Hazrat Umar (RA)

Hazrat Umar (RA) was one of the great Muslim Khalifa in history. H was also the best companion of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). He was born in a respectable Quraish family which was known for in depth knowledge of genealogy. Hence from childhood to manhood he became quite proficient in this branch of knowledge along with several other skills of swordsmanship, wrestling, and art of speaking. He chose to become a merchant like many other Arabs. The experience in trade gave him a keen insight into the affairs of men and ways to handle them. Umer (RA) personality was vibrant, self-assertive, frank and straight forward. He always spoke whatever was in his mind even if it displeased others. Because of these and many other eminent qualities he became the successor to Caliphate after Abu Bakr (RA).

Like many other Makkans, Umar was also against the spread of Islam. It enraged him so much one day that he swore to kill the Prophet. On his way he was informed that his own sister Fatima and her husband had accepted Islam too. He went straight to her house and beat her up. Her sister had been reading Quran before that. After the beatings subdued she said, “Umar (R.A), you can do what you like, but you cannot turn our hearts away from Islam.” These words had a strange effect on him and he demanded to hear what she had been reading. He was moved to the core by the words of the Qur’an and immediately grasped their truth. He went straight to the house where the Prophet was staying and vowed allegiance to him.

During his Khalifate Islamic state went through a vast expansion. Islam flourished and spread to Egypt, Iraq, Palestine and Iran. The greatness of Umar’s lied in his quality of leadership and expertness on Islamic jurist. He earned him the title Al-Faruq ("the one who distinguishes between right and wrong"). He was valiant and a strong disciplinary. Umar (R.A) gave his government an administrative structure. In a short period of 10 years he had many achievements and reforms done.

Hazrat Umar Farooq (R.A) breathed his last on 26th Dhul-Hajj, 23 Hijri. He is buried next to the side of the Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W).