Hazrat Umar Farooq (R.A)
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| Hazrat Umar Farooq(R.A) in Masjid Nabvi |
Birth of Hazrat Umar ibn Al-Khattāb (R.A)
Hazrat Umar ibn Al-Khattāb (R.A) was born in 584 A.D .He belonged to the Quraish tribe. The Holy Prophet(pbuh) and Hazrat Umar had a common ancestor.Most powerful man (Hazrat Umar ibn Al-Khattāb (R.A)
He was one of the most powerful and influential Muslim rulers in history. He was a companion of Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) .Appearance of Hazrat Umar (R.A)
Hazrat Umar (R.A) is said to be vigorous, robust and a very tall man, in markets he would tower above the people. The front part of his head was bald.He always worked with two hands.His eyes were black, with reddish-white skin. His teeth were very white shining. He would always color his beard and take care of his hair using a type of plant.
An intelligent person (Hazrat Umar (R.A)
Hazrat Umar (R.A) was one of the few people of that period who could read and write. He was an intelligent and learned person. He was a poet and a very good orator.An wrestler and athelete (Hazrat Umar (R.A)
He was fond of archery, horse riding and wrestling. Hazrat Umar (R.A) is said to be blessed with a strong physique. He could travel on foot for miles. From contemporary sources it appears that Umar had attained perfection in the art of wrestling. He was an athlete and a wrestler. He is said to have participated in the wrestling matches on the occasion of the annual fair of Ukaz.Family of Hazrat Umar (R.A)
His father was a rich merchant of Makkah and he himself was a successful trader.He is said to have belonged to a middle-class family. In his youth he used to tend to his father’s camels in the plains near Mekkah . His father was famed for his intelligence among his tribe. He was a High-class merchant and is believed to be a ruthless man who often treated Umar badly.
As obvious from Hazrat Umar (R.A) 's own statement regarding his father during his later political rule, Hazrat Umar (R.A) said, "My father Al-Khattab was a ruthless man. He used to make me work hard; if I didn't work he used to beat me Despite literacy being uncommon in pre-Islamic Arabia, Umar learned to read and write in his youth.
Hazrat Umar (R.A) accepted Islam
Hazrat Umar (R.A) was also a gifted orator, and due to his intelligence and personality, he succeeded his father as an arbitrator of conflicts among the tribes Hazrat Umar (R.A) was an idol worshipper.When the Holy Prophet(pbuh) started to preach Islam, he became his bitter enemy. One day, in the sixth year of prophet hood, Hazrat Umar (R.A) left his house with the intention of murder the Holy Prophet(pbuh). On the way, someone told him that his own sister and her husband had become Muslims.
Enraged he went to the house of his sister who, at that time, was reciting the Holy Quran. He attacked his sister and her husband but they did not retaliate. Instead they took it with patience and declared their faith. On his insistence, his sister recited some verses from Surah Ta Ha.
The words of the Holy Quran moved him so much that tears began to flow from his eyes. He, at once, went to the Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH), recited the kalimah and became a Muslim.
Hazrat Umar (R.A) became true companion of Holy Prophet (PBUH)
After his conversion, he was given the title of Farooq by Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH). His conversion was of great help to the Holy Prophet (pbuh) and the small number of Muslims became bold enough to pray openly in the sacred mosque at Makkah. He migrated to Madinah shortly before the Holy Prophet’s(pbuh) own Hijrat.Battles
He took part in the battles of Badr, Uhad, Khandaq and Hunain. He was also present when the Treaty of Hudaibiya was signed. He participated in the Khyber Expedition and the conquest of Makkah. At the time of Tabuk expedition, when the Holy Prophet(pbuh) asked for contributions, he placed half of his wealth at the disposal of the Holy Prophet(pbuh).Hazrat Umar (R.A) as caliph
He succeeded Hazrat Abu baker (R.A) as the second caliph on 23 August 634. He was an expert Islamic ruler .He is best known for his pious and just nature, which earned him the title Al-Farooq. Hazrat Umar was the first person to swear allegiance to Hazrat Abu Bakr, when he became the first khalifa of Islam. He remained Hazrat Abu Bakr’s friend and adviser throughout his khilafat. Hazrat Abu Bakr had named Hazrat Umar as his successor, so he became the second khalifa of Islam. After becoming the khalifa, he came to be known as Ameer-ul-Mominin. His rule lasted for ten years and a few months.During the ten years of his khilafat, Hazrat Umar conquered the mighty Byzantine and Persian empires. He gave the empire an efficient system of administration. He framed the constitution of the state on the basis of democracy. Following the examples of the Holy Prophet(pbuh) and Hazrat Abu Bakr, he appointed consultative bodies known as the Shura or the Council of Advisers.
He established new departments and institutions, such as the military, education, judicial, police and jails department . He appointed separate officers for deciding cases. He divided the state into provinces further divided into districts. Hazrat Umar introduced the Muslim era of Hijrah, the system pension and the census of the population of the Muslim state. He laid great stress on the teaching of the Holy Quran and the Sunnah. He would go round the streets at night to keep himself informed of the conditions of his people. He would help them with food and money, especially during the days of famine, he would carry sacks of grain .on his back to distribute among the people. He would often fetch water for widows and milk their goats. He paid particular attention to the wellbeing of his non-Muslim subjects. Although he was the ruler of a vast empire, he lived like an ordinary man and led a truly Islamic life. He left a will that the amount he had drawn from the State Treasury as allowance should be returned to the treasury. About him, the Holy Prophet(pbuh) is reported to have said that if there had been any prophet after him, it would have been Hazrat Umar. And again, “He who hates Umar, hates me and he who loves Umar, loves me. ” Hundreds of thousands of people from all over Arabia gathered at Madinah where food was rationed. Soon the reserves of food at Madinah began to decline.
Hazrat Umer (R.A) wrote to the provincial governors of Syria, Palestine, and Iraq for aid. A state of emergency was declared in Madinah and Arabia. The timely aid of Umar's governors saved the lives of thousands of people throughout Arabia. Hazrat Umar(R.A) hosted a dinner every night at Madinah, which according to one estimate, had attendance of more than hundred thousand people.
Hazrat Umar (R.A)'s love to Holy prophet
Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) died on 8 June 632. Hazrat Umar(R.A) , the devoted disciple, could not accept the reality that the "Messenger of God" was dead. Hazrat Umar(R.A) promised to strike the head of any man who would say that Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) died.Then Hazrat Abu Bakr (R.A) gave his famous speech which included: "Whoever worshipped Muhammad, let them know that Muhammad has died, and whoever worshipped Allah, let them know that Allah is alive and never dies. " Hazrat Abū Bakr then recited these verses from the Qur'an: "Muhammad is but a messenger; messengers (the like of whom) have passed away before him.
If, then, he dies or is killed, will you turn back on your heel?". Hearing this from Hazrat Abu-Bakr (R.A) Abu Bakr, the most senior disciple of Muhammad, Hazrat Umar (R.A) then fell down on his knees in a great sense of sorrow and acceptance of the reality.
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