now we are able to find the murderer, “and he gave the infant to a woman. He said to her,
“Take care of him, and do not worry about his expenses as they will be paid by us. Also, be cautious
of who visits this child. If you see any woman who kisses or embraces this infant, then inform me
immediately.”
A slave woman, who was owned by a noble woman, came to the woman under whose care the infant
was, and said, “My mistress wishes to see this child, so send him with me. I will bring him back
shortly.”The caretaker said, “You can take the infant, but I will also accompany you.”The slave woman
reached the home of her mistress with the infant and the mistress took the child and affectionately
embraced and kissed the child. The mistress was the daughter of an Ansari Companion. The caretaker
of the infant went to ‘Umar and informed him about this matter.
‘Umar took his sword and went to the house of that woman and her father was sitting at the door.
‘Umar said loudly, “Do you know what your daughter has done?”and related the events to him. The
Ansari replied, “O Leader of the Believers, there must be some misunderstanding. My daughter is a
very pious and obedient woman.”‘Umar said in an insistent tone, “Your daughter has committed this
crime.”When the Ansari saw that the mood of ‘Umar had changed, he said, “You can ask her about
this matter yourself.”‘Umar entered the home with the man, and said to the woman, “Speak the truth
concerning this matter.”
She replied, “O Leader of the Believers, I will tell you the entire story. There was an old lady who
would come to our house and I was enamored by her, as I would see my dead mother in her. She would
visit our house frequently, over a long period. Once she was going on a long journey and said, ‘I have
a young daughter, and I can ‘t trust anyone to take care of her. I desire that she remain here with you
until I return from my journey. I will remember this favor of yours for my entire life. ‘ In fact, the old
woman was very clever. She had a young son, whom she dressed as a woman and sent him to our
home. He stayed with me under the disguise of a woman for several days. One night, while I was
sleeping, he overpowered me and raped me.I was shocked by this incident. When I got the opportunity,
I took a sharp knife and killed him, and threw his dead body on the roadway. The child you see is a
result of that rape. I placed this child in the same place where I threw the dead body of that
person.”When ‘Umar heard the entire story, he said, “You have spoken the truth, “and he prayed for
her. He said to her old father, “O respected Ansari Companion of Allah’s Messenger, you have spoken
the truth. Your daughter is a very pious and obedient woman.”Afterwards, ‘Umar left.
[At-Turuqul Hukmiyah pg. 68, Siratul ‘Umarayn pg. 68 ]
Respecting the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah

be upon him)
Abdullah bin Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) narrated: Once we were travelling with Allah’s
Messenger (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) and my camel was very fast. Whenever my
camel reached the camel of Allah’s Messenger, ‘Umar would warn me not to pass the camel of Allah’s
Messenger.
[ar-Riyaadh an-Naadhirah, 2/25]
A True Dream
Abu ‘Ubaid’s wife, Dauma saw a dream in which she saw that a man descended from the sky with a
vessel from which Abu ‘Ubaid, his son Jabar and other family members drank. She told her husband
of the dream, who interpreted it as martyrdom. He formulated for his troops the order of succession of
command by telling them that if he were to be killed then so and so should be the commander. He
named seven men in order, all from his tribe, the Thaqif. His wife had seen these same men in the
dream. He told them that if the seventh commander was also killed, then AlMuthanna bin Haarithah
would lead the campaign.
At-Taareekh At-Tabaree: 4/277.
Paving the Floor of the Masjid
Prior to ‘Umar’s caliphate, the floor of the Masjid was simply the dirt on the ground; ‘Umar (May
Allah be pleased with him) paved the floor with small pebbles to make the Masjid a cleaner place and
to make the floor gentler on the feet of those who walked inside.
Akhbar Umar, P:126.
“Whatever you want to remove, do so; whatever you wish to
keep, do so”
Abu Uthman an-Nahdi narrated: Once I heard ‘Umar saying, while circumambulating the Ka ‘bah, “O
Allah, if You have written us among the wicked and sinful people, then You can remove whom You
want and keep within them whom You want; O Allah, change this wickedness and sinfulness with
piety and goodness.”
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) mentioned the Tafseer (explanation) of this verse as well:
{And when the souls shall be joined with their bodies} (Qur’an: 81: 7)
According to his interpretation, “When the souls shall be joined, means:“When a wicked-doer will be
joined with a wicked-doer, and when an evil person will be joined with another evil person.”
Tafseer Ibn Katheer: 4/537
Praying before taking a decision
Urwah narrated that whenever two complainants came to ‘Umar, he would pray, “O Allah, guide me
concerning their matter, so that none of them can deceive me with his scandalous tongue, “before
listening to their arguments.
Umar’s Stance towards the Spoils from Jaloolah
The Battle of Jaloolah ended in victory for the Muslims and they sent a fifth of the immense spoils
gained. When ‘Umar received them, he declared, “By Allah! This should not be stored in the treasury
until I distribute it.”‘Abdur-Rahman bin ‘Awf and ‘Abdullah bin Arqam spent the night guarding the
spoils heaped in the Mosque’s courtyard. In the morning, ‘Umar drew away the leather covers from
the heap in front of the people. Upon seeing the rubies, aquamarines and other assorted jewels, he
started weeping. ‘Abdur Rahman (May Allah be pleased with him) asked, “What made you weep, O
Leader of the Believers? By Allah, it is a time to thank Him (not to feel sorrow).”‘Umar said, “By
Allah! What makes me weep? By Allah, a people are not given such things, but they start becoming
jealous and hating each other. And they do not become jealous of each other, except that they start
fighting amongst themselves.”
This is indicative of the sensitivity of faith, which makes a firm believer perceive the future results of
things even though they are not apparent to others. It was his compassion for the believers that he was
extremely perturbed that their pure relationship with each other based on the solid foundations of faith
may become tainted with worldly competition. This thought touched him so deeply that it made him
shed tears publicly. It was a wonder that tears would flow from the eyes of a man who was given such
power that all men -- Muslims, non-Muslims and hypocrites -- feared him. However, it was the
compassion and mercy that Allah The Almighty has put in the hearts of believers that made them
become as He described in the Qur’an:
“Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, and those who are with him are severe against disbelievers,
and merciful among themselves. You see them bowing and falling down prostrate (in prayer),
seeking Bounty from Allah and (His) Good Pleasure. The mark of them (i.e. of their
Faith) is on their faces (foreheads) from the traces of (their) prostration (during prayers). This is
their description in the Torah. But their description in the Gospel is like a (sown) seed which sends
forth its shoot, then makes it strong, it then becomes thick, and it stands straight on its
stem, delighting the sowers that He may enrage the disbelievers with them. Allah has promised those
among them who believe and do righteous good deeds, forgiveness and a mighty
reward.”(Qur’an, 48:29]
Tareekh At-Tabari: 4/479.
“Include Me in Your Invocation”

Jaabir bin Abdullah narrated: One night we were doing the rounds in Madeenah. We saw a tent with a
dim light. We went near to the tenth and heard a melodious voice of an old lady who was reciting
poetry in a moving tone. When ‘Umar heard her voice, he asked permission to enter her tent, which he
was granted. He said, “O respected mother, I am ‘Umar.”She said, “I have nothing to do with
‘Umar.”‘Umar requested her to again recite the poetry, which she did in a moving tone. ‘Umar became
so impressed with the poetic words that he said to the woman, “O respected woman, include me in
your invocations.”
[az-Zuhd Ibn Mubarak, pg. 1024]
Deviant Sects Used to Lead People Astray
As-Saaib bin Yazeed related that a man went to ‘Umar bin Al-Khattaab (May Allah be pleased with
him) and said, “O Leader of the Believers, “after which the man proceeded to recite the following two
verses of the Qur’an:
{By (the winds) that scatter dust. And (the clouds) that bear heavy weight of water.} (Qur’an: 51: 1,
2)
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) looked at the man and asked, “Are you him?”What
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) meant was: “Are you Sabeegh bin ‘Aseel
AlHandhalee.”‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) recognized Sabeegh because he would
previously go to ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) and ask questions about Qur’anic verses
whose meanings were clear only to very knowledgeable scholars – verses that deviant sects used to
lead people astray. When Sabeegh went too far with his questions, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with
him) accused him of being a member of the deviant Khawaarij sect. So when, after some time, Sabeegh
returned and again tried to raise doubt about the meaning of certain verses of the Qur’an, ‘Umar (May
Allah be pleased with him) stood up and whipped him with such great intensity that his turban fell off.
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) then gave the order that Sabeegh should be taken to his
homeland, and that upon his arrival, someone should stand up and make the announcement: “Verily,
Sabeegh aimed at [getting] knowledge, but missed it.”From that time until he died, Sabeegh remained
ignored, lowly, and forlorn among his people – who all wanted to steer clear of his misguidance.
Sharh Usool ‘Aitiqaad Ahlus-Sunnah, by Al-Laalikaaee”30/634,635.
Last Friday Sermon delivered by ‘Umar at Madeenah

‘Abdur Rahman bin ‘Awf (May Allah be pleased with him) mentioned some parts of the Friday sermon
that ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) delivered on 21 Dhul Hijjah, 23 AH. It was the last
sermon of his life. I have mentioned what ‘Abdur Rahman bin ‘Awf (May Allah be pleased with him)
reported about the sermon in my book “Al-Inshirah wa Raf ‘ Ad-Dhiq bi Siyar Abi Bakr Al-Siddiq”.
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) himself told the Muslims about a dream he saw and interpreted
it too, “Indeed I saw a dream and I think it can only mean that my death is near. I saw as if a rooster
pecked metwice, and that some people asked me to appoint my successor who will be the caliph after
me. Allah The Almighty will not let His religion, caliphate and what he sent His Prophet (Peace and
Blessings of Allah be upon him) with (i.e. Islam) be destroyed. If I die soon, then the caliph should be
selected with the consultation of the six men with whom the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be
upon him) was pleased when he died.”
Musnad Ahmad (Hadith no 89) and its chain of narrators is authentic
The people of Iraq and Syria
Musayyib narrated: I was once sitting with ‘Umar while a person came to him from Syria. ‘Umar asked
him concerning the events of the people of Syria, “Do the people of Syria break their fast early or do
they delay it?”The person replied, “They break their fast early.”‘Umar said, “These people will remain
on goodness as long as they break their fast early. The people of Iraq delay the breaking of their fast
until the stars appear in the sky. It is good that the people of Syria are not like them.”
The Murder of Umar ibn al-Khattab
‘Amr bin Maimun said, “The day he was stabbed, I was standing and there was nobody between me
and him (i.e. ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)) except Abdullah bin ‘Abbaas (May Allah be
pleased with him). Whenever Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) passed between the two rows,
he would say, “Stand in straight lines.”When he saw no defect (in the rows), he would go forward and
start the prayer with Takbeer (saying ‘Allahu Akbar ‘). He would recite Surah Yusuf or An-Nahl or
the like in the first Rak ‘ah (unit of prayers) so that the people may have the time to join the prayer. As
soon as he said Takbeer, I heard him saying, “The dog has killed me, “or he said “The dog has eaten
me”at the time he (i.e. the murderer) stabbed him. The non-Arab infidel proceeded on carrying a
double-edged knife and stabbing all the persons he passed by on the right and left (till) he stabbed
thirteen persons out of whom seven died. When one of the Muslims saw that, he threw a cloak on him.
Realizing that he had been captured, the non-Arab infidel killed himself. ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased
with him) held the hand of ‘Abdul Rahman bin Auf (May Allah be pleased with him) and let him lead
the prayer.
Those who were standing by the side of ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) saw what I saw, but
the people who were in the other parts of the Mosque did not see anything, but they lost the voice of
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) and they were saying, “Subhan Allah! Subhan Allah! (i.e.
‘Glorified be Allah ‘ to make the prayer leader, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) realized he
had forgotten).”‘Abdul Rahman bin Auf (May Allah be pleased with him) led the people a short prayer.
When they finished the prayer, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said, “O Ibn ‘Abbaas! Find
out who attacked me.”Ibn ‘Abbaas (May Allah be pleased with him) kept on looking here and there
for a short time and came to say. “The slave of Al-Mughira.”On that ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased
with him) said, “The craftsman?”Ibn ‘Abbaas (May Allah be pleased with him) said, “Yes.”‘Umar
(May Allah be pleased with him) said, “May Allah curse him. I did not treat him unjustly. All praises
are for Allah Who has not caused me to die at the hand of a man who claims himself to be a Muslim.
No doubt, you and your father (‘Abbaas (May Allah be pleased with him)) used to love to have more
non-Arab infidels in Madeenah.”AlAbbaas (May Allah be pleased with him) had the greatest number
of slaves. Ibn ‘Abbaas (May Allah be pleased with him) said to ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with
him), “If you wish, we will do.”He meant, “If you wish we will kill them.”‘Umar said, “You are
mistaken (for you cannot kill them) after they have spoken your language, prayed towards your Qiblah,
and performed Hajj like yours.”
Then ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) was carried to his house, and we went along with him,
and the people were (so aggrieved) as if they had never suffered a calamity before. Then an infusion
of dates was brought to him and he drank it but it came out (of the wound) of his belly. Then milk was
brought to him and he drank it, and it also came out of his belly. People realized that he would die. We
went to him, and the people came, praising him… ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) further
said, “O ‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar (i.e. his son) ! See how much I am in debt to others.”When the debt was
checked, it amounted to approximately eighty-six thousand. ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)
said, “If the property of ‘Umar’s family covers the debt, then pay the debt thereof; otherwise request
it from Bani ‘Adi bin Ka ‘b, and if that too is not sufficient, ask for it from Quraish tribe, and do not
ask for it from any one else, and pay this debt on my behalf.”
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) then said (to his son ‘Abdullah (May Allah be pleased with
him)), “Go to ‘Aa’ishah (May Allah be please with her), the mother of the believers and say: “Umar
is paying his salutation (Salaam) to you. But do not say: ‘The chief of the believers, ‘ because today I
am not the chief of the believers. And say: “Umar bin Al-Khattaab asks the permission to be buried
with his two companions (i.e. the Prophet, and Abu Bakr).”Abdullah (May Allah be pleased with him)
greeted ‘Aa’ishah (May Allah be please with her) and asked for the permission for entering, and then
entered to her and found her sitting and weeping. He said to her, “‘Umar bin Al-Khattaab is paying his
salutations to you, and asks the permission to be buried with his two companions.”She said, “I had the
idea of having this place for myself, but today I prefer ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) to
myself.”When he returned it was said (to ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)), “‘Abdullah bin
‘Umar (May Allah be please with her) has come.”‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said, “Make
me sit up.”Somebody supported him against his body and ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)
asked (‘Abdullah (May Allah be pleased with him)), “What news do you have?”He said, “O chief of
the believers! It is as you wish. She has given the permission.”‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)
said, “Praise be to Allah, there was nothing more important to me than this. So when I die, take me,
and greet ‘Aa’ishah and say: “Umar bin Al-Khattaab asks the permission (to be buried with the
Prophet), and if she gives the permission, bury me there, and if she refuses, then take me to the
graveyard of the Muslims.”
So when ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) expired, we carried him out and set out walking.
‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar greeted ‘Aa’ishah (May Allah be please with her) and said, “‘Umar bin Al-
Khattaab asks for permission.”‘Aa’ishah (May Allah be please with her) said, “Bring him in.”He was
brought in and buried beside his two companions.
Other narratives of the incident provide extra details not mentioned in the above report. Ibn ‘Abbaas
(May Allah be pleased with him) said that ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) was stabbed in the
morning by Abu Lu ‘lu ‘ah (Fairuz), a slave of Al-Mughirah bin Shu ‘bah (May Allah be pleased with
him). He was a Magian (Zoroastrian). Abu Rafi ‘ said that Abu Lu ‘lu ‘ah used to make mills. Al-
Mughirah (May Allah be pleased with him) used to tax four Dirhams from him every day. Abu Lu ‘lu
‘ah complained to ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him), “O Leader of the Believers! Al-Mughirah
taxes me too heavily. Ask him to reduce it.”‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said, “Fear Allah
and be good to your master.”‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) had intended to meet Al-
Mughhirah (May Allah be pleased with him) and ask him to reduce the burden. However, the slave
was infuriated, and said “Does everyone receive his justice except me?”He made up his mind to kill
the Caliph, but kept it a secret. He made a double-edged dagger, sharpened and poisoned it. Then he
went to Hormuzan (the Persian noble and commander who had been captured and became a Muslim.
See Chapter 6) and asked him about the quality of his dagger. Hormuzan gave an honest estimation,
“I think anyone you strike with it, will be killed.”Abu Rafi ‘ added, “Abu Lu ‘lu ‘ah waited for an
opportunity. He came to ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) during the morning prayers and stood
beyond him.Whenever the Iqamah (final call) for prayers was made, ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased
with him) used to say, “Stand in straight lines.”Then he would go forward and start the prayer with
Takbeer (saying‘ Allahu Akbar ‘). As he started the prayers, Abu Lu ‘lu ‘ah approached him and
stabbed him in the shoulder and abdomen. ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) fell down.
Amr bin Maimun said that when ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) was stabbed he heard him
reciting:
“And the command of Allah is a decree determined.”(Surah Al-Ahzaab 33:38)
Sahih At-Tauthiq fi Sirah wa Hayat Al-Faruq (page 369-370)
Final Moments
Ibn‘Abbaas (May Allah be pleased with him) described the final moments in the life of ‘Umar bin Al-
Khattaab (May Allah be pleased with him) in the following words:
“I visited ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) when he was stabbed. I said, “Have the glad tidings
of Paradise, O Amir of the Believers! You embraced Islam when people disbelieved in it. You
wagedJihaad along with the Prophet of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him), when people
deserted him. The Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) died in a state that he was
pleased with you. No two people differed in your caliphate and you have been murdered as a
martyr.”‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) told me to repeat what I had said, and I did. Then he
said, “I swear by Allah, besides Whom there is no deity worthy of worship, had I possessed all the
yellow and white (gold and silver) in the earth, I would give it as ransom to free myself from the horror
of what will happen after death.”In the narration of Sahih AlBukhari, it is mentioned that ‘Umar said,
“As for what you have said about the company of Allah’s Apostle (Peace and Blessings of Allah be
upon him) and his being pleased with me, it is a favor, Allah The Almighty did to me; and concerning
my impatience which you see, is because of you and your companions. By Allah! If (at all) I had gold
equal to the earth, I would have ransomed myself with it from the punishment of Allah The Almighty
before I meet Him.”
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) had great fear of Allah The Almighty despite the fact that the
Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) promised him Paradise and despite having spent
his utmost efforts in establishing Allah’s Law, justice, austerity, Jihaad and other good deeds.This is a
great lesson for all Muslims regarding being mindful of Allah’s severe punishment and horrors of the
Day of Judgment.
This is how ‘Uthmaan (May Allah be pleased with him), his successor to the caliphate described his
final moments:
“I am the one among you who stayed with ‘Umar till his very end. I visited him and his head was in
the lap of his son, ‘Abdullah. He told his son to place his cheek on the ground. ‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar
protested, “Is not my thigh like the ground?”‘Umar insisted, and said in the second or third time, “Place
my cheek on the ground, may you lose your mother (an Arab expression meant for scolding) !”Then
he crossed his legs and I heard him say, “May I be ruined, may I be ruined and may my mother be
ruined if Allah does not forgive me.”He said this until his soul departed.
This is the extent of fearfulness of Allah The Almighty of a person who used to be called ‘Leader of
the Believers ‘! To the extent that he was praying to be destroyed if Allah The Almighty did not forgive
him, despite being one of the ten Companions promised Paradise. However, the one who knows Allah
The Almighty better, fears Him more. Asking his son to place his cheek on the ground is a mark of
belittling oneself in front of the Greatness of Allah (like in prostration), to make his prayers more
befitting to be excepted by Allah, the Most High. This shows how mindful he was of his Lord.
At-Taareekh Al-Islamee (19/44-45)
What companions said about him (May Allah be pleased with

him)
Al-Ahnaf Bin Qais (May Allah be pleased with him) said, “When ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with
him) was stabbed, he told Suhaib (May Allah be pleased with him) to lead the people in prayers and
to provide them with food for three days until they united upon the new Caliph. When the food was
laid out, people did not eat. Al-‘Abbaas (May Allah be pleased with him) said, “O people! Indeed, the
Prophet of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) died and we ate and drank after him.
Abu Bakr (May Allah be pleased with him) died and we ate. It is a necessity for people to eat and
drink.”So he himself started eating, and the people followed suit.
Mahdh At-Thawab (3/855)
‘Abdullah bin Mas ‘ood (May Allah be pleased with him), when reminded of ‘Umar (May Allah be
pleased with him), used to weep until the pebbles on the ground would become wet, and say, “‘Umar
was the fortress for Islam, in which people used to enter and not come out.When he died, the fortress
broke and people went out of Islam.”
Abu ‘Ubaidah bin Al-Jarrah (May Allah be pleased with him) used to say before ‘Umar (May Allah
be pleased with him) died, “If ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) dies, Islam would become
weak. I do not want to have all that the sun rises and sets on (i.e. everything on the earth) for living
after ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him).”He was asked, “Why?”and he replied, “You will see
what I say if you live (long enough). As for him, if a person were to be made a ruler after (‘Umar (May
Allah be pleased with him)) and were he to take the people to task like ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased
with him) used to, they would not obey him…and if he were to act weakly with them, they would kill
him.”
At-Tabaqat Al-Kubrah (3/284)
What‘Ali bin Abi Talib (May Allah be pleased with him) said
about him:
Ibn ‘Abbaas narrated:
When (the dead body of) ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) was put on his deathbed, the people
gathered around him and invoked (Allah) and prayed for him before the body was taken away, and I
was amongst them. Suddenly I felt somebody taking hold of my shoulder and found out that he was
‘Ali bin Abi Talib (May Allah be pleased with him). ‘Ali (May Allah be pleased with him) invoked
Allah’s Mercy for ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) and said,
“O ‘Umar! You have not left behind you a person whose deeds I like to imitate and meet Allah The
Almighty with more than I like your deeds. By Allah! I always thought that Allah The Almighty would
keep you with your two companions, for very often I used to hear the Prophet
(Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) saying, ‘I, Abu Bakr and ‘Umar went (somewhere);
I, Abu Bakr and ‘Umar entered (somewhere); and I, Abu Bakr and ‘Umar went out.”
Sahih Al-Bukhari (no. 3685)
Great Humbleness of ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)
and Great Sacrifice by ‘Aa’ishah (May Allah be please with
her)
Great Humbleness of ‘Umar, (May Allah be pleased with him)
This is evident from what he said to his son ‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar (May Allah be please with her): “Go
to ‘Aa’ishah (May Allah be please with her), the mother of the believers and say: “Umar is paying his
salutation (Salaam) to you. But do not say: ‘The Chief of the Believers, ‘ because today I am not the
Chief of the Believers…. So when I die, take me, and greet ‘Aa’ishah and say: “Umar bin Al-Khattaab
asks the permission (to be buried with the Prophet), and if she gives the permission, bury me there,
and if she refuses, then take me to the grave-yard of the Muslims. “May Allah have mercy on ‘Umar
(May Allah be pleased with him) and may He enable us to have a noble character such as his and
humbleness such as his.
Great Sacrifice by ‘Aa’ishah (May Allah be please with her)
This is evident from the fact that she wished to be buried next to her husband (the Prophet, peace be
upon him) and her father (Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him). However, when ‘Umar (May
Allah be pleased with him) sought her permission for his burial at the same spot, she relented and said,
“I had the idea of having this place for myself, but today I prefer ‘Umar to myself.”
Commanding good &Forbidding Evil while being on the

deathbed
A young man came saying, “O Chief of the Believers! Receive the glad tidings from Allah The
Almighty to you due to your keeping company with Allah’s Apostle and your superiority in Islam
which you know. Then you became the ruler (i.e. Caliph) and you ruled with justice and finally you
have been martyred.”‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said, “I wish that all these privileges
will counterbalance (my shortcomings) so that I will neither lose nor gain anything.”When the young
man turned back to leave, his clothes seemed to be touching the ground.
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said, “Call the young man back to me.”(When he came back)
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said, “O son of my brother! Lift your clothes, for this will
keep your clothes clean and save you from the punishment of your Lord.”
Hence, ‘Abdullah bin Mas ‘ood (May Allah be pleased with him) said, “May Allah have mercy on
‘Umar. The condition he was in did not prevent him from speaking the truth.”
Prophet of Allah! O Chief of the Believers!”He said to his son, “O ‘Abdullah, make me sit up;I cannot
bear what I hear.”‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar (May Allah be please with her) made him sit against his chest.
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said to Hafsah (May Allah be please with her), “Due to the
right that I have upon you, I forbid you forever to mourn me by mentioning my good aspects only. As
for your eyes, I do not own them (i.e. I cannot ask you not to shed tears). “Anas bin Malik (May Allah
be pleased with him) reported that when ‘Umar bin AlKhattaab was wounded Hafsah (May Allah be
please with her) lamented for him. Upon this he said, “O Hafsah, did you not hear the Messenger of
Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) saying:”One who is lamented would be punished”?
Suhaib (May Allah be pleased with him) also lamented over him. ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with
him) told him also, “O Suhaib, didn’t you know that one who is lamented is punished?”
Another incident which further shows his zeal for saying and implementing the right thing even after
being stabbed and with blood seeping out of his body, is when a person suggested to him to appoint
his son, ‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) as his successor. He flatly refused
saying that ‘Abdullah (May Allah be pleased with him) was not fit for the task and he feared Allah
The Almighty regarding this immense responsibility of choosing the correct person.
Fath Al-Bari (7/65)
Sahih Muslim (no.2021),Taareekh At-Tabaree (3/292)
Praise of Companions and Early Scholars for ‘Umar

1. ‘Aa ‘isha’s veneration for him after his death: She is reported to have said, “I used to enter my
house (freely) in which the Prophet (her husband, (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him)) and
my father (Abu Bakr) were (buried). When ‘Umar was buried (there) along with them, by Allah I did
not enter (that home) except that my clothes were tightly drawn upon me, out of modesty to
‘Umar.”…‘Urwah reported that ‘Aa ‘isha (May Allah be please with her) said, “When you mention
‘Umar, the sitting becomes pleasant.”
2. Sa‘eed bin Zaid (May Allah be pleased with him): It is narrated that Sa ‘eed bin Zaid wept at
the death of ‘Umar. He was asked what made him cry. He said, “(I weep) for Islam. ‘Umar’s death has
made a dent in Islam which will not be mended till the Day of Judgment.”
3. ‘Abdullah bin Mas ‘ood, may Allah be pleased with him said, “If the knowledge of ‘Umar Bin
Al-Khattaab is placed in one side of a balance, and the rest of the knowledge of (people on) earth in
the other side, ‘Umar’s knowledge would be more…I think ‘Umar took nine tenths of (all) the
knowledge with him.”He also said: ‘Umar’s (embracing of) Islam was a victory, his emigration (to
Madeenah) was Help (from Allah) and his rule was a mercy.”
4. Abu Talha Al-Ansari (May Allah be pleased with him) said, “By Allah, there is not a single
Muslim household whose members did not experience a decrease in their religious and worldly (well-
being).”
5. Hudhaifahbin Yaman, may Allah be pleased with him said, “The example of Islam in the era
of ‘Umar was that of a man who is coming forward and keeps coming forward, and after ‘Umar’s
death, the man has turned back and will keep going back.”
6. ‘Abdullah bin Salaam came after the funeral prayers had been prayed for ‘Umar. He said,
“You have preceded me in praying the funeral prayers for him, but you will not praise him before I
do… What an excellent brother in Islam you were, O ‘Umar. Generous in truth and miserly in
falsehood”
7. Al-‘Abbaas bin ‘Abdul Muttalib (the Prophet’s uncle) said: “I was the neighbor of ‘Umar bin
Al-Khattaab and I did not see anyone better than ‘Umar. His night was (spent in) prayers, his day was
(spent in) fasting and fulfilling needs of people…”
8. Mu ‘awiya bin Abi Sufyaan (May Allah be pleased with him) said “Abu Bakr did not desire
the world and neither did it desire him. The world desired ‘Umar, but he did not desire it. As for us,
we are (too engrossed) in this world.”
9. ‘Ali bin Al-Hussain (Zainul ‘Abideen) was asked about the status of Abu Bakr and ‘Umar in
relation to the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him). He said, “It is like their status
today; they are in the same bed (grave) as he.”
10. Qubaisah bin Jabir said: “I kept ‘Umar’s company and I did not find anyone reading the Qur’an
more than him and neither anyone with better knowledge and understanding of Allah’s religion.”
11. Al-Hasan Al-Basari said: “If you want your meetings to be pleasant, increase therein the
rememberance of ‘Umar.”He also said, “Any household which did not feel his loss is a bad household.”
Views of Contemporary Scholars and Authorsabout ‘Umar:
1. Dr. Muhammad Al-Fahham, the former Chancellor of Al-Azhar University (Cairo) said:
‘Umar’s actions displayed his political mastery and numerous other talents he was gifted with. It also
shows his age-defying genius in solving problems he faced during his caliphate which lights up the
way ahead for us in numerous disparate problems in life.
2. Dr. Ahmed Shibli said, “Decision making was one of the most visible features of ‘Umar’s life
during his tenure as a Caliph which was replete with various events. Hence, he protected the religion,
raised the flag of Jihaad, conquered lands, made justice easily available, instituted the first Ministry of
Finance in Islam, made an organized army for defending and protecting the borders, systemized ranks
and salaries, initiated state archives and records, appointed governors, officers and judges, established
coin money for transactions, set up postal service, inaugurated a system of supervision (of government
and army officials), enforced the usage of Hijri dates in the state, made the land open and free without
divisions and boundaries and he planned and built Islamic cities. Hence, he was truly the ‘Leader of
Blievers ‘and the founder of the Islamic State.”
3. Consultant ‘Ali Mansur said: ‘Umar’s letter to Abu Musa Al-Ash ‘ari about dispensing justice
fourteen centuries before the constitutional erais the more perfect than what man-made procedural
legislation and laws for independence of judiciary have achieved.
4. GeneralMahmud S. Khattaab said, “Even thought there were many factors behind the Islamic
conquest, the biggest of these factors was that the conquests enjoyed the unique leadership traits of
‘Umar, which despite the passage of a long time have rarely reappeared in anyone else.”
5. Dr. Subhi Al-Himsani: With the end of ‘Umar’s era, ended the era of the founder of the Islamic
State whose area was vast and resources assured. He was an exemplary guide and leader, resolute and
wise chief, a responsible caretaker and a strong, just ruler who was also merciful and compassionate.
He died in the way of duty as a martyr of truth and righteousness. He was among the truthful and
righteous friends of Allah. His name would remain immortally shining in the annals of culture and
jurisprudence.
6. Shaikh ‘Ali Tantawi: Whenever I come across more reports about ‘Umar, my pride and love
of him increases. I have read biographies of thousands of great Muslim and non-Muslim men. I found
some of them were great in their ideas, others in oration, behavior or the impact they had. However I
found ‘Umar to be great in all aspects. He had great ideas, oratory power, and character. If you make
a list of great jurists and scholars, he will feature among the top of the list. If he did not have anything
except his wisdom and jurisprudence, he would still be great due to it. If you gather great orators, his
name would again be among the top few. If you list the most seasoned legislators, military geniuses or
the most successful administrators, you will find ‘Umar at the head of each group. And if you research
leaders who founded countries and left their impact on earth, you will find no one more illustrious than
‘Umar. On top of this, he had great character and personality.
Mahdh At-Thawab
At-Tabaqat Al-Kubrah
Al-Mu ‘jam Al-Kabir by Al-Tabarani

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‘Umar Ibn Al – Khattab

Written By: Abdul Malik Mujahid

Published By: Darussalam Publishers & Distributers

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Abdul Malik Mujahid

[Subulul Huda war- Rishad 1/264]

Stern & Harsh Father

Ibn 'Asaakir: 52/268

Tahdeeb Al-Asmaa: 2/14

[Al-Farooq, pg. 47]

The Date of His Entry into the Fold of Islam

Auliyaat Al-Farooq As-Siyasiyyah: 22

Mansur Abul Hakim, p. 185, 186.

“O my brother, [during your pilgrimage] do not forget us in your supplications (prayers).”

Abu Dawud: 1498

Ibn Hisham: 1/216, At-Tirmidhe: 3682

(Qur’an: 20: 14-16)

Fadaail As-Sahaabah, by Imam Ahmad: 1/344

Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) Goes to Prophet

Fadaail As-Sahaabah: 1/344

Everyone Should Know about the Islam of Umar (May Allah be

Riyadh An-Nadhirah, P: 319

Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)’s Relentless Fight with

Refer to Fadaail As-Sahaabah, by Imaam Ahmad (1/346).

Refer to Hilyatul-Auliyaa (1/40) and to Sifatus-Safwah (1/103, 104)

The Statements of Imam an-Nawawi regarding ‘Umar (May

At-Tawtheeq Fee Seeratil-Farooq: 30

As-Seerah An-Nabawiyyah As-Saheehah: 1/205

Umar’s (May Allah be pleased with him) Vigilance

“I told you why I came here, “‘Umair said.

The Companions then proceeded to carry out the Prophet’s instructions.

Saheeh As-Seerah An-Nabawiyyah (pg. 260). As-Seerah An-Nabawiyyah, ‘Ard Wa-

Tahleel Ahdaath, by As-Sallaabee (pg. 868).

Al-Bidayah wan-Nihayah: 3/311

The Dream of Allah’s Messenger (Peace and Blessings of Allah

“Do not answer him.”

“Do not answer him.”

“What should we say?”they asked.

As-Seerah An-Nabawiyyah As-Saheehah: 2/392

As-Seerah An-Nabawiyyah As-Saheehah: 2/409

Al-Faarooq Ma ‘an Nabee, by Dr. ‘Aatif Lamaadah (pg. 42).

Saheeh At-Tawtheeq Fee Seerah WaHayaat Al-Faarooq, pg. 259.

Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)’s Generosity

The Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) replied:

4. Those who were fighting in the way of Allah

The Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) replied:

The Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) replied:

Number of Ahaadeeth narrated by Umar (May Allah be

‘Umar ibn Al-Khatlab, Dr. Ali Khateeb: 109

Istikhlaaf Abu Bakr As-Siddeeq, by Jamaal ‘Abdul-Haadee (pg. 166, 167).

The Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) said:

The Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) said:

The Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon

As-Silisilah as-Sahiha: 352

Three Most Perspicacious and Judicious of People

Yousuf’s companion, who said,