Sunni view of Umar
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- This is a sub-article to Umar
Umar (died 644) was the second Sunni caliph, regarded by Sunnis as the second of the four Rashidun and one of the greates personalities of the history of Islam. Sunni and Shi'a hold diametrically opposite views of `Umar, the Shi'a viewing that he and Abu Bakr usurped authority that properly belonged to Ali.
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[edit] Introduction
Most Sunnis consider him a strong, wise, humble and competent ruler, the second rightly-guided Caliph. They consider him a sincere Muslim and a brave and fierce warrior. He did not seek advancement for his own family, but only to serve the Muslim community, the ummah. One hadith, or oral tradition, credited by Sunnis says at the time of his death he was asked if he would like to nominate his son `Abd-Allah ibn `Umar as caliph and he replied: "One is enough from `Umar's family." [citation needed].
Some Sunni 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 [citation needed].
[edit] Biography
The followin is Umar's biography from a Sunni perspective.
[edit] Family
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[edit] Early Life
Sunnis portray him as one of the nobility of Quraysh, and that he had the role of ambassador in the Pre Islamic period, that whenever war broke out among Quraysh or between Quraysh and others, they would send Umar as an ambassador, i.e. a messenger, and when someone called them to judgement often over a matter of standing or lineage then they sent Umar as a response to that [1].
[edit] 610 – 632: Muhammad's era
Another popular belief is that when he came to his house, His sister and her husband who were reciting the Quran were so scared that they hid the Holy Quran by throwing it into a burning food cooker. When Umar came entered the house, he asked his sister about the quran, and started searching for it. He found the Quran untouched within burning flames, he converted after seeing that miracle [citation needed].
Sunni state that it was only after Umar accepted Islam that Islam was shown openly in Mecca, and that the Muslims rejoiced in him [1].
[edit] Battles
| An-Nawawi said: 'Umar attended, along with the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, all of the battles, and he was one of those who stood firm beside him on the Day of Uhud. [1] |
[edit] Umar and Muhammad
Sunni quote a large number of narrations where Muhammad is quoted praising Umar.
[edit] 632 – 634: Abu Bakr's era
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[edit] 634 – 644: Umar's era
| Isma'il ibn Ziyad said: 'Ali ibn Abi Talib passed by the mosques in Ramadan and in them there were lamps, so he said, 'May Allah illuminate 'Umar in his grave, as he has illuminated our mosques for us.'
Ibn Sa'd said: 'Umar appointed a meal (flour) house and put flour in it, parched barley meal, dates, raisins and necessities, in order to help the traveller whose journey was interrupted (through need or other causes), and he established between Makkah and Madinah on the road that which would be useful to travellers whose journeys were interrupted. He demolished the Mosque of the Prophet, added to it, expanded it and floored it with pebbles. He was the one who evicted the Jews from the Hijaz (and sent them) to Syria, and evicted the people of Najran (and sent them) to Kufah. He was the one who moved the Station of Ibrahim back (from the Ka'bah) to where it is today, and it used to be adjoining the House [2]. |
Suyuti, a 15th century Sunni Islamic scholar stats that An-Nawawi said in his Tahdhib:
| (Umar) was the first to adopt the whip. Ibn Sa'd mentions it in the Tabaqat, and he said: It used to be said, after him, 'The whip of 'Umar is more terrible than your sword.'
He (an-Nawawi) continued: He was the first to appoint Qadis in the provinces, the first who established the provinces of (the cities of) Kufah, Basrah, and of Mesopotamia, Syria, Cairo (Egypt), and Mosul [2]. |
[edit] Legacy
[edit] Merits
Sunnis honor him as the following:
- One of the Rashidun [1]
- One of the Ten Promised Paradise [1]
- one of the in-laws of the Prophet [1]
- one of the great men of knowledge of the Companions [1]
- one of their abstinent people. [1]
Suyuti, a 15th century Sunni Islamic scholar
Al-'Askari said:
This is the end of what al-'Askari mentioned [2]. |
[edit] Salaf about Umar
A narration attributed to Hudhayfah reports:
| By Allah, I do not know a man whom the blame of the one who blames, for the sake of Allah, does not overcome, except for 'Umar. [2] |
A narration attributed to A'ishah reports:
| He (Umar) was, by Allah, skilful in managing affairs, absolutely unique. [2] |
A narration attributed to Mu'awiyah reports:
| As for Abu Bakr, he did not want the world and it did not want him. As for 'Umar, the world wanted him but he did not want it. As for us, we have rolled over in it (like an animal in the dust). [2] |
A narration attributed to Jabir reports:
| Ali entered upon 'Umar and he was shrouded and said, 'The mercy of Allah upon you! There is no-one I would prefer to meet Allah with that which is in his page (the record of his actions), after the companionship of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, than this shrouded one.' [2] |
A narration reports:
| Ibn 'Abbas was asked about Abu Bakr and he said, 'He was the good, all of it.' He was asked about 'Umar and said, 'He was like the apprehensive bird which thinks that on every path there is a snare to catch it.' He was asked about 'Ali and he said, 'He was full of resolve, sound judgement, knowledge and valour.' [2] |
A narration attributed to Ibn Mas'ud reports:
| Umar ibn al-Khattab excelled people in four: the affair of the prisoners on the Day of Badr, he ordered that they should be killed and Allah revealed, 'If it were not for a decree of Allah which had preceded ...' (Qur'an 8: 68) to the end of the ayah; and in the matter of the hijab, he ordered the women of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, to veil themselves, so Zaynab said to him, 'And really you are responsible over us Ibn al-Khattab, and the revelation descends upon us in our houses?' So Allah revealed, 'Then if you ask them for some item ...' (Qur'an 33: 53) to the end of the ayah; and by the supplication of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, 'O Allah, help Islam with 'Umar'; and in his view of Abu Bakr, for he was the first one to pledge allegiance to him. [2] |
A narration attributed to Salim ibn 'Abdullah reports:
| News of 'Umar was slow in reaching Abu Musa so he went to a woman who had a shaytan in her, and asked her about him. She said, 'Wait until my shaytan comes to me.' Then he came and she asked him about him. He said, 'I left him dressed with a piece of cloth as a waist-wrapper, smearing the camels of the sadaqah (of the zakah) with tar (against the mange or scab). And that is a man whom a shaytan does not see but that he falls flat on his nostrils; the angel is between his two eyes and the Ruh al-Quds (Jibril) speaks with his tongue.' [2] |
A narration attributed to Section Sufyan ath-Thawri reports:
| Whoever claimed that 'Ali had more right to authority than Abu Bakr and 'Umar has made a mistake and has accused Abu Bakr, 'Umar and all the Muhajirun and the Ansar of making a mistake. [2] |
A narration attributed to Sharik reports:
| No-one in whom there is any good advances 'Ali before Abu Bakr and 'Umar. [2] |
A narration attributed to Abu Usamah reports:
| Do you grasp who Abu Bakr and 'Umar were? They were the father and mother of Islam. [2] |
A narration attributed to Ja'far as-Sadiq reports:
| I am quit of whoever mentions Abu Bakr and 'Umar with anything but good. [2] |
[edit] Umar and the Qur'an
[edit] Umar and miracles
A narration attributed to Ibn 'Umar reports:
| 'Umar sent an army and he put at the head of them a man called Sariyah. While 'Umar was delivering the khutbah he began to cry out, 'Sariyah, the mountain!' three times. Then later the messenger of the army came and he asked 'Umar, 'Amir al-Muminin, we were being defeated and in that situation we heard a voice crying out, "Sariyah, the mountain!" three times. We put the mountain to our rear, and then Allah defeated them.' Someone said to 'Umar, 'You cried out with those words.' That mountain, where Sariyah was, is close to Nahawand in the land of the non-Arabs (Persian Iraq). [2] |
in another version:
A narration attributed to Ibn 'Umar reports:
| Umar was delivering the khutbah on the day of Jumu'ah and then he turned aside during his khutbah and said, 'Sariyah, the mountain! He who asks the wolf to be a shepherd will be wronged.' People looked about, one to another. Then 'Ali said to them, 'Let him explain what he meant.' When he had finished they asked him and he said, 'It occurred to me in my mind that the idolators were defeating our brothers who were passing by a mountain, and that if they were to turn towards it, they would fight on one front only, but if they passed by it they would be destroyed. So there came out of me that which you claim you heard.' He said: The messenger came a month later and mentioned that they had heard the voice of 'Umar on that day, and he said, 'We turned towards the mountain, and Allah gave us victory.' [2] |
A narration attributed to Amr ibn al-Harith reports:
| While 'Umar (ibn al-Khattab) was upon the mimbar delivering the khutbah on the day of jumu'ah suddenly he left off the khutbah and said, 'Sariyah, the mountain!' two or three times. Some of those present said, 'He has gone mad, he is insane.' 'Abd ar-Rahman ibn 'Auf went in to see him and he had confidence in him and he said, 'You give them room to talk against you. While you were giving the khutbah, suddenly you cried out, "Sariyah, the mountain!" What sort of thing is this?' He said, 'By Allah, I could not control it. I saw them fighting near a mountain and they were being attacked from in front of them and from behind them. I could not stop myself from saying, "Sariyah, the mountain!" so that they would reach the mountain.' Then they waited some time until Sariyah's messenger came with his letter, 'The people met us (in battle) on the day of jumu'ah, and we fought them until, when it was time for jumu'ah, we heard someone cry out, "Sariyah, the mountain!" twice, so we reached the mountain. We continued victorious over our enemy until Allah defeated them and killed them.' Then those people who had accused him said, 'Leave this man alone, because he is in collusion with him.' [2] |
A narration attributed to Ibn 'Umar reports:
| Umar ibn al-Khattab said to a man, 'What is your name?' He said, 'Jamrah (a live coal).' He asked, 'Whose son?' He said, 'The son of Shihab (flame).' He asked, 'From what tribe?' He said, 'From al-Hurqah (a state of burning).' He asked, 'Where is your dwelling?' He said, 'At al-Harrah (the heat).' He asked, 'In which of them?' He said, 'Dhat Ladha (the blazing one).' 'Umar said, 'Go to your family for they have been burnt.' The man returned to his family and found that they had been burnt. [2][3] |
A narration attributed to Qais ibn al-Hajjaj from someone reports:
| When Egypt was conquered, its people came to 'Amr ibn al-'As, when the first day of one of their months arrived, and they said to him, 'Amir, this Nile of ours has a year in which it does not flow without it.' He asked, 'And what is that?' They said, 'When eleven nights have elapsed of this month we seek a young virgin from her parents, we obtain the consent of the parents, then we dress her in the best possible clothing and ornaments, and then we throw her in this Nile.' So 'Amr said to them, 'This will never be in Islam. Islam demolishes what precedes it.' They left, and neither did the Nile flow a little nor a lot, until they intended to emigrate. When 'Amr saw that, he wrote to 'Umar ibn al-Khattab about it. He wrote back to him, 'You were right in what you said. Truly, Islam demolishes what precedes it.' He sent a slip of paper inside his letter and wrote to 'Amr, 'I have sent you a slip of paper inside my letter, so throw it in the Nile.' When 'Umar's letter reached 'Amr ibn al-'As, he took the slip and opened it, and there in it was, 'From the slave of Allah 'Umar ibn al-Khattab Amir al-Muminin to the Nile of Egypt. Now, if you used to flow before, then don't flow! If it was Allah who made you flow, then I ask the Overwhelming One to make you flow.' He threw the slip into the Nile a day before (the Festival of) the Cross. They woke up in the morning, and Allah, Exalted is He, had made it flow (and it rose) sixteen cubits in one night. Allah cut off this sunnah (custom) of the people of Egypt right up to this day. [2] |
A narration attributed to Tariq ibn Shihab reports:
| A man was in conversation with 'Umar ibn al-Khattab and told him a lie, and he would say, 'Withhold this.' Then later he told him something else and he said, 'Withhold this.' He said to him, 'Everything I told you was true except for what you told me to withhold.' Al-Hasan said: If there was anyone who recognised a lie when he was told it, then it was 'Umar ibn al-Khattab. [2] |
A narration attributed to Abu Hudbah al-Himsi reports:
| Umar was told that the people of Iraq had pelted their amir with pebbles and he went out angry. He performed the prayer but was forgetful in his prayer. When he had completed the prayer, he said, 'O Allah, they have made me confused, so make them confused, and hasten with the youth of (the tribe of) Thaqif who will pass judgement among them with the judgement of Jahiliyyah, who will not accept from their good-doers and he will not pass over their wrong-doers with pardon.'
I say that this indicates al-Hajjaj. Ibn Lahi'ah said, 'Al-Hajjaj was not yet born at that time.' [2] |
[edit] particulars of Umar's biography
A narration attributed to Al-Ahnaf ibn Qais reports:
| We were sitting at 'Umar's door and a slave girl passed by, and they said, 'The concubine of the Amir al-Muminin.' He said, 'She is not the concubine of the Amir al-Muminin, and she is not permitted to him. She is of the property of Allah.' So we said, 'Then what is permitted to him of the property of Allah, exalted is He?' He said, 'There is only permitted to 'Umar of the property of Allah two garments, a garment for the winter and a garment for the summer, what I can perform the Hajj and the 'Umrah with (i.e. an ihram), my sustenance and the sustenance of my family, as a man of Quraysh who is not the wealthiest of them nor the poorest, then I am, after that, a man among the Muslims.' [2] |
A narration attributed to Khuzaymah ibn Thabit reports:
| 'Whenever 'Umar appointed a governor, he wrote to him and made a condition on him that he should not ride a birdhaun (a large heavy non-Arabian horse from Asia Minor or Greece), nor eat delicacies, nor dress in finery, nor lock his door against the needy. Then if he did that it would be permitted to punish him.'[2] |
A narration attributed to Ikrimah ibn Khalid and others reports:
| Hafsah, 'Abdullah and others spoke to 'Umar and said, 'If only you were to eat wholesome food it would strengthen you upon the truth.' He asked, 'Are you all of this view?' They said, 'Yes.' He said, 'I have learnt what your sincere advice is. However, I have left my two companions on a highway, and if I abandon their highway I will not reach them in the house.' He ('Ikrimah) said: An affliction befell the people one year, and that year he did not eat clarified butter nor fat. [2] |
A narration attributed to Ibn Mulaykah reports:
| Utbah ibn Farqad spoke to 'Umar about his food and he said, 'Mercy on you! Should I eat up my wholesome sweet things in my worldly life and seek to enjoy myself with them?' [2] |
A narration attributed to Al-Hasan reports:
| Umar entered in upon his son 'Asim when he was eating meat and he said, 'What is this?' He said, 'We had a craving for it. He said, 'Every time you crave something, do you eat it? It is sufficient wasteful extravagance for a man that he eats everything he has an appetite for.' [2] |
A narration attributed to Aslam reports:
| Umar said, 'There occurred to my heart a desire for fresh fish.' He (Aslam) said: Yarfa' mounted his camel and rode four miles there, four miles back, buying a basketful and bringing it back. Then he went to his camel, washed it, and went to 'Umar. He said, 'Let us go and I will look at the camel.' He said, 'Did you forget to wash this sweat beneath its ears? Have you tormented an animal for the appetite of 'Umar? No! by Allah! 'Umar will not taste of your basket.' [2] |
A narration attributed to Qatadah reports:
| Umar used to dress, while he was khalifah, with a garment of wool patched in parts with leather, and he would go around in the markets with a whip over his shoulder with which he would correct people. He would pass bits of rags and pieces of date-stones, which he would stumble on unexpectedly, and he would throw them into people's houses for them to make use of. [2] |
All of the following are from Ibn Sa'd. [2]
A narration attributed to Anas reports:
| I saw between 'Umar's shoulder-blades, four patches in his shirt. [2] |
A narration attributed to Abu 'Uthman an-Nahdi reports:
| I saw 'Umar wearing a waist-wrapper patched with leather. [2] |
A narration attributed to Abdullah ibn 'Amir ibn Rabi'ah reports:
| I performed the Hajj with 'Umar and he did not pitch a tent of goat's hair nor of wool. He used to throw the upper part of his ihram and his leather mat over a bush and seek shelter underneath it. [2] |
A narration attributed to Al-Hasan reports:
| Umar used to pass by an ayah in his wird (daily portion set aside to recite) and he would fall down (in a faint) until he revived after some days. [2] |
A narration attributed to Anas reports:
| I entered a walled garden and heard 'Umar saying, while there was a wall between us, Umar ibn al-Khattab, Amir al-Muminin. Well done! Well done! By Allah, you will fear Allah, Ibn al-Khattab or Allah will punish you.' [2] |
A narration attributed to Abdullah ibn 'Amir ibn Rabi'ah reports:
| I saw 'Umar take up a straw from the ground and say, 'I wish I was this straw. I wish I was nothing. I wish that my mother had not given birth to me.' [2] |
A narration attributed to 'Abdullah ibn 'Umar ibn Hafs reports:
| Umar carried a skin full of water upon his neck. Someone spoke to him about that and he said, 'My self was filling me with conceit and I wished to humble it.' [2] |
A narration attributed to Muhammad ibn Sirin reports:
| An in-law of 'Umar's came to see him and asked him to give him something from the bait al-mal and 'Umar refused him and said, 'Do you want me to meet Allah as a treacherous King?' Then he gave him from his own property ten thousand dirhams. [2] |
A narration attributed to Anas reports:
| Umar's stomach rumbled from eating olive oil the year of the drough the had forbidden himself clarified butterand he tapped on his stomach with his finger and said, 'There is nothing else for us, until the people have the means of living.' [2] |
A narration attributed to Sufyan ibn 'Uyaynah from Umar reports:
| The person I like most is the one who points out to me my defects. [2] |
A narration attributed to Aslam reports:
| I saw 'Umar ibn al-Khattab taking hold of the ear of the horse, taking hold, with the other hand, of his own ear and leaping up on the back of the horse. [2] |
A narration attributed to Ibn 'Umar reports:
| I never saw 'Umar become angry, and then Allah was mentioned in his presence or he was made to fear, or a person would recite an ayah from the Qur'an in his presence, but that he stopped short of what he meant to do. [2] |
A narration reports:
| Bilal said to Aslam, 'How do you find 'Umar?' He said, 'The best of people, except that when he becomes angry it is a mighty matter.' Bilal said, 'If I was with him when he became angry, I would recite Qur'an to him until his anger went.' [2] |
A narration attributed to Al-Ahwas ibn Hakim from his father reports:
| Umar was brought meat dressed with clarified butter and he refused to eat the two of them. He said, 'Both of them are seasonings. [2] |
All of the aforegoing are from Ibn Sa'd. [2]
A narration attributed to Al-Hasan reports:
| Umar said, 'It is an easy thing by which I put right a people, that I exchange them an amir in place of an amir. [2] |
A narration attributed to Zirr reports:
| I went out with the people of Madinah on the day of 'Eid and I saw 'Umar walking barefoot, an old man, balding, of a tawny colour, left-handed, tall, towering over people as if he were on a riding beast. [2] |
A narration attributed to Al-Waqidi reports:
| It is not known among us that 'Umar was tawny, unless he saw him in the year of the drought, because his colour changed when he ate olive oil. [2] |
A narration attributed to Ibn 'Umar reports:
| (describing Umar) A man of fair complexion, with a ruddy tint prevailing, tall, balding and grey-haired. [2] |
A narration attributed to Ubaydah ibn 'Umayr reports:
| Umar used to overtop the people in height. [2] |
A narration attributed to Salimah ibn al-Akwa reports:
| Umar was left and right-handed, meaning that he used both hands together. [2] |
A narration attributed to Abu Raja' al-'Utaridi reports:
| Umar was a tall stout man, extremely bald, fair but extremely ruddy, in the two sides of his beard a lightness, his moustache was large, and at its extremities there was a redness at the roots of which there was black. [2] |
From various sources it is known that the mother of 'Umar ibn al-Khattab was Hantamah the daughter of Hisham ibn al-Mughirah and she was the sister of Abu Jahl ibn Hisham, so that Abu Jahl was his maternal uncle. [2]
A narration attributed to Sa'id ibn al-Musayyab reports:
| When 'Umar returned from Mina (to Makkah), he made his camel kneel down in the watercourse, then he threw himself down, raised his hands to the sky and said, 'O Allah! I am advanced in years, my strength has weakened, and my subjects have increased, so take me to You without (my) being wasteful or falling short.' Dhu'l-Hijjah had not gone before he was killed. [2] |
A narration attributed to [[ Abu Salih as-Saman]] reports:
| Ka'b al-Ahbar said to 'Umar, 'I find you in the Tawrah killed as a martyr.' He said, 'How can I be a martyr when I am in the peninsula of the Arabs?' [2] |
A narration attributed to Aslam reports:
| 'Umar said, 'O Allah provide me with martyrdom in Your way, and make my death to be in the city of Your Messenger.' [2] |
A narration attributed to Ma'dan ibn Abi Talhah reports:
| 'Umar gave a khutbah and said, 'I saw (in a dream) as if a cock pecked at me once or twice, and I can only believe that it means that my term has come. There are people who tell me to appoint a successor, and Allah will not cause His deen to go to waste nor His khilafah. If the matter is hastened for me, then the khilafah is a matter of consultation between these six whom the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was pleased with when he died.' [2] |
[edit] Judgements
A narration reports:
| Ibn 'Umar related from 'Umar that he wished to record the sunan (customary practices of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and of his companions), so he sought Allah's choice in the matter (through the supplication known as the istikharah) for a month. Then he arose one morning with a clear resolve and said, 'I remembered a people who were before you who wrote a book, and then they turned to it and abandoned the Book of Allah.' [2] |
A narration attributed to Shaddad reports:
| The first words that 'Umar would say when he ascended the mimbar were, 'O Allah, I am severe, so make me gentle, I am weak, so strengthen me, and I am miserly, so make me generous." [2] |
A narration attributed to Umar reports:
| I have placed myself in respect to Allah's property in the same relation as the guardian of the orphan to his (the orphan's) wealth. If I am in good circumstances, I will refrain from it, and if I am in need I will eat of it in moderation, and if (again later) I am in good circumstances, I will repay. [2] |
A narration reports:
| Ibn 'Umar said that when 'Umar ibn al-Khattab was in need, he used to go to the man in charge of the bait al-mal and seek a loan from him. Often he might be in difficulty and the man in charge of the public treasury would come to him, seek repayment of the debt and would oblige him to pay it, and 'Umar would be evasive to him. Then often 'Umar would receive his stipend and so pay his debt. [2] |
A narration attributed to Al-Bara' ibn Ma'rur reports:
| Umar went out one day until he came to the mimbar and he had been suffering from a complaint. The good qualities of honey were mentioned to him, and there was a receptacle (made of kid-skin) of it in the bait al-mal. He said, 'If you give me permission I will take it, but if not then it is haram for me.' They gave him permission. [2] |
A narration attributed to Salim ibn 'Abdullah reports:
| Umar used to insert his hand into the saddle sore of his camel and say, 'I fear that I will be asked about what is (wrong) with you.' [2] |
A narration attributed to Ibn 'Umar reports:
| When 'Umar meant to forbid people from some wrong action, he would come to his family and say, 'If I come to know of anyone who becomes involved in something I have forbidden, I will double the punishment for him.' [2] |
A narration reports:
| 'Umar ibn al-Khattab went out one night to patrol Madinah and he used to do that a lot when he came upon one of the women of the Arabs whose door was bolted against her (locking her in) and she was saying:
'This night, whose stars creep slowly, is wearisome and makes me sleepless, because I have no bedfellow with whom to sport, For, by Allah, if it were not that Allah's punishments are feared, his rights would have been removed from this couch. However, I fear a Watchful One Who is in charge of our selves and Whose recorder is not negligent for an instant. Fear of my Lord and modesty prevent me, and I honour my husband (too much) that his noble station should be conferred (on another).' So he ('Umar) wrote to his governors about military expeditions that no-one should be absent for more than four months. [2] |
A narration reports:
| Salman said that 'Umar said to him, 'Am I a king or a khalifah?' Salman said to him, 'If you collect a dirham from the land of the Muslims, or less or more, then you put it to an improper use, you are a king, not a khalifah.' 'Umar took warning from it. [2] |
A narration attributed to Sufyan ibn Abi'l-'Arja' reports:
| 'Umar ibn al-Khattab said, 'By Allah, I do not know whether I am a khalifah or a king, for if I am a king then this is a tremendous matter.' Someone said, 'Amir al-Muminin, there is a distinction between the two of them.' He said, 'What is it?' He said, 'A khalifah does not take except what is due and he does not use it except in the right way, and you, praise be to Allah, are like that. The king treats people unjustly, and takes from this one and gives to that one.' 'Umar was silent. [2] |
A narration attributed to Ibn Mas'ud reports:
| 'Umar mounted a horse and his robe disclosed his thigh. The people of Najran saw on his thigh a black mole and said, 'This is the one whom we find in our Book will exile us from our land.' [2] |
A narration reports:
| Ka'b al-Ahbar said to 'Umar, 'We find you in the Book of Allah at one of the gates of Jahannam preventing people from falling into it. When you die, they will carry on plunging into it until the Day of Resurrection.'
Abu Mash'ar said: Our Shaykhs told us that 'Umar said, 'This matter will not be correct but with the severity that has no haughtiness in it, and with the gentleness that has no weakness in it.'[2] |
A narration attributed to [[ Hakim ibn 'Umayr]] reports:
| 'Umar ibn al-Khattab said, 'Let not the amir of an army or a raiding party whip anyone for a hadd punishment until he arrives at Darb (Derbe near the Cilician Gates, a mountain pass through which the Muslims passed returning from raids into Byzantine territory) so that the rage of the shaytan does not carry him to the point that he joins with the kuffar.' [2] |
A narration attributed to Ash-Sha'bi reports:
| The Byzantine Emperor wrote to 'Umar ibn al-Khattab, 'My messengers have come to me from you claiming that among you there is a tree which is not like anything else among trees: it produces something like the ears of the ass, it opens out (to reveal) something like a pearl, it becomes green so that it is like the green emerald, it reddens until it is like the red ruby, then later it ripens and matures so that it becomes like the sweetest honey-cake ever eaten, then later it dries until it becomes a defence (against want) for the house-dweller and a provision for the traveller. If my messengers have told me the truth, I can only imagine that this is one of the trees of the Garden.' 'Umar wrote to him, 'From the slave of Allah, 'Umar, the Amir al-Muminin, to Caesar, the king of the Byzantines. Truly your messengers have told you the truth. This tree, which is with us, is the tree which Allah made to grow over Maryam when she gave birth to 'Isa her son. So fear Allah and do not take 'Isa as a god apart from Allah, for truly, "The likeness of 'Isa with Allah is as the likeness of Adam, He created him from dust, ..."' (Qur'an 3: 59) to the end of the ayah. [2] |
A narration attributed to Ibn 'Umar reports:
| Umar ordered his governors, so they recorded their properties, and among them was Sa'd bin Abi Waqqas. Then 'Umar shared with them in their properties and took a half and gave them a half [2] |
A narration attributed to Ash-Sha'bi reports:
| when 'Umar used to appoint a governor he would record his property. [2] |
A narration attributed to Abu Imamah ibn Sahl ibn Hunayf reports:
'Umar remained some time not eating anything at all from the property of the bait al-mal, until poverty and constriction came upon him in that. He sent for the Companions of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, to seek their advice. He said, 'I have occupied myself with this command, so what is fitting for me from it?' 'Ali said, 'The midday and evening meals.' 'Umar took that.
[2] |
A narration attributed to Ibn 'Umar reports:
| 'Umar performed the Hajj in the year twenty-three (A.H.) and spent sixteen dinars upon his Hajj. He said, Abdullah we have been extravagant with this property.' [2] |
A narration attributed to Qatadah and ash-Sha'bi reports:
| A woman came to 'Umar and said, 'My husband stands at night (in prayer) and fasts during the day.' 'Umar said, 'You have praised your husband excellently well.' Ka'b ibn Sawwar said, 'She was complaining.' 'Umar said, 'How?' He said, 'She claims that she has no share in her husband (in his time).' He said, 'If you understood that much, then you decide between them.' He said, 'Amir al-Muminin, Allah has permitted him four (wives). So she has one day of every four days, and one night of every four nights.' [2] |
A narration attributed to Ibn Jarir reports:
| One I trust informed me that 'Umar, while he was patrolling, heard a woman saying:
'This night stretches out and is grievous, and that I have no intimate to sport with has made me sleepless, For, if it were not for fear of Allah Whom nothing is like, his rights would have been removed from this couch.' 'Umar said, 'What is wrong with you?' She said, 'You sent my husband on an expedition some months ago, and I long for him.' He said, 'Do you mean to do wrong?' She said, '(I seek) the refuge of Allah!' He said, 'So restrain yourself; it is only (a matter of) the post to him.' He sent a message to him. Then he went to Hafsah and said, 'I want to ask you about a matter which concerns me, so dispel it for me. How long does a woman long for her husband?' She lowered her head and was shy. He said, 'Truly Allah is not shy of the truth.' She gestured with her hand, indicating three months, and if that is not possible, then four months. 'Umar wrote that armies must not be kept on service for more than four months.[2] |
A narration reports:
| Jabir ibn 'Abdullah narrated that he came to 'Umar to complain to him of the treatment he received from his women-folk. 'Umar said to him, 'We also find that, so much so that when I intend (going out for) some necessity, she says to me, "You are only going to the girls of Bani so-and-so to look at them."' 'Abdullah ibn Mas'ud said to him, 'Has it not reached you that Ibrahim, peace be upon him, complained to Allah about Sarah's character and it was said to him, "She has been created from a rib so have the enjoyment of her company as long as you don't see in her any unsoundness in her deen."' [2] |
A narration attributed to Ikrimah ibn Khalid reports:
| One of 'Umar ibn al-Khattab's sons went in to see him. He had combed and oiled his hair and dressed up in the very best clothing. 'Umar struck him with a whip until he made him weep. Hafsah asked him, 'Why did you strike him?' He said, 'I saw that his self had made him conceited, and I wanted to make it (his self) small for him.' [2] |
A narration attributed to Layth ibn Abi Salim reports:
| Umar said, 'Do not name yourselves with the name al-Hakam (the ruler and judge) nor Abu'l-Hakam (possessor of judgement) for truly Allah, He is al-Hakam (the ruler) and don't call a road a sikkah.' (Sikkah is literally both a 'row' and a 'plough' and it is possible there is a reference to the tradition that 'The sikkah (plough) has not entered the abode of a people but that it humiliated them.') [2] |
A narration attributed to Ad-Dahhak reports:
| Abu Bakr said, 'By Allah, I wish that I were a tree by the side of the road which a camel passed by, and it took me into its mouth, chewed me, swallowed me, passed me out as dung, and that I were not a man.' 'Umar said, 'Would that I were my family's ram, which they were fattening as much as seemed right to them, until when I became as fat as could be, some people whom they love visit them, and they sacrifice me for them, make some of me into roasted meat, some of me into sun-dried meat, then eat me, and that I were not a human being.' [2] |
A narration attributed to Abu'l-Bakhtari reports:
| 'Umar ibn al-Khattab used to give the khutbah on the mimbar. Al-Hussein ibn 'Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, stood up before him and said, 'Come down from my father's mimbar.' 'Umar said, 'It is the mimbar of your father and not the mimbar of my father. Who told you to do this?' 'Ali stood and said, 'By Allah, no-one told him to do this. I will certainly cause you (al-Hussein) some pain, traitor.' He ('Umar) said, 'Don't hurt the son of my brother, for he has told the truth, it is the mimbar of his father.' [2] |
A narration attributed to Abu Salamah ibn 'Abd ar-Rahman and Sa'id ibn al-Musayyab reports:
| 'Umar ibn al-Khattab and 'Uthman ibn 'Affan were arguing over a certain question until an onlooker said, 'They will never reach an agreement.' Yet they only separated on the best and most beautiful terms. [2] |
A narration attributed to Al-Hasan reports:
| The first khutbah which 'Umar delivered, he praised Allah and then said, 'Right. I have been tested by you and you have been tested by me, and I have succeeded to the khilafah, amongst you, after my two companions. Whoever is here present, we will manage their affairs in person, and whoever is not here with us, we will appoint over him strong and trustworthy people. Whoever acts excellently well, we will increase him in excellent treatment, and whoever acts wrongly we will punish, and may Allah forgive us and you.' [2] |
A narration attributed to Jubayr ibn al-Huwayrith reports:
| 'Umar ibn al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, sought the advice of the Muslims on the recording of a register. 'Ali said to him, 'Divide up every year what is collected for you of property, and don't keep any of it.' 'Uthman said, 'I see much wealth, which is sufficient for the people and if it is not counted so that whoever takes is distinguished from whoever does not take, I am afraid that the matter will become confused.' Al-Walid ibn Hisham ibn al-Mughirah said, 'Amir al-Muminin, I went to Syria and I saw that its kings had recorded registers and organised the troops, so record registers and organise the troops.' He took his advice, and he called 'Aqil ibn Abi Talib, Makhramah ibn Naufal and Jubayr ibn Mut'im, who were genealogists of Quraysh, and said, 'Record people according to their ranks.' They recorded them beginning with Banu Hashim, then they followed with Abu Bakr and his people, then 'Umar and his people, according to the order of their khilafahs. When 'Umar saw it, he said, 'Begin with the close relatives of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, the closest, then the next closest until you place 'Umar where Allah placed him.' [2] |
A narration attributed to Sa'id ibn al-Musayyab reports:
| 'Umar recorded the register in al-Muharram of the year 20 A.H. [2] |
A narration attributed to [[ Al-Hasan]] reports:
| 'Umar wrote to Hudhayfah, 'Give the people their stipends and their provisions.' He wrote back to him, 'We have done that and a great deal remains.' 'Umar wrote to him, 'It is their spoils which Allah has given them. It is not 'Umar's nor 'Umar's family's. Divide it up among them.' [2] |
A narration attributed to Jubayr ibn Mut'im reports:
| 'Umar was standing on the mountain of 'Arafah he heard a man calling out, saying, 'Khalifah of Allah!' Another man heard him, and they were taking provisions for the way, so he said, 'What is wrong with you, may Allah split your uvulas?' I went towards the man and shouted at him. Jubayr continued: Then the next morning, I was standing with 'Umar at al-'Aqabah (the major pillar of stones in Mina) and he was stoning it, when there came a stray pebble and split (the skin on) 'Umar's head. I turned that way and heard a man from the mountain saying, 'I make it known, by the Lord of the Ka'bah, that 'Umar will not stand in this place after this year,' and it was the one who had called out among us the day before, and that disturbed me greatly. [2] |
A narration attributed to 'A'ishah reports:
| At the time of the last Hajj which 'Umar performed with the Mothers of the Believers (the wives of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace), when we returned from 'Arafah, I passed by al-Muhassab and I heard a man upon his camel saying, 'Where was 'Umar, the Amir al-Muminin?' I heard another man saying, 'Here was the Amir al-Muminin.' He made the camel kneel down upon its breast, then he raised his voice in a wail saying:
'Upon you peace from an imam and may the hand of Allah bless that much-rent skin, Whoever hurries on or mounts the two wings of the ostrich, in order to overtake what you sent ahead the day before, will be outstripped. You decided matters, then after them you left behind trials and misfortunes in their sleeves, not yet unloosed.' That rider did not move and it was not known who he was, and we used to say that he was one of the Jinn, for 'Umar came back from that Hajj, was stabbed by the dagger and died. [2] |
A narration attributed to 'Abd ar-Rahman ibn Abza reports:
| 'Umar said, 'This authority is among the people of Badr as long as one of them remains, then it is among the people of Uhud as long as one of them remains, and among such and such, and such and such, and there is no part in it for a freed captive, nor the son of a freed captive, nor those who became Muslims at the Conquest (of Makkah).' [2] |
A narration attributed to An-Nakha'i reports:
| a man said to 'Umar, 'Will you not appoint 'Abdullah ibn 'Umar as khalifah?' He said, 'May Allah fight you! By Allah, I never wanted this of Allah. Shall I appoint as khalifah a man who did not know how to divorce his wife properly?' [2] |
A narration attributed to Ka'b reports:
| There was among the Tribe of Isra'il a king whom, when we remember him we are reminded of 'Umar, and when we remember 'Umar we are reminded of him. He had by his side a prophet who received revelation. Allah revealed to the prophet, peace be upon him, to say to him, 'Make your covenant and write your testament to me, for you are dead after three days.' The prophet informed him of that. When it was the third day, he fell down (dead) between the wall and the couch. He came to his Lord and said, 'O Allah, if You knew that I was just in my rule; that when matters differed, I followed Your guidance; and I was such and such, and such and such, then increase my life-span until my infant son grows up and my nation increases.' Allah revealed to the prophet that, 'He has said such and such and it is true and I have added fifteen years to his life-span. That is enough for his infant son to grow up and his nation to increase.' When 'Umar was stabbed, Ka'b said, 'If 'Umar were to ask his Lord, Allah would definitely let him stay.' 'Umar was told about that. He said, 'O Allah take me back to You without (my) being powerless and incapable or blameworthy.' [2] |
Sulayman ibn Yasar related that the Jinn wailed in mourning for 'Umar [2].
A narration attributed to Malik ibn Dinar reports:
| A voice was heard on the mountain of Tabalah when 'Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, was killed:
'Let him weep for Islam, whoever would weep, for they are on the point of being thrown to the ground and (their) appointed time has not been exceeded, And the world has declined and the best of it has gone, turning its back, and whoever is sure of the promise has become weary of it.' [2] |
[edit] Views on the Sunni view
[edit] Non-Muslim view
Edward Gibbon, a 18th century non-Muslim Islamic scholar wrote:
| The Sonnites, who are supported by the general consent and orthodox tradition of the Mussulmans, entertain a more impartial, or at least a more decent, opinion. They respect the memory of Abubeker, Omar, Othman, and Ali, the holy and legitimate successors of the prophet. But they assign the last and most humble place to the husband of Fatima, in the persuasion that the order of succession was determined by the decrees of sanctity. [4] |
Ali Asgher Razwy, a 20th century Shi'a Twelver Islamic scholar states:
| For many centuries, the Sunni Muslims have raved over what they call "the justice of Umar." Is his order to kill the dissenting member or members of his electoral committee a sample of that "justice?" Is it the sample of justice that they proudly uphold to the nations of the earth? [5].. |
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e f g h History of the Caliphs by Suyuti, quoting An-Nawawi[1]
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo bp bq br bs bt bu bv bw bx by bz ca cb cc cd ce cf cg ch ci cj ck cl cm cn co cp cq History of the Caliphs by Suyuti [2]
- ^ This hadith is narrated of Yahya ibn Sa'id by Malik and by a number of other compilers of hadith.
- ^ The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire , section Discord of the Turks and Persians.
- ^ A Restatement of the History of Islam and Muslims on Al-Islam.org [3]
