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By Habtoor Information & Research Department


  Omar bin Al-Khattab, of the Bani Adi clan, was a famous leader. His father, Khattab Bin Nufail, well-known for his violent temper, was not rich, yet Omar was one of a very few people in his clan who could read and write. So he was frequently chosen to represent them whenever there was any internal dispute or a disagreement between them and other clans.

  Omar bin Al-Khattab was an extraordinarily tall, strong man, well-built with broad- shoulders and large hands and feet; a man who always walked quickly and whose presence was so strong that it forced people to listen whenever he spoke.

  Before Omar embraced Islam, he took a very hostile stand towards the Prophet (PBUH), and had even gone so far to think of killing him in order to reunite his people.

  However, in the sixth year of the Mission, two powerful citizens of Mecca, belonging to the big tribe of Quraish, embraced Islam which greatly increased the momentum of spread of the new religion.

  These two were Hamzah Bin Abdul Muttalib, the Prophet’s uncle, and Omar Bin Al-Khattab himself.

  At that time, Omar was a mature man in his thirties and was well known for his temperamental nature. On that crucial day, the Prophet(PBUH) was meeting with his companions at the house of Ibn Al-Arqam. Omar got wind of the meeting and prepared to go there, intent on killing him. With this goal in his mind, Omar drew his sword and set out on his murderous mission.

  On the way he met a friend who asked him why he looked so upset. Omar told him what he was going to do.

  "You’d better take care of your own kin first," said the friend. "Your sister and her husband have gone over to Islam."

  These words changed the focus of Omar's anger. He went straight to his sister Fatima’s house. Inside someone was reciting the Quran. Fatima was terrified when she heard Omar's voice. She hid the section of the Quran she was reading and opened the door.

  "What was it that you were reciting just now?" Omar demanded.

  "Oh, nothing," said the sister.

  "Nothing?" he shouted in rage. "I heard you well enough. I know you have both embraced Mohammed's faith."

  So saying, he began to beat his brother-in-law, Saeed. Fatima ran to help her husband and received a blow to the head and began to bleed.

  "Yes, we have become Muslims," they shouted at Omar. "Do what you will."

  The sight of his bleeding sister deeply moved Omar. Surely there must be some truth in the Quran which had won her innocent heart?

  "Would you let me have a look at the Quran?" said Omar. Fatima handed him the few pages of the book she had.

  Omar sat down to read the pages, and soon his face changed. His anger cooled. The fear of Allah gripped his heart. He wept and declared, "Surely this is the word of Allah. I bear witness that Mohammed (PBUH) is the Messenger of Allah."

  He went straight to the Prophet. At the door of the house, he asked the Prophet's permission to go in and was made welcome. Omar announced there and then that he had seen the truth and that he had come to embrace Islam. Filled with delight the Prophet shouted, "Allahu Akbar! Allah is Greatest," and all the Companions repeated it after him.

  Omar’s conversion to Islam opened a new era and Muslims started to practice it fearlessly in Mecca. The believers no longer concealed their worship within their own homes but with conscious strength and defiant attitudes assembled in companies around Al-Kaabah and performed their rites openly. The conversion of Omar caused a further division in Quraish; it reduced their power and made them reconsider their position. In fact, it had increased the Muslims' power greatly.

  Soon the believers, led by the Prophet, were going out in two streams, the first being headed by  Hamzah and the second by Omar. All headed to Al-Kaabah and, there, performed the circumambulation and said the prayers, with the leaders of the Quraish watching them without daring to utter a single word.

  Omar stood by the side of the Prophet in all his battles and expeditions. Great was his love for Allah and His Apostle and he would never allow any blood ties or friendship to stand in the way of this love.

  The death of the Prophet was a stunning shock to Omar. He could not believe it, so much so that he drew his sword and swore that he would cut off the head of any man who said the Messenger of Allah was dead. He was overwhelmed with grief and would not let the funeral arrangements proceed at all. Life without the Prophet was unthinkable. And if the Prophet was really no more, what was going to happen to Islam and the Muslims? These dark thoughts blotted out all reason from Omar's head.

  But the great Abu Bakr, recently returned to Medina, reminded him of the words of the Quran:

  "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?"

  Omar was able then at last to accept the Prophet’s death.

  Abu Bakr, during his Caliphate, depended heavily on Omar for advice not least because Mohammed (PBUH) himself, during his life-time, gave great credence to Omar. When Abu Bakr fell ill and realized that his end was close, he chose Omar to succeed him.

  The new Caliph chose a title of “Amir Al Mu’mineen” (Commander of the Faithful). But he became widely known as Al Farooq, which means “…the one who knows the difference between right and wrong”.   During Omar’s time, the Muslims’ power and presence spread to many places, including Persia, Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Palestine, Jordan, Egypt and other parts of North Africa.

  Omar was known at the time for his sense of justice and his wisdom.   Amru Ibnul A’as was the Muslim leader who conquered Egypt and became its ruler. One day, Amru’s son was racing with an Egyptian youth who won the race.

  Amru's son was displeased and struck the Egyptian saying to him: "How dare you beat the son of the most notable parents"?

  The Egyptian went to the Caliph in Medina and presented his grievance:  Omar sent for Amru and his son to come straight away to Medina.

  When they arrived he said to the Egyptian in public: "Now, beat the son of the most notable parents."

  Then, turning to Amru, Omar gave his famous dictum: "How dare you enslave people who have been born free?"

  Another incident occurred when Palestine was conquered. Omar came in person to Jerusalem, where he signed the famous Peace Treaty. It ran as follows:

  "From the servant of Allah and the Commander of the Faithful, Omar: The inhabitants of Jerusalem are granted security of life and property. Their churches and crosses shall be secure. This treaty applies to all people of the city. Their places of worship shall remain intact. These shall neither be taken over nor pulled down. People shall be quite free to follow their religion. They shall not be put to any trouble..."

  The gates of the city were now opened. Omar went straight to the place of the Dome of the Rock, where he said his prayers. Next he visited the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the city. He was in the church when the time for the afternoon prayer came.

  "You may say your prayers in the church," said the Bishop.

  "No," replied Omar, "if I do so, the Muslims may one day make this an excuse for taking over the church from you to build a mosque in its place."

  So he said his prayers on the steps of the church. Even then, he gave the Bishop a written undertaking stating that the steps were never to be used for congregational prayers nor was the Adhan (call to prayer) to be said there.

  Omar wanted to build a mosque in Jerusalem. He asked the Bishop which place would be suitable for the purpose. The Bishop suggested the "Sakhra," or the rock on which Allah had talked to the Prophet Jacob. Here the Christians had heaped garbage to bait the Jews.

  Immediately the Sakhra was cleared of garbage. Omar himself worked like a labourer with the rest of his men. Jerusalem, the city of David and of Christ, witnessed the equality of Islam. When the Sakhra had been cleared of every trace of dirt, a mosque was built on the site. The mosque stands to this day and is known as Omar's Mosque.

  After Egypt was conquered its Christian Coptic inhabitants came to know of Omar’s humanity. They used to hold a major festival in the early summer every year. This was a day of general merrymaking. However, the day was also marred by human sacrifice. A beautiful maiden, dressed as a bride, was thrown into the Nile. People thought that the sacrifice was necessary to please the Nile in order for the flood to happen and water their parched fields. If the Nile were displeased, they believed, there would be no flood and no crops.

  The Copts asked Amru Ibnul Aa’s to permit the sacrifice of a maiden as usual. But he would never allow such a savage act. It so happened that the Nile had very little water that year. Crops failed and many of the peasants were forced to leave the country. Amru wrote to the Caliph for advice.

  The Caliph approved Amru's action. He also sent a letter, addressed to the Nile.

  "From the servant of Allah and Commander of the Muslims to the River of the Nile of Egypt. O Nile, if you flow of your own will, then do not flow. But if your flow is controlled by Allah, the Almighty, we pray to Him to keep you flowing."

  This letter was thrown into the river, as directed by the Caliph and the river overflowed its banks that year. Such a flood had not been seen for many years and the country was once again green with crops. The peasants were happy and the savage practice of human sacrifice came to an end for ever.

  This great leader was destined to meet his end at the hands of a Persian youth, Fairouz Abu-Lu'lu'ah. One day, as Omar was leading the prayer in the Mosque at dawn, Abu-Lu'lu'ah came unnoticed out of his hiding place in a dark corner of the mosque. He went straight towards the Caliph and, with a dagger in his hand, aimed deadly stabs at his body in the back, at which the Commander of the Faithful fell down on the ground bleeding profusely. Above all, what concerned him was the continuation of the prayer. He took the hand of Abdur-Rahman-ibn-'Awf and sent him ahead to lead the prayer.

  Omar was afterwards carried to his home. He was unconscious. As the end approached and there was no hope of recovery, he regained consciousness and commanded his son, Abdullah, to go to `Aisha, the wife of the Prophet and ask her permission to have him buried beside his favourite brothers: the Prophet, Allah's Peace and Blessings be upon him, and Abu-Bakr, Allah be pleased with him. She gave him that permission and it was so completed.

   

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