O Allah, strengthen Islam with either ‘Umar ibn al- Khattab (R A) or ‘Amr ibn Hisham (Abu Jahal) whomsoever Thou pleaseth.The next day Hazrat ‘Umar was guided to accept Islam. It happened as follows: It was the sixth year of Prophets mission when Quraish leaders called a meeting and asked a volunteer for the assassination of the Prophet (SAW) . Hazrat ‘Umar offered himself for this task and everybody in the meeting exclaimed that he was the right person for it. While he was on his way with a sword in his hand he met Sad bin Abi Waqqas who enquired of him about his destination. Hazrat ‘Umar told him that he was going to murder the Prophet (SAW) .After some discussion Sad said, “You had better take care of your own family first. Your sister and brother-in-law both have accepted Islam.” Hearing this Hazrat ‘Umar changed his direction and went straight to his sisters house. When Hazrat ‘Umar knocked at the door, they were studying the Quran from Hazrat Khabbab . His sister Fatimah was frightened on hearing Hazrat ‘Umar’s voice and tried to hide the portion of the Quran she was reciting. When Hazrat ‘Umar entered the house he enquired about their Islam and on finding that they had accepted Islam, he first fell upon his brother-in-law and beat him severely. When his sister intervened he smote her so violently on her face that it bled profusely. On this, his sister burst out: “Do whatever you like, we are determined to die as Muslims.” When Hazrat ‘Umar saw his sister bleeding, he calmed down and felt ashamed. He loved Fatimah very much but could not tolerate her conversion to Islam. However, deeply moved, Hazrat ‘Umar asked her to show the pages on which the Quran was written. But she was, after all, Hazrat ‘Umar’s sister and told him, “You can not touch it unless you take a bath and make yourself clean.” He washed his body and then read the leaves. That was the beginning of Surah Ta-Ha (Chapter 20 of the Quran). When he came to the verse:Indeed it is Me, Allaah - there is no God except I - therefore worship Me and keep the prayer established for My remembrance. [Al Ta-Ha, 20:14] Hazrat ‘Umar exclaimed, “Surely this is the Word of Allah. Take me to Muhammad ”. This is why it is said that the rest of the Companions were mureed (one who seeks) of the Prophet , whereas Hazrat ‘Umar was His muraad (one who is sought). Hazrat ‘Umar’s conversion to Islam was a terrible blow to the morale of the disbelievers. Hazrat Abdullah bin Masud(R A) , a great Companion, says, “Hazrat ‘Umars conversion to Islam was a great triumph, his emigration to Medina a tremendous reinforcement and his accession to Caliphate a great blessing for the Muslims.” And Hazrat Daata Ganj Baksh said that Hazrat Umar is one of the select admitted to the Divine Presence, so much so that angel Jibril , came and said to the Prophet (SAW) , “O Muhammad , all the angels send you greetings on the conversion of ‘Umar to Islam.” [Kashf-ul-Mahjoob] Conversion of Hazrat ‘Umar strengthened Islam. Hitherto, Muslims had lived in constant fear of disbelievers, and most of them were concealing their faith. The Muslims were now able to offer their Salat (ritual prayers) publicly. When Hazrat ‘Umar became a Muslim he declared his faith openly before the Quraish chiefs. No one dared harm him. Then he requested the Prophet (SAW) to offer Salat in the Kabah. On getting the consent of the Prophet (SAW) , Hazrat ‘Umar led a party of the Muslims to it. Hazrat Hamzah , who had accepted Islam a few days before Hazrat ‘Umar carried another party of the Muslims to the Kabah. When all the Muslims gathered in the Kabah they offered their Salat in congregation. The Prophet (SAW) led this first public Salat in the history of Islam. For this courageous and bold action of Hazrat ‘Umar the Prophet (SAW) gave him the title of al-Faruq i.e., the one who makes a distinction between Haqq (Right) and Batil (Wrong). When the Muslims were ordered to migrate to Medina, most of them left Mecca quietly and secretly, but Hazrat ‘Umar declared it openly. He put on his arms and first went to the Kabah. After performing the Salat he announced loudly: “I am migrating to Medina. If anyone wants to check me, let him come out. I am sure that his mother would cry for his life.” There was no man in Mecca to accept the challenge of Hazrat ‘Umar . Then he migrated to Medina boldly.For the first time in the history of Islam, the Islamic calendar was introduced in the present form by Hazrat ‘Umar as advised by Hazrat Ali ((R A) ). The date of the start of this calendar was fixed as the date of the Hijrah (Migration) of the Prophet (SAW) .Thus the calendar is known as the Hijri Calendar.Hazrat ‘Umar had great love for Allaah and the Prophet (SAW) . The Prophet (SA) also had a deep love for him. Once He remarked:Were a Prophet (SAW) to come after me, he would have been ‘Umar .(Tirmidhi) In another Hadith mentioned in Bukhari, Hazrat Abu Hurairah narrated that the Prophet (SAW) said: In Bani Israil (Israelites) there were people who were not prophets but talked to Allaah . Were anyone in my Ummah (people) like those persons, he would be ‘Umar .”The passing away of the Prophet (SAW) into the Divine Realm was a great shock to him, and he could not believe it until Hazrat Abu Bakr (R A) reminded him of a clear verse of the Quran on the subject. He then went to the Council Hall along with Hazrat Abu Bakr (R A) where the people of Medina had assembled to select the First Caliph. Hazrat ‘Umar was the first person to give Bai’ah (pledge allegiance) at the hand of Hazrat Abu Bakr (R A) , and then helped him throughout the duration of his rule.There were hundreds of Huffaz (i.e., those who committed the whole Quran to memory) among the Companions during the life-time of the Prophet (SAW) but it had not been compiled in the form of a book. The memorization of the Quran continued even after the passing away of the Prophet (SAW) into the Divine Realm. In various battles, which took place against rebels and false prophets, a number of Huffaz Companions were martyred. In the battle against Musailimah al-Khad-dhab about seventy Huffaz had died. It then occurred to Hazrat ‘Umar that necessary steps should be taken to preserve the Quran intact in its original form against every kind of danger and it was not wise to depend exclusively upon those who had learnt it by heart. Therefore, he urged Hazrat Abu Bakr (R A) to put it in the form of a book.Other Companions also agreed with Hazrat ‘Umar’s opinion but Hazrat Abu Bakr (R A) hesitated in the beginning because it was not done by the Prophet (SAW) . However after some discussion he agreed to it and appointed Hazrat Zaid bin Thabit for this work who was hesitant at first but later, he too agreed and began the work. Hazrat Umar’s initiation of the idea of compiling the Quran in the form of a “mus-haf” as we see it today is a great contribution to Islam and a great sign that not all new acts in Islam are blameworthy as some schools of thought allege.The Salat-ut-Tarawih (special superogatory daily prayers performed in the month of Ramadan), which was conducted occasionally during the lifetime of the Prophet (SAW) , was eventually established as a regular congregational practice throughout the month of Ramadan during the days of Khalifa Umar ibn al- Khattab (R A) . This accounts for the fact that it is often attributed to Khalifa Umar , on the grounds that he was the first to organize its performance along these lines. Hazrat Ali ibn Abi Talib ((R A) ) is reported as having said:“Umar ibn al- Khattab (R A) would never have taken such a serious interest in these Tarawih prayers, if it had not been for a certain saying of the Prophet (SAW) : ‘Around the Heavenly Throne, Allaah (Exalted is He) maintains an area called the Enclosure of Sanctity, which consists of radiant light. So many are the angels within its confines, that none but Allaah (Almighty and Glorious is He) could ever add up their total number. These angels are utterly devoted to the worshipful service of Allaah (Exalted is He) and they never take a moment to relax. When the nights of the month of Ramadan come around, they ask their Lord for permission to descend by turns to the earth below, where they perform the ritual prayers together with the children of Adam. Whenever any member of the Community of Muhammad (prayers and peace of Allaah be upon Him) is touched by them, or touches them, that person will experience such blissful happiness and good fortune that he will never again feel miserable or suffer distress.’As soon as Umar ibn al- Khattab (R A) heard me repeat these words, he exclaimed: ‘Since we are specially entitled to receive this blessing, we must be better prepared!’ He then proceeded to organize the congregational observance of the tarawih prayers, and it was he who established the practice of performing them (throughout the month of Ramadan) as a regular traditional custom.” As we know from another traditional report, Hazrat Ali ibn Abi Talib ((R A) ) went out in the first part of a certain night in the month of Ramadan. Then when he heard the Quran being recited in the Masjids he exclaimed: “May Allaah fill the tomb of ‘Umar with light, as Allah’s Masjids are illuminated by the recitation of the Quran!” (Al-Ghunya, pp. 126-128)The period of Hazrat ‘Umars caliphate undoubtedly is the “Golden Age” of Islam in every respect. He was a man of extraordinary genius who not only molded the destiny of the nation but made history of his own. He followed the footsteps of the Prophet (SAW) to the fullest extent. He was an exemplary administrator who originated an efficient system of administration. He implemented Shariah (Divine Islamic Law) as the code of a newly formed International Islamic State; he safeguarded the internal safety by introducing the police force: he gave stipends to the poor; he founded new cities for the growth of Islamic culture and civilization; he improved agriculture & economics, and founded the educational system; in brief he was the founder of a great Islamic State. He was a very pious Muslim. His success lay in two things: his fear of Allaah and his love for the Prophet (SAW) . He never used even oil from the Bait-ul-Maal (Public Treasury) to burn a lamp at night for his personal needs. Whenever he finished his official work he put off the lamp.He used to patrol the city at night to find out the needs, requirements, and conditions of the people. He did not hesitate to take his wife to work as a midwife for a poor woman. The salary he got from the Bait-ul-Mal was so low that it was hardly enough for him and his familys needs.When some of the eminent Muslims requested him to increase the amount, he said, “The Prophet (SAW) has left a standard by his personal example. I must follow him.”He was a great jurist and theologian of Islam. Because of the fear of making any mistake he did not quote many Ahaadeeth (Sayings of the Prophet (SAW) ) even though he was fully conversant with them. He was an expert in deriving laws from the Quran and the Hadeeth. Hazrat Ibn Umar narrated that the Messenger of Allaah , said:“While I was asleep I drank – meaning milk – until I saw satiation flowing in my nails, and then I passed it to ‘Umar. They said: How did you interpret it, Messenger of Allaah y? He y said, ‘Knowledge.’” Hazrat Ibn Masud said: “Even if the knowledge of ‘Umar were to be put in one scale of a balance and the knowledge of every living being on the earth were put in the other scale, the knowledge of ‘Umar would outweigh their knowledge.”When the Prophet (SAW) , sought the advice of the Companions with respect to the story of the slander of Hazrat Aisha (only as a way to teach his Ummah that consultation or shura is the way to deal with all matters in life, as He does not need the advice of anyone except Allah Almighty), Hazrat ‘Umar said: “Who married you to her Messenger of Allaah?” He said: “Allah.” He said: “Do you think that your Lord would conceal a defect of hers from you? Glory be to You, this is a huge slander!” Then the revelation from AllaahAlmighty came down just like that in the form of Surah Al-Noor, 24:16. (Tarikh al-Khulafa, pp. 113-121)He was the father of Umm-ul-Muminin Hazrat Hafsah the chaste wife of the Prophet (SAW) .The glorious rule of Hazrat ‘Umar came to an end with his passing away into the Divine Realm on Wednesday, the 26th of Dhul Hijjah, the year 23 Hijri (643 CE) when he was 61 years old. He was stabbed several times by a Persian slave in the Masjid at Fajr. The injuries he sustained were so serious that the Khalifa died the next morning. He requested Hazrat Aisha’s permission for his burial by the side of the Prophet (SAW) . Though she had reserved that place for herself, upon Hazrat ‘Umars request she gave it to him (may Allaah be pleased with them both).
Posted on: Sat, 24 Jan 2015 21:54:59 +0000
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