THE MAGNIFICENCE OF HAZRAT UMAR FAROOK e AZAM (RADI ALLAAHU ANHU)-THE SECOND CALIPH (KHALIFAH) OF ISLAM
Allah Ta'ala states in The Holy Quran:
'O Prophet! The communicator of the hidden news! Allah is sufficient for you and for such believers who follow you'
(Surah Al-Anfaal. verse 64)
The Mufasireen and the Islamic scholars have stated that this verse was revealed when Hazrat Umar(Radi Allaahu Anhu) accepted Islam.
Allah Ta'ala revealed to Prophet ﷺ that Allah Ta'ala and the believers are sufficient for you.
On 27th of Dhul Hijjah, an Iranian stabbed Hazrat Umar Farook e Azam(Radi Allaahu Anhu) during the Fajr Namaaz and severely injured him. Because of the injuries, the glorious warrior of Islam, the fruit of the prayers of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ attained martyrdom on the 1st of Muharram. He was sixty-three years of age. It was his magnificence that he was laid to rest in the same chamber in Masjid Nabawi where Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq(Radi Allaahu Anhu) are laid to rest. Hazrat Umar Farook e Azam(Radi Allaahu Anhu) was one of the 'khulfa e rashideen'-the four caliphs.
Hazrat Shah Muhadith Dehlvi(Rahmatullah Alaih) has recorded in his book that sixteen verses of The Holy Quran were revealed in reference to Hazrat Umar Farook e Azam(Radi Allaahu Anhu). Three of which are discussed here:
Hijab or burqa (purdah) has a significant importance in Islam. It became obligatory when Hazrat Umar Farook e Azam(Radi Allaahu Anhu) requested Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to instruct the women to cover themselves when they leave their houses. Immediately, Hazrat Jibreel(alaihis salaam) descended with the revelation from Allah Ta'ala:
'O Prophet! Tell your wives and daughters and Muslim women that they should keep a part of their headgear covered over their faces. This will be more proper, that they may be recognized and they should not be given any trouble. And Allah is Forgiving. Merciful'
(Surah Azhab. verse 59)
Another day Hazrat Umar Farook e Azam(Radi Allaahu Anhu) came to the court of Prophet ﷺ and gave a proposition that the Hajji perform the two rakaat nafil Namaaz for tawwaf in-front of Maqam e Ibrahim(alaihis salaam). Immediately, Jibreel(alaihis salaam) descended with the revelation from Allah Ta'ala.
'And (recall) when We made the House (Kabah) a centre of peace for the people and made the standing place of Ibrahim a station for prayer. And We enjoined upon Ibrahim and Ismail: 'Purify My House for those who perform Tawwaf and those who are staying there for devotion, and those who bow down and prostrate (in prayer)'.'
(Surah Al-Baqra. verse 125)
By 'station for prayer' is meant the nafil Namaaz for tawwaf should be offered in this sacred ground, as is the practice of the pilgrims to this day.
The wish of Hazrat Umar Farook e Azam(Radi Allaahu Anhu) became a commandment of Allah Ta'ala.
Hazrat Umar Farook e Azam(Radi Allaahu Anhu) accepted Islam after Prophet Muhammad ﷺ supplicated in the court of Allah Ta'ala for Hazrat Umar(Radi Allaahu Anhu) to accept Islam. Hazrat Ibn Umar(Radi Allahu Anhu) narrates that Prophet ﷺ said, 'O Allah! Strengthen Islam with one of two men whom you love more, Abu Jahal or Umar Ibn Khattab'. Ibn Umar(Radi Allaahu Anhu) said, 'the most beloved of the two was Umar'. (Tirmidhi). Hazrat Umar(Radi Allahu Anhu) was chosen by Allah Ta'ala to accept Islam. Hazrat Umar Farook e Azam(Radi Allahu Anhu) accepted Islam the day after Prophet ﷺ made dua.
All the companions(Radi Allahu Anhum) of Prophet ﷺ accepted Islam by their own wish, but Hazrat Umar Farook e Azam(Radi Allaahu Anhu) accepted Islam by the dua of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
All the companions(Radi Allaahu Anhum) are the disciples (mureed) of Prophet ﷺ but Hazrat Umar Farook e Azam(Radi Allaahu Anhu) is the wish (muraad) of Prophet ﷺ.
There are three supplication (dua) that has a lot of significance:
Dua e Ibrahim(alaihis salaam): when Hazrat Ibrahim(alaihis salaam) and Hazrat Ismail(alaihis salaam) completed the construction of the Kabah, Hazrat Ibrahim(alaihis salaam) made the dua:
'O our Lord! And send among them a Messenger from themselves and who will recite to them Your verses and teach them the scripture and wisdom and purify them. Surely, You are the Most Exalted, the Wise'
(Surah Al-Baqara. verse 129)
Thus, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is the glad tidings of Hazrat Ibrahim(alaihis salaam).
Dua e Musa(alaihis salaam):
'And make a minister for me from my family'
'My brother Harun'
(Surah Taha. verse 29,30)
Hazrat Harun(alaihis salaam) was given Prophethood by the dua of Hazrat Musa(alaihis salaam).
Dua e Mustafa ﷺ: '
'allahumma aa'izzil Islaama bi Umar Ibn Khattab Khaassah'. 'O Allah! Give me Umar so that Islam is strengthen'.
Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said,
'if there were to be a prophet after me, indeed he would be Umar, son of Khattab'
'indeed, Allah has placed truth upon Umar's tongue and heart'
'the sun has not risen on a better man than Umar'
(Sunan' Tirmidhi)
'shaitaan has not met Umar since he became Muslim except murmur in his face'
(Al-Tabarani in Al-Kabir)
'every nation before me had a 'muhadith'. The 'muhadith' of my nation is Umar'. The companions(Radi Allaahu Anhum) asked, 'who is a muhadith?' Prophet ﷺ replied, 'through whose tongue the angels speak'.'
(Bukhari)
The caliphate of Hazrat Umar Farook e Azam(Radi Allaahu Anhu) is notable for its vast conquests, and was able to conquer thirty-six countries. Hazrat Umar Farook e Azam's(Radi Allahu Anhu) army, aided by brilliant field commanders battled Iran eighty times and had a victory every time.
There was a drought in Egypt and the River Nile became dry. When Hazrat Umar Farook e Azam(Radi Allaahu Anhu) was informed of this, he wrote a letter addressed to the River Nile and asked it to be thrown into the river. Sayyidina Amr Bin A'as(Radi Allaahu Anhu) took the letter, which read 'From Allah's slave, the commander of the faithful, Umar to the Nile, the river of the people of Egypt. After praising Allah and invoking blessings on Allah's Messenger ﷺ, I proceed to say that if you flow on your own and according to your will and pleasure, then don't flow. And if Allah, the One, the Omnipotent makes you flow, then we pray to Allah to make you flow again'. Then as commanded, Hazrat Amr Bin A'as(Radi Allaahu Anhu) threw the letter into the River Nile. One night had barely passed, the water level of the River Nile had risen to sixteen cubits. The River Nile has been flowing since.
Hazrat Umar Farook e Azam(Radi Allaahu Anhu), the father in-law of Prophet ﷺ was a just ruler. He made sure that even the animals in his caliphate were not hungry as he would be accountable for it on the Day of Judgement.
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This article is an abridged English translation of an Urdu sermon delivered by his eminence, Peer Syed Imroz Dean Saifi, Hanfi, Maturidi of Masjid Anwaar e Madina, Surrey BC Canada
If there is an inaccurate translation, please pardon it and not let it be a means to negatively reflect on the honoured presenter.
