Omar ibn al-Khattab

His name is Abu Hafs Omar ibn al-Khattab al-Adawi al-Qurashi, and he is known as Al-Farooq. He is the second rightly guided caliph and is considered one of the greatest companions of the Prophet Muhammad - peace be upon him.

He is also among the most famous leaders in Islamic history in terms of strength and influence. He is one of the senior scholars among the companions and is one of those who were given the glad tidings of paradise.

The Early Life of Omar ibn al-Khattab

Omar ibn al-Khattab was born approximately thirteen years after the Year of the Elephant. His home was located in the area known today as Mount Omar, which was situated in the Aqir region. He grew up within the Quraysh tribe and distinguished himself from his peers by learning how to read. In his youth, he worked as a camel herder, later acquiring skills in wrestling, horseback riding, and poetry. He also became a successful merchant.

Omar's Entry into Islam

Prior to his conversion to Islam, Omar ibn al-Khattab was known for his toughness and strength. In fact, there was a day when he set out with the intention of killing the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him. However, during his journey, he encountered a companion of the Prophet who asked him about his destination. Omar disclosed his intention, and the companion informed him that his sister, Fatimah, and her husband, Sa'id Ibn Zayd, had embraced the religion of Muhammad, peace be upon him.

Omar went to his sister, and from her, a page of the Quran fell. He was eager to pick it up and read it, but Fatimah insisted that he should first perform ablution (wudu). Omar complied, and as he read the verse, he was deeply moved: "Ta-Ha. We have not sent down to you the Quran that you be distressed, but only as a reminder for those who fear [Allah] - a revelation from He who created the earth and the highest heavens, the Most Merciful [who is] above the Throne established. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth and whatever is between them and whatever is under the soil" (Quran, Surah Ta-Ha, 20:1-6). Omar's heart trembled upon hearing these words, and he embraced Islam.

Omar's Emigration to Medina

In the year 622 CE, the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, ordered the Muslims who had followed him to emigrate to Yathrib (later known as Medina). He had received assurances of peace and safety from the people of Yathrib and invited them to come to their city and reside there, as the majority of its inhabitants and their sons had accepted the call of the trustworthy Prophet.

Most of the Muslims emigrated to Yathrib secretly to avoid potential persecution by the people of Quraysh.

As for Omar ibn al-Khattab, he donned his sword, slung his bow over his shoulders, carried his sturdy staff, and held a collection of arrows. He circled the Kaaba seven times, prayed at the station of the Prophet Ibrahim, peace be upon him, and then addressed a group of polytheists, saying, "The faces have turned pale. May Allah disgrace those who oppose me. Whoever wants his mother to grieve over him, his child to be orphaned, or his wife to be widowed, then let him meet me behind this valley".

Omar Wives, Sons & Daughters

The number of wives Omar ibn al-Khattab - may Allah be pleased with him - married was seven women during both the pre-Islamic and Islamic eras. He married:

1. Zainab bint Maz'un, who bore him Abdullah, Abdul Rahman the Elder, and Hafsah. He then married Mulaykah bint Jarwal, who bore him Ubaidullah, but he divorced her. After that, he married Quraybah bint Abu Umayyah al-Makhzumi, then divorced her. He also married Um Hakim bint al-Harith ibn Hisham, who bore him Fatimah, then divorced her, although some sources claim he didn't divorce her. He married Jameelah bint Asim and Atikah bint Zaid as well. He proposed to Um Kulthum bint Abu Bakr, but she rejected the proposal due to his rough lifestyle. So, he married Um Kulthum bint Ali ibn Abi Talib and had Zaid and Ruqayyah with her. Thus, the total number of his wives, both before and after Islam, was seven women.

It's worth noting that Omar - may Allah be pleased with him - did not have all his wives simultaneously, as Islam prohibits a man from having more than four wives at the same time. Therefore, if one of his wives died or was divorced, he would marry another.

Here are some details about some of his wives:

1. Zainab bint Maz'un: She was the sister of Uthman ibn Maz'un. She bore Omar three children: Abdullah, Hafsah, and Abdul Rahman the Elder. Some sources suggest she migrated, while others claim she died in Mecca before the migration.
2. Jameelah bint Thabit: Also known as Aasiyah before Islam, the Prophet Muhammad renamed her Jameelah. She bore Omar a daughter named Aasim.
3. Atikah bint Zaid: She was Atikah bint Zaid ibn Amr ibn Nufail. She was among those who embraced Islam, pledged allegiance, and migrated. She was previously married to Abdullah ibn Abu Bakr, who died. She initially decided not to remarry but accepted Omar's proposal. Abdullah ibn Omar described her by saying, "Whoever desires martyrdom should marry Atikah," as all those who married her died as martyrs, including Abdullah ibn Abu Bakr, Omar, and Az-Zubayr.
4. Um Kulthum bint Ali ibn Abi Talib: She was born before the death of the Prophet Muhammad in the sixth year of the Hijrah. Her mother was Fatimah, the daughter of the Prophet Muhammad. Omar married Um Kulthum when she was young and gave her a dowry of forty thousand dirhams. She bore him Zaid and Ruqayyah and died along with her son Zaid.

Omar ibn al-Khattab - may Allah be pleased with him - had nine male children; they were:

1. Abdullah; his mother was Zainab bint Maz'un ibn Habib al-Jumahiyyah. He embraced Islam at a young age and was among the early emigrants. When the time for the Battle of Badr approached, he wanted to join the Messenger of Allah, but the Messenger - peace be upon him - sent him back due to his young age. It is said that he was also sent back during the Battle of Uhud, or he participated in it. He witnessed the battles of Mu'tah, the Trench, Yarmouk, the conquest of Egypt, and Africa. He said, "I saw in a dream as if I had a piece of silk in my hand, and there was no place in Paradise except that it flew towards it." He recounted this to Hafsah, who then told the Prophet, and the Prophet said: "I see Abdullah as a righteous man." He narrated many hadiths from the Messenger of Allah, and was known for his piety, knowledge, and devotion.
2. Ubaidullah; he was born during the time of the Prophet Muhammad. He learned from his father and other companions and was known for his strength. He died in the Battle of Siffin.
3. Aasim; his mother was Jameelah bint Thabit. He spent the last two years of the Prophet's life with him. He was physically strong and died before his brother Abdullah, known as Abu Omar.
4. Zaid the Elder; his mother was Umm Kulthum bint Ali ibn Abi Talib. He died along with his mother at the same time, and their funeral was attended by a large number of companions.
5. Zaid the Younger; he was the brother of Ubaidullah from the same parents. He was born during the time of the Prophet Muhammad.
6. Abdul Rahman the Elder; his mother was Zainab bint Maz'un.
7. Ayyad; his mother was Atika bint Zaid ibn Amr ibn Nufail.
8. Abu Shahmah Abdul Rahman the Middle.
9. Abdul Rahman the Younger was the brother of Abu Shahmah Abdul Rahman the Middle, and their mother was Lahiya, nicknamed Abu al-Mujabbir.

His daughters: Omar ibn al-Khattab - may Allah be pleased with him - had seven daughters; they were:

1. Hafsah bint Omar ibn al-Khattab; her mother was Zainab bint Maz'un. She was born when people started rebuilding the Kaaba after it was destroyed by floods, which happened five years before the Prophet Muhammad's mission began. She was married to Khunays ibn Hudhafa, one of the early Muslims, and migrated with him to Medina. She died during the caliphate of Muawiyah ibn Abi Sufyan.

2. Ruqayyah; her mother was Umm Kulthum bint Ali ibn Abi Talib.

3. Fatima bint Omar; her mother was Umm Hakim bint Al-Harith.

4. Aisha bint Omar; her mother was Lahiya.

5. Safiyyah bint Omar ibn al-Khattab; she witnessed the Battle of Khaybar with the Prophet Muhammad.

6. Jameelah bint Omar; her name before Islam was Aasiyah, and when she embraced Islam, the Prophet Muhammad named her Jameelah.

7. Zainab bint Omar; her mother was Atika bint Zaid ibn Amr ibn Nufail. She married Abdul Rahman ibn Abi Suhail and later Abdullah ibn Abdullah ibn Suraaqah al-Adawi.

Expeditions Omar ibn al-Khattab

Here are the military expeditions Omar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) participated in to support Islam:

• Battle of Badr (2 AH): Omar was the second person to speak and support the decision to engage in war with the Quraysh after Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him). His paternal uncle, Al-Aas ibn Hisham, was killed in this battle.
• Battle of Uhud (3 AH): Omar participated and defended the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and the Muslims when they were besieged by the disbelievers.
• Expedition against Banu Nadir (4 AH): Omar participated in this expedition, which was a result of Banu Nadir's violation of their treaty with the Prophet Muhammad and their attempt to kill him.
• Battle of the Trench (5 AH): Omar participated in this battle, also known as the Battle of Khandaq.
• Battle of Banu Qurayza (5 AH): Omar participated in this battle, which took place in the same year as the Battle of the Trench.
• Treaty of Hudaybiyyah (6 AH): Omar was a witness to the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah.
• Expedition against Khaybar (7 AH): Omar participated in this expedition.
• Conquest of Mecca (8 AH): After eight years, Omar returned to Mecca as a conqueror. Additionally, he participated in the Battle of Hunayn and the Siege of Ta'if in the same year.
• Expedition to Tabuk (9 AH): Omar participated in this expedition. In the same year, he performed Hajj with the Prophet Muhammad during the Farewell Pilgrimage.

Omar's Pledge of Allegiance for the Caliphate

Omar ibn al-Khattab assumed the leadership of the Islamic caliphate following the death of Abu Bakr al-Siddiq in the 22nd of Jumada al-Thani in the year 13 AH (After Hijra). He became renowned for his justice, fairness, and his resolution of injustices.

He was an expert judge who administered justice to all Muslims and even non-Muslims. People gave him the title "Al-Farooq" because he distinguished between right and wrong with clarity, effectively separating truth from falsehood.

Notable Achievements of Omar ibn al-Khattab

The caliphate of Omar ibn al-Khattab was marked by numerous significant achievements. Here are some of these achievements:

• Establishment of the Hijri Calendar: Omar ibn al-Khattab introduced the Islamic lunar calendar, which became a pivotal tool for the Islamic world. This calendar marked the beginning of the Islamic era and has been widely used to this day.
• Expansion of the Islamic State: During his caliphate, the Islamic State expanded to include various regions such as Iraq, Libya, Egypt, Khurasan, Persia, the Levant, eastern Anatolia, and the southern parts of Armenia, in addition to Sistan.
• Conquest of Jerusalem: Omar's leadership led to the first Islamic conquest of Jerusalem, making it one of the holiest cities in Islam. This event had significant religious and historical implications.
• Swift Conquests: Under Omar's leadership, the Islamic empire experienced rapid expansion, with complete conquests achieved within a remarkably short period of time.
• Strengthening the Islamic State: Despite the growth in population and ethnic diversity within the Islamic State, Omar maintained its strength and cohesion. His governance and administration were marked by justice and fairness, ensuring the stability and unity of the Muslim community.

Omar ibn al-Khattab's legacy as the second caliph of Islam left a profound impact on the course of Islamic history and the spread of the Islamic faith.

The Death of Omar ibn al-Khattab

Many of the Persian converts who had reluctantly concealed their hatred and resentment towards the leader Omar ibn al-Khattab continued to harbor animosity due to his defeat of their armies and the downfall of their empires. Numerous accounts suggest that some of them followed him when he embarked on the pilgrimage in the year 644 CE. During this pilgrimage, some reportedly exclaimed that Omar would never stand on that mountain again.

Omar was fatally stabbed by Abu Lu'lu'a, a Persian, while he was leading the Fajr (dawn) prayer with the congregation. This tragic event occurred on the 26th of Dhul-Hijjah in the year 644 CE. The Muslims attempted to apprehend the Persian assailant, but he managed to evade capture. Eventually, Abdul Rahman ibn Auf threw his cloak over him, causing him to stumble and inadvertently stab himself, resulting in his death by suicide.

Omar ibn al-Khattab was buried beside the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, and next to Abu Bakr al-Siddiq, solidifying his place as one of the most revered figures in Islamic history.