Thread by @YeniceriQ

Today 1st Muharram Marks the Matyrdom of the Second Rashidun Caliph Sayyidna Umar Al Farooq RadiAllah Anhu!

On this occasion I've made a small effort to write a detailed thread on the great life, achievements, & virtues of the Second Caliph. So please read and share! 1️⃣

This thread is divided into 4 parts:

1. A Brief history of the life of the Sayyidna Umar
2. Mammoth achievements of Sayyidna Umar as Caliph.
3. Virtues and Merits of Sayyidna Umar.
4. Miracles of Sayyidna Umar. 2️⃣

1. Life of Sayyidna Umar !

Umar I, in full ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭtāb, (born c. 586, Mecca, Arabia—died November 3, 644, Medina. The second Muslim caliph (from 634), under whom Arab armies conquered Mesopotamia/Syria & began the conquest of Iran and Egypt. 3️⃣

A member of the clan of ʿAdī of the Meccan tribe of Quraysh, ʿUmar at first opposed Prophet Muhammad ﷺ but, in about 615 AD, became a Muslim. By 622 AD, when he went to Medina with Prophet Muhammad ﷺ , he had become one of Muhammad’s chief advisers. 4️⃣

Hazrat Umar's position in the state was marked by Prophet Muhammad’s ﷺ marriage to his daughter Ḥafṣah in 625. On Prophet Muhammad’s ﷺ death in 632, ʿUmar was largely responsible for reconciling the Medinan Muslims to the acceptance of Abū Bakr, as Caliph. 5️⃣

Abū Bakr (reigned 632–634) relied greatly on ʿUmar & nominated him to succeed him. As Caliph, Hazrat Umar was the first to call himself “Commander of the Faithful” . His reign saw the transformation of the Islamic state from an Arabian principality to a world power. 6️⃣

Throughout this remarkable expansion, ʿUmar closely controlled general policy and laid down the principles for administering the conquered lands. The structure of the later Islamic empire, including legal practice, was built largely by Hazrat Umar. 7️⃣

In 644 Hazrat Umar was attacked by a Persian Christian slave named Abū Luʾluʾah & died from his wounds three days later on 1st Muharram. On his death bed, Hazrat Umar appointed a six-man council that eventually selected Sayyidna Uthmān ibn ʿAffān as his successor. 8️⃣

A strong ruler, stern toward offenders, and himself ascetic to the point of harshness, ʿUmar was universally respected for his justice and authority. His role in decisively shaping the early Islamic community is widely acknowledged. 9️⃣

2. Mammoth achievements of Sayyidna Umar as Caliph

In 15 years of conquest Alexander had conquered 1.7 million square miles of land with an army of more then 32,000-47,000 infantry and 5,100 cavalry. 🔟

Caliph Umar in 10 years, conquered 2.2 million square miles of land by crushing the super powers of that time, Rome & Persia. No ancient ruler had a domain as vast as Umar which he had not only got conquered on mere horseback but had also managed & ruled it. 1️⃣1️⃣

No companion of Caliph Umar ever had the courage to disobey him. He was the commander who deposed the strongest general of Islam, Hazrat Khalid bin Waleed right in the battleground and demoted him to a simple soldier in the Muslim army. 1️⃣2️⃣

And appointed Hazrat Abu Ubaidah as new commander in chief because Hazrat Khalid bin Waleed won all the battles he led & was seen as invincible to the point that people formed the view that victories were simply coming due to the command of Hazrat Khalid bin Waleed. 1️⃣3️⃣

He removed Hazrat Saad bin Abi Waqas from the governorship of Kufa & recalled the amir of Egypt Ghayas bin Ghanam, made him wear cloths made of rough hair and assigned him to grazing the sheep since he used to wear expensive cloths & had a guard. No one dared to disobey. 1️⃣4️⃣

Alexander conquered 1.7 million square miles of land but could not give any system to the world, whereas Caliph Umar gave such systems as are still prevalent the world over such as: 1️⃣5️⃣

1 – Implemented Hijri calendar
2 – Introduced Jail System.
3 – Started the salaries for Muezzins (Who Say Azan for Prayers).
4 – He order to maintain light in all Mosques during night times.
5 – Introduced the Police system for the first time. 1️⃣6️⃣

6 – Lay down the foundation of a complete court system
7 – Started a regular holidays system for soldiers so that they can give proper time to their family..
8 – He first time made the Army FOB’s (Forward operating bases) & laid the foundation of a military departments. 1️⃣ 7️⃣

9 – He first time in the world ordered funds, benefits and appointed regular salaries for infants, handicapped, homeless, old, helpless and widows.
10 – Made rich, rulers and government officials to declare their assets. 1️⃣8️⃣

11 – He first time ordered to wear uniforms for Police.
12 – During his tenure the Taraweeh Prayer was started regularly.
13 – Adopted the sentence (Prayer is Better than Sleep) in Fajar Prayer.
14 – Built resting places on many places on famous trading routes.
1️⃣9️⃣

15 – He was the only ruler ever to admit that even if a dog died of hunger on the banks on river Tigris during his rule, he would be responsible.
16 – He was in debt when martyred & his loan was paid off by selling his only property according to his will.
2️⃣0️⃣

17 – His sentence “Mothers give birth to free children, since when have you enslaved them” is still considered the charter of human rights.
18 – He used to say that pardoning a tyrant is injustice to the oppressed.
2️⃣1️⃣

He used to say that rulers who deliver justice, sleep fearlessly at night. Indeed when the Persian envoy visited the Caliph he asked for his Palace but found the Caliph sleeping on a brick on the ground somewhere in Madinah. 2️⃣2️⃣

His saying is that “the leader of the nation is actually its servant.”
His stamp read “Umar! death is enough of an admonition”.
Caliph Umar never had two dishes on his table. 2️⃣3️⃣

Caliph Umar stated: I'll put the cheek of every rich and oppressor on the ground, but for the poor I'll put my cheek on the ground and implemented this as well. 2️⃣4️⃣

3. Virtues of Ameer ul Momineen Sayyidna Umar Al Farooq RadiAllah Anhu!

Ibn ‘Umar says the Prophet ﷺ said: O Allah, strengthen Islam with whoever is more beloved to you of these two men; ‘Umar ibn al Khattab or Abu Jahal ibn Hisham. Tirmidhi fi al Manaqib, Hadith no: 3681 2️⃣5️⃣

Ibn ‘Abbas RadiAllah Anhu narrates that when ‘Umar accepted Islam Jibril descended from the heavens and said:

"O Muhammad verily the dwellers of the heavens are rejoicing with the Islam of ‘Umar." Ibn Majah fi al Muqaddimah, p. 103, al Hakim, p. 84 v. 3 2️⃣5️⃣

Hazrat Suhayb says:

When ‘Umar accepted Islam, he declared it openly and even invited towards it openly, we sat around the Ka’bah in circles, we made tawaf around the Ka’bah, we took our rights and we retaliated against him for what he used to do to us. [Ibn Sa’ad] 2️⃣6️⃣

Sayyidna Ali said:

I do not know of anyone who migrated openly except ‘Umar. When he intended to migrate he strapped on his sword and held the arrows in his hand. He then went to the Ka’bah whilst the leaders of the Quraysh were sitting in the courtyard of the Ka’bah; 2️⃣7️⃣

He made tawaf then performed two raka’at. After that he went to each crowd that was sitting around the Ka’bah & said: “May you be disgraced, whoever wishes to leave his mother, orphan his children, or widow his wife let him meet me behind this valley,” Ibn Asakir
2️⃣8️⃣

Abu Hurairah RadiAllah Anhu narrates that the Prophet ﷺ said:

Whilst I was sleeping I saw myself in Jannat & there was a woman who was making wudu’ beside the palace. I asked: “Whose palace is this?” 2️⃣9️⃣

It was said: “‘Umar ibn al Khattab,” at that time I remembered the possessiveness of ‘Umar so I turned back. ‘Umar began to cry and asked: “Could I have ghayrah (possessiveness) for you, O Rasul of Allah?”

[Bukhari fi Fada’il Ashab al Nabi, Hadith no: 3681] 3️⃣0️⃣

Ibn ‘Umar narrates that Prophet ﷺ said: Whilst I was sleeping, I saw myself drinking milk until I saw it flowing through my fingernails, and then I passed it to ‘Umar. The Sahabah asked: What is your interpretation, O Rasul of Allah ?
He replied: Knowledge. [Muslim 2391/16] 3️⃣1️⃣

Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas RadiAllah Anhu narrates that Prophet ﷺ said:

O son of Khattab, by Him Who controls my life, Shaitan does not meet you travelling on a path but he would travel on a path other than your path. [Muslim no: 2396] 3️⃣2️⃣

Abu Hurairah RadiAllah Anhu narrates that the Prophet ﷺ said:

There were before you from the previous nations people who were Muhdathun (inspired by Allah). And if there is one from my ummah, it is ‘Umar. [Sahih al-Bukhari Hadith 3486] 3️⃣3️⃣

Sayyiduna Uqbah bin Amir RadiAllah Anhu narrates that Holy Prophet ﷺ said:

If there were to be a prophet after me, indeed he would be Umar, son of Khattab. [Sunan Tirmidhi, Hadith 3686] 3️⃣4️⃣

Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar RadiAllah Anhu narrates that Prophet ﷺ said,

"Indeed, Allah has placed truth upon Umar`s tongue and heart." [Sunan Tirmidhi, Hadith 2682] 3️⃣5️⃣

Muhammad bin Hanafiyya RadiAllah Anhu narrates:

'I asked my father (Sayyidna Ali) that who was the best of people after the Holy Prophet and he answered "Abu Bakr". I asked him who is the best of people after Abu Bakr & he replied, "Umar"' [Sahih al-Bukhari, 3468]
3️⃣6️⃣

Hadrat Abdullah bin Salma RadiAllah Anhu reports from Sayyiduna Ali RadiAllah Anhu:

'After the Noble Messenger, the best of people is Abu Bakr, then the best of people is Umar' [Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith 111] 3️⃣7️⃣

Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah ennoble his face) narrates that Prophet ﷺ said,

“Abu Bakr and `Umar are the leaders of the mature inhabitants of Paradise, of the first and the last with the exception of the Prophets and the Messengers.” [Jami' al-Ahadith, Hadith 233] 3️⃣8️⃣

Sayyiduna Abu Sa’id Al-Khudari RadiAllah Anhu narrates that Prophet ﷺ said,

“Whoever hates Umar hates me. Whoever loves Umar loves me.” [Al-Tabarani in Awsat, Vol. 14, Page 493, Hadith 6915] 3️⃣9️⃣

Sayyiduna Ammar ibn Yasir RadiAllah Anhu narrates that the Messenger of Allah Prophet ﷺ said,

“O Ammar, Jibril came to me and I asked, “O Jibril narrate to me the virtues of Umar ibn Al-Khattab in the heavens.” 4️⃣0️⃣

He said, “O Muhammad, if I was to narrate the virtues of Umar from the time that Nuh remained with his people, nine hundred and fifty years, I would not exhaust the virtues of Umar.” [Abu Y’alla in Musnad, Vol. 4, Page 173, Hadith 1568] 4️⃣1️⃣

4. Miracles of Hazrat Umar

Amr ibn al-Harith said: While Sayyidna Umar was upon the mimbar delivering the khutbah on the day of Jumu’ah suddenly he left off the khutbah and said, ‘O Sariyah, the mountain!’ two or three times. Some said, "He has gone mad, he is insane" . 4️⃣2️⃣

Abd ar-Rahman ibn `Auf went in to see himand 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?" 4️⃣3️⃣

Sayyidna Umar 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, “O Sariyah, the mountain!” so that they would reach the mountain.’ 4️⃣4️⃣

Then they waited some time until Sariyah’s messenger came with his letter, ‘O Commander of the faithful!  Our enemies were winning. When we heard someone say: O Sariya!  To the mountain!  We stood with the mountain at our back and Almighty Allah gave them a crushing defeat.4️⃣5️⃣

Then those people who had accused Sayyidna Umar RadiAllah Anhu said, ‘Leave this man alone, because he is in collusion with him.’This Tradition shows many miracles of Sayyidna Umar (May Allah be well pleased with him). 4️⃣6️⃣

One is that being in Madina, he saw a battle being fought in Nahavand (Persia), another miracle is that he made the people fighting in Nahavand & hear his voice without and yet another is that because of his intervention, victory became the lot of Muslims. 4️⃣7️⃣

Sources: (Dalaail Un Nubuwwah, Hadith No. 2655; Mishkaatul Masabeeh, Babul Karamaat; Zujajatul Masabeeh, Babul Karamaat) 4️⃣8️⃣

May Peace, Blessings, and Mercy of Allah be upon you O Caliph and Father in Law of the Prophet ﷺ. May Allah grant us loyalty and love for you and hatred of your enemies. May Allah raise another leader such as your likes to save us from oppression. Ameen.
Haqq Umar Ya Umar!

Online sources used:

ahlesunnat.net/media-library/…

mahajjah.com/virtues-and-ou…

Um ul Momineen Zauja e Rasul Sayyida Hafsa Salam un Alaiha *

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