ACHIEVEMENTS OF CALIPH UMAR BN AL–KHAŢŢĀB (634-644) CE

 

CALIPH UMAR BN AL–KHAŢŢĀB (634-644) CE

Life of ‘Umar before Islam

Abu Hafs ‘Umar bn al–Khaţţāb was born in 583CE in the ‘Addy branch of the renowned Quraysh family. His birth took place about 40 years before the migration from Makkah to Madinah (Hijrah). Before Islam, ‘Umar was temperamentally bad and distinguished himself in wrestling and oration. He was among the few people in Makkah who knew the art of reading and writing. When the Prophet Muhammad (S) got revelation and invited people to Islam, ‘Umar became a sworn enemy of Islam and its Prophet. He proved to be an obstacle in the progress of the new faith and religion. He became a changed person when he gave himself to God through acceptance of Islam in the sixth year of Islam. He was a businessman.

 

Achievements caliph umar (634-644)

Umar after several services under the prophet and in the reign of his predecessor Abu-Bakr, he had acquired experience and expertise on how to take the Ummah to another level, this experience placed him on the edge of contributing more to the Ummah. His achievements are as follows.

According to Yusuf (2012: 36), Caliph ‘Umar bn al-Khaţţāb, apart from being one of the pioneers of Islamic principles, was also a pioneer of Islamic civilization. He formed a state based on the Islamic political system. This system was incorporated in the West as late as 19th and 20th centuries. He was the greatest democratic administrator whose example is unparalleled not only in the history of Islam but also in the history of modern civilization. ‘Umar remained exemplary leader for all great Muslim rulers during the whole of Islamic history. He decided all matters after due consultation with the “shūrā.” During his tenure, he upheld three types of shūrā. The first, which consisted of prominent and popular companions, discussed and decided important matters. This is the higher advisory council which consisted of Uthmān bn ‘Affān, ‘Alī bn Abi Tālib, Zayd bn Thābit, and Țalha bn Zubayr. The second shūrā was the general advisory council made up of many Companions from amongst the Ansār and Muhājirūn. The body discussed all matters of general interest. Chief of all various clans and tribes were also included in this shūrā. The third type ranked in between the higher and the general Advisory councils. It comprised of some elected Companions between the Muhajirūn and the Ansār. Matters of special interest were put before the shūrā, freedom of opinion and expression was given to all members of shūrā whenever they held meetings. On many occasions Caliph ‘Umar said “I am but an ordinary person like you. I can only request you to co-operate in the work with which I have been entrusted by you.” Decisions were usually taken based on unanimity or sometimes by majority. The Caliph in the interest of Islam and Muslims may veto any decision, which he considered very proper. However, the achievements of Umar according to Yusuf and et. at ( 2012:38) are

 

1.     Administration of justice: The judicial functions were solely entrusted to the judges. For easy administration of justice, the Caliph separated the judiciary from the executive. During his time, law was not a respecter of anybody. On a number of occasions, the Caliph himself appeared before a Qāḍī to defend himself in some cases. No immunity was given to anybody even the Caliph and there was no perversion of justice.

 

2.     Establishment of the Department of Education: Caliph ‘Umar who had keen interest in imparting knowledge to the Muslims established schools for teaching the Holy Qur’ān, Hadīth,

Sharī’ah and art of reading and writing. Mosques were used as schools; “Hufāz” (the memorisers of the whole Qur’an) were specially referred scholarship and other facilities that would make

Learning conducive was given to students.

 

3.     Establishment of Police Department and Institution of Prison: ‘Umar was the first Muslim head of state to establish police department to curb crimes and maintain order. The police Force at that time was known as “Ahdāth.” Before Caliph ‘Umar, there was no jail in Arabia. To curb excesses of the criminally minded people and to rehabilitate them, Caliph ‘Umar personally bought five houses and converted them to prison in Makkah. He also had district jails at various provinces.

 

4.       Administration of Revenue: ‘Umar established “Baytu `l māl” and laid down the basic principle of the public treasury. He treated “bayt al-māl” as a great public trust. He ensured that it was solely used for common interest. He never spent a single “dinar” from it for his personal benefit. He ensured that proceeds from Zakāt were spent for the benefit of the poor Muslims. The officer in charge of the public treasury (Bayt-ul-māl) is known as “Sāħib Baytu `l- mā.l” There were treasury officers in each province too. The main sources of revenue at that time were:

(i) Jizyah (Defense or poll Tax) (ii) Zakāt (Poor Tax) (iii) Kharāj (Land Tax) (iv) Booty (income from conquered places) (v) Tax on non-Muslim merchants or traders who did not pay Zakāt

(vi) Tributes and others Apart from Zakāt that was spent in accordance with Islamic laws as

given in the Holy Qur’ān, proceeds from other sources of revenue were used for expenditure on general administration and warfare. Excess money that was left was distributed as stipends among the Muslims.

 

5.     Establishment of Public Complaints Commission: Caliph ‘Umar personally oversaw the commission on daily basis. At the end of every congregational prayer, he used to sit back in the Mosque to listen to the complaints of the people in the area of need; he attended promptly to the yearnings of these people. In addition to sitting back in the Mosque, ‘Umar used to go out in the dead night to find out the needs of the people. During this normal routine, one night he stumbled on an indigent woman with her children on the outskirt of the city. The children were crying because they were hunger-stricken. He personally came to their rescue by providing meals for them. Once, he saw a Bedouin woman whose life was in the throes of childbirth. ‘Umar instantly called on his wife who worked as a midwife on the woman.

 

6.     Construction of Mosques: Caliph ‘Umar built many Mosques. He also mandated governors of various provinces to build at least one Mosque in each city where religious instructions were given to people. He ensured the extension of Masjid-al-Haram (the Holy Mosque) in Makkah to accommodate the ever-increasing Muslim population. He did same to the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah. He also bought all houses and properties around the Mosque to pave way for extension.

 

7.     Introduction of coins: one of the most significant achievements of Umar according to Yusuf (2012:39) was the introduction of currency to the Ummah. According to Yusuf ( 2012), Caliph ‘Umar was the one who introduced coins bearing the inscription of “Kalimatu `shashahādah” (There is no God except Allah and Muhammad is His Messenger).

 

8.     Other achievements of Umar according to Yusuf (2012) are the abolition of slavery in Arabia and setting prisoners of war free; introduction of Islamic calendar,

 

 

‘Umar’s Assassination

After the reign of 10 years, the glorious rule of ‘Umar came to an end with his death on Wednesday November 3, 644CE. He fell at the hand of an assassin called Abu ‘Lu’Lu Fayrooze after he lamented about his master and Caliph Umar ignored his complains. This Christian-Persian slave came to the Caliph (‘Umar) with bitter complaint about his master who used to place on him a burden he could hardly bear. The complaint was not all that genuine to ‘Umar thus he ignored it.

 

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6)    Renard j. (1996) seven doors to Islam, Berkeley.

7)    Reza a( 2005 no god but god. Random house, new york.

8)    www.quranreading.com 28 september 2018

9)    Yusuf and et. al( 2012) the rightly guided and the ummyads national open university of Nigeria press. Wuse II Abuja. Nigeria.