Umar
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For other uses of the name, see Umar (disambiguation).
`Umar ibn al-Khattāb (in Arabic, عمر ابن الخطاب) (c. 581 - November 3, 644), sometimes referred by Sunni Muslims as `Umar al-Farūq (the Redeemer), also known in English as Omar or Umar, was from the Banu Adi clan of the Quraysh tribe.
He became the second caliph of Islam (634-644).
He is regarded by Sunnis as the second of the four Khulafā' ar-Rashīdīn ('rightfully-guided caliphs'). Shi'a Muslims believe that he usurped authority that properly belonged to `Alī ibn Abī Tālib. Sunni and Shi'a hold diametrically opposite views of `Umar, as can be seen in the "Sunni view" and "Shi'a view" sections at the end of this article.
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Early life
`Umar was born in Mecca. He is said to have belonged to a middle class family. He was literate, which was uncommon in those times, and he was also well known for his physical strength, being a champion wrestler.
After his conversion to Islam, he remembered with shame and regret killing his young daughter while he was still a "pagan" (female infanticide was an accepted practice among the Arabs).
He is quoted as saying:
- "I cried when I remembered digging a hole and burying my daughter. While I was putting her in, she reached up and brushed dirt from my beard." 1 2 3
Drinking was very common among the Quraish. Some accounts say that during the pre-Islamic days, Umar drank wine. After Umar became a Muslim, he never touched alcohol. [1]
Conversion to Islam
When Muhammad first declared his message of Islam, `Umar resolved to defend the traditional religion of the Quraish (regarded by Muslims as idolatry). `Umar was most adamant in opposing Muhammad and very prominent in persecuting the Muslims.
According to an early story, recounted in Ibn Ishaq's Sīrah, `Umar is said to have resolved to assassinate Muhammad. A Muslim he met on the way told him to set his own house in order first, as his sister had converted to Islam.
`Umar went to her house and found her reciting verses of the Qur'an. He became infuriated and hit her. When he saw her bleeding, he was sorry for what he had done and in order to please her he said he would read the sūrah, Ta-Ha, that she had been reading. He was so struck by the sūrah that he accepted Islam that day.
After that, he was as determined and impetuous in defending Islam as he had been in persecuting it. The meaning of the Holy Qur'an[2]
Life in Medina
`Umar was part of the first emigration (Hijrah) to Yathrib (renamed Medīnat an-Nabī, or simply Medina shortly thereafter) in 622 C.E. He was present at the battles of Badr, Uhūd, Khaybar, and the raid on Syria, as well as many other engagements. He was one of Muhammad's close companions.
In 625, `Umar's daughter Hafsah was married to Muhammad. Muhammad's household was not always peaceful; his wives quarreled over his favors and took sides against each other. `Umar was much displeased when he heard this, and according to the story, scolded her thus:
- "Hafsa, the (news) has reached me that you cause God's Messenger (may peace be upon him) trouble. You know that God's Messenger (may peace be upon him) does not love you, and had I not been (your father) he would have divorced you." (On hearing this) she wept bitterly. ([3])
Shi'a say that this demonstrates his harshness; Sunni say that this shows that he put loyalty to Muhammad over the closest family ties.
The death of Muhammad
Muhammad died in Medina in 632 CE. `Umar is said to have threatened to kill anybody who said that Muhammad had died. He was calmed when Abū Bakr said,
- "If anyone worshipped Muhammad, let them know that Muhammad is dead, but if anyone worshipped God, then let them know that God is living and cannot die."
Abū Bakr then recited these words from the Qur'ān: "Muhammad is but a messenger; messengers (the like of whom) have passed away before him. If, then, he dies or is killed, will you turn back on your heel?"
The Sunnis say that this denial of Muhammad's death was occasioned by his deep love for Muhammad. The Shi'a say that `Umar wished to delay the funeral, so that Abū Bakr could return to Medina and seize power.
Shi'a and Sunni Muslims have sharply different views regarding account of the events following Muhammad's death. See Succession to Muhammad for further details.
Abū Bakr, supported by `Umar, took power after Muhammad. During Abū Bakr's short reign as caliph, `Umar was one of his chief advisors. Abū Bakr appointed `Umar as his successor prior to his death in 634. He was confirmed in the office thereafter. `Alī, whom many (known as shī`at `Alī, the 'partisans of `Alī') believed should have been the first caliph,
Reign as caliph
During `Umar's reign, the Islamic empire grew at an unprecedented rate, taking Mesopotamia and parts of Persia from the Sāsānids (effectively ending that empire), and taking Egypt, Palestine, Syria, North Africa and Armenia from the Byzantines. Many of these conquests followed watershed battles on both the western and eastern fronts. The Battle of Yarmūk, fought near Damascus in 636, saw a Muslim army of 20,000 defeat a Byzantine force estimated to number 40,000, permanently ending Byzantine rule south of Asia Minor. Another small Muslim army achieved victory over a larger force in the much-mythologized Battle of al-Qādisiyyah of circa 636, near the banks of the Euphrates River. During the course of the battle, Muslim general Sa`d ibn Abī Waqqās routed the Sāsānian army and achieved the death of the famed Persian general Rostam Farrokhzād.
In 637, after a prolonged siege of Jerusalem, the Muslims took the city. `Umar was given the key to the city by the Patriarch of Jerusalem, Sophronius, and invited to pray at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Umar chose to pray some distance from the Church, so as not to endanger its status as a Christian temple. Fifty-five years later, the Mosque of `Umar was constructed on the site where he prayed. For one version of `Umar's speech to the people after the surrender of Jerusalem, see [4].
`Umar undertook many administrative reforms and closely oversaw public policy, establishing an advanced administration for newly conquered lands, including several new ministries and bureaucracies, as well as ordering a census of all the Muslim territories. During his reign, the garrison cities of Basrah and al-Kūfah were founded or expanded. In 638, he extended and renovated the Grand Mosque in Mecca and the Mosque of the Prophet in Medina. He also began the process of codifying Islamic law.
`Umar was known for his simple, austere lifestyle. Rather than adopt the pomp and display affected by the rulers of the time, he continued to live much as he had when Muslims were poor and persecuted.
In the year 17 of the Hijra, the fourth year of the caliphate of 'Umar, he decreed that the years of the Islamic era should be counted from the year of the Hijra.
Death
`Umar died in 644, the victim of an assassin's dagger. `Umar's killer (Abū Lū`lū`ah) was a Persian slave who is said to held a personal grudge against Umar; he stabbed the Caliph six times as `Umar led the dawn prayers in the Masjid an-Nabawī mosque in Medina and then committed suicide.
`Umar died two days later, and was buried alongside Muhammad and Abū Bakr. `Uthmān ibn `Affān was elected as his successor, by a group of prominent Muslims appointed by `Umar before his death.
Sunni view
Most Sunnis remember Umar as a strong leader, an excellent jurist, a progressive statesman, and the second of the rightly-guided Caliphs. He did not seek advancement for his own family, but rather sought to advance the interests of the Muslim community, the ummah. One hadith, or oral tradition, credited by Sunnis says that at the time of his death he was asked if he would like to nominate his son `Abd-Allah ibn `Umar as caliph to which he replied: "One is enough from the Khattab (Umar's) family."
Some Sunnis take a more nuanced view of Umar. They note that even amongst the early Muslims, he had a reputation for strict militancy and conformity and was even accused by contemporaries of being harsh in religious matters. On several occasions he even opposed Muhammad) when the latter wished to be merciful toward religious and political enemies. Yet Muhammad was reported as saying if there was ever a person with prophet-like qualities, it was Umar, an attestation to his conscientious, just, and humble disposition.
Shi'a view
Most Shi'a regard `Umar as a usurper, and criticize him harshly. He is said to have questioned some of Muhammad's decisions, shown cowardice in battle, and been too harsh to his daughter when he scolded her for her behavior towards Muhammad. During the matter of the disputed succession to Muhammad, Shi`as believe he persecuted Ali and caused the death of Muhammad's daughter Fātimah. This view is also held by prominent western historian, Edward Gibbon, who stated in his The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, that Umar "attempted to consume with fire the habitation of the daughter of the apostle".[5] Shi'as say that `Umar ruled capriciously as caliph, at times giving legal rulings which contradicted the Qur'ān and sunnah.
Non-Muslim view
Non-Muslim scholars generally treat Umar as a pivotal figure in the history of Islam, since it was under his aegis that the Muslims expanded outwards from the Syro-Arabian steppe to invade the great powers of the time, the Sassanid and Byzantine empires. They analyze his decisions primarily in military and political terms, and are less concerned with the religious or character judgments that interest Muslims.
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Farūqī
The family names Farūqī (alternative spellings, Faruqi, Farooqui, Farooqi, Faruqi, etc.) and Al-`Umarī are used by families claiming descent from `Umar.
See also
- Family tree of `Umar ibn al-Khattāb
- Succession to Muhammad
- The first four Sunni Caliphs and the Sunnah
- Shia view of `Umar
- Historiography of early Islam
External links
- Al Farooq - The Life of Umar The Great By Shams-Ul-Ulama Allama Shibli Nomani
- Excerpt from The History of the Khalifahs by Jalal ad-Din as-Suyuti
- Sirah of Amirul Muminin Umar Ibn Khattab (r.a.a.) by Shaykh Sayyed Muhammad bin Yahya Al-Husayni Al-Ninowy.ar:عمر بن الخطاب
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