Caliphate of Hazrat Umar Farooq

Huzrut Umur: His Iife before becoming u cuIiph und his churucter

Hazrat Umar belonged to the Quraishi Iamily oI Banu Adi.
His Iather`s name was Khattab bin NuIail.
%he ancestry oI Hazrat Umar coincided with the Holy Prophet (PBUH) in eighth generation.
%he name oI Hazrat Umar`s mother Hantamah bint Hisham bin Mughairah.
He was born in the Year oI the Elephant (about 40 years beIore migration). He was thus 12-13 years
younger than the Holy Prophet (PBUH).
Hazrat Umar was born in an educated and well-oII Iamily. He too was personally eduated by his Iather.
n his youth, Hazrat Umar acquired the skills oI geneology, Iighting, wrestling and oratory.
BeIore his acceptance oI slam, Hazrat Umar was appointed to the ambassadorial post by the Quraish.
He was well-established in trade.
Hazrat Umar was 27 years old when the Holy Prophet (PBUH) was given the charge oI Messengership.
n the sixth year oI Prophethood, Hazrat Umar accepted slam in Arqam`s house in Makkah, which at
that time was the centre oI Prophet`s preaching.
AIter his conversion to slam, Muslims perIormed prayer Ior the Iirst time in Ka`bah.
He was thirty three years old when he embraced slam.
He was given the title Farooq i.e. one who can distinguish between right and wrong by the Holy
Prophet (PBUH) aIter he converted to slam.
He migrated to Madina and took part in all major battles, i.e. Badr, Uhad, Ditch, Khyber and Hunain.
His daughter Hazrat HaIsah was Holy Prophet (PBUH)`s wiIe.
He gave halI his wealth at the time oI the %abuk Expedition.

uin uttributes of his personuIity:

$implicity, kindness, Iull commitment, dedication and devotion to his duty as Caliph, good judge oI
men, able to discern truth Irom Ialsehood, high moral standards, tough as administrator, possessed the
qualities oI Ioresight and Iar-sightedness, quick and sharp in decision-making and ensuring its
implementation.

Iection of Huzrut Umur us the second cuIiph

24 August 634 AD.
Hazrat Abu Bakr nominated Hazrat Umar as the next Caliph.
AIter Hazrat Abu Bakr`s death, most oI the eminent Companions oI Muhammad (PBUH) swore
allegiance to Hazrat Umar.


ars with Persia

uttIe of Numurruq {October 34 AD}:

Because the Muslims had captured Hira under the caliphate oI Abu Bakr, the inIuriated Persian
Emperor sent a large Iorce under a Iamous general.
%he two armies met 10 miles Irom Hira.
Persians were deIeated and put to Ilight.

uttIe of Jur/uttIe of the ridge {October 34 AD}:

Alarmed by the Muslim victory, the Persian Emperor dispatched a large army, commanded by Bahman.
%he Muslim army was led by Hazrat Abu Ubaydah.
BeIore this mighty Iorce, the Arabs Iell back and re-crossed the Euphrates.
%he Persian commander challenged Hazrat Abu Ubaydah to cross the river again or allow him to come
to the Arab side.
Acting rashly and against his advisors` warnings, Hazrat Abu Ubaydah ordered the Muslim army to
build a bridge oI boats and cross the river.
nce on the opposite side, the Muslims Iound themselves in an alarming situation. %hey were hemmed
in between the Persian war-elephants in their Iront and the swiIt river Euphrates on their backs.
%he Arabs and their animals had never seen elephants beIore and were terriIied by these Iierce and
gigantic beasts. %hese elephants routed the Muslim cavalry.
Hazrat Abu Ubaida ordered the cavalry to dismount and Iight on Ioot.
Although the Muslims Iought bravely and brought down many elephants, they were trampled in large
numbers under the beasts` Ieet.
Hazrat Abu Ubaida himselI was martyred by one oI the elephants. His brother succeeded him, but one
by one, the Muslim commanders were martyred.
A Muslim had cut the boat-bridge so that the Muslim army would not lose heart and retreat easily.
However, the routed soldiers jumped into the river and many lost their lives.
%he new Muslim commander, Hazrat Musanna, ordered the bridge to be rebuilt. He and a small
detachment held back the Persians while the survivors crossed over to the Arab side.
ut oI the original Muslim Iorce oI 9,000 men, approximately: ) 3000 survived. ) 2,000 Iell
Iighting. ) 2,000 drowned in the river. ') 2,000 Iled to Madina and elsewhere.

uttIe of uwuyb {November 34 AD}:

Acting wisely and calmly aIter the disastrous Battle oI Jasr, Umar rallied his allies to Iight against the
Persian Empire.
hen the Persians came to know oI this, they sent a large Iorce under the command oI Mehran, an
expert in Arabian warIare techniques.
%he Muslim army was commanded by Hazrat Musanna.
ike the Battle oI Jasr, the Persian army camped on the eastern side oI the Euphrates.
%his time, however, the Muslims allowed the Persians to cross over to the Arabian side.
%he next day, the two armies engaged in a Iierce battle at Buwayb.
Even though the Persian Iorce was many times larger than the Muslim army, they were put to rout
when Mehran was killed.
%he Muslim Iorce destroyed the bridge over the Euphrates when the Persians tried to Iall back. Persians
were killed in large numbers and their army was almost completely destroyed.

Huzrut Umur resoIves to conquer Iruq:

Hazrat Umar realized that iI Hira was to be held by the Muslims, Madain, the Persian capital oI the
raqi province, must be captured.
Hazrat Umar called Ior Holy ar on Persia and wrote letters to his allies and rallied them under his
banner.
Finally, an army oI 20,000 men was mustered and was placed under Hazrat $aad bin Abi aqqas.

uttIe of Qudisiyu:

Hazrat $aad was ordered to march to Qadisiya, a little Iortress on the western bank oI the Ateeq (a
branch oI the Euphrates).
From here, Hazrat $aad sent an envoy to the court oI Yazdgard, the Persian Emperor, with the message
oI slam.
%he Persian Emperor insulted the envoy and turned him out oI his court.
%o teach the Muslims a lesson, he dispatched a large army oI 120,000 men, including 300 war-
elephants. %his army was commanded by Rustum.
%he Muslim army now numbered 30,000, including 1400 oI Muhammad (PBUH)`s Companions and
99 veterans oI Badr. %he soldiers had also brought their Iamilies along, as they intended to settle on the
conquered land.
Rustum encamped with his army on the opposite bank oI the river. He intended to tire out the Muslims
or make them short oI supplies beIore attacking.
Arab raiding parties, which attacked the Iertile Persian Iields, Iorced the Emperor to order Rustum to
commence Iighting.
Rustum and his army crossed the river in the secrecy oI the night by building a dam to check the Ilow
oI the water.
%he battle that ensued was very Iierce and lasted Ior 3 days and 4 nights.
Hazrat $aad directed his Iorces Irom his sick bed.
Eventually, the Persians lost and were killed in large numbers.
Rustum was killed as he tried to Ilee the battleIield.
osses: ) Muslims --- 8500 men. ) Persians --- 30,000 to 40,000 men.
Booty: ) 6,000 pieces to every soldier. ) 70,000 pieces Irom the jewels stripped Irom the body
oI Rustum. ) 100,000 pieces Irom the Persian banner made Irom panther`s skin.
Consequences: ) Put an end to the military might oI the Persian Empire. ) Arab tribes no
longer hesitated to Iight against Persia and the enemies oI slam. ) ay to Madain opened.

$iege und cupture of uduin:

AIter resting his troops , Hazrat $aad marched on Madain with the intention oI capturing it.
%he army deIending the city Iell back beIore the Muslim assault, Iled into the city and closed the gates.
%he Muslims captured the city aIter a siege and a brave assault by the troops.
Booty: ) 'essels and statues oI gold and silver. ) $tores oI precious stones. ) uxurious
wardrobes. ') %housands oI prisoners oI war. ') Each soldier received 12,000 dirhams.

uttIe of JuIuIu:

%he Persian king, Ileeing Irom Madain, took reIuge in Hulwan.
As a result, his remaining army occupied Jalula, a place in the neighborhood oI Madain.
%his army made great preparations Ior battle; the entire town was converted into a Iortress and a deep
ditch was dug around the town.
Hazrat $aad, with Hazrat Umar`s permission, sent a strong army to Jalula under the command oI Qaka.
%he siege oI Jalula stretched over 7 months.
Eventually, the Persians decided to counterattack and drive out the Muslims.
%he Muslim commander pulled back his army so that the whole oI the Persian army could come into
the Iield.
Fierce Iighting ensued.
Eventually, a Iierce storm started blowing into the Persians` Iaces and they Iell back and were killed in
large numbers.
%he residents oI Jalula surrendered on the usual terms oI Jizya.

uttIe of Nuhuwund:

AIter the Battle oI Jalula, Hazrat Umar stopped Iurther conquest and sought to consolidate Muslim rule
in the lands already occupied.
%owards this end, a peace treaty was signed with the Persians.
However, the Persians soon broke the treaty and marched with 60,000 men against the 30,000 Muslims.
%he two armies Iought at Nahawand Ior 2 days. n the 3rd day, the Persians took reIuge in their Iorts.
By a clever strategy, the enemy was coaxed out oI hiding and hand-to-hand Iighting took place.
%he Persian might was shattered Iorever and their emperor Iled to sIahan.
%his battle was a decisive one Ior the whole world, as it signaled the end oI Persian power and the rise
oI Muslims.

ars with the Byzantine Empire

%he Eastern Roman Empire consisting oI $yria, Jerusalem and Egypt was called the Byzantine Empire.
Although relations between the two parties had been cordial when Muhammad (PBUH) sent his envoy
to Heraclius, things had begun to cool down.
%he Christian prince oI $yria had murdered Muhammad (PBUH)`s envoy at Mu`tah. %his led to an
increase in the hostility.

Causes

Rebellion oI the Bedouin tribes on the $yrian border against Muslim rule on instigation oI the
Byzantine Empire.
Bedouin tribes in the Byzantine Empire on the $yrian border rendered help to their kinsmen in Arabia
to raid Muslim territory.
Natural expansive need oI Arabia as it was not very rich in resources as compared to its neighbours.

Conquest of Syria

uttIe of Yurmouk:

During the time oI Hazrat Abu Bakr, Muslims had deIeated the Romans on the $yrian Iront.
During the reign oI Hazrat Umar, Hazrat Khalid bin alid had now added Damascus, Jordan and
Emmessa to the Muslim $tate.
n retaliation, the Byzantine Emperor sent 260,000 men, who camped in the valley oI Yarmouk.
Hazrat Abu Ubaydah rallied 40,000 men under the banner oI slam.
%he Byzantines oIIered to pay the Muslims a large sum oI money iI they leIt $yria.
Hazrat Abu Ubaydah oIIered them the usual: ) Accept slam. ) Pay Jizya. ) Prepare Ior battle.
%he battle lasted Ior 6 days.
By the aIternoon oI the 6th day, only 1/3 oI the Byzantine army remained.
Meanwhile, a storm broke out and the Ileeing Byzantines were cut down in large numbers.
ith this battle, the Byzantines lost $yria and Muslim rule was ushered in.

uII of JerusuIem:

AIter the Battle oI Yarmouk, Muslim Iorces spread out in all directions in Jordan and captured key
areas to pave the way to Jerusalem.
%he city oI Jerusalem, held sacred by Jews and Christians, was strongly IortiIied and was protected on
all sides by deep valleys.
Muslims laid siege to Jerusalem in the severe winter.
Hazrat Amr bin Aas, the Muslim commander, wrote to Hazrat Abu Ubaydah Ior reinIorcements.
hen the reinIorcements arrived, the citizens oI the city lost heart and oIIered surrender iI the Caliph
himselI would come and receive the keys oI the city.
eaving Hazrat Ali as his deputy, Hazrat Umar leIt Ior Jerusalem with a slave, taking turns to ride the
camel.
hen he arrived, a treaty with the citizens was drawn up, guaranteeing security oI liIe, saIety oI
churches and other religious buildings etc. %he citizens were required to pay Jizya. %hose who wouldn`t
do so were asked to leave the city.
hen Hazrat Umar asked the Patriarch oI the city where he could oIIer the prayer oI thanksgiving, he
was led to a church.
Hazrat Umar declined to pray in the church because he Ieared that he would set an example Ior
Muslims to convert churches to mosques.
He was then led to a place where Prophet David used to pray.
$taying in Jerusalem Ior a Iew days, he reorganized the administration and built the Mosque oI Hazrat
Umar.

onquest of gypt:

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) %he Muslim navy was extremely weak and Alexandria was a strong naval base oI the Byzantines.
From there, they could launch a devastating attack.
) Egypt was the granary oI the Empire`, and its capture would debilitate the Iood system oI the
Byzantine Empire.
) %he conquest oI Egypt would open the way to large parts oI AIrica.
') %he Copts oI Egypt lived in miserable conditions under their Byzantine masters; Hazrat Amr knew
that these people would welcome and support the Muslims.
ith the permission oI the Caliph, Hazrat Amr bin Aas set out Ior Egypt with 4,000 men, in 639
AD.
AIter attacking small towns, he laid siege to the Iort oI Fustat, which lasted Ior 7 months. %his Iort was
captured.
Alarmed by the Muslim advance, the Egyptian king sent a large army to hold Alexandria.
hen the Muslims reached Alexandria, they Iound it heavily IortiIied and manned by 50,000 soldiers.
At this time, the Muslims strength was only 12,000.
henever the Muslims tried to get close to the city, the enemy rained boulders on them.
Also, Alexandria was a major port and help could come Irom sea any time.
hen the Byzantines tried to Iight the Muslims in the open, they were beaten back.
hen Emperor Heraclius died, a wave oI disappointment went over the besieged city as they knew that
no one would now come to their help anymore.
Finally, the city capitulated and Muslims became the masters oI Egypt.

Deuth of Huzrut Umur:

AIter the Battle oI Nahawand, many Persian men, women and children were sold as slaves.
ne oI these was Abu ulu, also known as Firoz.
He was purchased by the Governor oI Basra.
n Zil Haj, 23, Hazrat Umar was leading the morning prayers when Firoz attacked him with a dagger
and inIlicted several wounds.
Hazrat Umar survived Ior some days and nominated his successors, asking them to choose the caliph
Irom among themselves:
) Hazrat Ali ) Hazrat Usman ) Hazrat Zubair bin Awwam ') Hazrat Abdur Rehman bin
AuI ') Hazrat %alha ') Hazrat $aad bin Abi aqqas
ith the permission oI Hazrat Ayesha, Hazrat Umar was buried next to Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH).

Administrution of Huzrut Umur:

He remained as a model Ior administrators and rulers to come.
Following the example oI Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) and Hazrat Abu Bakr, Hazrat Umar Iormed the
constitution oI the $tate on the basis oI democracy.
He established a Majlis-e-$hoora, consisting oI both the Ansar and the Muhajirin. t included prominent
Companions oI Muhammad (PBUH) and he always consulted this body beIore making any important
decision.
He also established the Majlis-e-Aam, consisting oI the Muhajirin, Ansar and representatives oI various
tribes. %his body was called into session on special occasions.
Each province was placed under a ali, and each district was placed under an Amil.
%hese oIIicers had to report to Makkah on occasion oI the Hajj, where the caliph could hear complaints
against them and make decisions.
%hese oIIicers also had to keep a record oI their assets and property. n their retirement, their accounts
would be checked to see iI they had been honest or not.
Qazis were entrusted with judicial duties and were completely independent oI the ali.
He was the Iirst one to establish the Departments oI Military, Education, Jails and Police etc.
%he department oI Dewan was responsible Ior collection oI all types oI revenue, Irom the center as well
as Irom the provinces.
New taxes like Ushr (1/10th oI the income oI big lands) and Zakat on ownership oI horses, were
imposed.
A new system oI distribution oI money Irom the Bait-ul-Maal was established.
$oldiers were well looked aIter, but were not allowed to buy lands in the conquered territories or live
with the settled people; they could only live in cantonments.
Farmers were cared Ior as well. n conquered territories, they were allowed to retain their lands.
He himselI patrolled the streets oI Madina at night to look Ior people who needed help.
ntroduced the Muslims Hijri calendar, old-age pension system and census oI the population.
Patronized Iemale education.

$ervices to IsIum:

Great boost to early slam in Makkah.
Played an important part in getting Abu Bakr elected as the Iirst caliph.
Held back the Persian and Byzantine hordes who were bent on attacking Arabia.
verpowered the Persian and Byzantine empires and conquered their large tracts oI land.
Consolidated the conquered territories.
eIt an eIIicient administrative system Ior his successors.

,/8: 'He who hates Umar, hates me, he who loves Umar, loves me.