Wednesday, March 10, 2010

The Period of Umar Farooque (ra)

The state of conquered people

The people of the areas reigned by Umar (ra) were free to choose their religions. Neither Amirul Mumineen Hazrat Umar (ra) nor any of his officials and preachers imposed any of other faith to convert to Islam, in fact, the impartial justice of caliph, the highly exalted manner of Sahabas and the ideal characteristics of Muslims guided them towards the divine path of Islam. They adopted Islam as their final abodes as soon as they enlightened by the reality. The brilliant social administrative view of Umar (ra) did not leave any stone unturned to support public policy in full measure. He closely used to look after the matters of new included areas. He fulfilled the needs of mass by several means like building Masjid, roads etc. Historians say that Umar (ra) built about four thousands Masajid in Iraq, Basra, Kufa, Egypt, Syria, Palestine and Beirut etc. some of them are matchless in their beauty till date. He appointed Ulama (scholars), Fuqaha (jurists), preachers in all corner of his reign for education and religious purposes. As per the result Obadah Bin Samit (ra), Mu’aaz Bin Jabal (ra), Abud-Darda (ra), Habban Bin Abi Jablah (ra), Abdullah Bin Mughaffal (ra) and Imran Bin Husain (ra) were appointed for Syria, Egypt and Basra provinces respectively. To make them free of financial burden he supported these scholars with sufficient maintenance. Amirul Mumineen (ra) never acted like an emperor but always preferred to remain the humble servant of mass; he enlisted many a spy and watchmen to monitor public issues closely. Umar (ra) also is reported to have wished an official tour across his domain to personally examine the condition of his subjects but the fate did not allow him to do so. As soon as he was informed about Saad Bin Waqqas (ra), he ordered Muhammad bin Muslimah to go to Kofah and set a fire in the palace of Saad Bin Waqqas (the governor of the city) immediately it was done but Saad could say nothing in defense. Similarly it was spied that Ayaz Bin Ghanam, the governor of Egypt, was wearing thin clothes (to get more comforts) and has appointed a watchman on his court. As per the order of Amir, Muhammad Bin Muslimah went there and found him convicted of the same, soon the honours was snatched and a herd of goats was given to him to graze. Umar monitor said, “Don’t be shy your father also was a shepherd.”

A few instance of his life

He often would walk the streets of Madina with a whip in his hand, and it is said that Umar's whip was feared more than the sword of another man. He is famous for covert night tour of the city to know the situation of his domain. One day he reached Hira, then outer part of Madina, there he saw a woman with three children in a hut. He asked, “Why the children are crying” “because of hunger, and I have nothing to feed just put the pot on oven for their relief.” she replied. Immediately he returned to Madina, took food articles, ghee, dates etc. and hurried to her. Aslam, his servant, wanted to carry the bag but he refused to give saying, “Could you carry my burden in doomsday.” He happily returned back after the lady cooked food and gave to the children. On an another occasion when he was patrolling fearlessly alone in the streets of Madina to know real public affairs, suddenly he knew from a Bedouin that his wife was suffering from delivery pain and none was there to take care of her. Amir rushed to home and asked his wife, Umme Kulsoom, to accompany him, she followed him to the tent of Bedouin. Within a while she screamed happily, “Amirul Mumineen! Congratulate your friend, he got a baby boy.” Hearing it the Bedouin got scared, but Umar (ra) calmed him saying, “Don’t worry, come to me tomorrow, I will confirm an amount of sum for the baby.” The history is full with that kind of stories. He often used to go to the houses of Mujahideen (Islamic troops), to sick, visually and physically challenged people and would buy their necessities from the market. Moreover, he himself would distribute the Mujahideen’s letters to their families. Though he was the Amir but lived simple life, ate ordinary meals, hardly, would use mild and none veg. He never showed shyness to wear torn or patched clothes. He used to sleep on bare land without bed, under the shadow of palm tree, on the stairs of Masjid, under the bushes; visitors would surprise seeing a great king in such simple way of life. He took as much salary from the public treasury as was fixed for a Badri Sahaba. However, the life of Amirul Mumineen is an ideal life for whole world especially for Muslims. A true follower of Umar (ra) would gain an ultimate success here and hereafter. In Sha Allah