The "darih" of the Holy Prophet (s) called the "Maksurah". Behind this lies his grave
Before he passed away, Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (radi Allahu anhu) consulted the senior Sahaba & elected Sayyiduna Umar (radi Allahu anhu) as the second Caliph of the Muslims.
EARLY LIFE:
He was the son of Khattab & is famous in Islamic history as "Al-Farooq" or "One who Distinguishes between Right & Wrong." His acceptance of Islam is also very famous.
Sayyiduna Umar (radi Allahu anhu) was a very brave & straight-forward person. He was tough & uncompromising in Islamic principles. He was a great & talented ruler. During his Khilaafat, vast areas of the Roman & Persian empires & the whole of Egypt were brought under Islamic rule. He was also a gifted orator. He was very concerned for the welfare of the Muslims. He left a honourable legacy for Muslims after him. The Holy Quran was given to him by Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (radi Allahu anhu) for safe-keeping.
APPOINTS NEW COMMANDER:
Sayyiduna Umar (radi Allahu anu) was a strong disciplinarian. He noticed the tremendous popularity of Sayyiduna Khalid bin Walid (radi Allahu anhu). He felt that people will lose trust in Almighty Allah & put all their trust in Sayyiduna Khalid bin Walid (radi Allahu anhu). He feared that the people may think too highly of him, thereby possibly increasing the self-esteem of Sayyiduna Khalid bin Walid (radi Allahu anhu) which would also breed arrogance, so he removed Sayyiduna Khalid (radi Allahu anhu) & appointed Sayyiduna Abu Ubaidah bin Jarrah (radi Allahu anhu) as the Commander in Chief of the Muslim army.
Sayyiduna Khalid bin Walid (radi Allahu anhu) happily accepted the orders of Sayyiduna Umar (radi Allahu anhu) & then served as an ordinary soldier. This is an example of the Islamic teachings of obedience to leadership!
DEFEAT OF THE PERSIANS:
Sayyiduna Khalid bin Walid (radi Allahu anhu) had left Sayyiduna Muthanna (radi Allahu anhu) in command of the Muslim forces on the Iraqi front when he rushed to Yarmuk. Sayyiduna Muthanna (radi Allahu anhu) was finding it difficult to counter the enemy & went personally to Madina-tul-Munawwarah to ask Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (radi Allahu anhu) for re-inforcements. Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (radi Allahu anhu) had by that time passed away.
Sayyiduna Muthanna (radi Allahu anhu's) absence from the Iraqi front made things worse there. The Iranians regrouped under the command of Rustam & recaptured the lands taken by the Muslims. Rustam sent 2 columns of his army, one to Hirah & the other to Kaskar.
Sayyiduna Umar (radi Allahu anhu) sent Sayyiduna Abu Ubaidah (radi Allahu anhu), as Commander, to deal with the situation. Both the Persian columns were defeated. Rustam sent an even larger army & defeated the Muslims.
Sayyiduna Umar (radi Allahu anhu) raised another army & defeated the Persians. But the Persian court sent yet another larger army & forced Sayyiduna Muthanna (radi Allahu anhu) to withdraw. The report of the new situation was sent to Sayyiduna Umar (radi Allahu anhu) & reinforcements under the command of Sayyiduna Saad bin Abi Waqqas (radi Allahu anhu) were sent.
The Persian & Muslim army met at Qadisiyah. After a long battle on several fronts, the outnumbered Muslim army defeated the 120,000 Persian soldiers & recaptured Hirah & their areas in the year 14 A.H. (636 C.E).
CONQUEST OF JERUSALEM:
Meanwhile, Sayyiduna Amr ibn As (radi Allahu anhu) was laying siege to Jerusalem. Sayyiduna Khalid, Sayyiduna Abu Ubaidah & other Sahaba (radi Allahu anhum-ul-ajma'in) also joined him. The Christians had little hope & decided to give in. They also suggested that the keys of Jerusalem be given to Sayyiduna Umar (radi Allahu anhu) himself personally. Sayyiduna Umar (radi Allahu anhu) went to Jerusalem. An agreement was signed that guaranteed the safety of the city & the safety of the Christians.
A Persian non-Muslim, named Firoz & nicknamed "Abu Lulu," complained to Sayyiduna Umar (radi Allahu anhu) about his master, Sayyiduna Mughirah bin Shuba (radi Allahu anhu), who imposed tax on him. Sayyiduna Umar (radi Allahu anhu) told Firoz that the tax was reasonable. This made Firoz angry.
The next day, during the Fajr Salaah, he stabbed Sayyiduna Umar (radi Allahu anhu) 6 times in the back, severely wounding the Caliph. Sayyiduna Umar (radi Allahu anhu) passed away 3 days later in 23 A.H. He was 63 years old. He ruled the Islamic State for 10 years, 6 months & 4 days.
In a short space of 10 years, Sayyiduna Umar (radi Allahu anhu) had been well-known for his outstanding achievements & reforms in Islam. Some of these reforms were:
- He established the "Bait-ul-Maal" (People's treasury for the state & public).
- Judicial courts of Justice were set in the country. Judges & Magistrates handled all cases.
- Establishment of an army headquarters for the defence of the country.
- Construction of roads & canals.
- Schools were established. Salaries for Imams, Mu'azzins & Ustaads were organized.
- Masjids were improved & built in Makkah-tul-Mukarramah & Madina-tul-Munawwarah. This included facilities for the Haajis.
- Police Stations & prisons were built.
- Establishment of the first Islamic Lunar calendar beginning from the Hijrah.
- Proper weights & measures introduced.
- Population census established.
- Built orphanages & welfare homes.
- Established proper punishment system & banned slavery.
Golden Words of Hazrat Umar Farooq (radi Allahu anhu):
- To eat less is healthy, to speak less is wisdom & to sleep less is worship.
- To speak less is wisdom, to eat less is healthy & to mingle less with the people is safe & serene.
- The one who steps back will not progress.
- Nothing is worst that avarice that destroys the mind, not even Alcohol.
- It is unbecoming of that person who sits with his hands folded & prays to ALLAH (subhanuhu wa ta'ala) for sustenance. ALLAH (subhanuhu wa ta'ala) does not rain down gold & silver from the heavens.
- To earn a suspicious living is worse than begging.
- The biggest gift after Iman (Faith) is your wives.
- Attain knowledge before old age settles in.
- Extravagance is also when a person eats whatever he wishes.
- Whosoever hides his secret keeps his safety, safeguarded with himself.
- The person who calls himself learned, indeed he is ignorant & the one who calls himself from the dwellers of Paradise surely he is from the dwellers of Hell.
- Tawbat-un-Nasooha (Accepted forgiveness) is the name of that forgiveness that is asked for a bad deed committed, in such a manner that he never returns to or commits that bad deed again.
- The Strength in action is, never to put of what you can do today for tomorrow.
- It is not becoming of a Muslim to sit down & start praying for sustenance without attempting to earn it, he is well aware that gold & silver does not rain from the skies.
- If it wasn't for the claim of knowledge of the unknown then I would say five people are from the dwellers of Paradise:
- That family man who is poverty stricken but is patient.
- That women with whom her husband is happy & accepting.
- That woman who forgives he husband’s duty of Mehr (Dowry approved by Muslim law).
- That person with whom his parents are Happy.
- & that person who honestly repents from his sins.
- Once a sheep was slaughtered & Syeduna 'Umar al-Farooq (radi Allahu anhu) persistently asked his servant if he had first sent meat to his neighbour who was a Jew. The slave asked why you are asking the same question persistently. He answered that ALLAH (subhanuhu wa ta'ala) & his Rasul (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) had constantly stressed the importance of neighbors therefore I too am persistent in stressing the same.
- Three things build love:
- To make Salam (greeting).
- To make space for a person in a gathering.
- To address a person in a respectable & good manner.
- There are four types of Regrets:
- Regret that spans over a day e.g. When a person leaves his home without eating.
- Regret that spans over a year, just like the negligence shown when cultivating.
- Regret that spans over a lifetime, when a man & his wife are unsuited to each other.
- Regret that is eternal, which is when your Creator is unhappy with you.
- There are three types of people:
- Successful: he who listens to the advice of people & ponders over it.
- Lazy or Lethargic: he who does what he wants without consultation or advice of people.
- Corpse: who neither gives nor listens to advice & consolation.
- Sayyiduna 'Umar (radi Allahu anhu) on many an occasion asked this du'a (supplication) to ALLAH (subhanuhu wa ta'ala) so that certain situations should always remain with him & some things should be removed, the Du'a is: "O ALLAH (subhanuhu wa ta'ala)! Make me such that I may speak with intellect or reap tolerance with silent. O! ALLAH (subhanuhu wa ta'ala) do not bestow upon me too many favours, so that I may not be confused by it, not too little that I may forget You. Hence, little yet sufficient in comparison to having plenty thereby becoming indulgent & committing sin."
- If ever you see a learned person ('Aalim) leaning towards this World, then know this he is blameworthy for his Religion, because the universal harm is that if a person desires something then he is constantly engrossed in its quest.
- Faith (Iman) is to regard the Oneness of ALLAH (subhanuhu wa ta'ala) in ones heart proclaim it with your tongue & to obey the fundamental Islamic Instructions.
- The relationship of true humility & genuine fear of ALLAH (subhanuhu wa ta'ala) is with the heart & not by a show of outward actions.
- Why have you made slaves of those whose mothers had given birth to them free?
- Judgements or Settlements in any cases should be done quickly, so that the accused, due to a prolonged period of time are not compelled to withdraw their accusation.
- It is absolutely necessary not to associate with a beast for though he wishes or means well, yet he would still be accused of committing a crime.
- ALLAH (subhanuhu wa ta'ala), shower your Blessings of Mercy on that person who informs me of my faults.
- When a learned man takes a false step then he ensnares himself in a World of wrongdoings.
- One day a man was praising Hazrat 'Umar (radi Allahu anhu), he replied by saying why are you destroying me even more with my desires (Nafs).
- I do not look at anything, except, that I see everything with ALLAH (subhanuhu wa ta'ala).
- If I die in this condition that I have strived to earn an honest living then it is more beloved to me than even dying as a Martyr.
- Good behavior towards people is equivalent to wisdom, to request politely is half of knowledge & to ascribe to sound policies is half of one’s livelihood.
- To educate a material person is like placing a sword in the hands of a robber.
- Do not have Faith in a person’s compassion & politeness when he cannot keep his anger under control.
- Do not have Faith in a religious person who is not tested during temptation.
- He is a friend who brings to your attention your faults & to sing praises of a person in his presence is similar to slaughtering him.
- Laughing decreases ones age, while politeness, glamour, pomp & show which ease living standards are indications of people who are unaware of death.
- To show greed & avarice is impoverishing, to be unselfish is enriching & to wish compensation in patience.
- Good deeds are the fulfillment of one's rights & to do good deeds is a substitute for bad deeds.
- To speak less is wisdom, to eat less is healthy, to sleep less is a prayer & there is peace in solitude.
- Youth before old age & old age before death is a blessing of life.
- A generous person is the beloved of Almighty ALLAH (subhanuhu wa ta'ala) even though he is a transgressor. A miser is the enemy of Almighty ALLAH (subhanuhu wa ta'ala) although he may pray & remember Almighty ALLAH (subhanuhu wa ta'ala) excessively.
- To forgive an oppressor is oppression upon the oppressed.
- When you combine lawful with unlawful gains then the unlawful contaminates the lawful gains though it may be little.
- A Mu'min does not keep as his friend one who is opposed to Almighty ALLAH (subhanuhu wa ta'ala) & his Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) even though that person may be his mother or father.
- The sound of music & that of a mourner are two of the worst sounds.
- There is tranquility & peace in anonymity & confidentiality.
- We should leave the other nine portions out for the fear of Haram (unlawful). (i.e. if in ten portions one is Haram a Muslim would leave the other nine portions out meaning anything unlawful would be completely left out).
- Desire is never achieved without fear, nor manners & etiquette without formality, or happiness without peace or wealth without gifts or poverty without contentment, or dignity without politeness or Jihad (holy war) without diving guidance & assistance.
- Respite before preoccupation & old age before death is a blessing of life.
- Honour & dignity in this World is measured by wealth while honour & dignity in the Hereafter is measured by good deeds.
- Save yourself from the Fires of Hell even if it means by doing a favour with half a date (fruit). If this too is not possible then with sweet words.
- After Iman (Faith), there is no greater gift than a pious wife.
- Not to postpone is strength in action.
- Whosoever shows you your faults, he is your friend. Those that pay you lip service in praise are your executioners.
- One who guards his secrets is surely safe.
- The person who constantly discloses my faults to me is dearest to me.
- Fear that person who you dislike.
- When Sayyiduna 'Umar (radi Allahu anhu) camped on the outskirts of Jerusalem to conquer Bait al-Muqaddas, the Christian Crusaders were terrified of his presence & requested a meeting with him before handing over the keys of the city. The Crusaders met him whilst he wore a patched garb. They asked him the reason as to why his name generated such immence awe & fear that captured the hearts of his enemies. He replied; “Your kings taught you to love the World (Duniyah) & it's wealth & our Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) taught us to fear ALLAH (subhanuhu wa ta'ala) & love death.
- He is an intelligent person who can translate his actions into good.
- Never put off for tomorrow what you can do today.
- There is never a chance of pain in the neck if one does not raise his head too high in the air.
- Do not forget about yourself whilst being concerned for others.
- To stop sinning is easier than to bear the burden of seeking repentance.
- Remove your gaze from the splendor of the World. Do not let the love of this World enter your heart. Beware! The love of this World does not perhaps destroy you, just as it had destroyed previous nations.
- Victory is gained through strategy & trust in ALLAH (subhanuhu wa ta'ala), not by wishful thinking.
- The most intelligent amongst you is he who fears ALLAH (subhanuhu wa ta'ala) the most.
- Be sympathetic towards the poor so that they may be able to speak & build courage.
- Extend a hand of friendship to a foreigner because if his stay is extended then he would leave his valuable possessions to return to his own country & leave that person responsible for his valuables who had been most worthy of his attention.
- Do not taunt & curse anyone for this gives rise to collective evils in a person.
- One should not judge a person by the number of Salaat (prayer) or Roza (fasting) but by his wisdom & honesty.
- Prayer is connected to the heart not by mere apparent actions.
- To educate a seeker of materialism is to place a sword in the hands of a highway robber.
- Do not trust the character of one who cannot control his temper.
- To laugh excessively is a sign of no remorse for death.
- To side with the oppressor is oppression on the oppressed
- Death is the best teacher.
The excellence & virtues of the second caliph of Islam, Sayyiduna Umar al-Farooq (may Allah be pleased with him) are more than can be counted. Here, I am mentioning the most famous ones. I only wish to bless myself by serving him by this remnant to benefit he who does not know much of his virtues by the ignorance before him. This small collection of Traditions will Insha Allah increase & elevate his rank in our hearts, minds & tell us of his exalted status in the court of Almighty Allah & His beloved Messenger (sallallahu alaihi wasallam).
1. Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with both the father & the son) reports the Holy Prophet (may Allah send greetings & salutations on him) as saying:
2. Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with both the father & the son) narrates when Sayyiduna Umar (radi Allahu anhu) accepted Islam, Jibraeel (alaihis salaam) descent & said:
3. It is related that Sayyiduna 'Abdullah (radi Allahu anhu) said:
4. Sayyiduna Uqbah bin Amir (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Holy Prophet (may Allah send greetings & salutations on him) said:
5. It is related that Sayyiduna Jabir ibn 'Abdullah said that the Prophet (may Allah bless him & grant him peace) said:
6. Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with both the father & the son) narrates that one day the Holy Prophet (may Allah send greetings & salutations on him) went out & entered the mosque with Abu Bakr & Umar, one on his right hand & the other on his left, holding their hands. Then he said:
7. Sayyiduna Jabir bin Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with both the father & the son) narrates:
8. Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with both the father & the son) narrates that Allah`s Messenger, may Allah send greetings & salutations on him, said:
9. It is related from Sayyiduna Abu Hamzah that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him & grant him peace) said:
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