Umar Khattab and his Caliphate

Main topic: Karbala, brief overview

When Abu Bakr died according to his will Umar son of Khattab became Caliph, on what authority Abu Bakr nominated next caliph, which Qur'anic injunctions Abu Bakr had followed or according to which convention of Prophet Mohammed he nominated the next caliph is unknown in Islamic world.

Before declaration of Islam by Prophet Mohammed there were upright people who followed tenets of Abraham and others who were pagans (idol worshipers). Pre-Islamic age is known as Ayyam Jahila (Age of ignorance), even during that period there were Pagan Arabs who practised and respected ideals of the then prevailing humanity standards. Umar was an exception. Umar was the symbol of tyranny and ignorance.

Umar was firm believer of pagan idols and proudly worshiped the idols, before conversion. This is ironic when we compare his pre-islamic activities with the declarations which is made about him in Sunni history that just because prophet-hood came to an end on Prophet Mohammed else Umar would have been next prophet! No prophet of God had ever practiced any filthy stuff which Umar was very used to.

Umar was hardcore drunkard before his conversion; violence was depiction of his character. Umar buried his daughters alive as and when they were born just because they were girls. Worst form of crime apart from being violent alcoholic were Umar's usual activities.

When Prophet Mohammed declared Islam, Pagan specifically Ommayyads became staunch enemies of monotheism. Umar although he was not an Ommayyad was famous in torturing Muslim converts who were mostly slaves and poor.

Lubayna and Zinnira two slave girls of Umar were tortured by him until he became tired on daily basis because both had accepted Islam. Zinnira was blinded for accepting Islam. Both slave girls had cursed Umar and prayed may Allah deal with him the same way he had dealt with them.

Umar Khattab proudly took part in anti-Islamic activities, insulted Prophet Mohammed and became his staunch and deadliest enemy. It was Umar Khattab who swore to murder Prophet Mohammed. His enmity for Prophet Mohammed was solely because Islam was anti-pagan in nature.

When Umar Khattab swore to kill Prophet Mohammed, and when he came face to face with Prophet Mohammed at house of Arqam, the companions who were around Prophet Mohammed declared if Umar ever dared to cross his limits they would slit Umar's neck with his own sword he had carried. It was at this point when Umar declared that he too accepted Islam. How sincere Muslim he became is evident from his frequent later behaviours.

A myth surrounds Umar Khattab that since his conversion to Islam, Muslim gained prestige and valour, it’s wrong. It was at this time exactly that rather a social boycott was implied on Prophet Mohammed and his clan Banu Hashim. For whole three years the boycott was working Banu Hashim clan including Prophet Mohammed was forced to lethal starvation and people like Umar Khattab were silent spectators in Makka.

Umar was never well known in Madina after migration as is frequently fabricated. His role in Battle of Badr is unknown and never spoken about. 

During the second battle which Ommayyads declared on Prophet Mohammed which was fought at Ohad, Umar's so called bravery came to limelight. Umar fled from the battle field. However as practical convention later showed remorse after the battle.

When Prophet Mohammed was prevented from entering Makka to perform pilgrimage a truce was made at Hudaybiyah. Truce was one sided; Muslim captives were not to be returned to Muslim side; however Pagans captives were to be returned back from Muslim side. Prophet Mohammed signed the truce on basis of farsightedness.

Umar’s belief on Prophet Mohammed came to limelight when he openly had arguments with Prophet Mohammed as to why he signed such a treaty. Umar being a muslim went on to extreme level of questioning prophet hood of Prophet Mohammed. Prophet Mohammed calmly replied to his disgusting comments yet he was not satisfied and continued his remarks, it was later on Abu Bakr's pacification that he became silent. Such were his behaviours with Prophet Mohammed, Umar however frequently showed remorse for such behaviours to avoid any trouble in later life.

After the capture of Makka, Pagans tried their one last final blow on Muslims. Battle was fought between Muslims and Pagans at Hunain. Initially, Muslims were strong but suddenly tables turned and Pagans began to outweigh Muslims. Shock waves ran among Muslims and they began to flee the battle field. Umar Khattab was foremost in fleeing the battle of Hunain leaving Prophet Mohammed vulnerable to Pagans. Abu Dujana confronted Umar and questioned him why was he running; he confided to Abu Dujana that he considered it was God’s order for Muslims to run.

Prophet Mohammed and few sincere Muslims remained on battle field, Ali, Abbas, Salman, Osama were among those who remained. Estimated number is less than 20 Muslims. Prophet Mohammed’s call in time of need to people like Umar was in vain. However, once again tables turned around and finally Muslims won the battle as remaining Muslims began killing of influential pagans. Muslims won Battle of Hunain.

At the event of Ghadeer, when Prophet Mohammed declared Ali as his heir to lead the community, Umar Khattab was first person to pay allegiance (Bayah) to Ali, yet within a few weeks he broke his allegience when he changed his allegience towards Abu Bakr at Saqifa.

Prophet Mohammed returned to Madina and shortly later passed away. Before that Prophet Mohammed had arranged for an army under the command of Osama son of Zaid, both Abu Bakr and Umar were asked to serve under command of Osama, Osama was 18 years old. Both Abu Bakr and Umar became reluctant to serve under his command; army was encamped at outskirt of Madina.

Prophet Mohammed felt the reluctance of such above companions and he finally asked his companions for a meeting. Poison fed to Prophet Mohammed at Khaybar was showing effects, Prophet Mohammed asked for pen and paper so he could write and re confirm his will.

Umar was chief person who declared Prophet Mohammed to be severely ill and not in position to write a will. Prophet Mohammed asked all among these gang to instantly leave him. Prophet Mohammed passed away soon.

Abu Bakr was out of Madina and was on his way, Umar thus behaved with tact and declared Prophet Mohammed didn’t die, which was a lie, so Abu Bakr could reach Madina before any leader could be declared.

None except less than 20 companions gathered at funeral of Prophet Mohammed. Abu Bakr and Umar gathered at Saqifa and it was Umar again who declared Abu Bakr as Caliph. Abu Bakr had initially proposed Umar’s name, but it is obvious Umar knew time was not ripe for his caliphate and to consolidate himself politically he needed time thus he put Abu Bakr for the mean time.

Abu Bakr’s reign saw a junta of both Abu Bakr and Umar. All activities of Abu Bakr had Umar’s advices. Ridda wars which were result of Abu Bakr’s unpopularity among Arabs which gave mischief mongers a good chance to start pseudo prophethoods. Apart from these various loyal companions of Prophet Mohammed were accused of declaring prophet hood and were executed on orders of Umar and Abu Bakr, these murders were just to consolidate caliphate by removing opponents.

Fatima Zahra the daughter of Prophet Mohammed had a date garden called Fidak and other garden at Khaybar, Abu Bakr snatched away the property saying it was charity and state’s property.

Fatima Zahra openly declared her anger and opposition for Abu Bakr, Abu Bakr fearing would be reactions from supporters of Ali tried to return Fidak to Fatima Zahra but it was Umar who prevented him from doing, as in his opinion it would loosen their grip on people.

Ali son of Abu Talib and relatives of Prophet Mohammed denied allegiance to Abu Bakr and thus considered his caliphate illegitimate. Umar feared rebellion and thus along with Khalid son of Walid and others went to Ali’s house to pressurize.

They warned that if they didn’t get allegiance for Abu Bakr they would burn down the house. Fatima Zahra was grievously hurt during the incident and miscarried her child and later passed away due to injury. Fatima Zahra passed away 70 days later after Prophet Mohammed.

Ali son of Abu Talib was also assaulted in the incident, Ali’s opinion was intact that any violence on his part would permanently damage Islam, thus he forbore all the assaults. Ali didn’t rebelled against the caliphate but isolated himself from caliphate, he also never took part in any war during neither Abu Bakr’s nor Umar’s caliphate.

When Umar became Caliph; Ali along with Abbas (Prophet’s uncle) demanded the return of Fidak to them, Umar also denied them. Thus by his denial now people were sure Family of Prophet Mohammed was against Umar as well.

Umar during his caliphate initiated innovations within Islamic practices, which had no value in Qur’an nor were practiced during Prophet’s life. He inserted additional sentences in morning Azaan (Call of prayers); Umar had no authority for it. He also, initiated a new form of congregational prayers called Taraweeh (Additional night prayers during Ramadan); such idea was dropped by Prophet Mohammed himself during his lifetime. Umar legalized triple divorce (talaaq) in one go. He changed the penal code of 40 lashes to 80 for open drunkard. Umar without any authority started these things.

Umar also forbade various Islamic tenets and practices which were practiced during Prophet Mohammed’s lifetime, and which also had Quranic sanctions. Umar forbade Mutah (Temporary marriage) which has Quranic sanctions. Umar also forbade Hajj Tamattu (Break between Hajj and Umra pilgrimages) these were practiced during lifetime of Prophet Mohammed. Umar also forbade Tayyammum (symbolic ablution) which has Qur’anic sanction. Those who opposed his orders were severely thrashed.

Umar declared that Quran was incomplete and a verse was missing: the stoning’s verse. Umar lacked jurisprudential skills yet dealt with many accused. Every now and then he passed death sentences; it was Ali who had to interfere to save lives of accused who didn’t deserved death. Ali gave advices when he found alternate action in favour of Islam, Umar’s followers confuse this practice in support of Umar, it was however for cause of Islam.

Umar was the person who initiated the practice of appointing Ommayyads as governor, which years later resulted in tragedy of Karbala. Yazid 1 son of Abu Sufyan an Ommayyad was appointed governor of Syria by Umar. When Yazid 1 died Umar appointed his brother Mauwiya (father of Yazid) as governor of Syria.

Umar’s era considered military expansion and booties as success of Islam. Faith and religion were now measured in terms of political area under control, Prophet Mohammed was thus termed inefficient that he left Persia and Byzantine empire unconquered.

Umar appointed Ka’ab al Ahbar a Yemeni Jew convert to Islam as his chief advisor. Ka’ab al Ahbar was hypocrite in opinion of Ali son of Abu Talib

Persians and Romans were considered second class citizens in Islamic empire; Prophet Mohammed had clearly prohibited discrimination on grounds of race and nationality when he had said: No Arab has any superiority over Non-Arabs and no Non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab.

Abu Lulu (Feroz) a Persian craftsman was enslaved after Persia was captured and was given to famous liar Mughaira son of Shu’ba as a slave. Abu Lulu and various Persians were taunted and mocked; they were even assaulted by hypocrite Muslims. Assaults extended to Persian and Roman women and children as well.

Abu Lulu, Hormzan and such people were sympathizers of Ali son of Abu Talib. Abu Lulu launched a complaint to Umar, Umar however rejected his complaint on Mughaira. Abu Lulu was a skilled craftsman, Umar on one occasion wanted to see his works. Abu Lulu decided to murder Umar as in his opinion Umar had made their lives extremely difficult, he stabbed Umar several times, Umar was wounded.

Umar was asked to write a will since his wounds were severe, Umar made a council of six men and they were made to decide next caliph from among them. The list included Ali as well. The six men were:

1)  Ali son of Abu Talib (Hashmite)

2)  Uthman son of Affan (Omayyad)

3)   Zubair son of Awwam

4)  Sa’ad son of Abu Waqas

5)  Talha son of Obaidullah

6)   Abdur Rehman son of Auf

Umar died of wounds later, his son killed Hormzan. Abu Lulu fled to Kashan, Persia (Iran). Uthman became the next caliph. Umar began to be over praised posthumously, because he was the one who gave power to Ommayads, thus when they acquired power and projected it as legitimate they began circulating positive image of Umar. Pre-Islamic idolater Umar Khattab began to be called as would be next prophet, all Ommayyad strategies!

Oh Allah! Peace and Salutation be upon Mohammed and House-hold of Mohammed. Return to main topic: Karbala, brief overview