Raqif Makhdoomi
لَوْ كَانَ بَعْدِي نَبِيٌّ لَكَانَ عُمَرَ بْنَ الْخَطَّابِ
Narrated by ‘Uqbah bin ‘Amir:
That the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “If there were to be a Prophet after me, it would have been ‘Umar bin Al-Khattab.” (Jami` at-Tirmidhi 3686)
Hazrat Umar Al-Farooq (RA) holds a very special position among the Khulfa-e-Rashideen. It is said that when the Adhan was called out openly in Makkah, the non-Muslims of Makkah said, “Either Umar has died, or Umar has accepted Islam.” Hazrat Umar Al-Farooq (RA) was known for his justice. His caliphate is renowned for establishing justice and administrative reforms.
Hazrat Umar’s (RA) caliphate spanned over 2.2 million square miles (approximately 5.7 million square kilometers) at its peak. He also holds the title of Fatha-e-Iran (Conqueror of Iran). His caliphate included Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Libya, Jordan, Palestine, Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, and parts of Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, and Pakistan. He ruled for 10 years, and the entire decade was full of victories and happiness.
Hazrat Umar Al-Farooq (RA) was known for his strength. His role in wars during the time of the Prophet (SAW) is well documented and well known to all. There is always an allegation leveled against Hazrat Umar (RA) that he ran away from a battlefield and is a sinner (Astaghfirullah). The whole story is narrated in Surah Al-Imran. The surah states what circumstances made them leave the field and also clearly mentions that Allah forgave them for their actions. When the Quran is witness to them being forgiven, who are those who level allegations and hold them accountable for what Allah has already forgiven? They must analyze their actions and think: are they not going against the Quran? This is not just a hadith; it has been mentioned in the Quran clearly. When we understand those who level these baseless allegations, we come to know that it is only the hatred they have for Hazrat Umar Al-Farooq (RA) and nothing else.
Umar (RA), who ruled for 10 years over 2.2 million square miles, was not like the rulers of today. A man from the Roman Empire came to meet Hazrat Umar (RA). He had come with a message from the ruler. He was expecting to meet Umar (RA) in some lavish palace with thousands of armed men guarding him, but he found Hazrat Umar (RA) resting his back against a hump of dried mud. He was amazed to see the ruler of 2.2 million square miles in this condition. None of the caliphs left any wealth behind. There is no property of any caliph found anywhere. They were true rulers, not the ones who want to earn money.
It is said that when Shaitan used to see Umar, he would change his route. Although Hazrat Umar (RA) was known for his stern personality, he was very polite when asked to be accountable. One Friday, when Hazrat Umar Al-Farooq (RA) was about to climb the pulpit, he was stopped by a companion of the Prophet (SAW), who said: “Umar, before you start delivering the sermon, tell me: how did you get a coat stitched out of the cloth that you distributed yesterday? Because what we received isn’t enough to get a coat out of it.” Hazrat Umar’s son, Abdullah bin Umar (RA), was also present. Hazrat Umar (RA) asked him to speak. Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar (RA) said, “I gave my piece of cloth to my father, and that is how he made a coat out of it.” After he finished, Hazrat Umar (RA) asked, “Should I now proceed?” The man who asked the question was satisfied with the answer and asked Umar to proceed. This was how generous Hazrat Umar (RA) was as Caliph. He was harsh when it came to values and justice, but he was a generous man when it came to accountability—unlike the rulers of today, who only want to be treated as kings and not held accountable.
Hazrat Umar Al-Farooq (RA) used to inspect markets by himself. Once, while inspecting camels, he saw a camel healthier than others. Hazrat Umar (RA) enquired about whose camel it was. Upon confirming it belonged to his son Abdullah bin Umar (RA), Hazrat Umar (RA) became angry and said: “Remember, when you sell it, take your amount and deposit the remaining in the state treasury.” He said to his son: “Your camel was allowed to eat more because you are my son, and I will not let that happen.” This is how Hazrat Umar (RA) ran his caliphate. There was not even an iota of chance for any injustice. The sole purpose of Hazrat Umar (RA) was to make Allah happy. Neither Hazrat Abubakar (RA), Hazrat Umar (RA), Hazrat Uthman (RA), nor Hazrat Ali (RA) had any desire to become rulers, because they knew what it meant to become a ruler.
Hazrat Umar Al-Farooq (RA) was known for his bravery. He wrote to the ruler of Persia, and in the letter he said: “I am not requesting you; I am ordering you.” He was not afraid of anyone other than Allah. He wrote to the River Nile, and the Nile began to flow steadily, permanently ending the old customs.
There are narrations that suggest Hazrat Umar (RA) had a dispute with Hazrat Fatima (RA), but all those narrations are weak. They have weak chains of narration and cannot be trusted. The narrator found in the chain is termed a liar, hence the narration cannot be relied upon.
In 644 CE, Umar was assassinated by a Persian slave named Abu Lu’lu’a Firuz. Abu Lu’lu’a, a skilled craftsman from Persia, stabbed the Caliph with a poisoned double-bladed dagger while Umar was leading the morning prayer in Medina. Umar died from his wounds days later, and the attacker took his own life. Abu Lu’lu’a Firuz martyred Hazrat Umar (RA) over a tax dispute.
(About the author: Raqif Makhdoomi is a law student and a human rights activist.)
