Omar bin Khattab (RA) - The Second Caliph of Islam Acceptance of Islam Omar (RA) was twenty seven when the Holy Prophet (PBUH) began his mission. Young Omar (RA) did not care to listen to the message of Islam. As years went by, Islammade slow headway. This made Omar (RA) angry. When one of Omar’s (RA) own maid-servants became a Muslim, he beat her severely. Still, she would not give up the new faith. In the sixth year of the Mission, a number of Muslims left for Abyssinia. This made Omar (RA) boil with rage. “Here is a man,” he thought to himself “who has split the people. People lived smoothly enough. He appeared on the scene and has torn son from father and brother from brother. Now his followers have run away to another land. Surely Muhammad is the cause of all trouble. I must slay him and put an end to the trouble.” With this resolve, Omar (RA) drew his sword and set out to kill the Holy Prophet (PBUH). On the way he met Sa’ad bin Abi Waqqs who asked him why he looked so upset. Omar (RA) said to him, “I am after finishing Muhammad.” “You had better first set your own house in order. Your sister and brother-in-law both have accepted Islam,” said Sa’ad. Hearing this, Omar flew into a towering rage and turned his steps towards his sister’s house. The door of the house was bolted from inside and both husband and wife were receiving lessons in the Quran from Hadhrat Khabbab (RA). Omar knocked at the door and shouted for his sister to open it. Hadhrat Khabbab (RA) hearing the voice of Omar, hid himself in some inner room, forgetting to take the manuscript pages of the Holy Quran with him. When the sister opened the door, Omar hit her on the head, saying: “O, enemy of yourself. You too have renounced your religion.” Her head began to bleed. He then went inside and inquired. “What were you doing? Have you also forsaken the creed of your forefathers and gone over the new religion?” The brother-in-law replied, “But what if the new religion be the better and the true one?” Omar got beside himself with rage and fell on him, pulling his beard, and beating him most savagely. When the sister intervened, he smote her so violently on her face that it bled most profusely. She was, after all, Omar’s sister; she burst out: “Omar, we are beaten only because we have become Muslims. Listen! We are determined to die as Muslims. You are free to do whatever you like.” When Omar had cooled down and felt a bit ashamed over his sister’s bleeding, his eyes fell on the pages of the Quran left behind by Hadhrat Khabbab (RA). He said, “Alright show me, what are these?” No, said the sister, “You are unclean, and no unclean person can touch the Scripture.” He insisted, but the sister was not prepared to allow him to touch the leaves unless he washed his body. Omar at last gave in. He washed his body and then began to read the leaves. It was Surat Taha”. “Verily, I am Allah: there is no god but I: so serve me (only), and establish regular prayer for My remembrance.” (Quran 20:14) The fear of Allah gripped his heart. He wept and declared, “Surely this is the word of Allah. I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.” On hearing this, Hadhrat Khabbab (RA) came out from inside and said: “ O, Omar! Glad tidings for you. Yesterday the Prophet (SAW) prayed to Allah, “O, Allah strengthen Islamwith either Omar or Abu Jahl, whomsoever Thou Likest.” It seems that his prayer has been answered in your favor.” Omar then went to the Prophet (SAW). He was not going to slay him but to embrace his faith. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) was sitting in the company of some men. He saw Omar (RA) coming and asked, “Omar (RA), what brings you here?” “O Prophet (PBUH) of Allah!” replied Omar (RA), “I have come to embrace Islam.” Great was the joy of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and his followers. Loud shouts of “Allah is Great” rent the air of Mecca. Soon everyone knew that Omar (RA) was no longer an enemy of Islam. It was a great day for Islam because one of its bitterest enemies had become its staunch follower. The coming over of Omar (RA) made a difference for Islam. Up until this time, the Muslims had lived in constant fear of the non-believers. Some of them had not even made their faith known to the people. They could not say their prayers publicly. All this changed when Omar (RA) became a Muslim. The first thing Omar (RA) did was to call together the chiefs of Mecca. Before this gathering he declared himself a follower of Islam. They started at him in silence. No one had the courage to utter a word of reproach. Omar (RA) next requested for the Holy Prophet (PBUH) to say prayers in the Kaaba. He himself led a party of Muslims to that place. A second party was led by Hamza. When all had gathered, they said their prayers in congregation. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) led the prayer. This was the first prayer of its kind said in the Kaaba. When migration to Medina started, the same thing happened again. Most of the Muslims left Mecca silently and secretly. But Omar (RA) would not do so. He put on his arms. Then he went to the Kaaba and said his prayer. The chiefs of Mecca looked at him in silence. After the prayer, he shouted out to them, “I am leaving for Medina. If anyone wants to stop me, let him meet me across the valley. His mother shall certainly have to weep for him in sorrow.” Despite this challenge, no Meccan would dare stop Omar (RA). These things earned Omar (RA) the title of Farooq. Farooq is the one who makes a difference. Omar (RA)’s acceptance of Islam had made a big difference for Islam and Muslims. Devotion to the Prophet (PBUH) Omar (RA) stood by the side of the Prophet (PBUH) in all battles and expeditions. Great was his love for Allah and His Apostle. He never allowed any blood ties or friendship to stand in the way of this love. The death of the Prophet (PBUH) was a stunning shock to Omar (RA). He could not believe it, so much so that he drew his sword and said that he would cut off the head of the man who said the Messenger of Allah was dead. He was overwhelmed with grief. Life without the Prophet (PBUH) was unthinkable, he thought. And if the Prophet (PBUH) was really no more, as people said, what was going to happen to Islam and the Muslims? These dark thoughts blotted out all reason from Omar’s (RA) head. Not until Abu Bakr (RA) had reminded him of the clear verdict in the Quran did he come to himself by reciting the following verse from the Quran: “Muhammad is no more than a Messenger: many were the Messengers that passed away before him. If he died or were slain, will you then turn back on his heels?” If any did turn back on his heels, not the least harm will he do to Allah.” (Quran 3:144) Abu Bakr (RA), during his calpihate, depended on Omar (RA) for advice. That was because the Holy Prophet (PBUH), in his lifetime, gave great weight to what Omar (RA) said. Omar (RA) in Jerusalem The Caliph left Ali (RA) in Medina as his deputy and himself left for Jerusalem to sign the treaty of peace. He had only one attendant with him and only one camel to ride. Omar (RA) and the attendant rode the camel by turns. It happened to be the servant’s turn to ride on the day when they were to reach Jerusalem. “Commander of the Faithful,” said the attendant, “I give up my turn. It will look awkward, in the eyes of the people, if I ride and you lead the camel.” “Oh no,” replied Omar (RA), “I am not going to be unjust. The honor of Islam is enough for us all.” The treaty of peace said: From the servant of Allah and the Commander of the Faithful, Omar (RA): The inhabitants of Jerusalem are granted security of life and property. Their churches and crosses shall be secure. This treaty applies to all people of the city. Their places of worship shall remain intact. These shall
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