figure in Islamic history. Strong, charismatic, firm but equally just; fair as well as a leader par excellence, gifted men like Umar are a very rare breed in human history. As an exceptional all-rounder, Umar was blessed with outstanding abilities in all spheres of human endeavour. Indeed, the Prophet Muhammad said if there was to be another prophet after him, it would surely have been Umar. The Prophet aside, Umar’s achievements are second to none in Islamic history. That is why today Muslims in every corner of the earth are praying for a leader like Umar to emerge and guide the ummah (global Islamic community) through the turbulent waters of history.
Umar ibn al-Khattab ibn Nufail ibn Abd al-Uzza was born into the Adi branch of the Qurayshi tribe of Makkah. Of medium height and muscular build, he was an accomplished wrestler in his pre-Islamic days. He was also a forceful orator and one of only a handful of Qurayshis who knew how to read and write at that time. Umar grew up to be an honest and likeable young man who became a relatively successful merchant and trader during his early twenties. After Muhammad announced his Prophethood, Umar became a persistent thorn in the Prophet’s side. He actively discouraged people from embracing the new faith and never hesitated to attack those who ignored his advice. When it became transparent that the Prophet would not stop preaching Islam, the ruling elites of Quraysh decided to assassinate Muhammad. The indomitable Umar volunteered for the task. Everyone present at the meeting agreed that Umar was the best man for the job because he was brave, bold and well known for his fighting skills. Umar returned home to collect his sword and immediately set out in search of the Prophet.
On his way he bumped into Nu’aim ibn Abdullah who asked him where he was going. Umar told him he was out to exterminate the Prophet. But why would he want to commit such a heinous crime, reasoned Nu’aim. Umar explained how the Prophet and his message had set father against son, and brother against brother within Makkah. By doing away with the Prophet, he hoped to put an end to all the bitterness and hostility. As it happens, Nu’aim had already embraced Islam and was determined to dissuade Umar from his potentially disastrous mission, but Umar was equally determined to carry out his task. Nu’aim realised the gravity of the situation and told Umar to set his own house in order first. It transpired that Umar’s own sister, Fatimah, and her husband had already secretly embraced Islam. This news shocked Umar and hurt his pride. He immediately turned around and headed for his sister’s house. She was studying the Qur’an at the time with her husband. As soon as the door was opened, Umar landed an almighty blow on his brother-in-law. In the ensuing scuffle, he managed to land a blow on his sister and she began to bleed profusely. He was visibly shaken to see his sister’s blood on his hand. He demanded to see the verses they were reciting. She bluntly told him that only the purified are permitted to touch the Divine revelation. When he returned after purifying himself, she gave him the parchment on which the Qur’anic verses were inscribed, and he began to read:
‘Ta Ha. It was not to distress you that We sent down the Qur’an to you, but as a reminder for those who hold God in awe, a revelation from the One Who created the earth and the high heaven, the Lord of Mercy, established on the Throne. Everything in the heavens and earth, everything between them, everything beneath the soil, belongs to him. Whatever you may say aloud, He knows what you keep secret and what is even more hidden. God – there is no god but Him – the most excellent names belong to Him.’ (Surat Ta Ha, verses 1-8)
As Umar continued to read, the expression on his face began to change. What he had just recited was neither poetry nor prose; it surpassed both. As a literate man, one of a handful in Makkah at the time, Umar knew in his heart of hearts that an illiterate man like Muhammad could not possibly have composed such beautiful and elegant words. He was convinced that it was Divine revelation. He demanded to be taken to Muhammad to pledge allegiance to the Prophet. From that day on, Umar became a powerful champion of Islam. Although he was still in his late twenties at the time of his conversion, Umar’s coming to Islam delighted the Prophet and his small band of followers because he was a forceful and indomitable character who was destined to play a legendary role in the annals of Islam. In the tribal Arab culture of the time, it was very common to strengthen friendships through marriage. Although the Prophet held Umar in high esteem for his devotion and dedication to Islam, he later consolidated his friendship with Umar by marrying his daughter, Hafsah. The Prophet thus became his son-in-law and Umar, in turn, became the Prophet’s right-hand man for the rest of his life.
After the death of the Prophet in 632, Umar was the first person to pledge his loyalty to Abu Bakr al-Siddiq as the Prophet’s successor, and the people of Madinah followed suit. Abu Bakr was duly elected khalifat rasul Allah (or ‘successor to the Messenger of God’) and he became the ruler of the Islamic State. Thanks to Umar’s quick thinking, sharp intellect, powerful personality and standing within the early Muslim community, a potentially damaging succession battle was avoided and a smooth transition of leadership was achieved. The pivotal role played by Umar in this first major challenge faced by the early Muslims soon after the Prophet’s death was a testament to his clear vision, organisational ability and greatness, even if the majority of Islamic historians have failed to appreciate the importance of the role played by Umar at this critical juncture in Islamic history. During the two years and three months of Caliph Abu Bakr’s reign, Umar played the indispensable role of being an advisor, strategist and close confidant to the latter. After the Prophet, Abu Bakr was clearly the most insightful Muslim, and he knew Umar very well and trusted him more than anyone else. Lying on his deathbed, Abu Bakr called all the leading figures of the early Muslim community to a consultative (shura) meeting. He told them he wished to nominate Umar as his successor. No one present at the meeting raised any objection against Abu Bakr’s proposal. Umar was a dominant figure among the companions of the Prophet. He was well known for his sacrifices for Islam, and everyone admired his sense of justice. In the circumstances, Abu Bakr felt he was the best person to lead the Muslim community. History bears testimony to the quality of Abu Bakr’s wisdom and choice.
In 634, at the age of fifty-three, Umar assumed the leadership of the early Islamic State and ruled for just over a decade. During this period, Umar was able to achieve what others failed to achieve in a lifetime. With Umar in charge at Madinah, Muslims burst out of Arabia and overwhelmed the mighty Persian and Holy Roman Empires like a thunderbolt from heaven. In 638, the Muslim army conquered Jerusalem and the great Caliph himself went there to sign the peace treaty with the people of that historic city. As he approached Jerusalem, the people of the city could not believe what they were witnessing, for one of the great rulers of the time was proceeding into their city on foot, while his aide was riding the camel. When the aide offered to forgo his turn to ride the camel in favour of the Caliph, the latter refused the offer saying, “The honour of Islam is enough for us.” When the time for prayer arrived, the Bishop of Jerusalem invited Caliph Umar to offer his prayer inside the Cathedral, but he politely refused. He did not want to give anyone an excuse for turning the Cathedral into a mosque in the future, he told an astounded Bishop. Clearly taken aback by Umar’s grace, humility and tolerance, the Bishop offered him space outside the Cathedral where Umar led the faithful in prayers.
During the ten incredible years of his reign, he never forgot Caliph Abu Bakr’s last words of advice to him: ‘O Umar! Always fear God. An optional deed is not accepted unless the obligatory deed is done. The weight of your goodness would be heavy on the Day of Judgement if you follow the right path in this world. The deeds of people who followed the wrong path in this world will have no weight on the Day of Judgement. They will have a terrible time. Make the Holy Qur’an and Truth your guides for success. Umar, if you follow the path I propose for you, I will surely be by your side.’
Umar more than lived up to Caliph Abu Bakr’s wise words; indeed, he thrived and excelled in so many ways that his reign has found its way into Muslim folklore. Muslim children across the globe grow up listening to their parents and grandparents relating tales about Caliph Umar and his glorious achievements. Some of Umar’s salient contributions included the development of a functioning Islamic democracy, and the formation of a Council of Advisors to discuss and debate issues before final decisions were made. He established the rule of law across the rapidly expanding Islamic State and ensured that equality of treatment and freedom of expression were made the cornerstones of his reign. Ordinary people could stand up in the mosque and interrupt him in the middle of his sermon or announcement to challenge him on any policy issues including