The
Conquests of Umar Fâruq (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ)
The conquests cited above include
Persia, Iraq, Jazirah, Khurasân, Baluchistân, Syria, Palestine, Egypt, and
Armenia. And the conquests, which were made during the decade long Fâruqi
Caliphate were not ordinary. The provinces carved by Umar Fâruq (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) himself in 22 AH,
were Makkah, Al-Madinah, Syria, Jazirah, Basrah, Kufah, Egypt, Palestine,
Khurasân, Azerbâijân and Persia. Some of them were equal to two provinces in
area with two centers of power and separate governors and their
administrations.
Martyrdom
of Umar Fâruq (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ)
There was a Persian origin Christian
slave named Firoz in Al-Madinah whose patronymic (literally 'father of' and
then usually 'the name of the first born son') was Abu Lulu. One day he came
across Umar (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ)
in the marketplace and complained that his master Mughirah bin Shu'bah had
imposed upon him a very heavy tax and begged the Caliph to prevail upon his
master to reduce the same. Umar (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ
عَنْهُ) asked him the amount of the tax. He replied that it was two
dirhams per day. The Caliph then asked him his trade. "I work as a
carpenter, a painter and an ironsmith," he replied. The Caliph said,
"The amount is not that much considering these lucrative vocations."
This decision did not suit Firoz and he grew displeased. Umar Fâruq (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) then said to him
that he had heard that he (Firoz) could make windmills, and would he make one
for him. "Very well, I shall make for you such a mill whose sound will be
heard by the west and the east."
The next day when the people assembled
in the mosque to perform the morning prayer, Firoz came into the mosque armed
with a poisonous dagger. As the ranks of the congregation were put straight and
in order, and Umar (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ)
came up and took his position at the head of the ranks to lead the prayer,
Firoz suddenly rushed from the first rank and struck Umar (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) six consecutive blows, one of which fell
below his navel. Umar (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ)
instantly caught hold of Abdur-Rahmân bin Auf (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ
عَنْهُ), and ordered him to take his place and he, unable to stand the
wounds, fell down unconscious on the floor. Abdur-Rahmân bin Auf (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) led the prayer while
Umar (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) lay stabbed and
mangled.
Abu Lulu wounded other persons also
besides putting Kulaib bin Al-Bukair (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ
عَنْهُ) to martyrdom. At last he was arrested but committed suicide
simultaneously. After performing the Fajr prayer, they carried Umar (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) home. "Who is my
assassin?" were the first words, which escaped Umar's lips after regaining
consciousness. "Abu Lulu," replied the people. "Praised be to
Allâh that I am not killed by a man who called himself a Muslim or performed
even a single prostration before Allâh," Umar (رَضِيَ
ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) said with a sense of satisfaction.
A physician was sent for, who
administrated to him a date cordial and milk. Both these, however, gushed forth
from the wounds whereupon the people realized that he would not survive. They
accordingly asked him to nominate his successor as Abu Bakr (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) had done. He sent for Abdur-Rahmân bin
Auf, Saad bin Abu Waqqâs, Zubair bin Awwâm, Talhah, Ali, and Uthmân bin Affân (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ). Talhah (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) was somewhere
outside Al-Madinah. Umar Fâruq (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ)
said addressing those five persons: "Keep waiting for Talhah for three
days: If he returns within this period, he is included in the panel otherwise
you should choose your caliph from among yourselves." Thereafter he called
his son, Abdullah bin Umar (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ)
and said, "If they are divided in their choice for the caliph, you should
side with the majority and if the two groups show equal number, you join the
group which has Abdur-Rahmân bin Auf on its side."
He then called Abu Talhah Ansâri and
Miqdâd bin Aswad (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ)
and ordered them to be at the door while the panel was in session and let
nobody in until the deliberations were over. Following this he said addressing
the panel members, "I leave my will for the person who is chosen to the
post of the caliph that he should take particular care of the rights of the
Ansâr, for they are those who lent their support to the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم), let the Muhâjirin
stay in their houses. The Ansâr happen to be your benefactors and so they
deserve your obligation. You should mostly overlook their faults and ignore
their mistakes. Anybody being elected as caliph, should pay attention to the
Muhâjirin too, for they are the root of Islam. Fulfill the responsibilities
regarding the Dhimmi and any promise made to the Dhimmi must be honored, their
enemies should be kept away and they should never be asked to do anything
beyond their power."
Having done with public affairs,
Umar (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) turned attention
towards his private concerns. He asked his son Abdullah (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) to go to Aishah (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) and tell her that he begged permission
from her to be buried by the side of the Prophet (صلى
الله عليه وآله وسلم). Abdullah (رَضِيَ
ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) accordingly waited upon Aishah (رَضِيَ
ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) whom he found weeping. He conveyed to her the greetings and
the message of Umar (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ).
She said, "I had a mind to reserve this place for myself but today I will
accord Umar precedence over myself." Abdullah (رَضِيَ
ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) now hastened back to his father who eagerly inquired:
"What news bring you to me, O my son?" "That which will give you
satisfaction," rejoined Abdullah (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ
عَنْهُ). "It was the greatest wish of my life," said Umar (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ), the Caliph of Islam
and Chief of the believers.
He was wounded on Wednesday,
Dhul-Hijjah 27, 23 AH, and died and was buried on Muharram 1, 24 AH. His tenure
as caliph was ten and a half years. Suhaib (رَضِيَ
ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) led his funeral prayer. Ali, Zubair, Uthmân Abdur-Rahmân bin
Auf and Abdullah bin Umar (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ)
lowered his body into the grave and performed the burial service.
Wives
and Children
The first wife he married in his
state of Ignorance was Zainab, daughter of Maz'un bin Habib bin Wahb bin
Hudâfah bin Jumh who gave birth to Abdullah, Abdur-Rahmân (elder) and Hafsah (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْھَا). Zainab (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) embraced Islam in
Makkah and died in the same city. She was the sister of Uthmân bin Maz'un (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) who was one of the
earliest Muslims and was the fourteenth to embrace Islam.
His second wife, Mulaikah, daughter
of Jarwal Khuzâ'i, was also married in the state of Ignorance, who gave birth
to Ubaidullah. Since she refused to accept Islam, she was divorced in 6 AH. His
third wife was Qaribah, daughter of Abu Umayyah Makhzumi who was also married
in the state of Ignorance and was divorced in 6 AH, after the conclusion of the
Truce of Hudaibiah because of her rejection of Islam. His fourth marriage was
solemnized with Umm Hakim, the daughter of Al-Hârith bin Hishâm Makhzumi who
gave him Fatimah and his fifth wife was Jamilah, the daughter of Âsim bin
Thâbit bin Abu Aflah Ausi Ansâri to whom Âsim was born, but she too was
divorced for certain reasons.
His sixth marriage was performed
with Umm Kulthum (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ),
the daughter of Ali (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ)
who gave birth to Ruqayyah and Zaid. Among the children of Umar Fâruq (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ), Hafsah (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْھَا) and Abdullah were
much renowned. Hafsah (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْھَا)
(رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) was married to the
Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) and Abdullah bin
Umar (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) accompanied the
Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) in all the battles.
Umar (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) also had other
wives, namely Âtikah, the daughter of Zaid bin Amr bin Nufail. Âtikah was the
cousin of Umar (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ).
Fukaihah Yamenia is also reckoned among the wives of Umar (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ). Some people have written that she was
his slave-girl who gave birth to Abdur-Rahmân (the middle one).
No comments:
Post a Comment