Umar and the Sahaba

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Part of a series on the Sunni Rashidun Caliph Umar
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Umar was the second Sunni Caliph and reigned during 634 to 644 CE. This article details the relation between Umar and the Sahaba.

1 List
2 Shi'a view
3 References

[edit] List

[edit] Uthman ibn Hunaif

The Muslim empire grew large during the era of Umar, and in order to assess land revenue, Umar again had to retain the Persian and the Romans systems. But in Iraq it was found necessary to survey the arable lands and to assess tax on them. Arabs knew less than nothing about assessing land revenue. There was, however, one exception in Uthman ibn Hunaif of Medina. He was a man of outstanding ability as a revenue expert.

Though it was Umar's policy not to appoint the citizens of Medina (Ansar) to any important positions, in this particular case he had no choice, and he appointed Uthman ibn Hunaif as the commissioner of land development in Iraq ^[1].

Within less than a year, Uthman ibn Hunaif had completed the job of taking measurements of the whole new province, and of making assessments for the collection of land revenue. He was, thus, the first Financial Commissioner of Iraq, and incidentally, one of the few Ansaris to hold any position of authority in the caliphates of Abu Bakr, Umar and Uthman bin Affan ^[1].

[edit] Mughira ibn Shu'ba

Mughira was one of Umar's friends of Umar who was appointed as governor, first of Basra, and later of Kufa. Abu-Lu'lu'ah, a slave of Mughira had a certain grouse against him and requested Umar's intercession, and upon the Umar's refusal, Abu-Lu'lu'ah assassinated Umar ^[1].

[edit] Shurahbil ibn Hasana

When Jordan was conquered, Umar appointed Shurahbil ibn Hasana as it's governor ^[1].

[edit] Abu Ubaidah ibn al-Jarrah

When Damascus was conquered, Umar appointed Abu Ubaidah ibn al-Jarrah as it's governor ^[1].

[edit] Khalid ibn al-Walid

After dismissing Khalid bin al-Walid as supreme commander of the forces in Syria, Umar had appointed him, for a time, governor of the district of Kinnisirin but dismissed him again for his alleged "pomposity" ^[1].

[edit] Sa`ad ibn Abi Waqqas

Saad bin Abi Waqqas, the victor of the battle of Qadsiyya fought against the Persians, was Umar's governor of Iraq. He too was dismissed in 21 AH ^[1].

[edit] Amr ibn al-A'as

When Palestine was conquered, Umar appointed Amr ibn al-A'as as it's governor. When Amr conquered Egypt, Umar made him its governor. eventauly, Umar curtailed his powers by appointing Abd-Allah ibn Sa'ad as a "watchdog" over him in fiscal matters ^[1].

[edit] Abu Talha ibn Thabit

Abu Talha was given a role by Umar during The election of Uthman. Umar ordered Abu Talha to lead the Muslims in prayer during the interregnum, and also to watch the members of the electoral committee during their deliberations. He also gave him fifty armed men to enable him to carry out his duties. These men were to act, if necessary, as executioners ^[1].

[edit] Abd-Allah ibn Sa'ad

Abdullah bin Saad bin Abi Sarah was employed as a "watchdog" over Amr ibn al-A'as in fiscal matters ^[1].

[edit] Abu Hurairah

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[edit] Ali

[edit] `Abd Allah ibn `Abbas

[edit] Fatimah

[edit] Yazid ibn Abu Sufyan

When Syria was conquered, Umar appointed Yazid ibn Abu Sufyan as it's governor. He died in the plague of 18 AH. When Umar heard the news of his death, he went to see Abu Sufyan to offer condolences to him But Abu Sufyan interrupted Umar's commiseration, and asked him, "Whom are you going to appoint governor of Syria in place of my late son, Yazid?" Umar said: "Of course, his brother, Muawiya." Abu Sufyan immediately forgot his sorrow at his son's death, and rejoiced in the elevation of Muawiya, his second son, as governor. Umar appointed Muawiya the new governor of Syria. When Abu Obaida died, Umar placed Damascus also under Muawiya's jurisdiction. He fixed his salary at 60,000 pieces of gold a year ^[2].

[edit] Abu Bakr

Muhammad established brotherhood among Muslims in Mecca and made Umar and Abu Bakr "brothers" ^[1]. Umar also offered Abu Bakr to marry Hafsa, but Abu Bakr refused. Also, Umar was the first one to give his Bay'ah to Abu Bakr.

A narration attributed to Abu Bakr reports:

There is not on the face of the earth a man more beloved to me than 'Umar. ^[3]

[edit] Muawiya

Muawiya ibn Abu Sufyan, the governor of Syria, lived in Damascus in imperial splendor, surrounded by a glittering retinue. It was a lifestyle that Umar did not tolerate in any other governor. But Muawiya, for him, was a "special," and the rules which applied to others, did not apply to him.

Muhammad ibn Jarir al-Tabari, a 10th century Sunni Islamic scholar writes:

Umar was in Damascus and Muawiya came to see him every day – mornings and evenings – bedecked in regal outfit, with splendidly caparisoned mounts and escorts. When Umar commented, rather acidly, upon his pageantry, he said that Syria was swarming with Roman spies, and it was necessary to impress them with the "glory" of Islam. His pageantry, he said, was only the outward emblem of that glory - the glory of Islam.

But Umar was not convinced, and remarked: "This is a trap laid by the slick and guileful man."

Muawiya answered: "Then I will do whatever you say, O Commander of the Faithful."

Umar said: "If I raise an objection to anything, you baffle and bewilder me with words. I am at a loss to know what to do." ^[4].

[edit] Shi'a view

Ali Asgher Razwy, a 20th century Shi'a Twelver Islamic scholar states:

Umar was a most exacting taskmaster for all his generals and governors. He was quick to lend his ears to any complaint against them, and he was even quicker to dismiss them –with one exception – Muawiya! He was forever indulgent to the sons of Abu Sufyan and the clan of Banu Umayya.

...

Here Umar can be seen utterly "helpless" before his own protégé. He could condone Muawiya anything and everything. He, in fact, appeared to be ostentatiously courting Abu Sufyan and his sons. Once he placed them at the helm of affairs, they consolidated their position, and it became impossible to dislodge them. It was in this manner that the secular, predatory, imperialist and economically exploitative Umayyads were foisted upon the Muslims. The cultivation of the Umayyads, it appears, was one of the constants in Saqifa's policy equation

...

In his book, Al-Farooq, M. Shibli, the Indian historian, has published a list of the names of the civil and military officers of his (Umar's) time. With one solitary exception (Uthman bin Hunaif), the entire list is made up of names of men who were noted for their animosity to Ali, to Banu Hashim, and to the Ansar

These Ansaris were the same people who had, at one time, given sanctuary to Umar in their city. They had given him food, clothing and shelter when he did not have any of these things. Now he was repaying them!

Umar's attitude toward the Ansar is in sharp contrast to the attitude toward them of Muhammad, the Messenger of God. The latter loved the Ansar. He appointed many of them as governors of Medina, and he made many of them commanders of various expeditions. On one occasion he said that he would rather be with them (the Ansar) than with any other people. He also considered them capable of and qualified to rule the Muhajireen.

^[1].