Physical
Features of Umar:
He was fair-complexioned inclined to
redness. He was so tall that he appeared to be riding while walking on foot.
His cheeks were deficient in flesh; beard was thick, moustache noticeable and
baldness in the frontal part of the head. Ibn Asâkir relates: “Umar was tall
and solid with color inclined to redness, cheeks pressed, moustache noticeable
with a red halo. His mother was the sister of Abu Jahl and hence Umar called
him maternal uncle.”
Important
Events of the Fâruqi Caliphate
The Muslims at large took Bai‘ah
(oath of allegiance) at the hand of Umar in Al-Madinah on Tuesday, 23rd of
Jumada Al-Ukhra, 13 AH. Abu Bakr had issued the following instructions to Umar after
the arrival of Muthanna on 22nd of Jumada Al-Ukhra, 13 AH, and hearing from him
the account of affairs:
“I am sure to pass away today. Thus,
you will dispatch Muthanna for fighting tomorrow before the end of the day. No
suffering whatsoever should hold you back from carrying out the religious tasks
and the Commands of Allâh the Almighty. You have seen what I did after the
death of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم)
even though it was the greatest calamity for us. When the Syrians are
conquered, make it a point to send back the Iraqis to Iraq for they know their
own business very well and they are at ease only in Iraq.”
The above words make it amply clear
that from the day the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم)
made his final departure to the day of his own last journey, every moment of
his life was devoted to Divine duties. He made no will concerning his wives and
children.
After accepting the oath of
allegiance for his caliphate, Umar aroused in the people the fervor for taking
part in Jihâd, but they made no response and this state of indecision continued
for three days. Abu Ubaid bin Mas‘ud Thaqafi offered his name for Iraq on the
fourth day. He was then followed by Saad (رَضِيَ
ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) bin Ubaid Ansâri, then by Sulait bin Qais and many others.
Thus was formed a large detachment for Iraq. Umar appointed Abu Ubaid bin
Mas‘ud as commander for he was the first to show his readiness. He accompanied
Muthanna to Iraq. The three-day silence of the people over joining the Iraqi
detachment led the historians to think that the people were unmoved because
they were unhappy over the dismissal of Khâlid bin Walid by Umar when he took
charge of the caliphate.
However, this is a wrong and
baseless notion. Nobody opposed the step taken by Umar. Moreover, no historian
has ever mentioned the unhappiness of the people and how this unhappiness was
resolved. This is rather derogatory to the high status and pious position that
the Companions of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم)
enjoyed. It is a fact that almost every one of them was always inclined to
fight in the way of Allâh. However, each of them was waiting for the other to
take upon himself the responsibility of the campaign. The reason given by these
historians does not hold true and is illogical because the people were
encouraged to join the campaign and their initial lack of response occurred
before Khâlid bin Walid was deposed as commander.
Khâlid
bin Walid Deposed
Abu Bakr Siddiq (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) had sent Khâlid bin Walid to Syria as the
supreme commander of the Muslim army. He was a warrior of the very highest
caliber and matchless as a commander. Khâlid was also the commander-in-chief in
Iraq at the same time. His amazing valor and military acumen had left the
Persian Court and Sassanid Empire shocked and bewildered. The Roman Empire also
needed the same treatment, therefore, Abu Bakr had sent him to the Syrian front
as the commander-in-chief of the Muslim army, and his decision proved to be
right. He gave them such a crushing defeat on the battlefield of Yarmuk that
the Roman Empire’s back was broken. Now the time had come for a decisive battle
between the two forces and so the Muslim army was urgently in need of a commander
not only well-versed in the art of warfare but also a statesman of wide
experience and broad vision.
Umar Faruq (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) did not disapprove of Khâlid’s martial
abilities. However, he considered him a little careless and was, therefore, apprehensive
that his lack of caution could possibly cause the Muslims a set back. Abu Bakr
Siddiq (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) also shared the
anxiety of Umar Faruq (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ).
However, he considered Khâlid as the most suitable for the initial campaigns in
Syria and Iraq. To him as a whole, his strong points were more than the weak
ones. But, since, this purpose had already been achieved, his continuation as
the supreme commander was no longer necessary. Umar Faruq (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) used to say: “May Allâh the Almighty show
mercy to Abu Bakr, he sheltered the command of Khâlid bin Walid, for he
instructed me during his last hours about the commanders fighting along with
Khâlid in Iraq but uttered not a word about Khâlid.”
It is then clear that the steps
taken by Umar were not against the will of Abu Bakr. Besides, the very first
act of Umar could not have negated the policy of the Caliph whom he held in the
highest esteem after the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله
وسلم). Historians generally miss the point that Abu Bakr Siddiq (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) had taken permission
from Usâmah to keep Umar Faruq (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ)
with him solely to seek his advice in state affairs, and this enviable position
Umar enjoined till the last breath of the departed Caliph.
But those who happen to have a
superficial look over the matter, attach wrong meaning to it. Umar objected to
some of Khâlid’s careless acts and decisions no doubt, but his disapproval never
made him cross the limits of Shari‘ah (Divine codes). The man who gave free
expression to his will that everyone among the captives of the battle of Badr
be killed by his own relative could not be accused of nourishing a personal
grudge against anybody. This is a calumny of the worst nature against the tower
of righteousness that Umar was.
By deposing Khâlid bin Walid, Umar
Faruq (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) has set a shining
example of preferring Faith to this material world of ours. Khâlid accepted the
orders of his deposition without question and continued to serve the new
commander. Whenever the question of devaluing one’s own self-importance for the
sake of Divine service will be raised, we have the name of Khâlid bin Walid to
present. This exemplary supreme sacrifice of Khâlid bin Walid, the Sword of
Allâh, far exceeds his amazing and soul-stirring deeds of valor and military
genius in the battlefield where he was always victorious and never tasted
defeat in his entire career as a warrior. Both his martial deeds and sense of
Divinity and loyalty to the Chief of the believers are deeds of Khâlid bin Walid
that we can all be proud of Some historians have argued a very delicate point
that Khâlid bin Walid was deposed because Umar wanted to infuse in the mind of
the believers that victories were achieved because of Allâh’s help, and not
through any commander however valiant and seasoned he might be. This viewpoint
also lends support to the replacement of Muthanna bin Hârithah by Abu Ubaid bin
Mas‘ud. The Muslim Ummah is sure to achieve its past glory in the world even
today if such examples of unity, integrity, loyalty and sacrifice are followed.
Among the foremost military services
of Umar Faruq (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ)
after assuming the caliphate was the deposition of Khâlid bin Walid as the
supreme commander of the Muslim army in Syria and his replacement by Abu
Ubaidah bin Al-Jarrâh. The order was immediately obeyed. However, after handing
over the charge of commander-in-chief of the Syrian army to Abu Ubaidah, under
him Khâlid bin Walid displayed gallantry and military skill of such a high
degree that historians are still wanting in words to describe them. He not only
fought more efficiently and relentlessly under the command of Abu Ubaidah, he
also gave him valuable and expert advice whenever needed. History has no other
example to offer in the annals of military service to compare with what Khâlid
bin Walid did as the deposed commander of the same army. It only happened
simply because of a high sense of duty to Allâh, a deep love for His religion
and a profound attachment to His slaves.
The next job the Caliph did was the
installation of Abu Ubaid bin Mas‘ud as the commander-in-chief of the entire
Muslim army in Iraq. The third order of the Chief of the believers came in the
form of dispatching Ya‘la bin Umayyah to Yemen to fulfil the last will of the
Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) to drive out every
Jew and Christian from the soil of Arabia. It was not accomplished during the
caliphate of Abu Bakr owing to the uprisings and attacks that needed immediate
attention.
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