A shining light in Islamic history, the life of Hazrat Umar ibn Al-Khattab R.A. stands head and shoulders above all others. If you look for examples of heroic behavior in the past, greatness, integrity, jihad, and urging others on behalf of Allah, you won’t find anyone other than Hazrat Umar R.A.
The most beloved companion of Muhammad S.A.W., Hazrat Umar R.A.’s full name is ʿUmar ibn al-Khattab, (born c. 586, Mecca, Arabia [now in Saudi Arabia]). Hazrat Umar R.A. was the most powerful and influential personality in Makkah. He was chosen as a second Caliph by Hazrat Abu Bakr R.A., the first Caliph of Islam and recognized as a Caliph in the ranks of the Righteous. Qualities of bravery and acceptance, wisdom, and leadership qualities defined his character.
Hazrat Umar ibn Al-Khattab R.A.’s Title
Hazrat Umar R.A.’s full name is ‘Umar ibn al-Khaṭṭâb ibn Nufayl ibn ‘Abdul-‘Uzza ibn Riyâḥ ibn ‘Abdullah ibn Qurut ibn Razâh ibn ‘Adiyy ibn Ka’b ibn Lu’ayy ibn Ghâlib al-Qurashi al-‘Adawi.
Hazrat Umar Hazrat R.A. opposed Muhammad S.A.W. at first, even though Muhammad S.A.W. was a distant relative and later his son-in-law because of their shared Qurayshite heritage. It wasn’t until after his conversion to Islam in 616 that he started to pray openly at the Kaaba. Hazrat Umar R.A. served under Muhammad S.A.W. in nearly every expedition and battle, earning him the honorific “al-Farooq” (the Distinguisher).
Before Islam
Hazrat Umar R.A.’s clan, the Banu Adi, were tribal mediators. His parents were Banu Makhzum members: Khattab ibn Nufayl and Hantama bint Hisham. When he was younger, he helped care for his father’s camels on the plains outside of Makkah. His father was a successful merchant, and he had a reputation as a brilliant man among his people.
Hazrat Umar R.A. learned to write and read as a young man, which was unusual in pre-Islamic Arabia. Although he never considered himself a poet, he came to appreciate the art form. As the custom of Quraish, Hazrat Umar R.A. was taught a variety of martial arts while still a teenager. He also learned to ride and compete in chariot races. He towered over his opponents and was known for his formidable physique and wrestling prowess. In addition to being an accomplished leader, he inherited his father’s role as an influential tribal arbitrator and was widely regarded as a brilliant orator.
It is said that Hazrat Umar R.A. met many scholars and analyzed Roman and Persian society during his travels as a merchant to those countries. He failed miserably as a businessman. In Hazrat Umar R.A.’s pre-Islamic days, he enjoyed alcohol to the same extent as his peers.
Opposition towards Islam
Muhammad S.A.W. began preaching Islamic teachings in 610. Hazrat Umar R.A., like many others in Makkah, was anti-Islam and swore to assassinate Muhammad S.A.W. He determined to defend Arabia’s historic polytheistic religion. He was determined and merciless in his opposition to Muhammad S.A.W., and he was a significant figure in punishing Muslims. He campaigned for Muhammad S.A.W.’s death. He was a fervent believer in the Quraish’s unity and considered Islam a source of division and turmoil.
Due to severe oppression, Muhammad S.A.W. sent a few of his followers to Abyssinia. When a tiny minority of Muslims emigrated, Hazrat Umar R.A. became concerned about the Quraish’s eternal stability and planned to assassinate Muhammad S.A.W.
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Acceptance of Islam (616 CE)
When Hazrat Umar R.A. finally converted to Islam, he was 39 years old. Several narrations describe Hazrat Umar R.A.’s conversion.
Hazrat Umar R.A. planned to kill the Messenger S.A.W. to halt his message. He seized his sword and went to Muhammad S.A.W.’s seat. One of the disguised believers, possibly Nu’aym ibn Abdullah R.A., spotted his intention and asked him where he was going. Hazrat Umar R.A. said he wanted to assassinate the Messenger S.A.W., on which Nu’aym ibn Abdullah R.A.pointed to his sister Fatimah’s R.A.’s conversion to Islam and advised him to clean up his act before opposing Muhammad S.A.W.
Following his conversion to Islam, Hazrat Umar R.A. is said to have prayed openly at the Kaaba, while the two chiefs of the Quraish tribe, Abu Jahl and Abu Sufyan, reportedly watched in anger from a distance. This further assisted the Muslims in gaining the confidence to freely practice their religion, Islam. At this point, Hazrat Umar R.A. even challenged anyone who ventured to stop the Muslims from praying, although no one dared to intervene with Hazrat Umar R.A. while he was publicly praying.
The Muslims and the Islamic faith in Makkah were granted power as a result of Umar’s decision to convert to Islam. Following the occurrence of this incident, Muslims were finally able to pray publicly in the Masjid al-Haram for the first time.
Migration In Madina (622 CE)
Muhammad S.A.W. gave the command for his people to go to Medina in the year 622 CE due to the security that could be found in Yathrib, which would subsequently be renamed Mednat an-Nab or simply Medina. Hazrat Umar R.A. is said to have openly fled during the day, saying:
“Anyone who wants to make his wife a widow and his children orphans should come and meet me there behind that cliff.”
While the majority of Muslims fled during the night out of fear of the Quraish’s resistance, Hazrat Umar R.A. is reported to have left during the day. Hazrat Umar R.A. made the journey to Medina accompanied by Saeed ibn Zaid, who was both his cousin and his brother-in-law.
Participation in Jihad in Madina
When Muhammad S.A.W. arrived in Medina, he linked each immigrant (Muhajir) with one of the city’s natives (Ansari), thus uniting Muhammad ibn Maslamah R.A. and Hazrat Umar R.A. as brothers in Islam. Muhammad ibn Muslamah R.A. would be appointed Chief Inspector of Responsibility later in Hazrat Umar R.A.’s time as caliph. Muslims in Madina lived in peace for almost a year until the Quraish organized an army to invade them. Hazrat Umar R.A. took part in the first fight against Muslims and Quraish of Makkah, the Battle of Badr, in 624. He fought in the Battle of Uhud in 625. Hazrat Umar R.A. also took part in a campaign even against the Jewish tribe of Banu Nadir. Later that year, in 627, he took part in the Battle of the Trench as well as the Battle of Banu Qurayza.
Hazrat Umar R.A. observed the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah in 628. He participated in the battle of Khaybar in 628. In 629, Muhammad S.A.W. dispatched Amr ibn al-A’as to Zaat-ul-Sallasal, following which he dispatched Abu Ubaidah ibn al-Jarrah with troops, including Hazrat Abu Bakr R.A. and Hazrat Umar R.A., who fought and defeated the opposition. He was a member of the Muslim troops who raced for the conquer of Makkah in 630. Later that year, in 630, he took part in the Battle of Hunayn and the Siege of Ta’if. He was a member of Muhammad’s army that fought at the Battle of Tabouk, and he was said to have donated half of his fortune to the expedition’s preparation. He also took part in Muhammad S.A.W.’s final Hajj in 632.
Reign (634 CE -644 CE)
Before Hazrat Abu Bakr R.A. passed away in the year 634 CE, he chose Hazrat Umar R.A. to be his successor. Hazrat Abu Bakr R.A. was well aware of Hazrat Umar R.A.’s abilities to succeed him as leader of the Muslim community. It is possible that his transition of power from one ruler to another in Muslim territories was one of the smoothest transitions of power ever. Hazrat Abu Bakr R.A. called on Hazrat Usman R.A. to prepare his will shortly before he passed away. In the will, Hazrat Abu Bakr R.A, named Hazrat Umar R.A. as his heir.
Death (644 CE)
In the year 644 CE, a Persian slave by the name of Abu Lu’lu’a Firuz was responsible for Hazrat Umar R.A.’s death. His reasons for carrying out the murder are unknown; however, records from the middle ages suggest that it was due to a disagreement over taxes with his Arab lord al-Mughira ibn Shu’ba. Hazrat Aisha R.A. granted permission to Hazrat Umar R.A.’s son Abdullah ibn Umar to bury his father at the Green Dome in al-Masjid al-Nabawi, along with Muhammad S.A.W. and the caliph Hazrat Abu Bakr R.A.. This was done at Hazrat Umar R.A.’s request. Muhammad S.A.W. and Hazrat Abu Bakr R.A. were also buried there.
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