In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
Abu Bakr As Siddiq and Omar ibn Al-Khattab Al-Farouq (may Allah be pleased with both of them) were the two closest companions of the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace). Ali bin Abu Talib (may Allah be pleased with him) is reported to have said that Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) went out in the morning with Abu Bakr and Omar and he would return at night with Abu Bakr and Omar. The Prophet himself (Allah bless him and grant him peace) called Abu Bakr and Omar his eyes and ears, and said they were his advisors from the inhabitants of earth. [Tirmidhi] Omar stood beside the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) in all of the trials and tribulations that faced the Muslim Ummah.
Ummah means the community of believers bound together with a purpose - to worship Allah. Together they are strong, divided they are weak. Each member is united with all of the others in a spiritual way that can even have physical manifestations. When one part of the Ummah is in pain, the whole Ummah hurts. [Bukhari & Muslim]
وَإِنَّ هَـٰذِهِۦٓ أُمَّتُكُمْ أُمَّةً وَٰحِدَةً وَأَنَا۠ رَبُّكُمْ فَٱتَّقُونِ ﴿٥٢(Qur'an, Al-Mu'minoon 23:52)
“And verily this Ummah of yours is One Ummah and I am your Lord and Cherisher: therefore fear Me (and no other).”
Omar’s path to the Truth began with a vehement hatred of the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) and the religion of Islam but that hatred soon turned into a fierce love. The supplications of Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) and the sublime beauty of Qur'an changed his mind, his heart, and his life. After Omar accepted Islam he became a man devoted to the Ummah, he was pleased when the Ummah was pleased and displeased when the Ummah was displeased.
Omar was a strong and assertive man. When the enemies of Islam heard the name of Omar, their knees would tremble. When Shaytan saw Omar walking down the street, he would turn the other way. Even Omar’s friends would sometimes find his presence intimidating, and they too feared his anger. However, this man of strength and power, cried easily, and had a soft and compassionate heart. Omar was humble without being weak. Omar combined two opposing character traits and that made him unique amongst the men around the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace). The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, “if there was to be a Prophet after me it would have been Omar ibn Al Khattab.”
Omar was the second Caliph of the Muslim Ummah, and the first Muslim leader to be called the Commander of the Faithful. After the Prophet's (Allah bless him and grant him peace) death, his closest friend Abu Bakr became his successor and led the Muslims for around two years. When Abu Bakr felt his own death approaching, he gathered his closest friends and advisors around him and informed them that their allegiance to him was over. Abu Bakr hoped that these men would choose his successor from among themselves. However, after much discussion Abu Bakr’s companions returned to him and asked him to choose for them for they trusted his choice beyond question. Abu Bakr chose Omar.
Some of the men around Abu Bakr voiced their concern that Omar, known to be a very harsh and tough man would be too hard on the people. Abu Bakr responded by saying that he considered Omar to be the best among them. Despite these initial reservations among some men of Madinah, Omar was appointed as the second Caliph of the Muslims. He began his reign by addressing the people and immediately explaining his expectations for himself. Omar knew the people were wary of his reputation for toughness and he addressed this issue.
He said, “Oh people, know that I have been appointed to govern your affairs, so recognize that my roughness is now weakened, but I will continue to be rough and harsh on the people of oppression and transgression and will put their cheeks into the dirt [This was an expression used by the Arabs of that time, to denote a harsh response, one that leaves no doubt that oppression of others and the transgression of their rights will not be tolerated.] Know also that I will put my own cheek into the dirt to defend the people of piety.”
Omar went on to explain to the people that he would take nothing from what their land produced or from the spoils of war except what Allah ordained and that he would only spend that money in a way that was pleasing to Allah. Omar was acutely aware of the importance of financial justice, and that he would be held accountable for every penny or dirham that belonged to the Muslim Ummah. Omar also informed the people that he would increase their salaries and provisions and guard their borders.
The young Muslim nation that the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) and his companions (may Allah be pleased with them all) had worked so hard to establish was an Ummah unlike no other. Benefits were paid to every member of the Ummah from the Muslim treasury; it was not necessary to be a government employee, the wealth of the ever-expanding nation was shared equally. Omar did not institute this, he was merely following the already established way of his predecessors, but he did promise to increase the payments.
Omar also promised not to send the Muslim armies “into destruction”, meaning that he would not send the armies out unless the risks were evaluated and deemed acceptable. He promised not to keep the soldiers away from their families for an extended period and reassured the men that while they were away fighting for the Muslim Ummah, and if they did not return, he, the Caliph would be the father of their children and the caretaker of their wives. Omar believed the role of the leader was to protect the people.
This concept seems very unusual nowadays when we see Presidents and Prime Ministers surrounded by bodyguards and willing to trample over anyone to protect themselves and their power. Omar, although he was the leader of an Empire, never felt it necessary to have a bodyguard. He walked the streets of Madinah like any ordinary citizen, even at night. In fact, it was during the nights that he roamed the streets checking up on those under his protection and anonymously distributing charity.
One of the years of Omar’s reign came to be known as the Year of Ashes. This year was a great test for the Muslim Ummah. It was a time of drought and famine, when the wind was so hot it burnt the skin as if with hot ashes. Meat, butter, and milk became unavailable, and the people existed on little more then dry bread sometimes dipped in oil. Omar took an oath that he would not eat or drink anything that was not available to the people. Even when foodstuffs became available in the markets again, Omar refused to buy them for inflated prices. He was heard to say, “How can I be concerned about and understand my own subjects if I am not going through the same trials that they go through?”
More then fourteen hundred years after his reign, Omar is still remembered as a man of justice. Drawing on the principles of justice, mercy and compassion inherent in Islam, Omar treated all those under his care equally, whether they were rich or poor, black or white, powerful or weak. He constantly feared that Allah would question him about his actions. He worried that there may be sick or poor people among the believers that he had not cared for correctly. Omar never appointed judges or governors who expressed a desire for such a job but chose wisely from the most pious members of the Ummah. His judges and governors were audited and if they had more assets than what they started with before they became judges or governors, the excess would be confiscated.
Omar's kindness towards animals was glowingly recorded in Islamic history. He learned from Islam that in every living being there is reward, and that it is not permissible in Islam to abuse animals, to destroy them for no reason, to use them in ways for which they were not created or to force them to do more than they are able. He declared that if a mule stumbled in Iraq [he was in Madinah], he was responsible for not having the road paved. Once Omar saw a camel which appeared exhausted and sick. He went to it, laid his hand on the camel's back and examined it, saying, "I am afraid that I will be questioned about you (i.e., on the Day of Resurrection)."
Omar considered himself an ordinary Muslim but history has recorded that he was anything but ordinary. Omar was strong, physically and spiritually, he was generous, noble and lived a life of humility. Omar followed in the footsteps of his beloved Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace). He followed his example and upheld his traditions. Omar’s whole being was focused on pleasing Allah; he feared Allah’s punishment but hoped for Paradise. Omar was able to distinguish between the truth and falsehood, he felt pain when the Ummah or any member of it was hurting, and he felt joy when those under his care were content and happy worshiping their Lord. Omar was one of four rightly guided Caliphs. Even today, he continues to be a role model for strength, justice, love, and mercy.
Remembering that Allah is always watching is the key to guidance and goodness and is the essence of worship -- to worship Allah as if you see him, and even though you do not see Him, He sees you. [Bukhari & Muslim]. Even with regard to a sick camel, Omar feared that his Lord would question him about it. This is the essence of Islam, awareness of Allah's watching and fear of Him that stills the heart.
Can any ruler or leader succeed without this? Can he escape the reckoning of Allah when he has been appointed in charge of His slaves?
May Allah guide our leaders, and strengthen and unite the Ummah in good. May Allah protect us from the trials and tribulations of this life and the next and forgive our shortcomings. Ameen.
Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wassallam.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
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